Railway Stations (ADIF)

Railway stations (ADIF) of Cambrils, Hospitalet, Salou, Arévalo, Oropesa, Illescas, Parla Norte and Joaquin Sorolla among others.  

The automation of ADIF railway stations from the point of view of the building facilities and platform lighting It is based on the implementation of systems of centralized technical management (BMS – Building Management System) that allow automatic control of the operation of the station's various services.

From the centralized control station, the mechanical installations, air conditioning equipment, and lighting systems are monitored.

Among them, one of the most important is the platform lighting system, which guarantees security, visibility, and energy efficiency in an infrastructure that operates virtually continuously. We will focus on these systems and explain how they work.

Station control system architecture

The automation of a railway station is structured in three technological levels:

1. Field level (sensors and actuators)

Numerous devices are installed on the platforms and in public areas that allow you to know the status of the station in real time.

Among them:

• outdoor light sensors
• presence or motion sensors
• platform occupancy detectors
• astronomical clocks
• electricity consumption meters
• luminaire failure detectors
• weather sensors

These sensors send information to the control systems to automatically adjust the lighting.

2. Level of control (automatons and controllers)

The automation logic is executed by:

• programmable controllers
• Industrial PLCs
• DALI or KNX lighting controllers
• electrical panel controllers

These teams manage:

• turning lights on and off
• lighting level regulation
• activation by schedule
• activation by presence
• emergency lighting management.

3. Level of supervision (SCADA / BMS)

All the station's systems are integrated into a centralized platform that allows:

• view the lighting status
• detect faults
• manually control the facilities
• analyze energy consumption.

The control center can monitor multiple stations simultaneously, which facilitates maintenance and energy management.

Automation of platform lighting

Platform lighting is one of the most critical elements from a railway safety point of view.

The systems installed in ADIF stations ensure:

• minimum lighting levels for safety
• visibility for travelers
• energy efficiency.

Types of luminaires

Currently, most stations use high-efficiency LED luminaires.

These light fixtures offer:

• longer lifespan
• lower energy consumption
• electronic intensity regulation
• integration with digital control systems.

Light fixtures are usually installed in:

• awnings
• lighting poles
• metal structures of the platform
• roofs of covered stations.

Automatic control by astronomical schedule

One of the most widely used methods is control by means of astronomical clock.

The system automatically calculates:

• dawn
• nightfall

Based on this data, the system activates or deactivates the lighting.

This method allows:

• adapt the ignition to the seasons of the year
• avoid unnecessary operation.

Control via light sensors

In addition to the astronomical clock, the following are installed: photocells or external light sensors.

These sensors detect:

• changes in ambient luminosity
• meteorological conditions
• cloudy days or storms.

When the level of natural light drops below a certain threshold, the system automatically activates the platform lighting.

Light intensity regulation

In modern stations it is used dynamic lighting control.

The system can work at different levels:

• normal mode (daily operation)
• low power mode
• maximum illumination mode

For example:

• During off-peak hours, the intensity is reduced
• When a train arrives, the platform lighting increases.

This regulation is carried out using digital control protocols such as:

• DALI
• KNX
• proprietary control systems.

Integration with the railway operation

In some stations, platform lighting is integrated with railway systems to improve safety.

For example:

train arrival

When the system detects the approach of a train:

• The lighting level is increased
• The platform edge lighting is being reinforced.

train departure

After the train leaves, the system can return to a reduced lighting level.

Monitoring the status of luminaires

Each lighting electrical panel has monitoring systems that allow you to know:

• ignition status
• electricity consumption
• lighting failures
• protection shots.

This data is sent to the central system so that maintenance personnel can intervene quickly.

This allows you to apply predictive maintenance, replacing light fixtures before massive failures occur.

Emergency lighting

The stations must comply with strict safety regulations.

Therefore, the following systems are installed:

• emergency lighting
• evacuation signage
• autonomous luminaires with batteries.

In case of power failure:

1. The emergency lights activate automatically
2. A minimum level of illumination is guaranteed
3. It facilitates the safe evacuation of travelers.

Energy management

Lighting automation also allows for optimized energy consumption.

The systems monitor:

• power consumed
• consumption by area
• operating hours.

With this data, savings strategies can be implemented such as:

• night regulation
• selective shutdown
• schedule optimization.

In many stations, the upgrade to LED technology has allowed consumption reductions greater than 50 %.

Integration with other station systems

The lighting doesn't work in isolation. It integrates with other automated systems:

public address system

When trains are announced, lighting can be reinforced in access areas.

video surveillance

Lighting levels are adjusted to ensure image quality in CCTV cameras.

evacuation systems

in case of emergency:

• illuminated routes are activated
• The lighting of exits is increased.

Benefits of automation

Automating lighting in ADIF stations provides multiple advantages:

These systems allow:

• automatically adjust the lighting according to actual conditions.
• integrate lighting with railway operations
• to ensure safety on the platforms
• optimize energy consumption.

Thanks to this technological infrastructure, modern stations can operate in a secure, efficient and highly automated, improving both the traveler experience and the energy sustainability of the rail network.