The dispatcher's tools

After the introduction on this page, we'll examine the tools available to the Zurich dispatcher in the following pages:

Track-diagram display
Measuring deviation from schedule
Software
Time-distance display:
	Green band
	Forecasting travel times
	Forecasting in the future

The Zurich dispatching center is equipped with five identical workplaces for train dispatching. During peak periods, four of the five are manned. This diminishes through the evening to just one person in the middle of the night.

The dispatchers have four major aids in supervising rail traffic on their territory. Each aid has its strong points, and they thus complement each other.

The first two major aids are general tools that are available throughout the SBB. We thus cover them in the Communication section of this site:

• voice communication
• text communication

In contrast, the other two tools are specific to the Zurich dispatching center:

• the time-distance display
• the track-diagram display

For both these displays, SBB uses several makers' software. The Zurich dispatching center has selected one of these. Both of these displays track train's deviation from schedule.