Buy OpenRail Overhead Line Designer: Rail Network Design Software

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Perform BIM-enabled rail electrification designs

Designing rail overhead line infrastructure projects presents unique opportunities and challenges for rail designers and engineers. OpenRail Overhead Line Designer combines OpenRail Designer’s proven technology with Siemens Sicat Master enabling you to quickly identify the optimum design choice while ensuring you have the necessary data to generate more detailed modeling later in the design stage.

The application’s BIM enabled design workflows simplify preliminary and detailed design saving time and money for rail overhead line infrastructure projects of all sizes.

A complete rail design solution

OpenRail Overhead Line Designer contains all the capabilities from OpenRail Designer including detailed railway design, roadway design, site development, sanitary and stormwater network design, subsurface utilities, and construction
drawing production. With built-in Siemens Sicat libraries, OpenRail Overhead Line Designer enables you to effectively manage your project compliance or create your own standards and user-defined libraries with easy-to-use editing functions.

Better deliverables faster

OpenRail Overhead Line Designer helps you produce more accurate project deliverables faster. Sophisticated algorithms quickly calculate accurate optimal longitudinal span length for detailed analysis of wire geometry and its interaction with the pantograph range. You can select components with precision using static load calculations on poles together with their built-on parts. Moreover, with productivity capabilities like reusable catenary installation blocks, efficient project planning and engineering is ensured.

Address industry BIM requirements

You can perform a wide variety of overhead line electrification design cases, such as long-track segments and complex yard/station areas and tunnels. Adapting to virtually any rail design and maintenance workflow it is suitable for light rail, metros (transit), heavy rail, and high-speed rail. Powered by a BIM-enabled MicroStation-based platform, the created models adhere to contemporary asset-centric information management requirements. Underlying CONNECT technology, supporting a connected data environment ensures close collaboration across multidiscipline teams.

Designing in reality context

OpenRail Overhead Line Designer excels at data acquisition, enabling users to consume multiple data types to effectively
understand site and existing conditions. From photogrammetry and total station surveys to GPS LiDAR, point clouds, and reality meshes, the application can upload, analyze, and manipulate field data, while preserving the source of the original data. The software allows you to rapidly capture the as-built condition of an existing site or asset using Bentley’s iTwin Capture Modeler to quickly produce 3D models from photographs.

“Bentley’s applications translate into inevitable efficiency in the design phase, as well as significant savings in time for review and coordination between disciplines.”

Technical Capabilities

Process Data Module Catenary Design Module Plan, Profiles, and Cross Sections Model Design Intent Integrate Multiple Disciplines Adapt to Change Improve Project Deliverables Visualizing Designs

Process Data Module

Material data
- Elasticity module
- Maximum tensile strength
Environmental data
- Wind velocity
- Ice loads
- Assembly loads
Operating conditions
- System height
- Stagger
- Valid pantograph range
- Maximum tensile force

Catenary Design Module

Pole positioning
Drawing of catenaries
Functions for creating, editing, and deleting of overhead contact line elements
- Catenary
- Attachment points
- Poles
- Cantilevers, multiple track cantilevers
- Tunnel supports
- Cross spans and yokes
- Switches, insulators, connectors, section insulators
- Traction power lines
Calculation and check of run of catenaries in dips
Insertion of section insulations and tension assemblies from an extensive library
Functions for automatic dimensioning and labeling
Check of wind deflection
Rule-based automatic and manual determination of material quantities
Comfortable track layout-based copy-and-paste function of complex groups of overhead contact line objects

Plan, Profiles, and Cross Sections

Flexible, symbolic view of overhead contact line elements (symbol size, customer specific adaption of symbols)
View of cross sections
- Visualization for each pole position
- Calculation of structure height and dimensioning
- Visualization of structure gauges and standard sections
Longitudinal profiles
- Graphical view of catenary dip
- Graphical view of vertical run of feeder and reinforcement lines
Create plans, profiles, and cross section directly from the 3D model and support federated multidiscipline models
Automatic user-defined annotation of points and segments
Additional annotation tools available for one-offs

Model Design Intent

Build associations and relationships among civil elements
Ensure the design project is reflective of engineering intent to improve design efficiency
Assure model consistency with rule-based association of overhead line elements
Relationships between components are checked and updates of the affected parts take place automatically
Create and group commonly used design elements including catenary block capabilities
Save a detailed overhead line design for one section as a catenary block and applied to different segments of the track
Use preconfigured commonly used 2D and 3D geometric layouts, such as siding or yard layouts

Integrate Multiple Disciplines

Integrate data from different disciplines to improve collaboration
Ensure the latest model is used in all phases of the design
Work in the live model to reduce risk by utilizing the data interactively
Work among rail, road, bridge, drainage, subsurface utilities, geotechnical, and other design teams
Identify conflicts earlier and eliminates construction errors and delays
Employ a comprehensive modeling environment
Share data that is relevant to the project to enrich project understanding, identify potential risk, and make more-informed engineering decisions in the design phase

Adapt to Change

Produce models that provide information beyond documentation and construction, into operations, maintenance, and rehabilitation and back to design if necessary
Use a model-centric approach, designs are dynamically updated throughout the model, guaranteeing that the current design is readily available for all team members
Make more-informed decisions earlier in the design process with more complete conceptual designs, while eliminating errors and omissions in the documentation process by having fully synchronized documentation from the model
Explore and analyze many options to maximize the performance of the asset in the real world, and reuse information to improve construction and operations of the asset

Improve Project Deliverables

Automate the production of a complete array of design deliverables
Use flexible, symbolic representation of overhead contact line elements to provide detailed 2D layout plans with annotation
Create high-quality models for your BIM workflows using corresponding 3D representation of the structures
Obtain directly from the modeled elements detailed cross-section drawings with material lists and dimensions together with material reports
Get design, volume, and cross-section data in XML industry standard format for data exchange and reporting
Use project data in multiple formats, including Excel spreadsheets, HTML or text files, PDFs, printable documents, and other output
Utilize reporting capabilities to automate the production of a variety of standard reports, including horizontal and vertical alignments, quantity takeoffs, clearance reports, stakeout, legal descriptions, surfaces, and more

Visualizing Designs

Experience designs in real time with the software’s constraint-driven templates, context sensitive, intuitive interface, and dynamic 3D modeling
Drive through the 3D corridor model
Visually evaluate overhead line structures, rail and sleeper placement, signal sighting, station designs as well as try out multiple aesthetic treatments to reach the desired result
Seamlessly integrates with LumenRT to create models and high-impact visuals and animations to effectively communicate the project to stakeholders for project approvals

Process Data Module

Material data
- Elasticity module
- Maximum tensile strength
Environmental data
- Wind velocity
- Ice loads
- Assembly loads
Operating conditions
- System height
- Stagger
- Valid pantograph range
- Maximum tensile force

Catenary Design Module

Pole positioning
Drawing of catenaries
Functions for creating, editing, and deleting of overhead contact line elements
- Catenary
- Attachment points
- Poles
- Cantilevers, multiple track cantilevers
- Tunnel supports
- Cross spans and yokes
- Switches, insulators, connectors, section insulators
- Traction power lines
Calculation and check of run of catenaries in dips
Insertion of section insulations and tension assemblies from an extensive library
Functions for automatic dimensioning and labeling
Check of wind deflection
Rule-based automatic and manual determination of material quantities
Comfortable track layout-based copy-and-paste function of complex groups of overhead contact line objects

Plan, Profiles, and Cross Sections

Flexible, symbolic view of overhead contact line elements (symbol size, customer specific adaption of symbols)
View of cross sections
- Visualization for each pole position
- Calculation of structure height and dimensioning
- Visualization of structure gauges and standard sections
Longitudinal profiles
- Graphical view of catenary dip
- Graphical view of vertical run of feeder and reinforcement lines
Create plans, profiles, and cross section directly from the 3D model and support federated multidiscipline models
Automatic user-defined annotation of points and segments
Additional annotation tools available for one-offs

Model Design Intent

Build associations and relationships among civil elements
Ensure the design project is reflective of engineering intent to improve design efficiency
Assure model consistency with rule-based association of overhead line elements
Relationships between components are checked and updates of the affected parts take place automatically
Create and group commonly used design elements including catenary block capabilities
Save a detailed overhead line design for one section as a catenary block and applied to different segments of the track
Use preconfigured commonly used 2D and 3D geometric layouts, such as siding or yard layouts

Integrate Multiple Disciplines

Integrate data from different disciplines to improve collaboration
Ensure the latest model is used in all phases of the design
Work in the live model to reduce risk by utilizing the data interactively
Work among rail, road, bridge, drainage, subsurface utilities, geotechnical, and other design teams
Identify conflicts earlier and eliminates construction errors and delays
Employ a comprehensive modeling environment
Share data that is relevant to the project to enrich project understanding, identify potential risk, and make more-informed engineering decisions in the design phase

Adapt to Change

Produce models that provide information beyond documentation and construction, into operations, maintenance, and rehabilitation and back to design if necessary
Use a model-centric approach, designs are dynamically updated throughout the model, guaranteeing that the current design is readily available for all team members
Make more-informed decisions earlier in the design process with more complete conceptual designs, while eliminating errors and omissions in the documentation process by having fully synchronized documentation from the model
Explore and analyze many options to maximize the performance of the asset in the real world, and reuse information to improve construction and operations of the asset

Improve Project Deliverables

Automate the production of a complete array of design deliverables
Use flexible, symbolic representation of overhead contact line elements to provide detailed 2D layout plans with annotation
Create high-quality models for your BIM workflows using corresponding 3D representation of the structures
Obtain directly from the modeled elements detailed cross-section drawings with material lists and dimensions together with material reports
Get design, volume, and cross-section data in XML industry standard format for data exchange and reporting
Use project data in multiple formats, including Excel spreadsheets, HTML or text files, PDFs, printable documents, and other output
Utilize reporting capabilities to automate the production of a variety of standard reports, including horizontal and vertical alignments, quantity takeoffs, clearance reports, stakeout, legal descriptions, surfaces, and more

Visualizing Designs

Experience designs in real time with the software’s constraint-driven templates, context sensitive, intuitive interface, and dynamic 3D modeling
Drive through the 3D corridor model
Visually evaluate overhead line structures, rail and sleeper placement, signal sighting, station designs as well as try out multiple aesthetic treatments to reach the desired result
Seamlessly integrates with LumenRT to create models and high-impact visuals and animations to effectively communicate the project to stakeholders for project approvals

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What is OpenRail Overhead Line Designer?

Developed jointly by Bentley Systems and Siemens Mobility, it combines OpenRail Designer technology with Sicat Master. OpenRail Overhead Line Designer brings 3D to the world of overhead line catenary systems, advancing workflows beyond traditional plan production into the development of digital twins with asset information for the entire lifecycle.

How much does OpenRail Overhead Line Designer cost?

A practitioner license of OpenRail Overhead Line Designer costs $16,357 USD. Prices vary per region. While there are various types of licensing available, a common choice is the 12-month practitioner license offered through Virtuosity, Bentley’s eCommerce store. When you purchase through Virtuosity, you get a Virtuoso Subscription. This means you get the software and “Keys” (tokens) to redeem for customizable training, mentoring, and consulting services.

System Requirements

Processor

Intel Pentium-based or AMD Athlon-based processor 2.0 GHz or greater.

Operating System

Windows 10 (64-bit)
Windows 8 and 8.1 (64-bit)

Memory

8 GB minimum 16 GB recommended. (More memory typically results in better performance)

Disk Space

9 GB minimum free disk space (which includes the 5.6 GB install footprint for a complete installation)

Video

See the graphics card manufacturer for latest information on DirectX drivers. 1024 MB of video RAM or higher is recommended

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Rail network design software

Perform BIM-enabled rail electrification designs

A complete rail design solution

Better deliverables faster

Address industry BIM requirements

Designing in reality context