202503 – Afshar – CBTC Signalling System & Emerging Technologies
Author(s): Parisa Afshar
Date presented:
Technical Meeting Papers
Technical Meetings are held three times per year.
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2001 – July – Moore – Cityrail Safe Stations Project
Date Presented: December 27th, 2015
Trevor Moore B.E. (Elec), MBA, FIRSE, FIE(Aust) Director Endeavour Management & Engineering Pty Ltd Project Director TOMS, State Rail Authority IT & T The CityRail Division of the State Rail Authority of New South Wales in late 1998 embarked on the Safe Station Program to improve the safety and security of passengers at 302 CityRail stations. This included the provision of improved lighting on all stations and the installation of closed Circuit Television on all stations. The CCTV to be monitored from 17 regional security control centres and a central security control centre. The Philips Projects Division was awarded the contract for the CCTV system in late 1998. In 2000 Philips sold the Projects Division to Tyco Integrated Systems who have continued to undertake the contract for Philips. There is also a long term maintenance contract. Following a technical performance problem with one of the CCTV products, the installation works were separated into three stages. The first stage covered the installation and commissioning of cameras and 2 frames per second recording at 70 stations critical for the Olympic Games. This work was completed by the end on August 2000. This included remote viewing of these cameras from 9 regional security control centres. The second stage was the installation of cameras at the remaining 232 stations and 8 regional security control centres. The third stage is the implementation of 25 frames per second recording and remote viewing, installation of help points and long line PA.
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1995 – July – Erdos – A National Approach to Australian Rail Safety Regulation the Direction for Signal Engineering and I.R.S.E in Australia
Date Presented: December 27th, 2015
George Erdos Chairman IRSE Australasian Section Licensing Sub Committee This paper builds on recent events in the rail industry both in Australia & the UK and explains the need for adopting an accreditation scheme, in Australia, for employees involved in the profession of railway signalling and telecommunications. The paper further looks at the reason for adopting the UK IRSE licencing scheme and progress made to-date in Australia for implementing this scheme. The IRSE licencing scheme was first conceived in the UK. It stems from a number of major rail signalling related disasters, including the Clapham Junction accident. As a result of these accidents an independent UK board of inquiry found it necessary to recommended that only "Competent Employees", skilled in the profession of railway signalling/telecommunications should be allowed to work on railway safety critical signalling systems. It was considered that this could be best achieved by a process of accreditation/licencing and continuous auditing. British Rail (BR) and London Underground (LUL) subsequently began examining mechanisms by which they could best introduce an employee certification scheme. They eventually considered that the lnstitution of Railway Signal Engineers (UK) would be ideally suited to undertake this independent certification task. Although the scheme has been developed at the specific request of British Rail and London Underground it is designed to be flexible enough to be adopted by almost any country. The IRSE (UK) is infact encouraging its overseas membership to review the scheme for possible adoption as appropriate.
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2000 – March – Warwick – Privatisation the Thiess Infraco Way
Date Presented: December 27th, 2015
Jim Warwick Signal Maintenance CO Ordinator Thiess lnfraco On the 2gth August 1999 the Victorian public transport system was privatised. Bayside Trains, Swanston Trams and VlLine Pass were franchised to National Express. Hillside Trains were franchised to Melbourne Transport Limited. Yarra Trams were franchised to Metro Link. With the announcement that National Express Group had won the bid for Bayside Trains, Swanston Trams and VlLine Passenger, the long process to make the new venture viable had begun. A joint venture between Thiess Contractors and RSA provide such services as to enable the best management possible of the assets. Thiess lnfraco has an alliance contract with National Express Group to maintain the infrastructure for Bayside Trains and Swanston Trams. Risks are carried by the party in the best position to do so, with profits dependent on achieving Key Performance specified in the contract.
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2001 – March – Jackson – The Railway Signalling Industry – A Millennium of Change and Management Challenges
Date Presented: December 27th, 2015
Lyle Jackson Managing Director Union Switch & Signal Pty Ltd Change has had a significant impact on the railway industry over the past decade and will continue to provide significant management challenges as we enter the new Millennium. Change has impacted on all aspects of the industry including the corporatisation and privatisation of previously government railways, the segregation into above rail and below rail organisations, the introduction of rail safety regulators, the increased documentation demands for equipment approval, the mobility of the workforce as well as the technology used. It is envisaged that there are more significant changes on the horizon with the impact of business focus on the management of railways, the introduction of more perfonnance driven solutions and the resultant need to change the customer contractor relationships. There is likely to be rationalisation of both the railways and the supplier organisations as each strive for efficiency and improved returns to the stakeholders. In the end only the fittest will survive. Those organisations with the ability to adapt and to work more closely in client/supplier teams to deliver systems which improve the performance of the railway industry will move forward into the new millennium.
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1994 – Nov – Ness – Engineering the National Rail Works & Interfaces – Adelaide
Date Presented: December 27th, 2015
David Ness Kinhill Connell Wagner Joint Venture National Rail Corporation was formed in 1992 under the auspices of the Federal Governments One Nation Programme. In line with the main objectives of the One Nation Policy National Rail was charged with the planning and implementation of a standard gauge rail linking Brisbane to Perth via each of the State capitals and major east coast population centres. The aim of this link is to enable transnational rail traffic to be hauled uninterrupted by state boundaries.The enormity of this task should not be underestimated given Australia's historic State parochialism's and 2 previous, but aborted, attempts at unifying our disjointed national rail system. The budget for achieving the enviable goal was set at $153 million for the Melbourne to Adelaide corridor. Although a seemingly generous sum at face value a per kilometre break down results in an average budgetry expenditure of approximately $125,000 dollars per kilometre. As I am sure many of you would be aware when it is considered that much of the works required to enable single gauge running involve not only civil and trackworks, but roadworks, land acquisition, level crossing and pedestrian protection, as well as signalling issues, the sum is in fact far short of what even the most hard pressed State Authorities would anticipate for any similar upgrading of it's own infrastructure. This obvious shortage of funds, as well as problems arising due to the inevitable conflicts between the desires of National Rail and those of the various State Rail Authorities, local and State Governments and other public pressure groups have created a project driven by compromise more than pure engineering rationale. The Belair - Goodwood Corridor, as much as any other portion of the project reflects each of these various factors and has shaped the planning, design and implementation of the necessary works in a way that might not normally be envisaged. The following outline of the project works aims to detail the ''whys" and "hows" of theBelair - Goodwood standard gauge resignalling works.
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1993 – Nov – Cross – A Journey Through Train Detection
Date Presented: December 27th, 2015
P.J. Cross Technical Director Westinghouse Signals Limited In my opinion it's all about finding out where the trains are (or to be pedantic but more precise, where they aren't!). The paper is a personal view based on a few (!) years of experience in the field. It is not intended that it should be a replacement for excellent treatises on the subject (such as refs. 1, 2 & 3). I have attempted to provide a historical view of train detection and its role in the signalling system and then explore the latest technology and how the new demands for train detection are being met. No apology is made for the fact that the paper is heavily biased towards track circuits as they have dominated the train detection market.
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1996 – March – Knowlton – Continuous In-Cab Signalling & ATP
Date Presented: December 27th, 2015
P. Knowlton Union Switch & Signal Pty. Ltd. This paper describes the technical solutions reached to satisfy the requirements of a heavy haul railway for a modern integrated central control, distributed processor based interlockings and an in-cab signalling system incorporating on-board automatic train protection. The operating methods for a dedicated heavy haul railway are in many respects different to a mixed passenger and freight railway, Maintaining safety is concerned with the efficient delivery of the product from the mine to the port, which in this case adds the complexity of not stopping trains, unless absolutely necessary. Unnecessary braking of a heavily loaded train can cause problems with broken couplings which can have significant operating consequences.
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1987 – July – Stottney-Turbill – Introduction of Route Signals in the Adelaide Metropolitan Area
Date Presented: December 27th, 2015
P.N. Scottney-Turbill Train Services Superintendent State Transport Authority South Australia Following the State Transport Authority's acceptance of its Consultant's recommendation to install British type, three aspect colour light route signals in the Adelaide metropolitan area, it was necessary to identify any problems in introducing what appeared to be a radical departure from the existing speed signalling system. Firstly, A.F.U.L.E. representatives were given a demonstration of the physical characteristics of the new style of signal and the aspects to be displayed and, in general terms, there were found acceptable. Following comments from the A.F.U.LE. some modifications were made. Some of the major factors which were considered when developing Operating Rules to apply to the new Signalling system were: Australian National trains use State Transport Authority lines. State Transport Authority trains use Australian National lines. Australian National's signalling system uses speed indications only. Australian National crews work on State Transport Authority trains on a made available basis, and the interchange between the two organizations. During the construction and comissioning stages there will be a mixture of both signalling systems in the metropolitan area. The system should give a simple clear signal indications. There should be no degradation of safety nor reduction in flexibility.
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1990 – Nov – Deveney – Alternative Safe Working System (ASW)
Date Presented: December 27th, 2015
T. DEVENEP A.R.M.I.T., M.I.R.S.E. ENGINEERING MANAGER PUBLIC TRANSPORT CORPORATION VICTORIA The Alternative Safeworking System is currently being developed by the Public Transport Corporation Victoria for its medium density country lines. The development came out of the need to find an alternative cost effective safeworking System for lines which were perceived as being unsuitable for train orders. Treasury indicated that it was unwilling to fund a Safeworking System similar to ATCS in cost. The project which started life as the Electronic Safeworking Project became the Alternative Safeworking Project. The system which will be operated as Section Authority Working may be divided into three areas. These are; an Operational Rules Base, Radio Transmission System and Train Control Workstation System. Each of the major elements is progressing towards an implementation date of November 1991 for the North Geelong to Mildura Corridor. Remaining corridor implementations will be staged over the following 2 years as locomotives are fitted.
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1993 – April – Scheck – Strategies for Train Control Within QR – Part 1: Universal Traffic Control
Date Presented: December 27th, 2015
Mike Schek (QR) This paper looks briefly at the major events and influences which led to the in-house development of QR's Universal Traffic Control system. This evolution is based on a wealth of operating and technical experience which has now positioned UTC as QR's strategic control system for operation in all power signalled areas - be it a conventional CTC, urban, or yard environment. QR control systems developed for un-signalled or dark territory include Computer Assisted Train Order System (CATOS) and QR Direct Traffic Control (QR DTC). The philosophy behind the QR DTC system and a comparison with train order operations is covered by Andrew Antoniou in part 2 of this paper.
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202503 – Li – Competency Management in the Australian Railway Signalling Industry
Author(s): Danie Li
Date presented:
202503 – Moore – Signal Design Report: What Is It and Why Do We Need It?
Author(s): Trevor Moore
Date presented:
202503 – Sudholz – Break of Gauge: Competencies in the Australian Signalling Project Environment
Author(s): Thomas Sudholz
Date presented:
202503 – Turner – Growing Graduates in the Sun: 30 Years of Signalling Graduate Development in Queensland Rail
Author(s): Blake Turner
Date presented:
202503 – Villegas – The Importance of Operation and Maintenance Concepts in the Delivery and Operation of Rail Networks
Author(s): Selena Villegas
Date presented:
2004 – July – Modernisation of KTMB’s Signalling & Telecommunication Systems
Author(s):
Date presented:
The total route length of KTMB’s network amounts to approximately 1670 km and is mainly single track except for about 150 km of electrified double track sections around the capital city, Kuala Lumpur, for commuter services.
2001 – March – Garrett – Brisbane Airport Rail Link Project – Overview
Author(s): Mike Garrett
Date presented:
Mike Garrett Airtrain Citylink is a Queensland company formed specifically to undertake the development and operation of a rail link between Brisbane Airport and the city of Brisbane on a build, own, operate, transfer (BOOT) basis. See attached Figure 1. Airtrain's shareholders are Colonial Group Staff Superannuation Scheme, Airtrain Trust (4 superannuation funds), Hyder Investments, GIO Australia, CDC Projects, Transfield & 26 smaller investers.
2001 – July – Stepniewski – Blacktown’s VDU Signalling Control System “Sigview”
Author(s): Richard Stepniewski
Date presented:
Richard Stepniewski Alstom's VDU Control System, called SigView, was successfully commissioned at Blacktown, in two stages as part of the Blacktown Resignalling Project: - Stage 1: control of Blacktown and Quakers Hill in December 1999. - Stage 2: control of Richmond Line and Quakers Hill in March 2000.
2000 – March – Furness & Clarke – Maintaining for Reliability
Author(s): John Furness & John Clarke
Date presented:
John Furness & John Clarke ABB Engineering Construction are responsible for maintaining various components of the Victorian Rail system on behalf of the newly franchised businesses. The transition from publicly owned railway authority to private industry, specialist maintenance provider has required considerable change at both the organisational and individual staff levels. The process has also uncovered a number of deficiencies in the pre-existing maintenance structure and practices that do not meet the needs and performance requirements of the new Operators. ABB are currently developing and planning for new procedures and practices, etc ,where necessary, to meet our client's expectations for continuos improvements in the overall railway system reliability to achieve and exceed the new performance benchmarks