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Technical Meeting Papers

Technical Meetings are held three times per year.
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2024 – March – Zhu, Lauro & Nardi – Innovative Tablet Solution for Improving Rail Operation
By: Dr Bin Zhu, Gianluigi Lauro & Federico Nardi
Date Presented: March 12th, 2024

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2024 – March – Sudholz – Passively Active – Warning systems for passive & occupation level crossings in agricultural settings
By: Thomas Sudholz
Date Presented: March 12th, 2024

This Paper investigates the issues regarding use of passive level crossings for livestock movements in the agricultural industry. This unavoidable practice presents a different risk profile to the typical user, with livestock movement being


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2024 – March – Robinson – Barriers to innovation in signalling design, verification, and validation
By: Neil Robinson
Date Presented: March 12th, 2024

I started in signalling more than 30 years ago at British Rail, where I learnt how to design interlockings, initially in relay circuits, and then by programming Solid State Interlockings. This work sparked my interest in safety critical syste


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2024 – March – Moore – Signalling Principles – What are they and where do they come from?
By: Trevor Moore
Date Presented: March 12th, 2024

The term signalling principles is often referenced with regards to the design of a signalling system. It is also used as part of the title of a person ‘Principles Verifier’ or ‘Principles Tester’. Some rail managers also reference signalling p


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2024 – March – Khan & Kamarulzaman – FRMCS – Integrated Migration Strategy
By: Obaid Khan & Khairulzaman Kamarulzaman
Date Presented: March 12th, 2024

This paper offers a detailed FRMCS integrated migration strategy as a preparatory guide for current GSM-R users, particularly Rail Transport Operators (RTOs), as well as for projects in the planning and developmen


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2024 – March – Alvarez – Case Study – FRMCS Migration Path in Perth
By: Rodrigo Alvarez
Date Presented: March 13th, 2024

The Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (PTA) is currently building a new mobile radio and backhaul transmission communications network across the Perth metropolitan electrified railway network. 


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2024 – August – Burns – Human Factors at Level Crossings
By: Peter Burns
Date Presented: August 21st, 2024

Today’s railway fatalities are arguably more likely to occur at level crossings than in the train collisions we tend to focus most attention on controlling. Designing for level crossing safety can be messy and grey, especially when the dependen


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2024 – August – Boss – Human aspects of managing cyber security in delivering ERTMS
By: John Boss
Date Presented: August 21st, 2024

The Netherlands is rolling out the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) across the national network. The government created a Programme Directorate to manage the rollout. Cyber security for both ERTMS as well as the transportation syst


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2022 – November – Youle – Qualitative analysis – the more efficient approach to managing risks SFAIRP
By: Patrick Youle
Date Presented: November 1st, 2022

To support the acceptance of safety risk for configuration changes to railways, systems engineering recognises both qualitative and quantitative hazard and risk assessment methods. Quantitative analysis can be perceived as objective and quali


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2022 – November – Hunter – Cybersecurity in the Railway Industry
By: Hugh Hunter
Date Presented: November 1st, 2022

Cybersecurity is a hot topic worldwide with regular attacks being performed against multiple domains.


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2010 – March – Neist – Keynote Address IRSE AGM & Technical Meeting Brisbane

Author(s):
Date presented: December 27th, 2015

Len Neist Chief Executive ITSRR Thank you for the invitation and opportunity to present a paper at your Annual General Meeting. One of the most significant safety risks that require constant attention and investment in improvement is the risk of a wrong side failure. Signalling and communications are the key systems that provide controls and defences to assure railway operations avoid a wrong side failure risk.  

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2010 – Oct – Grady – Signalling Maintenance and Operations Experiences in a Fully Automated Modern Medtro System

Author(s):
Date presented: December 27th, 2015

Norm Grady Comp IRSE, FIE (Aust) Manager, Network Planning & Development – Metro Trains Melbourne The purpose of this paper is to recount the author's experiences in the operation and maintenance of fully automated relatively modern guided transit systems in Singapore and compare those experiences with the Melbourne system.

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1989 – Nov – Stepniewski – An Application of SSI to Epping

Author(s):
Date presented: December 27th, 2015

R.T. A. STEPNIEWSKI MIRSE GEC ALSTHOM AUSTRALIA LTD. Many papers have been published on the subject of the British Railways Solid State Interlocking (SSI). It is, therefore, assumed that most signal engineers have some idea of what SS1 is and its basic operation. This paper focuses on describing the design and test process of applying SS1 to the Epping interlocking. It covers the areas of scheme design, SS1 location and circuit design, and in particular the customisation of the SS1 interlocking to the Epping requirements.

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1998 – July – Cockram – Keynote Address – Down the Privatisation Road

Author(s):
Date presented: December 27th, 2015

FC Cockram Corporate Relations Manager Tranz Rail Ltd  

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2007 – July – Samaan -A Position Paper on Software Validation and Dependability for Safety Critical Systems

Author(s):
Date presented: December 27th, 2015

Noel Samaan, PhD Senior Member IEEE (USA), Member IEE (UK), CPEng R&D Software Systems Group Ansaldo STS As the reliance on software is significantly increasing in railway industries replacing electronic, pseudoprogrammable electromechanical devices and wayside signals (in the future), the demand for quantifiable and traceable techniques to determine the trustability and dependability of software is becoming more critical. Given the pressures on delivering projects on-time with inherent heavier contribution of software to decision– making dynamics of train operations whether related to train control, routing, database-driven scheduling or issuance of train orders and, given the rather fluidic nature of software development and change in requirements (when compared with hardware domain), validation of software applications for railway at relatively high confidence levels and low cost is a challenge that has become a significant ingredient to project over-run and higher than estimated project costs. This paper reviews the requirements for safety-critical systems for railway, highlights the main differences between software and hardware approaches used to determine product reliability and presents a case study to illustrate how modelling and metric-driven approaches to software validation can lead to high assurance levels whilst reducing the validation cost. The paper concludes with a few recommendations where railway industry can benefit from other industries where software became a core activity at later stages of business evolution which demanded the delivery of faster, cheaper and better quality software applications.

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2014 – March – Mariapon – Safe and Reliable Signalling Power Supplies

Author(s):
Date presented: December 27th, 2015

Johnson Mariapon MIEAust, CPEng, RPEQ, Assoc.MIRSE Aurizon As contemporary railway signalling adopts more and more sophisticated electronics, incorporating communication subsystems like network switches, modems and diagnostics for overall train control, the need for high performance power supplies to feed these items is a paramount. The sensitive Signalling & Telecommunications (S&T) devices cannot even tolerate a momentary break in the power supply because these breaks affect its normal functioning and can reduce its designated life expectancy. This tutorial paper discusses techniques for designing a reliable power supply for signalling and communication systems using modern power equipment. Details on current electrical safety practices specific to S&T are also provided. In most signalling training, subjects discuss the signalling design and general power supply concept but do not focus largely on the unearthed power supply systems adopted for railways (Floating Supply) and requirements for feeding the signalling equipment in a traction electricity environment. This paper addresses this gap by exploring, explaining and outlining the floating signalling power supplies and the associated usage of Earth Leakage Detectors (ELD) in signalling power supplies in detail. This paper also emphasizes the application of AS/NZS 3000:2007 standards in signalling power design.

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2002 – August – Riedel – QR Maintenance : A New Direction

Author(s):
Date presented: December 27th, 2015

Scott Riedel B Eng (Hons) R. P. Eng Manager Trackside Systems, Regional and Systems Support, QR. In response to customer expectations of reduced costs and increased safety and set against a backdrop of an increasingly litigious society, Trackside Systems has established a framework for maintenance which it hopes can meet or exceed customer requirements, while detailing a process which demonstrates a duty of care. The framework QR has adopted is one of competency based training and assessment, combined with a maintenance regime consisting of a comprehensive suite of defined maintenance tasks and ongoing asset condition and performance review. National competencies are listed in position descriptions which define roles. These National Competencies are tailored to QR requirements by familiarisation training, which can be provided in the field by suitably qualified staff. All maintenance tasks have been defined by a check sheet and maintenance periods. These check sheets are underpinned by competency training and together with an equipment database form the basis for a maintenance scheduling system. These schedules are base on Failure Modes & Effects analysis or historical maintenance methods, but in either case are subject to ongoing review for effectiveness. This review is performed by correlating real time fault data for equipment with maintenance records. This is part on an ongoing asset condition and maintenance performance review. This data review is integral to improving data integrity, thus allowing a basis for sound business decisions on network investment. The above framework and its on-going nature is believed to be the key to maintaining safety in a justifiable manner, in an environment where cost reduction is expected.

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1996 – March – Lam – An Overview of the MTR New Automatic Train Control System

Author(s):
Date presented: December 27th, 2015

L.Y. Lam MSc, CEng, MIEE, MIRSE, MIEAust The Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway Corporation The Mass Transit Railway employs a speed code fixed block signalling system which is a derivative of the British Railway main line signalling system in which at least one clear block is maintained between trains. This system imposes a number of limitations on design flexibility. The block length design has to cover all types of rolling stock running on the line and it is difficult to optimise the line capacity. This paper describes a signalling system which employs the distance-to-go principle with on-board intelligence and - using continuous bidirectional communication between train and trackside equipment. It provides an effective means of continuous train regulation control, condition based maintenance as well as improved system availability and safety.

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1987 – March – Small – Overview of North Island Main Truck Electrification

Author(s):
Date presented: December 27th, 2015

A.F. SMALL, M.E. Ph.D C. Eng., M.LC.E, M.NZ.LR, F.C.I.T. GROUP MANAGER (PREIGET BUSINESS GROUP) NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS CORPOMTION The electrification of the North island Main Trunk Railway (NIMT) is the largest engineering project carried out by New Zealand Railways in recent times. Extending over 410km the Electrification Project traverses the central region of the North Island of New Zealand. The project was initially proposed to increase operating capacity and was approved as a strategic project in the national interest in 1981. But market requirements have changed from demand for increased capacity to new demands for lower transport operator costs and improved transit times over one of the most densely aperated sktions in the New Zealand rail network. The Freight Business Group sees the Project as an element in the task of meeting current market requirements. This Project is of similar magnitude to the construction of the line itself between 1880 and 1908. The decision to electrify the route was therefore taken only after protracted strategic reviews of alternative operating systems and detailed economic and engineering investigations. The Project today is still not without some controversy. The total cost of the Project as forecast in 1981 was S141.8M with an additional $20M of investment in the replacement of signals and communication equipment and associated civil work to be carriedout within NZR's annual capital investment programme. The 1981 proposal forecast savings providing a 14.2% internal rate of return. The Project is still within the budget (allowing for inflation) and is on time for scheduled completion in 1988. This paper describes the background to the Project; the freight markets of the North Island; the range of electrification studies previously undertaken; the factors that led to the 1981 decision by Government to electrify the route; the operating requirements and scope of the project; progress  to date; recent changes to the New Zealand transport scene which have affected the economic viability of the Project; and the commercial role of electrification for the future.

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1992 – July – Singh – Guidelines for AN Employees on Legal Liability

Author(s):
Date presented: December 27th, 2015

Sashi Singh In-House Counsel for Australian Solicitor The subject of legal liability is quite complex. These guidelines are simply an outline of the general principles involved in the area of civil and criminal liability and cannot act as a substitute for legal advice on a case by case basis.

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