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Technical Meeting Papers

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2022 – November – Fraser – Train Positioning in Tunnels using Ultra-Wideband
By: Aaron Fraser
Date Presented: November 2nd, 2022

Aaron FraserUltra-Wideband (UWB) technology is a radio frequency technology that uses a very large bandwidth to transmit and receive small pulses that are used to calculate precise locations. UWB has been proven to provide industry-leading positioning wit


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2022 – November – Bonassa et al – Tunnel Solutions for Modern Transportation Systems – A Holistic Approach
By: Stefano Bonassa, Giacomo Cernelli, Massimo Orsi, Federico Nardi & Anthony MacDonald
Date Presented: October 21st, 2024

Stefano Bonassa, Giacomo Cernelli, Massimo Orsi, Federico Nardi & Anthony MacDonald Typically, the integration of the Signalling System, Platform Screen Door PSD, Tunnel Ventilation System TVS, Automatic Train Operation ATO, SCADA and other particular equipment, which interact with Signalling in and around the Tunnel, create new requirements to be allocated to innovative signalling systems like ETCS or CBTC.


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2022 – November – Boldeman – Systems Engineering – Myths and Realities
By: Steven Boldeman
Date Presented: October 21st, 2024

Steven Boldeman Within the last decade, Systems Engineering has been used with more and more industries, and has been adopted within the rail industry. This paper discusses the reality of practice for systems engineering in Australia, and in particular for the rail industry. Systems engineering is a relatively new field in Australia for rail and the application of the field to the rail industry is developing and improving as time progresses. There have been hard lessons.


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2022 – April – Wagner – Implementing an integrated system delivery framework to enable successful delivery of complex, multidisciplinary projects
By: Thomas Wagner
Date Presented: October 21st, 2024

Thomas Wagner The aim of this paper is to propose the use of an Integrated System Delivery framework approach for the implementation of complex, multidisciplinary projects. The paper summarises the current spending in the Australian rail market and the industry trends and practices related to the delivery of megaprojects. It looks at traditional design and construction delivery approaches for such projects and investigates their appropriateness compared to the proposed integrated approach. Key changes in approach such as the impacts Covid has had on project teams, common factors that contribute to project failures and the existing use of systems and digital engineering are discussed. The paper provides an overview of the proposed Integrated System Delivery framework for projects and outlines key aspects of the framework that support a new approach to design, construction and implementation phases of complex, multidisciplinary projects.


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2022 – April – Rahman – Reconnecting with Concepts of Collection, Verification & Maintenance of Accurate Geographic Data for ATP
By: Subrina Rahman
Date Presented: October 21st, 2024

Subrina Rahman When presented with a set of flawed input data, the best-case scenario a system designer can hope for is that the system will recognize the flaw and stop working; and in worst case it will keep working with the erroneous data and produce an unpredicted outcome. This is true for simple systems being designed by university students to safety critical complex systems like the Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system currently being rolled across the greater Sydney’s heavy rail network. Only in the latter case, flawed input data could cost lives.  


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2022 – April – Moore – Level Crossings – Controlling the Hazards
By: Trevor Moore
Date Presented: October 21st, 2024

Trevor Moore Level crossings encompass many hazards including the uncontrolled hazards associated with motor vehicles and pedestrians. This paper examines a variety of hazards impacting on level crossing safety. There are also references to incident reports which are a good source for hazards and their consequences.


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2022 – April – McGregor – Motor generators, 240V (MEN) and Isolated power supplies for signalling
By: Peter McGregor
Date Presented: October 21st, 2024

Peter McGregor In NSW country areas we have historically used diesel motor generator sets to provide 120V AC power to operate signalling equipment in the field. With new technologies with electronics/inverters and the drive to use COTS (Commercial off the shelf) equipment we are using 240V commercial generator sets as opposed to the customised (e.g., Lister brand) old style generator sets at 120V AC.  


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2022 – April – McGrath – The “Obsolescence Problem” in Signalling
By: Alex McGrath
Date Presented: October 21st, 2024

Alex McGrath The ‘obsolescence problem’ in signalling is a topic of much discussion and consternation. This paper focuses on the different types of obsolescence and the system elements and forces which drive the ‘problem’, to get a deep understanding of the landscape.


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2022 – April – Lemon – Can ETCS Level 2 help us reconnect the Australian rail networks and offer an interoperable and harmonised future for our railways?
By: Stephen Lemon
Date Presented: October 21st, 2024

Stephen Lemon As a result of Australia’s colonial history the state railway networks have evolved very differently, and whilst differences in track gauge have been largely resolved, there remain major differences between the signalling and train control systems that continue to present significant challenges for interstate and inter-network train operations.


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2022 – April – Cox – Trainguard MT Communications Based Train Control
By: Simeon Cox
Date Presented: October 21st, 2024

Simeon Cox The backbone of large cities is their mass transit, supporting the needs of the population and providing a dependable pathway between nerve sites. Over the next 30 years, several Australian capital cities will be approaching ‘Mega City’ levels of population and will need to consider high-capacity metro systems to move their population as they ‘re-open’ following the COVID 19 pandemic. Access to efficient public transport provides greater equity in access to employment and educational opportunities across the population of the city as people return to the office, workplace, and classroom. Since 2006, Siemens Trainguard MT CBTC has been at the centre of high-capacity metro railways operating at GoA2 and GoA4 in cities worldwide.


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2001 – March – Garrett – Brisbane Airport Rail Link Project – Overview

Author(s): Mike Garrett
Date presented: October 20th, 2024

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.

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2001 – July – Stepniewski – Blacktown’s VDU Signalling Control System “Sigview”

Author(s): Richard Stepniewski
Date presented: October 20th, 2024

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.

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2000 – March – Furness & Clarke – Maintaining for Reliability

Author(s): John Furness & John Clarke
Date presented: October 20th, 2024

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

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1999 – July – Blakeley-Smith & Webb – Queensland Rail’s Integrated Intelligent Hot Bearing and Wheel lmpact Detector Systems

Author(s): Andrew Blakeley-Smith & Paul Webb
Date presented: October 20th, 2024

Andrew Blakeley-Smith & Paul Webb This paper describes the background, evolution, design and construction of a network of Hot Bearing and Hot Wheel Detectors (HBD/HWD) and a Wheel lmpact Load Detector (WILD) and the associated data acquisition and analysis system installed, in its first stage, on the Goonyella line and associated mine branches.  

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1998 – July – Skilton – Tranz Rail’s National Train Control Centre

Author(s): JT Skilton
Date presented: October 20th, 2024

JT Skilton Signalling systems within Tranz Rail which require control from a remote location can be classified into three types, Centralised Traffic Control (CTC), remote controlled interlockings in Track Warrant (TW) territory and remote controlled interlockings embedded in Double Line Automatic (DLA) signalling. The CTC systems control the movement of trains in both directions over a single line section divided up into block sections and crossing loops. A field unit is installed at each crossing loop for the purpose of communicating with the control centre. TW control requires all trains to hold a warrant for the section of line being traversed. This warrant is issued to the locomotive engineer verbally over the train radio system and checked for correct reception by reading back over the radio system to the control centre. A selected number of crossing loops within TW territory are fully interlocked and equipped with a field unit which allows the Train Control Operator (TCO) to have full control over motor points and signals. Centralised control of interlockings in DLA territory is used where junctions between main and branch lines occur. Central control is used for movements to and from the branch line and, although it can also be used for signalling along the main lines, the interlocking can be switched to automatic for main line movements.

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1998 – July – McDonald – Today’s Interlocking – A World of Applications

Author(s): Wayne McDonald
Date presented: October 20th, 2024

Wayne McDonald Computer based interlockings today must be adaptable to the vastly different environments found in the many rail networks throughout the world. This paper overviews some of these environments where one such system, WESTRACE, has been installed and it highlights some of the special requirements essential to suit those locations.  

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1997 – November – Brock, Ebzery & McMurtrie – Homebush Bay Rail Link – Signalling Design and Management

Author(s): Peter Brock, Frank Ebzery & Bruce McMurtrie
Date presented: October 20th, 2024

Peter Brock, Frank Ebzery & Bruce McMurtrie The construction of the Year 2000 Olympic facilities and the relocation of the Royal Agricultural Show Grounds Homebush Bay requires the construction of a high capacity transport link. Heavy rail is the only transport system that will supply the required capacity. The new Homebush Bay rail Loop will connect Olympic Park and the new Homebush Bay Showgrounds with the rest of the Sydney metropolitan rail networkTrail loop is nearing completion and will be commissioned on the 22/23 November 1997.

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1982 – July – Mayne – Communications Aspects of the Tarcoola-Alice Springs New Railway

Author(s): AG Mayne
Date presented: October 20th, 2024

AG Mayne The preceding paper illustrates only too well how a railway was built fifty years ago and the changes in construction between then and now. By the same token the relative demands made on railway communications between then and now have also undergone considerable change such that now we are required to satisfy a constantly increasing demand from all our Branches for more and more communication channels - reliable channels of high quality and many dedicated for specific purposes.

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2023 – July – Boldeman – Definition, Concept, and Detailed Design, a comparison

Author(s):
Date presented: July 16th, 2023

Steven Boldeman The role of the signal designer varies significantly for designs generated at different stages of the product lifecycle. The development of a project, especially a large one, requires different project activities to establish the project, determine the benefits and resources, timeframes, risks and expected outcomes. Different project stages perform different roles within the design space for a project.

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2023 – July – Xu – Using Karnaugh Map in Complex NSW Overlap Design

Author(s):
Date presented: July 16th, 2023

Zhe Xu (David) An Overlap is a safety buffer beyond the end of a train movement authority to allow the train to come to a safe stop, it serves as a final safeguard for maintaining separation between trains, regardless of whether they are moving in the same or opposing directions 

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