2001 – July – Schmits – Argus Broadband Data Network Technology
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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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2005 – Oct – Appleyard & Grady – Driverless Systems – The Challenge for the Operator and the Maintainer
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MARK APPLEYARD AMIRSE, Deputy Director Signalling & Systems NORM GRADY COMP. IRSE, Deputy Director LRT SBS Transit Ltd. The following paper sets out the experiences of SBS Transit Ltd in the operation and maintenance of two driverless guided transport systems in Singapore. This paper is not a detailed description of the technologies employed, but rather looks at the issues arising from the application of these technologies. The paper commences by discussing the how the Government of Singapore recognises the role of public transport in the development of the nation and how the provision of high quality public transport is used a development tool. It then discusses the operational performance of the system to date, the operator's and maintainer's challenge unique to driverless systems and sets out challenges for the future as seen by the authors.
2011 – March – Wust and Hjort – Wheres The Train?
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Derel Wust BE (Hons) MIE Aust, CPEng, GAICD 4TEL Pty Ltd Graham Hjort BE (Hons), Grad Dip (Rail Sig) 4TEL Pty Ltd GPS based technology is now common place in everyday life with GPS receivers standard as part of many phones and satellite navigation fast replacing maps for most motorists. GPS has been standard installation on all trains operating in NSW since the mid 1990's, with the introduction of CountryNet radio. Train GPS positions are transmitted back to the control centre as part of the basic CountryNet functionality. The Train Order Computer system in NSW has been successfully making use of these GPS positions for 10 years, to ensure the trains actual location is consistent with the Authority it holds. One challenge has been the ability to provide train location information to remote field sites or staff where it could be of great value. Continued improvement in technology has not only made this possible, but practical as well. Improved awareness in the position of trains when working in and around the rail corridor, or provision of greater detail into train planning and reporting functions can be achieved through the use of GPS based train location data. Inherent limitations in the reliability of data delivery and GPS position accuracy will limit the use of GPS based train location information for safety related functions. However, the opportunity now exists for making use of train GPS data for improving the efficiency and safety of the rail network.
2008 – March – Hermansson & Elestedt – Moving Block Implementation and Optimization
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Dan Hermansson MSc, PMP Peter Elestedt MSc Bombardier This paper provides a brief description of a communication based moving block system designed to be compliant with UIC's 'Regional ERTMS' specification and interoperable with the ERTMS Class1 specifications. It discusses in some more detail the optimization of such a system. Bombardier has been working with the implementation of communication based signalling with moving and flexible block principles for mainline applications since the mid 1990's. The first commercially operated system was commissioned in 1998. The moving block principles have since been further refined. This paper discusses Bombardier's implementation of moving and flexible blocks, the rationale behind the implementation and the possibilities in optimizing traffic capacity whilst maintaining or improving the operational safety. The moving block signalling system discussed herein is known as INTERFLO 150. More information about this system can be obtained from Bombardier.
2012 – March – Beavis & Keightly – Design Philosophy for Performance on the Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel
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Paul Charles Beavis BA BE(Hons) PhD MIEAust Victorian Department of Transport Gareth Keightley BEng(Hons) Metro Trains Melbourne Melbourne Metro is a proposed 9km tunnel with five underground stations extending between South Kensington in the west and South Yarra in the east. It thus provides additional capacity through the inner core of the rail network, contributing to city growth and productivity. It provides new CBD rail capacity and connections for all the lines within the existing Caulfield and Northern rail groups. The introduction of a new rail corridor through the CBD offers the opportunity to introduce new approaches to operations and quality of service, including the ability to deploy technologies that enable a metro-style performance. This performance extends to the rail operations and stations operations which underpin the passenger experience, rail safety and the dependability of the system. Both the performance of the infrastructure with tunnel section and the surface lines are critical to the successful operation of the Melbourne Metro. This paper scopes a design philosophy for the performance of the Melbourne metro system driven by the user experience. This paper presents some of the functional requirements of the Melbourne Metro concept. It outlines how the functional requirements can be translated to criteria for regulatory acceptance and commercial completion using a RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety) approach.The challenges include: delivering systems in a greenfields and brownfields environment; integration of an appropriate control and information system; rolling stock selection and transition; and infrastructure solutions. The transition to the Melbourne Metro corridor will also consider the implementation of in-cab signalling for High Capacity Signalling. Public Transport Victoria (PTV) with the Operator Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM) is pursuing a development program for in-cab signalling which will demonstrate the effectiveness and requirements of the transition of the network.
1985 – Aug – Howker – The Testing & Commissioning of Computer Based Signalling Systems
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A.C. Howker The Paper reviews the experience and knowledge gained over the past six years of testing and commissioning of computer based signalling systems in Australia. It describes methods used both in testing new installations and carrying out stagework and track alterations. The Paper is written from the viewpoint of the Signal Engineer and signalling principles.
2013 – March – How – IRSE Presidential Address
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Francis How MA (Cantab) CEng FIRSE MIEE IRSE President As his term of office as IRSE President nears completion, Francis will reflect on the Centenary Year. He will consider what has been achieved, and offer a personal perspective on what still remains to be done in terms of modernising the Institution and making it fit for the next 100 years. In particular he will briefly explore the need for greater focus on professional development, which has been a recurring theme in discussions with members and Local Sections around the world.
2005 – Oct – Salson & Revell – Innovative System Application and Integration Engineering for Asia – Pacific
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Howard Revell BA, FIRSE Ansaldo Signal - Union Switch & Signal Pty Ltd Australia Part 1: Innovative Systems Applications using Microlok II Raphael Salson MSc Ansaldo Signal - CSEE Transport Hong Kong Part 2: Systems Integration using modern Computerised Technology SUMMARY OF PART 1 Current trends in railway signalling system design and delivery are dictated by market forces and the flexibility of the products and services that are available to support them. Cost minimisation, increased system adaptability and functionality, technical innovation and engineering accountability all impact on the final system outcome and the customer's satisfaction. In Part 1 of this paper, the major factors that lead to innovative system application engineering and their impact on final system outcomes are presented and discussed. Following this, the paper reviews a number of practical examples of such outcomes that have been implemented on main line railways in the Asia - Pacific region over recent times using Union Switch & Signal's Microlok II vital programmable controller. These examples represent a few of the unique circumstances cost effective and innovative system solutions have been delivered by the supplier. There are several other examples referenced in the paper that have been implemented by the customer alone. In these cases the customer has been totally responsible for the system innovation and application choosing simply to purchase product from the supplier. SUMMARY OF PART 2 Part 2 of this paper presents how modern computerized technology can be used to integrate Signalling and Telecommunications technologies into a state of the art Central Supervision System and focuses on two examples deployed in Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway (MTR) The first System presented is the MTR Operations Control Centre (OCC), commissioned in 1999/2000 which provides all Signalling,Train Radio and CCTV functions at the Operator's fingertips in a single integrated system: the Signalling Indications & Control Panel (SICP). With 8 servers and 51 operator workstations, the SICP is entralizing the information from the different Signalling interlockings of 4 running lines, the Regulation System and the Radio and Video systems, constituting a highly sophisticated and one of the world's most complex control centres. The second part describes the Station Management System (SMS) installed in 37 MTR stations in 2001. In the same approach, the SMS regroups Signalling, Communication (Train and Telephone), CCTV & Station Management (Escalators, lifts operation, electricity controls, Gates, Platform Screen Doors, etc...) in one centralized system, with the information displayed on 4 screens to the Station Operator. Integrated with a Decision Support System (DSS), it eases the work and increases the efficiency of station staffs. The SMS has 25 subsystem interfaces and over 12,000 I/O points per stations.
1996 – July – Clark – You Can’t Afford to Not Train But Can You Affo
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Leon Clark TTrIC DipTechTch GradDipEdAdmin MEdSt Training Consultant, Westinghouse Brake and Signal Company (Australia) Limited Changing economic and workforce practices in Australian railways have placed new demands on managers when considering training for their various operating systems, whether the demands be for new-system training or for re-current training. One possible solution in addressing these demands is out-sourcing of the provision of training This paper broadly examines the concept of the out-sourcing of training by identifying the relevant issues which should be considered by managers and by highlighting some examples of best practice. One benchmark for out- sourced training providers will be proposed along with some discussion on trainer accreditation and trainer professionalism. It will also discuss training provider accreditation, workplace assessment and the provision of certification. Whilst directed to the railway industry, the paper draws from a broad base of vocational training and education disciplines.
2005 – Oct – Aitken – Public Carrier Communications Technologies and Strategies for Low Traffic Lines
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John Aitken BE AMIRSE Aitken & Partners, Consulting Engineers Australia justify a railway owned communication system so public carriers are used for both fixed and mobile communication. There is nothing new about using public carrier services in such situations – both fixed and mobile services been used for many years with substantial success. Soon the majority of Australian freight and country passenger services will use public carrier services for mobile communication. Public carriers do not set out to provide reliable communications infrastructure for safety critical systems. They set out to optimise the profitability of their infrastructure. Can a railway rely on such a system for its operation? We review some technical and operational considerations. Australian railways have resolved some of the technical and operational issues creatively. The most significant of these systems are described, along with the particular requirements of off-train communications.