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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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1998 – Nov – Heibel – Modern Engineering & Design of Computer Based Interlockings

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

Dr.-lng. Frank Heibel Group Manager Signalling & Control Systems Siemens Ltd. The global marketing of Computer Based Interlocking technolog makes high demands on customisation (reffered to as engineering) and design. Particularly, the respective tools have to be economical and user-friendly. This paper describes the tools for the engineering and design of Siemens SIM IS-W Computer Based Interlocking and its VlCOS user interface. After a brief background of the history of SlMlS interlockings and the tool development, the main requirements, which led to a new generation of engineering and design tools, are outlined. Some definitions and explanations of the systems and expressions used in this paper are given. The engineering process for interlocking and user interface is described, followed by the design process for project-specific data. A brief conclusion with a glance of future prospects closes this paper.

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2005 – Aug – Kwong – Innovations in Education and Training For the Professions

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

Ken Kwong, BE (Hons), Phd, FIEE FIEAust, CQU This paper will trace the historic evolution of education and training for the engineering professions, as well as recent innovations in meeting the changing professional training needs - with both "pre-service" type courses. The paper is set against a background of the Australasian section of the IRSE's attemp to set up a strategy in meeting industry's present and future skill needs in the railway signalling sector.

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1999 – March – Revell – Observing & Managing Trends Down an Evolving Signalling Product Line

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

Howard Revell, BA, MIRSE Manager, Engineering Development Union Switch & Signal Pty Ltd Our industry is exposed to an ever increasing rate of technological change. For almost a century we have been able to improve, refine and expand our approach to vital system engineering based on the well understood and established principles and predictability of relay sytems at a relatively "leisurely" pace that hitherto has not caused us too much stress. This cra however, has past us by and we have been rapidly propelled into a new era taking us far beyond the well defined and secure boundaries of relay based technology and into new areas - some of which are foreign to many signal engineers. This transition is generating many new trends that must be identified and controlled, and this, in my opinion, is providing us with an opportunity to engage in a far more exciting and demanding range of activities than was previously the case but not without ramifications.

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2008 – March – Zabel, Bruce & Walker – Queensland Rail (QR) Westect ATP Enhancements

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

Leon Zabel AMIRSE Signal Engineer - BElecEng GDipRailEng RPEQ QR Limited Neil Bruce AIRSE ATP Technical Coordinator - DipElecEng QR Limited Keith Walker FIRSE CDEC ATP Senior Project Coordinator Principal Signal Engineer Worley Parson Rail This paper discusses the design and operational enhancements that the Queensland Rail Limited (QR) Signals and Operation Systems (SAOS) Automatic Train Protection (ATP) design team have made to the Westect ATP system.

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2011 – July – Ross – Rail regeneration – what are the risks?

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

Alan Ross MSc, BSc, Grad Dip OSH, CMIOSH Principal, A & K Ross Associates Pty Ltd (AKRA) Rail regeneration in Australia is gaining some much-needed momentum, at long last. There are improvement schemes and upgrades all over the country, from the mining railways of WA to Regional Rail Link in Victoria, not forgetting the Adelaide Electrification Project. Many of these projects have in common that they are undertaken in a live rail environment alongside an operating railway. It is not possible to shut down operating railways for extended (or even short) periods. It is also not uncommon for signalling systems to be shut down at certain times in projects to facilitate installation and commissioning of new equipment. The railway runs with a degraded mode of safe working, whilst trains continue to operate 'normally'. Such situations also arise in unplanned situations. Finally, the question of protecting track workers: have systems for protection kept up with other railway developments? The risks associated with such a scenario are obvious and have resulted in a number of serious incidents. This paper will describe some of the incidents, highlight some of the lessons learned and consider ways in which the introduced risks can be eliminated or significantly mitigated. With the statutory obligation on rail operators to eliminate risks or, where that is not reasonably practicable, to reduce risk so far as is reasonably practicable, what is the role of the Regulator and are they up to the task?

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2002 – November – Jovetic and Grady – The ALSTOM Train Delivery Experience

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

Milan Jovetic Signal Maintenance Engineer ALSTOM Melbourne Transport Limited Norm Grady Operations Manager ALSTOM Melbourne Transport Limited The paper below sets out ALSTOM Melbourne Transport's experience in introducing a new train to the Melbourne network under the privatised regime now in force in Melbourne. It explains how compatibility with signalling equipment was demonstrated.  

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1997 – Nov – Reed – The First Fifty Years of the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers in Australia and New Zealand

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

Noel F. Reed Hon. FIRSE

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2009 – April – Baker – Rail Revitalisation : A Decade of Change for Transadelaide

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

Brett Baker, BE (Elec), MBA, MIRSE, GMAA, TransAdelaide A strategic priority for rail in South Australia is to maximise the use of rail transport for passenger and freight movements. Modal shifts to rail for freight and to public transport for people in the metropolitan area offers significant benefits for greenhouse emissions, road congestion and safety. In the 2008 State Budget, the Government of South Australia announced a range of public transport initiatives, including plans for the electrification of the TransAdelaide heavy rail network and further extension of the tram network. The announcement provides a program of works to meet the States Strategic Plan targets to facilitate a significant increase in public transport patronage by revitalising Adelaide's public transport system. This paper reviews elements of the budget announcement that impact upon the future rollingstock, signals and communication system needs for the TransAdelaide rail network. These represent significant developments for public transport in Adelaide, presenting major opportunities for TransAdelaide..

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2008 – July – Terry – Callemondah – Business-led Signalling

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

Nick Terry BA, CEng, MIEE, MIRSE Westinghouse Rail Systems Australia Writing and managing specifications is crucial for successful engineering projects. Failures in specifications lead to re-work, frustration, increased costs, delays and disappointed customers. This paper discusses ways to help achieve successful projects through developing specifications with a high level of customer involvement so that projects meet the needs of the business. It also considers how to manage change and maintain flexibility within specifications. The successful commissioning of the Callemondah Third Spur and the associated remodelling at Gladstone, Central Queensland, in April 2008 is used as an example throughout to illustrate the points being made.

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1988 – Nov – Thornely – Adelaide Signalling Project – A Practical Application of S.S.I.

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

I.K. Thornely M.L. Engineering (Adelaide) During 1986, M.L. Engineering in Joint Venture with local company O'Donnell Griffin, were awarded the contract for Australia's first and at the time the world's largest S.S.I. project. The design and supply of the S.S.I. equipment was sub-contracted to Westinghouse Signals Limited of Chippenham. U.K. The cost of our S.S.I. option for this project was almost the same as our price for the conventional signalling option although the provision of additional and new spares increased the total package by approximately $300,000. This additional cost in itself was insignigicant when one realises the savings S.T.A. were able to make in other areas, namely relay rooms and the control centre. With the above in mind, the STA opted for the S.S.I. option for their 100 project.

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