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Technical Meeting Papers

Technical Meetings are held three times per year.
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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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2004 – October – Drew – National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers

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

Dr Tim Drew MBBS Work Health Clinic - Mile End New Medical Standards for Rail Safety Workers were adopted across all Australian States and Territories as of 1 July 2004. The new standard represents a significant step in the improvement of rail safety and is the first time a common system of health assessment has existed across all Australian jurisdictions. The new standard adopts a risk management approach and reflects contemporary best practice in assessing the health of rail safety workers. The standard is a result of extensive research and input from a wide range of government, industry and medical stakeholders and although initially developed for Victoria was modified and then mandated for application across all Australian jurisdictions following on from recent rail accident investigations. In this paper we will examine the genesis of the standard, its make-up with a particular focus on "Risk Mitigation" strategies and finally the obligations of employers, employees and medical practitioners in the implementation of the standard.

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1998 – March – Deveney – AWARE Communications Call Modes

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

Tom Deveney Dip. Communications Engineering RMIT FIRSE National Rail Corporation This paper concentrates on train radio for interstate operation as implemented in the National Rail train communications equipment know as AWARE-Australia Wide Augmented Radio Environment. The implementation of this system has demonstrated clearly that the dispirit radio communications standards forms the last break of gauge in respect to the flexible operation of locomotives throughout the country. Following is a review of communications facilities in use for train working and a look at some of the different call type implementations.

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2008 – Nov – McQueen – Setting the Scene – Projects DART & Electrification

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

Phil McQueen BE (Hons), CPEng, MIPENZ, AMIRSE ONTRACK (NZ Railways Corporation) This paper describes the two major rail infrastructure projects currently underway on the Auckland Metropolitan Rail Network (AMRN): Project Develop Auckland's Rail Transport (DART) and the Auckland Electrification Project (AEP). Both are part of an overall rail upgrade that includes provision of improved station and passenger facilities and provision of a new fleet of electric trains. The scale of the projects has not been seen in rail in New Zealand for over 20 years and is placing demands on resourcing as well as causing service impacts during construction. However, both are immensely positive developments for rail in New Zealand, and in Auckland in particular. This paper briefly outlines each project, its current status, and challenges with resourcing and construction.

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2007 – Oct – Purdy – Priority for Tram

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

Philip Purdy Manager Asset Development Lessons Learnt • Road space allocation is critical• Competing stakeholder objectives are difficult to resolve• We must improve on ‘selling’ the benefits to the community• Push the boundaries as small scale improvements are not sustainable• Increase enforcement/education• A delay or do nothing option is not viable in the longer term

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2007 – March – Wardrop & Caldwell – Application of Problem Space Search to Heavy Haul Scheduling and Infrastructure Planning

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

Alex Wardrop BSc (Hons) MEngSciDavid Caldwell BEng (Hons) WorleyParsons Rail Developing train plans for heavy-haul railways is a complex task. Australia's heavy-haul lines are predominantly single track, presenting the particular problem of how to cross and pass trains to maximise capacity and minimise delays. Timetabling by manual techniques is time consuming and is unlikely to provide an optimal train plan. The Problem Space Search technique allows many thousands of feasible timetables to be rapidly developed and then ranked according to performance against such measures as throughput, average delay per train and cost. This produces a timetable that can be regarded as optimal under the prevailing conditions. This has an obvious application for making the timetabling process faster, reducing delays, and increasing capacity. However, this rapid generation of timetables enables timetable development to be undertaken on an experimental basis for strategic planning purposes, and this is perhaps a more significant application. Different combinations of infrastructure improvements, train configurations and timetables can be examined for their ability to sustain projected traffic requirements. The Problem Space Search technique has been applied to software utilised by BHP Billiton for integrated railway scheduling, and by ARTC for infrastructure planning.

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2004 – March – McLean – Victorian Regional Fast Rail – A Control and Monitoring Perspective

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

Stuart McLean Bachelor Electronic Engineering, Hons (RMIT) ALSTOM Australia The Train Control and Monitoring System (TCMS) is the umbrella title given to the new Centralised Train Control (CTC) system and telemetry networks to be installed on the Regional Fast Rail (RFR) Project (Ballarat and Geelong corridors). This paper aims to provide an overview of the TCMS, detailing design decisions and equipment used and presenting a glimpse of the feature set offered by the new CTC system. It concludes by challenging engineers and managers to carefully consider the future specification design of control and monitoring systems.

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2002 – August – Karrasch Organising an IRSE Exam Study Group

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

Sandra Karrasch BE (Electrical) AMIRSE Signal Engineer QR The study group formed to provide training for the IRSE exam so that signalling engineers can gain the credentials of passing the exam. The group organised lessons and tutorials for modules 1 & 2 in the first year and modules 3,5 & 7 in the second year. Many people supported the study group, including QR management, IRSE senior members and the IRSE Qld section. It was found that having smaller classes and holding the lessons as tutorials rather than formal lectures were often of greater benefit to the participants as there was improved interaction with the presenter. It was noted though that some subjects worked better as lectures. Encouraging exam candidates to debate answers to past exam questions was also beneficial. This enabled the candidates to discuss their answers, work out the differences and examine different solutions to questions by the sharing of knowledge. The main benefits to QR have been the collection of information and imparting of knowledge from senior engineers. Other benefits include better-trained signal engineers and an awareness of the wider issues of safety in signalling systems.

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2006 – July – Caldwell – Generation of Optimised Automatic Signalling Layouts with Computer Simulations

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

David Caldwell BE (Hons) WorleyParsons TMG This paper discusses the application of computer simulations to optimising the layout of signals operating on the Automatic Block principle. Considerable efficiencies can be achieved in signal design and capacity analysis by methodically applying computer simulation tools. A system for quickly and accurately testing the influence of variables (such as train types, dwell times and speed limits) on track capacity and their interrelation with signal placement is proposed. The aim of the layout is discussed in the context of either maximising line capacity or optimising the layout to a specific traffic requirement. Application of existing simulation tools is explained and weaknesses are discussed. There is a complex interaction between braking distance, signal spacing and clearance times, particularly under diverse traffic conditions. A method for analysing these interactions quickly and efficiently is suggested. A method of laying out signals for maximum unrestricted line capacity is also discussed.

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2000 – July – Martinovich – Extenson to Perth Suburban Rail System

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

M P Martinovich Project Manager Perth Urban Rail Development Department of Transport Public transport accounts for 3% of inter-suburban journeys and 35% of peak hour trips to the Perth Central Area. Of all trips in the Perth Metropolitan Area, the public transport share is around 6%. A primary objective of the Department of Transport's Metropolitan Transport Strategy (MTS) is to significantly increase the number of people who use public transport. The MTS has set the following targets: to increase the public transport share of intersuburban trips from 6% to 12.5% by 2029; and to increase the public transport share of peak hour trips to the Perth Central Area from 35% to 50% by the year 2010, rising to 65% by 2029. The above requires an integrated public transport system which will complement, and provide a viable alternative to private car usage on major trunk routes. There is also a growing concern with regard to the air quality of the Perth Metropolitan Region, as detailed in the Air Quality Management For Perth, which highlights that private car travel is a significant contributor to degradation of air quality in the Metropolitan region.

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2006 – July – Sundareswaran – VPI Application with Radio Links

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

Kaniyur Sundareswaran B.S. {Engg.Tech.}, M.S. {Soft. Sys.}, C.Eng., MIET, MIRSE United Group Infrastructure United Group Infrastructure have commissioned an ALSTOM Vital Processor Interlocking (VPI) system using radio links for transmission of vital signalling information, between two VPIs, each installed at either end of the Kinalung crossing loop, on the Parkes to Broken Hill line. This project is part of a contract with Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) for extending the crossing loops at Kinalung and Matakana, each crossing loop being extended to 1850 metres in length. This paper describes the VPI architecture employed in Kinalung and its interfaces to the radio link. It explains the basic components of a VPI system and its configuration for the Kinalung crossing loop. The paper also covers the type of radio system used for this communication, its configuration parameters and explores how a non-vital radio system could be used to communicate safely.

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