1998 – March – Colley – AWARE Communications Control Centre
Author(s):
Date presented:
Richard Colley Chief Engineer Open Access Pty. Ltd.
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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2008 – Nov – Cotton & Wood – Auckland Metropolitan Railway Upgrading – Operational Background and Challenges
Author(s):
Date presented:
Ian Cotton, CMILT, ONTRACK Simon Wood, BE CEng (UK) MIPENZ, MIET, AMIRSE, Maunsell AECOM This paper provides a description of the Auckland Metropolitan Rail Network including the current passenger and freight operations, the existing multi-agency governance and funding arrangements together with an outline of the current upgrading and electrification projects and proposed electric train fleet. The operational challenges associated with trying toaccommodate ambitious passenger service growth aspirations within a mixed traffic railway, which has had minimal investment for many decades are described, together with an outline of the operational modelling tools which are currently being used to analyse network capacity and develop robust passenger and freight timetables for the electrified railway. A description of the current and possible future signalling and associated railway system control arrangements is provided, together with an overview of the areas in which the introduction of higher frequency electric services will require establishment of new operational and maintenance procedures as well as the development of rail industry personnel capabilities and competencies.
2002 – April – Walker – Condition Assessment System & Train Control Reporting as Applied to Signalling & Communications Infrastructure
Author(s):
Date presented:
K I WALKER FIRSE DIRECTOR SIGNALLING TMG INTERNATIONAL TMG International, has developed a software system that is capable of providing an assessment of the condition of the signalling and communications infrastructure. This Condition Assessment System (CAS) has been developed to assist Asset Managers understand the condition of the infrastructure under their control and to be able to accurately forecast the need for future renewals and upgrade.
2003 – March – Turner – Information to Passengers An Ingredient of the Marketing Mix
Author(s):
Date presented:
Jack Turner BE (Elec), Grad Dip BA Passenger Transport Board of South Australia The Passenger Transport Board (PTB) of South Australia, with the assistance of TransportSA, has engaged Tyco Integrated Systems to install a Real Time Passenger lnformation System (RTPIS) in Adelaide. The system comprises equipment in 45 buses, communications infrastructure, PC Sewers and workstations, software and 34 electronic signs. The signs will be distributed along two major route groups servicing Henley Beach Road and The Parade, Nowood. The system is currently being installed and is anticipated to be in operation in mid-2003. It is similar to a system in operation in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. This paper is from the PTB's perspective. It contains a brief technical description of the system, a brief description of some of the operational issues that are foreseen to arise in its implementation and a brief description of how it fits within PTB's overall marketing plan. The RTPIS architecture is designed to be expanded in a modular fashion if it is so justified, or to remain in operation as is, if not. This paper also briefly describes an evaluation which will form part of that decision making process.
2005 – Oct – Jadhav – Bombardier CBTC Solutions
Author(s):
Date presented:
Rajendra Jadhav B Eng, MBA, AMIRSE Bombardier Transportation This paper provides an overview of the Bombardier* CITYFLO* 450/650 Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) systems. CITYFLO 450/650 are emerging as the leading technologies, which were recently selected as the preferred train control in major systems such as the Neihu Rapid Transit system in Taiwan, the Yong-In LRT system in South Korea and Madrid Metro's Lines 1 and 6 in Spain. The paper elaborates on specific concepts / definitions that are applied to the moving block CBTC technology and will explain the architecture of the CITYFLO 450/650 systems emphasising the approach taken while conceptualising the design of these systems. The paper also describes some of the special features that make these solutions first in their class. The paper also discusses the methodology used to satisfy the overlay approach where the operator demands the implementation of a CBTC system on an existing operational or "brownfield" system, without affecting existing operations. It specifically addresses the interesting application of CITYFLO 650 for the Neihu-Muzha lines in Taiwan, which has the unique characteristics of being both greenfield and brownfield with an existing 12-km line and the new 15-km extension, as well as featuring both new and existing rolling stock. The paper describes the Bombardier approach and strategy to achieve implementation with such challenging requirements.
1998 – March – Shuard – National Rail
Author(s):
Date presented:
Max Shuard CPEng, B. Bus (Transport) M.I.E. Aust, M.C.I.T. National Rail Corporation Ltd. The delivery of the 120 NR class locomotives to National Rail has been the largest and most ambitious locomotive contract in Australia's history. The rate of delivery, essential to National Rail's business plans, has set a new milestone in design and manufacturing in the power train the locomotive itself is designed and built to specifically accommodate National Rail's operations around the standard gauge network of Australia. To date the locomotive has been awarded engineering excellence awards from the National and NSW divisions of the Institution of Engineers.
2009 – April – De Worp, Di Lernia & Shier – Advanced Train Management System ( ATMS ) Proof of Concept Phase
Author(s):
Date presented:
Mike van de Worp, Lino Di Lernia & Craig Shier General Manager, Communications and Control Systems Division (ARTC), Program Director (ARTC) and Program Manager (LM) Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) & Lockheed Martin (LM) In June 2008 the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) announced an investment of A$90 million to improve capacity, safety and efficiency on the interstate rail network through the development of an 'Advanced Train Management System' (ATMS). As part of the investment the ARTC entered into a contract for A$73.2 million with Lockheed Martin (LM) for the company to design, develop, construct, integrate and test an ATMS prototype system on 105 kilometres of the interstate rail network between Crystal Brook and Port Augusta. Lockheed Martin has engaged Ansaldo-STS to assist with the delivery of the project. The 'Proof of Concept Phase' of the ATMS program is underway and by April 2009 the project will be 10 months into the 39 month schedule. This paper outlines the ATMS project, the broad program plan and the rationale for and description of the ATMS including a status report on the current 'Proof of Concept Phase'. The paper will also examine some of the key issues that the program is addressing.
2006 – July – Allison – Brakes and Signalling
Author(s):
Date presented:
Warwick Allison Chief Engineer Signals RailCorp One of the main elements of signalling is to ensure sufficient warning is given to drivers of where they need to stop, or reduce speed such as for a turnout. Clearly there needs to be a suitable braking distance between this warning and the stop signal or speed restriction. The Central Queensland University post graduate course in Railway Signalling provides new signal engineers with a comprehensive, accelerated way to skill up in this specialised discipline. This paper is presented around the course elements for train braking and signalling CPD 3, Signalling the layout Week 1, Topic 2 and 3, and Week 2 Topic 1 and expands on some of the practicalities and issues presented by train braking and its effect on signalling design and system capacity.
2014 – March – Heibel – Passenger Benefits from Automatic Train Control
Author(s):
Date presented:
Dr Frank HeibelPhD MSc (Hon) MIEAust CPEng FIRSE Doc Frank Pty Ltd Travelling by train in a major Australian city has become an increasingly challenging experience. The drastically risen patronage over the last decade brought a number of inconveniences that affect passenger comfort: Crowded platforms, difficulty to board an already packed train, no vacant seating, huddling with fellow passengers, and delayed journeys with trains stacking up behind each other are unfortunately regular effects of peak hour traffic. Transforming passenger transport towards higher capacity by building additional railway lines in CBD areas, as planned in Brisbane with Cross River Rail and Brisbane subway, turns into mega projects with very long lead times and pending uncertainties for funding – certainly not a quick fix. To some extent the same applies to platform lengthening for accommodating longer trains. The transport plans for Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth envisage the modernisation of existing signalling as a key measure for increasing capacity of the existing rail infrastructure, to allow running more trains and prevent debilitating congestion when passenger numbers continue to grow further.This paper aims to point out a few benefits of modern Automatic Train Control (ATC) that may help transforming passenger transport, just as ATC transforms the signalling system legacy in Australia.
1987 – March – Rose – Train Detection Techniques
Author(s):
Date presented:
J. Rose BSc, C. Eng., FIRSE M.L. Engineering (Plymouth) Limited Ever since the earliest days of railways there has been a requirement to detect the presence of a vehicle on a railway track. The first such methods were based on the notorious time delay block - a practice which, quite justfiably achieved an unenviable reputation for being extremely dangerous. The invention of the electric telegraph and its application to railways permitted the adoption of the manual absolute block system. Perhaps the most significant signalling development in the nineteenth century was the invention of the track circuit - most often accredited to an American, William Robinson in the 1870's. Robinson certainly foresaw its use as an essential element in an automatic block system and thus we can begin to see the development of the two basic branches of train detection (or track supervision as it is now sometimes referred to) continuous and intermittent systems, see Fig. 1. It is the purpose of this paper to examine the relative merits of various means of train detection for block systems and in particular to discuss the solution adopted on the North Island Main Trunk line.