198508 – Harrison & Thompson – Computer Assistance to Management of Train Operations

Management of the operations of a rail system is heavily reliant on the provision of information, Historically this information has been provided to the control centres by voice communications with consequent long response times for corrective action to be effected.

The introduction of computers into the control of signalling systems provides the opportunity to capture train running information automatically and to present it in a useable form to the network
managers.

The development of a computer based system to assist in this management is being undertaken by the State Fail Authority of N.S.W. on a progressive basis. The pilot Gcheme described in this paper allows the development of the best methods of achieving this control. The system is now in the initial operational stage.

The information requirements cover resource availability (track, rolling stock, crews) and train time tables. Late running of trains requires the assessment of the disturbance and the least disruptive method of restoring the scheduled service.