198904 – Turner – Communications for the Perth Urban Rail Electrification Project

One of the more important issues that a transport organisation must investigate prior to electrifying a railway system is that of communications. Is the existing communications system capable of working beside and fulfilling the requirements of the electric, railway? If not, which system design should be chosen to satisfy the requirements?

The questions and many other issues confronted the Perth Urban Rail Electrification Project (PUREP) team during the preparation of the 1986 Master plan which was the result of a feasibility study conducted by the above team consisting of specialist staff from Westrail and MMPE.

In February 1988 the Government of Western Australia granted approval for the project to proceed within the scope of the Master Plan 1988 the Government granted approval to build a new electrified railway line through the burgeoning northern suburbs to Joondalup.

At the time of writing this paper, approximately 10% of the communications field works associated with the electrification of the existing system were complete. With respect to the Joondalup extension, design works were in the preliminary stages.

This paper outlines the existing communications system, the reasons for change, the chosen designs and describes associated new facilities.