199007 – Roome – A Distributed Processing System for Mayne Control Centre

Mayne Control Centre came into operation in 1979 in conjunction with the start of the 25 kV electrification of the Brisbane suburban area. A total of 24 signalling frames, of which half were at major yards and junctions such as at Roma Street, Mayne, Corinda etc., were combined by the use of telemetry into one centralised area for the control of the Brisbane network. The operations area at Mayne Control Centre provides for the remote control of the three and four aspect signalling system covering 120 suburban stations spread radially over a total of 310 track km. The signalled routes, for which there some 800 controlled signals, predominately cover two track up and down running as well as sections of single line, third road and quadruplicated track. Wayside control is extended to 40 conventional relay interlockings through eight separate telemetry systems which converge on Mayne Control Centre.

In busy periods 11 signalmen operate the system via the entrance-exit route setting push button panel. During the morning and afternoon peak periods the system handles trains signalled for a two minute headway with a total of 400 trains per day through the city centre. In off peak periods 7 signalmen are required to operate the system. The existing panel has been extended on several occasions and currently contains 524 tiles (each 254 mm square) over its 36 metre length. The only computer assistance given to the operators is in the form of a BR style train describer (TD) which provides train identification and location information via the 800 panel mounted TD berth displays.

Mayne Control Centre has grown in a relatively unplanned fashion since 1979 as new lines have been signalled or some areas re-signalled. The first attempt to provide some flexibility in the non-vital operations was with the introduction of a non-vital microprocessor system (NVM) in 1986 associated with EXPO re-signalling works. Now two NVM systems look after nine of the remote interlockings. Even though flexibility has been achieved in catering for subsequent signalling changes and improved maintenance functions have been added the operations task is unchanged. For the signalmen the NVM systems are transparent to their operations.