199304 – Mitchell – BHP’s Mt Newman Rail Signals Group Involvement with the Australian Best Practice Demonstration Program

The Safe Train Control project evolved from a background of a drive for improved efficiency.

The Mt. Newman railroad, in solving its major operational problems of the 1970’s, came to realise that small changes, and improvements in efficiency, could have real and tangible benefits.

In the signalling area, CTC (Centralised Train Control) had been introduced (1976), and when the maintenance of that system became a problem the equipment was replaced with more serviceable solid state equipment (1984-1990). This program was very successful and when it was complete, extension options were considered. There were trials of “in-cab” signalling, followed by an advanced form of ATP (Automatic Train Protection). This later project has been called SATCON.