2007 – March – Godber – Fundamentals of Signalling a Heavy Haul Railway

Anthony Godber BSc(Eng), CEng, MIET, MIRSE Pilbara Iron Signalling of any railway aims to meet the often conflicting demands of safety and operational efficiency in the most cost-effective manner possible. Heavy haul railways have some very different requirements to passenger and mixed traffic routes. Using the Pilbara Iron network in the remote north-west of Western Australia as an example, this paper traces the path from operational requirement to the layout and operation of the track and signalling. With long trains and high axle loads, the ability to maintain the railway also creates specific infrastructure configuration and capacity requirements. Some more recent challenges arising from the need to substantially increase the capacity of the railway are also discussed. The ability to build, test and commission additional facilities while continuing to meet the existing schedule is now a major consideration.