201410 – Skilton – AEP Overview – Signalling and Telecommunications

Signalling in Auckland prior to the electrification project was predominately based on conventional 1960’s vintage relay based double line principles linking discrete interlocked areas. The interlocked areas ranged from 1930’s vintage miniature lever frames to recently installed computer based equipment. None of this signalling equipment was designed to be compatible with an AC traction system.

The age of the existing equipment combined with the need to provide immunisation against the effects of AC traction triggered a requirement to completely renew the Auckland suburban signalling system as part of the AEP – an opportunity rarely found in a brown-fields environment.

This paper tracks the development of signalling and telecommunications systems to support the growth of the Auckland Metropolitan Rail Network as well as outlining the original thinking behind the AEP signalling scheme including the procurement methodology, performance requirements, resilience, communications preferences, power reticulation preferences and automatic train protection.