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Eddie Murphy HND Engineering, MIRSE

Westinghouse Rail Systems Australia

It is timely to provide an update about ERTMS/ETCS given that there is a trial application currently in progress with RailCorp in NSW and other states have also shown considerable interest. Though the ERTMS/ETCS system is well defined and enables interoperability of trackside and onboard technologies from different suppliers, there are some critical high level and many detailed application decisions that will impact on the railway network once the system is in service. Some of the main factors to be considered when applying ERTMS/ETCS into a railway network are:

• Network rules and procedures including safeworking
• Train operations
• Signalling principles
• Drivers and human factors
• Rolling stock
• Maintenance
• Capacity
• Migration

Many of the rail networks in Australia currently employ simple Train Protection technology e.g. trainstops, AWS and TPWS or in some cases have no train protection at all. It is a big step to go from this to a full cab signalling system that will fundamentally alter the way the system is operated. Railway organisations will therefore need to involve all stakeholders in the decision making process including Corporate Safety, Safeworking, Train Operations, Train Crewing, Drivers, Train Control, Engineering Standards, Rolling Stock and Signalling Maintenance and future capacity planning.