SIGNALLING PROJECT BOOSTS RAIL EFFICIENCY
The abolition of a century old railway signalling system over a short section of the
interstate main line railway track in the Melbourne suburbs has improved the efficiency of
the interstate rail network and cut journey times for interstate freight and passenger
rail services. It highlights the continuing progress being made in lifting the performance
of the interstate rail network and in providing a one-stop shop for access to the network
for rail operators.
The antiquated 'electric staff' system, which dates back to the steam era, was previously
used to control trains over a seven (7) kilometre section of track between Tottenham and
Newport. Interstate rail services on the Melbourne to Adelaide corridor traversing this
section have had to run the gauntlet of this outdated system, adding up to half an hour to
their schedules.
This 'electric staff' staff system has recently been replaced with conventional
Centralised Train Control (CTC) signalling as part of a $3 million, Australian Rail Track
Corporation (ARTC) funded project to revamp railway safeworking systems over the
interstate main line in Victoria.
The project is part of ARTC's mandate to establish a one-stop shop for rail operators over
the interstate network between Brisbane and Perth.
The ARTC funded program has allowed for the consolidation of all Victorian safeworking and
train control systems related to the interstate standard gauge mainline, to one location
under ARTC control. With the completion of this project, all train movements over the
ARTC's 4431 kilometre network between Albury and Kalgoorlie (including the lines toBroken
Hill and Alice Springs) are controlled from the ARTC Train Control Centre.
The consolidation of all ARTC safeworking functions at one location allows total
integration of corridor management over the ARTC network leading to improvements in safety
performance, network productivity and reduced costs for safeworking provision. The
integration of corridor train management enables train transit managers to achieve greater
reliability for the departure and arrival times of trains and provide flexibility in
assessing and resolving unforeseen occurrences across the ARTC network.
The completion of this project reflects the Corporation's strategy of signalling and
telecommunications efficiency and will assist in moves towards nationwide uniformity of
safeworking systems, eliminating duplication and variance between the previously
state-managed jurisdictions.
ARTC Managing Director David Marchant said, "The completion of this project will
further our aim of greater standardisation and harmonisation of railway safeworking
systems in Australia. At the same time it allows us to increase the capacity and
reliability of the interstate rail network under our control and reduce transit times for
interstate freight."
"With fully integrated corridor management, interstate and regional train operators
will benefit from greater operational efficiencies and improved safety performance across
the ARTC network.
Effectively they now have a one-stop shop for both commercial and operational access to
over four thousand kilometres of the interstate rail network."
As part of the $3 million project a number of smaller projects were carried out over a
twelve-month period to consolidate the Victorian safeworking and train control functions
within the existing ARTC network. These included:
· The progressive integration of all train control functions.
· Integration of signal box functions to a central control point.
· The transfer of various West Tower safeworking functions to the Train Control Centre.
· The abolition of Electric Staff working between Newport and Brooklyn with CTC.
The project has been achieved on time and under budget.
Australian Rail Track Corporation assumed responsibility for the interstate standard gauge
track in Victoria in July 1998. Funding provided by ARTC and the Commonwealth and
Victorian Governments on the Melbourne to Adelaide corridor has already improved
reliability and reduced transit times. A $16 million ARTC and Commonwealth funded track
upgrading project is currently in progress to improve the performance of the Melbourne and
Albury standard gauge rail line.
During the last year, temporary speed restrictions over ARTC's Victorian jurisdiction have
averaged below 1%, well below the 2% target recommended by the Australian Transport
Council of Ministers for the interstate rail network across Australia. Maximum
allowable speeds and axle loads are also being progressively raised across the Victorian
interstate network.
As a result of these measures and other infrastructure upgrades over the last 12 months,
transit times for freight and passenger rail services between Melbourne and Adelaide have
been greatly reduced, by over two hours in some instances. All rail services on this
important corridor have benefited from significant improvements in overall transit time
reliability.
For further information contact David Marchant on 08 8217 4367
(Prepared for ARTC by GRMS Media: Contact Mark Carter on 08 8410 0024)
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