Bill Palazzi
Rail Consultant
Palazzi Rail
Check out the incredible speaker line-up to see who will be joining Bill.
Download The Latest AgendaConference Day One: Tuesday, 27th August 2019
Tuesday, August 27th, 2019
10:10 AM Creating an Integrated and Coherent Approach to Rail Digitalisation to Give Optimum Value Across the National Rail Network
Across Australia, one legacy of state-based rail network development remains in the diversity of control and safeworking systems that remain in use on the major intra- and interstate networks (excluding metropolitan networks):
- At least 11 different signalling and train control systems are in used across Australia; these are primarily variants of signalling and train order working. Some corridors in regional Victoria still retain Staff and Ticket working.
- Within the 11 different systems each state or jurisdiction typically has its own distinct safeworking rules – meaning that there are at least 17 distinct safeworking systems in use across Australia.
A number of railways are now moving to adopt new network control systems in order to maximise the value (capacity, efficiency, safety) of their rail asset. An integrated and coherent approach to these new network control systems has the potential to provide many benefits to all sections of the industry, and to the economy. Conversely, a disjointed approach will have consequences that will last for many years, including higher costs and lower competitiveness for rail transport.
The Australian rail industry has a number of features that add complexity to the challenge of developing an integrated and coherent approach:
- Outside of the major metropolitan centres, the rail industry across Australia is vertically separated, with above-rail operations typically separated from below rail. A key characteristic of the new systems is the need for both trackside and onboard components. Thus, to implement these new systems will require cooperation and integration between rail operators and rail network owners/managers.
- Most rail trips are not to a single network but typically span several networks, with each network operating as an independent business. Cooperation and integration will also be required between adjacent rail networks in order to develop a coherent strategy.
- The characteristics of different rail networks are diverse, ranging from densely operated suburban networks to the most marginal regional corridors. A single network control system is unlikely to meet the business requirements for all circumstances.
The presentation will describe the challenges and opportunities that this Digital Rail revolution presents, taking a national perspective. This includes work done to understand develop a coherent national strategy for network control systems on the interstate rail network; this strategy was developed in conjunction with major rail network owners and operators.