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ARTC has welcomed the Australian Government’s Nation Building investment of $50 million into the first stage implementation of an Advanced Train Management System (ATMS) on the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s (ARTC) Interstate network, CEO John Fullerton said today.
The investment will see the technology tested and implemented on the Interstate network between Port Augusta and Tarcoola in South Australia and prepare a section of track for ATMS between Tarcoola and West Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.
“ATMS is a smart train management system that can locate and control trains on the network allowing them to travel at closer intervals safely and has collision avoidance systems and remote braking override to help prevent accidents,” Mr Fullerton said.
“This system is a first for Australia and it’s at the cutting edge of rail management systems anywhere in the world.
“ATMS will not only vastly improve the safety of the network for train crew, track workers and passengers, but it will transform the rail industry in Australia by substantially increasing capacity and avoid the need to build additional tracks and sidings.
“The productivity benefits of this investment are huge and we look forward to working closely with rail operators, adjoining track owners and the national rail safety regulator on bringing these benefits to our Interstate network.”
Mr Fullerton said the investment follows the completion this year of a successful proof of concept phase.
“With Lockheed Martin as our partner we have proven the concept in a trial environment and it’s now time to put this to the test under actual operating conditions.
“We intend to start the implementation on a discrete section of the network to test and trial the system under full operating conditions over the next three years before we begin discussions with rail operators and customers elsewhere to consider further rollout across our Interstate and Hunter Valley networks.”
This investment complements a suite of improvements already underway in this all-important corridor including:
- $35m train control system upgrade and additional crossing infrastructure between Adelaide and Tarcoola; and,
- $60m re-railing between Koolyanobbing and Kalgoorlie.
“Rail continues to dominate the land transport market on the East-West corridor and is increasingly recognised as key to the solutions required for the growing freight challenge on Australia’s east coast.
““A future rollout of ATMS on the Interstate and Hunter Valley networks will transform the rail industry and the businesses that rely on it.
“The safety, capacity and productivity benefits that this system will deliver are nothing short of game changing and as the custodian of our nation’s Interstate network ARTC is excited for our nation’s freight future,” Mr Fullerton said.