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•
•
Undertaking preliminary field studies
and environmental approvals across
the alignment
•
•
Working with the community to refine
the preferred rail corridor in greenfield
sections (in conjunction with field studies)
•
•
Undertaking concept design across
the alignment
•
•
Preparing Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) documents and
reference design for Parkes to
Narromine and Narrabri to North Star.
Advanced Train
Management System
(ATMS)
ATMS is a modern communications-based
train management system. Rather than
using the traditional train management
system of ‘fixed’, physical trackside
infrastructure like signals, it instead
relies on a digitally-controlled network.
The system uses wireless, broadband
communications, a centralised and on-
board computer control system and
GPS-based train tracking and control
devices to manage train operations.
Stage one of implementing the
communications-based safe working
system is well advanced with the first
phase of in-field trials between Port
Augusta and Whyalla to prove system
reliability successfully concluded during
the year. The second phase, which
familiarises train crews and Network
Control staff to the system in a live
environment, is now underway.
One of the major milestones has been the
verification of ATMS as a certified safe
working system. This is critical to bring
the technology into operational service as
it enables ATMS to be the accredited and
approved safe working system for trains
operating on this stretch of track and
prove its potential for wider rollout.
ATMS has the potential to provide
significantly upgraded capabilities to
the Australian rail industry, supporting
our objectives to improve rail network
capacity, operational flexibility, train
service availability, transit times,
rail safety and system reliability.
The Port Botany Rail Line
(PBRL) Stage 3
The first part of this project is to
upgrade the PBRL to improve access
and connectivity between Port Botany
and the future Moorebank Intermodal
Terminal. The second part is to conduct
analysis and design of possible Southern
Sydney Freight Line (SSFL) and
Metropolitan Freight Network (MFN)
capacity enhancements to support the
Moorebank Terminal precinct, including
cross-metropolitan shuttle services.
Funding for these Stage 3 works is
$75 million. Works commenced in
July 2014 and are expected to be
complete by June 2018. Track upgrading
encompasses a number of components
including concrete sleepering, track
drainage, track reconditioning, re-railing
and rail grinding.
The Scoping phase for capacity
enhancements is due for completion
in September 2016 with capacity and
operational analysis, survey, concept
design, field investigations, budgets and
scopes already complete. Enhancement
options at this stage include a passing
loop on the SSFL at Cabramatta and
duplication of the track between
Botany Yard and Mascot.
This Stage 3 project will generate a
range of customer benefits including
facilitating additional capacity for freight
traffic accessing Port Botany, transit
time reductions and efficient train paths
and speeds delivering increased service
reliability and productivity.
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