Melbourne, 11 February 2008
Siemens has reached a major milestone in the trial of European Train Control System (ETCS) Automatic Train Protection (ATP) technology, part of a wider trial being undertaken by RailCorp in the Blue Mountains.
Automatic Train Protection (ATP) technology overrides a train’s controls to apply the brakes in the event a train is about to pass a danger point or exceed speed limits.
Under the trial RailCorp awarded contracts worth $13 million to Siemens and two other ETCS manufacturer consortiums in May 2007 to conduct trials of their ATP systems to prove that each supplier’s train system is interoperable with each other’s trackside system.
Siemens was scheduled as the first supplier to conduct the trial, reaching a major milestone, with the installation of ETCS technology in a train and also on tracksite. This enabled the first ETCS equipped train to travel over ETCS tracksite in Australia.
As a system supplier with more than 200 train control system customers in 45 countries, Siemens has been heavily involved in the technical standardisation of ETCS from the very beginning. Trainguard® is the Siemens solution for the standardised ETCS automatic train control system and, as such, has a reputation for unique planning and implementation competence as related to ETCS in the international rail market.
Martin Green, Siemens ATP Project Manager, said: “An ATP system offers many innovative benefits. By use of an ATP system an onboard computer will analyse the speed and braking pattern of a train and intervene if it anticipates a train is in danger. For example, if a driver fails to slow down sufficiently when approaching a red signal, a lower speed limit zone or a worksite, the train’s brakes will automatically be applied. ETCS further enhances the benefits of ATP by providing standardisation that ensures all suppliers of ETCS track and train systems are interoperable with each other”.
Siemens has worked with RailCorp to trial this new technology over a section of rail infrastructure in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales.
The remaining trial runs are now taking place on three separate sections of the Blue Mountains Line between Penrith and Mt Victoria.
Paul Bennett, Executive General Manager, Siemens Transportation Systems, said: “The Siemens team is excited to be involved in the trial of this technology, which will ultimately lead to improvements in passenger and staff safety”.
“Our continuing customer focus allows us to develop even more comprehensive mobility solutions covering the entire range of transportation and logistic solutions. The supply and involvement of this pilot testing of an ETCS ATP system is a strong and innovative leap forward to achieving a complete mobility vision in Australia,” said Mr Bennett.
The Transportation Systems Group of Siemens Limited in Australia is a dedicated supplier and partner to the railways industry in Australia & NZ. Siemens Transportation Systems’ business areas comprise Automation & Power, Rolling Stock, Turnkey Systems and Integrated Services, all the expertise neces¬sary to cover the spectrum from signalling and control systems to traction power supplies as well as rolling stock, locomotives, maintenance and next generation rail communications systems. With access to the world's best rail expertise and proven global and local experiences, Siemens Transportation Systems is committed to reinvigorating Australia's rail systems through delivery of modern, safe and sustainable solutions for the future. Further information on Siemens TS can be found at www.siemens.com.au/mobility.