Proceedings 2002/2003 - IRSE

114
SYDNEY HOSTS 2002 CONVENTION
• log LX events and operation;
• remotely test the LX battery status;
• report the LX status to a remote control centre
or maintainers office.
During the visit to Blacktown station concourse
opportunity was taken to view the new passenger
information system that was currently under test.
Lunch was taken at the Colebee Centre located in
the Nurragingy Reserve after which the members
departed by bus to inspect facilities at Olympic Park
Station. At the station control room the method of
crowd control for loading trains following a major
event at the Olympic stadia was explained using the
four platform faces for the two track layout.
The members then proceeded to the RIC control
systems development facility at Flemington. Here
the development and testing of VDU control
systems, station passenger information systems and
dark territory monitoring systems were viewed and
presentations given on them. Members then
returned to the hotel by bus.
The guests’ programme consisted of a visit to the
Blue Mountains where, at Echo Point, views of the
rock formations known as the “Three Sisters” were
seen. Following lunch at Katoomba they descended
to the rainforest valley floor via the Scenic Railway –
once used by coal miners. From there they walked
through the forest to the Scenicsender cable car to
convey them back to the top of the valley. During the
return journey back to Sydney there was a short
stop at Leura for shopping.
THURSDAY 2nd MAY 2002
The Hunter Valley
Members travelled by double-deck train to
Broadmeadow, some 163 kilometres north of
Sydney, and thence by bus to view the Ship Yard at
Carrington. Here a Huon class mine-hunter vessel
was noted in the final stages of fitting out the
integrated control systems before undergoing sea
trials. Presentations and demonstrations were given
at the ship yard on:
• the Train Protection Warning System (TPWS);
• computer-based Locomotive Scheduling
Programme.
Members then went on to the Rail Workshops at
nearby Cardiff where a tour of the production line for
the new 4GT (“Millennium”) double-deck EMU trains
for NSW was made. It was noted that the train sets
were constructed from stainless steel and would be
delivered to the customer without any additional
external paint finish.
Following lunch at the Returned Services League
Club in Cardiff, the members then proceeded to view
the Kooragang Island coal and bulk loading terminal
and then the Broadmeadow Control Centre. Situated
at this centre was the Centralised Train Control for
the day to day operations of train movements in the
northern area of NSW. The main functions of the
centre were:
• train control;
• train control support;
Northern New South Wales is controlled from
Broadmeadow Control Centre near Newcastle, 163km from
Sydney. This route setting desk looks after the local
Broadmeadow area Photo: H
• signalling and communications;
• incident management; and
• administration.
At the end of the visits members left by bus for the
Wyndham Estate Winery, where they joined the
guests for dinner.
Today the guests had enjoyed a coach tour of the
central coast and, at Nelson’s Bay, boarded a boat
for lunch and a cruise in Port Stephen’s Bay. The
highlight of the cruise was the opportunity to watch
at close quarters dolphins swimming alongside the
boat. They then travelled by coach to the Winery
where they joined the members for dinner.
Prior to dinner and following a wine tasting an
Aboriginal dance group gave a display of traditional
music and dance.
FRIDAY 3rd MAY 2002
Sydney Control Centres
No planned activities were arranged for the guests
until the evening so there was time for shopping,
sightseeing or just relaxation. Members, however,
had a full morning programme of visits.
After a short train ride the electrical control room
for the 1500v dc overhead electrification system was
viewed together with both the existing and new
replacement SCADA remote control systems. These
SCADA systems were used for the remote control of
The North Coast Railway from Newcastle through to the
Queensland border, a distance of some 700km with 50
remote interlockings, is controlled from this CTC desk at
Broadmeadow Photo: H