Proceedings 2002/2003 - IRSE

AUSTRALASIAN SECTION 125
Systems facility where their Hong Kong KCRC rail
extension installation was being designed, built and
tested.
After morning refreshments, provided by Invensys,
the group split up, with half going to Queensland
Manufacturing Institute – Reality Centre, just around
the corner, the remaining half then inspecting the
Hong Kong job at Invensys, including a display by
Wayne McDonald of a typical crossing protection
installation for the Alice – Darwin track.
The Virtual Reality Centre did prove a little too real
for some members with the simulated soaring
platform used to inspect a proposed highway
construction, from users and residents viewpoint.
After the changeover of the groups was completed,
we adjourned over the road to a very
pleasant outside restaurant for lunch.
On the return to the city, we deviated to inspect
the impressive redevelopment of Lang Park
Stadium, it was interesting to see that a small
historical church had been retained in the stadium
perimeter.
3 Technical Meeting Melbourne, Victoria, 8th-
9th November 2002
Members staying at The Dorset Gardens complex
were transported to the Siemens Conference Facility
located on Mountain Highway Bayswater, where
registration of 82 members and visitors was
completed.
Acting Chairman Mr Keith Walker opened the
meeting at 1012 hrs, with Mr Brian Luber welcoming
all to Siemens Conference Centre.
Mr Walker then introduced:
Mr John Hengelmolen, Regional Fast Rail Project
Manager, who gave an overview of the project.
It will be a high quality service to four significant
Victorian corridors.
The three key elements being addressed are new
trains, upgrade of infrastructure, new service plan.
TPWS installation will mitigate signal sighting and
braking errors, provide speed detection and
enforcement of signals where track speed exceeds
130 km/h.
Mr Hengelmolen was thanked by Mr Walker and
presented with a plaque of appreciation.
Mr D E Carden AMIRSE, New Railway Projects
Division, Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation,
Hong Kong, China. “Manless Operation, A Holistic
Technical, Operational and Commercial Evaluation”.
Today the majority of trains are still driven and
controlled by human beings. The advent of train
control systems based on continuous track to train
and train to track communications, together with
automatic train protection is however changing this
situation. Train control systems have taken the level
of operating safety to a level previously unknown.
These systems when optimised to their ultimate
extent, support the concept of manless operation.
This paper reviews the trends in the application of
manless systems worldwide, discusses the various
support systems employed in conjunction with the
implementation of manless systems, to maintain a
smooth and safe operating environment, as a direct
result of the removal of the driver.
It explores the advantages and disadvantages of
the introduction of manless operation, and also the
perceived problems, in accepting manless trains by
the public at large.
Mr Brett Baker MIRSE, Project Manager, Connex
New Rolling Stock Project. “Connex New Rolling
Stock Procurement Experience, The X’TRAPO-
LIS”.
This paper describes the procurement of NRS as
defined in the franchise bid document.
During the franchise bid process, Connex and
Alstom worked jointly which resulted in a NRS
submission to the State of Victoria being an Alstom
“standard” train product line.
The project initially involved the design and early
manufacture of the units at Alstom’s La Roche
facility in France, with a major portion of the work
shifting to Alstom’s Ballarat facility by the second
half of 2002.
8th April 2002 saw the delivery of Melbourne’s
newest train the X’TRAPOLIS.
The first unit comprising three cars were transferred
from a low-loader on to the tracks at
Bayswater maintenance facility for testing.
Mainline testing commenced in June, with formal
Acceptance Tests with the Department of
Infrastructure in November and regular revenue
service by 31st December
A total of 58 new units will be progressively
delivered and enter revenue service between
January 2003 and December 2004.
Mr M Jovetic, Signal Maintenance Engineer.
Alstom Melbourne Transport Limited.
Mr N Grady Comp IRSE, Operations Manager,
Alstom Melbourne Transport Limited.
“The Alstom Train Delivery Experience”.
Alstom Melbourne Transport Limited (AMTL) has
both an infrastructure and rolling stock management
contract with Connex Trains Franchise in Melbourne.
Asset management has responsibilities for determining
engineering and maintenance policies and
takes part of the risk for asset performance; thus it
has approval roles in the introduction of the new
rolling stock and the management/mitigation of the
associated risks.
The significant risks to be addressed for the
introduction of the new train included the obvious
ones: dimensions, weight, power requirements and,
of course, interference with existing signalling
systems. The latter was one of the most challenging
risks to prove mitigated.
“Everyone” knows that electronically controlled
trains introduce new hazards to the signalling
system.
Standards such as EN 50121 “Railway
Applications – Electromagnetic Compatibility” and
UMTA – MA-06-01534-85-6 “Conductive Interference
in Rapid Transit Signalling Systems” give, what