Signalling and Automation

[ozbob]

Understand first mainline ETCS L2 test was done last evening between Shorncliffe and Sandgate with SMU 276.

[ozbob]

ETCS update - just an update on the successful testing the other night.

A lot of discussion on other issues eg. covid etc.

Commences about 7 minutes 30 seconds in.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1548121841788932096

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> As Brisbane slept, the future of state's train travel passed crucial tests

As commuters slept one night last week, a coastal track in Brisbane's north-east played host to crucial testing of the future of Queensland's train travel.

A train equipped with new rail control technology – set to be part of Cross River Rail and then the broader Queensland Rail network – was successfully tested on the Shorncliffe line. ...

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

International Railway Journal --> $A 107m contract for equipping the state's NGR fleet with ATO over ETCS.

HITACHI Rail has won a $A 107m ($US 74.4m) contract to equip Queensland's New Generation Rail (NGR) fleet of 75 EMUs with ATO over ETCS Level 2.

The contract will be delivered over a four-year period across the six-car trains and will provide the ability to operate at GoA2. The first two trains are undergoing technical fit-out and testing. In addition to equipment installation, Hitachi has also been awarded a contract worth $A 65m for the maintenance of fleet through to 2046.

The NGR fleet was delivered from 2016 under a $A 4.4bn public-private partnership (PPP) by the Qtectic consortium made up of Bombardier, John Laing, Itochu and Aberdeen Standard Investments. The contract also included construction of a maintenance centre at Wulkurata in Ipswich and a 32-year maintenance contract.

As IRJ reported on July 18, Queensland has been testing ETCS on Brisbane's 11km Shorncliffe suburban line as a prelude to its installation on the under-construction Cross River Rail project ahead of a state-wide roll-out, which will boost capacity across the 1067mm-gauge network.

Following the completion of the Hitachi Rail contract to install ATO and ETCS in the NGR fleet, Queensland Rail will also benefit from the significant energy efficiencies associated with consistently running trains at an optimum speed, helping to reduce costs and electricity usage. ...

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> From $634m to $1.3b: Massive blowouts put rail upgrades off track $

Cost blowouts have plagued a new rail signalling system being built by the Palaszczuk government to allow trains to operate closer together with improved safety.

The Opposition has used figures which show the budget for implementation of the European Train Control System had increased from $634m in 2016-17 to more than $1.3bn.

The LNP argues the Palaszczuk government has attempted to hide the blowout by creating new projects outside the existing project – a claim the government denies. ...

[ozbob]

LinkedIn

[ozbob]

NEW Milestone alert - Three test trains now fully kitted out! Our Redbank fitment facility has now fitted out three...

Posted by Cross River Rail on Monday, 23 January 2023

[verbatim9]

^^Slowly but surely

[verbatim9]

Rail Express---> New test milestone for Queensland ETCS

A train from the Queensland New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) fleet has completed its first low speed ETCS dynamic test on the Shorncliffe line: a significant milestone in preparing for travel through the Cross River Rail twin tunnels, where ETCS will also be installed as the signalling system.

[ozbob]

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2023/1114-2023.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 1114
Asked on 14 September 2023

MR S MINNIKIN ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS AND MINISTER FOR DIGITIAL SERVICES (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

Will the Minister advise, for each train in the Queensland Rail fleet, the date that it is programmed
to have all necessary European Train Control System (ETCS) equipment installed and
operational?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Chatsworth for the question.

Each of the three car City Train sets in the Queensland Rail fleet which will have ETCS equipment
installed and operational for testing and commissioning purposes will be equipped and
operational before the end of 2023.

[achiruel]

Does that mean ETCS is being installed in EMUs? Surely not!

[ozbob]

Does that mean ETCS is being installed in EMUs? Surely not!

Good point. I hope so 

(seriously I probably think not ...)

[JimmyP]

No to EMUs. I believe the answer he gave was rather two faced, pretty sure he is talking about only the QR units being fitted for testing and initial commissioning.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Correct. Only the NGR will have full fleet fitout for ETCS. Everything else remain as is. Only a handful of 260's will have it installed for testing on the Shorncliffe and Gympie lines. As far as I am aware the 260's potentially will never even get to go inside CRR tunnels even as test units as NGR ETCS test units will do that role.

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2023/1359-2023.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 1359
Asked on 26 October 2023

MR S MINNIKIN ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS AND MINISTER
FOR DIGITAL SERVICES (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

With reference to the Minister's previous advice that 'Each of the three car City Train sets in the
Queensland Rail fleet which will have ETCS equipment installed and operational for testing and
commissioning purposes will be equipped and operational before the end of 2023'—
Will the Minister provide the fleet ID number and model of each three car set that (a) will have
ETCS equipment installed and (b) which will not?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Chatsworth for the question.

(a) The European Train Control System (ETCS) onboard equipment has completed design,
fitment, and initial testing on three Queensland Rail SMU260 fleet (IDs 261, 264 and 276).
These trains are currently being used for various ETCS testing activities on the Shorncliffe
line ahead of the Cross River Rail commissioning phase.

(b) Fleet IDs 161–188 from the IMU160 class, and fleet IDs 262, 263, 265–275 and 277–296
from the SMU260 class will not have ETSC installed.

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Questions on Notice

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2024/121-2024.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 121
Asked on 5 March 2024

MR S MINNIKIN ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS AND MINISTER
FOR DIGITAL SERVICES (HON B MELLISH)

QUESTION:

Will the Minister advise the total cost to the taxpayer for the European Train Control System
(ETCS)?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Chatsworth for the question.

The European Train Control System (ETCS) is a vital program of works to modernise
Queensland's rail network. Investment in this system will be ongoing to meet population growth,
now and into the future. The program includes various stages of work to roll ETCS out across the
South East Queensland rail network over the next decade.

ETCS will increase network capacity across South-East Queensland by up to 20 per cent,
allowing more frequent and efficient services whilst maintaining safe distances between trains on
the network.

ETCS is the world standard for monitoring and safely managing trains. The system will constantly
monitor, evaluate and help regulate the speed of trains on the SEQ Network.

ETCS provides a multitude of benefits including increased safety, reliability and reduced network
disruptions associated with maintenance of conventional signalling equipment. ETCS represents
significant value for money compared to both the conventional signalling system it replaces and
the costs associated with the major infrastructure works that would otherwise be necessary to
achieve similar increases in network capacity.

As per the 2023-24 Queensland Budget, the current published budget for ETCS is $764.3 million
(Excluding GST). Queensland Rail: Queensland Budget 2023-24 Capital Statement Budget
Paper No. 3 Page 105 and Cross River Rail Delivery Authority Queensland Budget 2023-24
Capital Statement Budget Paper No. 3 Page 108.

As announced in SEQ Rail Connect, released in August 2022, the Queensland Government will
continue the full rollout of ETCS across the entire South East Queensland rail network. Therefore
the total cost for the rollout of the ETCS program is not yet known.

I have undertaken to provide updates on project costs twice per year, at the June Queensland
Budget and at the Mid-Year Update

[ozbob]

^

" ... As announced in SEQ Rail Connect, released in August 2022, the Queensland Government will
continue the full rollout of ETCS across the entire South East Queensland rail network. ... "

    

[achiruel]

^

" ... As announced in SEQ Rail Connect, released in August 2022, the Queensland Government will
continue the full rollout of ETCS across the entire South East Queensland rail network. ... "

    

That is excellent news. Now, can we get the LNP to commit to the same?

[HappyTrainGuy]

^

" ... As announced in SEQ Rail Connect, released in August 2022, the Queensland Government will
continue the full rollout of ETCS across the entire South East Queensland rail network. ... "

    

Meh. Level 1 has always been planned. The problem with it is that it's never been timescaled. Remember ATP plans of the early 90's Sector 1 will be the third install. Sector 2 will be fourth and sector 3 will be the last to have it. Caboolture-Gympie being the first and Shorncliffe-Northgate/CRR being level 2.

Sector one will get it sooner as it has the QTMP MTCE facility, crr services etc, sector two will get it mid term as it has the NGR MTCE facility and sector 3 it's not a priority as NGR/QTMP will unlikely ever be using it in the short term.

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2024/331-2024.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 331
Asked on 21 March 2024

MR R STEVENS ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS AND MINISTER
FOR DIGITAL SERVICES (HON B MELLISH)

QUESTION:

Will the Minister advise (a) what sections of the Queensland Rail Citytrain network will utilise the
European Train Control System on completion of the project and (b) when the system is expected
to be operational on these sections?

ANSWER:
I thank the Member for Mermaid Beach for the question.

(a) The European Train Control System (ETCS) is a vital program of works to modernise
Queensland's rail network. Investment in this system will be ongoing to meet population
growth, now and into the future. The program includes various stages of work to roll ETCS
out across the South East Queensland (SEQ) rail network over the next decade.

(b) ETCS is already being tested on the Shorncliffe Line and will also go live on Cross River
Rail when the tunnel opens in 2026. ETCS will progressively activate as it is installed across
the SEQ network over the coming decade.

ETCS will increase network capacity across SEQ by up to 20 per cent, allowing more frequent
and efficient services while maintaining safe distances between trains on the network. ETCS is
the world standard for monitoring and safely managing trains. The system will constantly monitor,
evaluate and help regulate the speed of trains on the SEQ network.

ETCS provides a multitude of benefits including increased safety, reliability and reduced network
disruptions associated with maintenance of conventional signalling equipment. ETCS represents
significant value for money, compared to both the conventional signalling system it replaces and
the costs associated with the major infrastructure works that would otherwise be necessary to
achieve similar increases in network capacity.