Article: Smart plan to double trains

[ozbob]

Article from Sunday Herald Sun click here!

Smart plan to double trains

Smart plan to double trains

Laurie Nowell

November 23, 2008 12:00am

MELBOURNE'S rail network capacity could be doubled and made safer with the introduction of standard European signalling systems.

Engineers who helped build Victoria's fast-rail system say they could transform the city's rail system within 10 years.

The proposal, by engineers O'Donnell Griffin, would see the implementation of the smart ERTMS (European Rail Track management System) Level 2.

Instead of being able to run a maximum of 135 trains on the network at any one time, the network could run 250.

The system would require less maintenance - with no signalling, only radio transponders.

Francis Dwornik, engineering director of O'Donnell Griffin Rail, said the technical solutions were simple. "It's an opportunity to put more trains on the track," he said.

"Europe is leading the world in developing technical skills and systems for controlling train operations.

"This is not just about safety, but also increasing the capacity of the existing network without building extra tracks."

He said a simulation of what the new system could do for Melbourne's rail network could be produced for $2 million, but getting bureaucrats to listen was difficult.

Mr Dwornik said the Australian Rail Association and Institute of Railway Signal Engineers had approached governments in the past about the new technology.

"It's a difficult road to get it accepted in Australia.

"The private sector is not pushing for change - most of the operators have five-year contracts and there is no incentive for them to look at long-term investments.

"In 10 to 15 years we will be behind the rest of Asia."

The State Government has committed $8.5 billion for a rail tunnel between Footscray and Caulfield.

O'Donnell Griffin was this week appointed preferred tenderer for a $1 billion signalling, electrical and track upgrade program in NSW.

[stephenk]

I highly doubt that using ERMTS could double the systems capacity. The current maximum capacity is 24tph. I doubt that ERMTS could manage better than 30tph. This is a 25% increase in capacity, not 50%!