ATMS: a ‘quantum leap’ forward – Part One

By Jennifer Perry

According to ARTC, ATMS is a rail technology that will "lead the world” and represents a quantum leap forward in the management of freight rail.
“This is because ATMS uses wireless communications, a centralised computer control system and a sophisticated GPS-based train tracking and control device that will allow ARTC to know the precise location and speed of all trains on its network and enable us to intervene and apply the train brakes should the need require,” ARTC’s ATMS program director Lino Di Lernia told Rail Express.
ARTC sees the development of ATMS as “critical” to successfully meeting what it sees are the two biggest challenges for the Australian rail industry. To improve the industry’s market share in the movement of freight between capital cities and to take hold of the opportunity presented by the anticipated doubling of the freight task over the next decade.
“ATMS will simultaneously improve rail safety, lower rail infrastructure and operating costs and provide greater rail freight capacity,” Di Lernia said.
ARTC entered into a contract for $73.2 million with Lockheed Martin (assisted by Ansaldo-STS) for the company to design, develop, construct, integrate and test an ATMS prototype system on 105 kilometres of the interstate rail network between Crystal Brook and Port Augusta, in the north of South Australia.
The proof of concept phase is a 39 month “careful, structured process” to ensure safety and reliability, ARTC’s general manager communications and control systems and chair of the ATMS board Mike van de Worp said.
Should the prototype be successful, ARTC will consider a roll-out of the system over its 10,000 kilometre Australian rail network.
ARTC made a submission to Infrastructure Australia (IA) and made IA’s priority ‘pipeline’ of infrastructure projects, announced at the last federal budget. Yet making it onto IA’s list does not guarantee federal funding – ARTC has to sit tight, like many in the industry, for the next round of IA-advised funding to be announced.
“Federal investment into ATMS will assist us to move on from the proof of concept phase. We hope for this, though if we are not successful we would then have to examine some other alternative to deliver the benefits of ATMS.” van de Worp said.

For more information on ATMS visit: www.artc.com.au

To read Part Two of this story click here.