AusRAIL PLUS 2009: ‘doing more with less’

By Jennifer Perry

Providing a forum for senior executives to discuss future policy, investment and the latest technological advancements in the rail sector, this year’s theme of ‘doing more with less’, also invites delegates to reflect and share knowledge about efficient and effective ways to meet the challenge of growing the industry with limited capital available.
The AusRAIL PLUS technical streams will be held on November 17th-18th, and will provide insights and in-depth sessions on specific areas of technical expertise. AECOM’s associate director’s of rail, Kelvin Davis and Richard Fargher will be presenting the ‘Auckland experience’ on Tuesday 17th November, and will share their experience of the major issues and challenges involved in undertaking a major electrification project.
Currently in progress and with a capital cost of $500 million, the Auckland electrification project is an exciting rail infrastructure investment being undertaken by the New Zealand Government through the New Zealand rail authority KiwiRail. The electrification project entails the installation of overhead wiring on 150 kilometres of Auckland’s existing diesel rail network.
AECOM, together with Balfour Beatty are presently engaged in the detailed design of a 25kV AC return conductor traction and overhead wiring system.
“This includes the design of two 220/25kV feeder stations at Penrose and Westfield and several track sectioning cabins, including all associated high voltage equipment and feeder cabling and associated feeding and sectioning diagrams,” Davis told Rail Express.
“The overhead wiring design has encompassed the development of an Auckland specific equipment design range, together with a complete suite of wiring layout plans, structure cross sections for each individual structure, bridge cross sections, switching and feeding cross sections and bonding layouts.”
Construction of the new traction system is set to commence in 2010 and is planned for completion in 2013.
Organised by the RTAA, IRSE and RTSA, AusRAIL PLUS technical streams will cover a wide range of topics including rolling stock, new generation control systems, track maintenance innovations, technology ‘moving forward’, research and development and detection, protection and communications.

To enquire about AusRAIL PLUS 2009 please contact our Customer Service Department on: +61 (0)2 9080 4307
or email: registration@informa.com.au
or visit: www.ausrail.com