Ansaldo wins Rio Tinto automation contract

With technology supplied by Ansaldo, Rio Tinto’s AutoHaul™ automated heavy haul railway, to be completed in 2015, will be the first of its kind in the world and will significantly enhance the flexibility and capacity of Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s rail network.

The highly-specialised modular signalling solution developed and to be implemented by Ansaldo includes the introduction of a centralised Vital Safety Server for the safe and flexible management of train movements and an on-board driving module which enables the complete automation of the trains’ operation.

Additional features of the Ansaldo solution include complete reuse of wayside infrastructure and no disruption to train operations during deployment.

This significant contract is the latest in a series of heavy haul rail projects awarded to Ansaldo under a five-year framework agreement to support Rio Tinto’s ongoing expansion in the Pilbara.

The Rio Tinto Iron Ore - Ansaldo STS Framework Agreement (RAFA) was established in November 2010 under which Ansaldo is to deliver signalling, communications, train control and automation systems to Rio Tinto on demand.

Earlier this year Ansaldo was awarded a $151m turnkey contract to deliver a railway signalling and telecommunications system, using satellite positioning, for the Roy Hill Iron Ore project’s in north-west Western Australia