First locos will be using common link this year

<p>The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC)-Telstra national rail network communication project was proceeding quickly and to schedule, an ARTC spokeswoman said today (Friday, April 27).</p> <p>Part of the new system will be in place and in service by the end of the year.</p> <p>The project will replace nine separate communications systems across Australia’s rail system &#8211 from Brisbane to Perth &#8211 with the Next G network, giving eventually more than 700 locomotives access to a single system.</p> <p>ARTC and Telstra expect the project plan will be completed in the next few weeks. </p> <p>&#8220The plan will reflect coverage of the rail network in accordance with ARTC’s priorities,&#8221 the spokeswoman said.</p> <p>Telstra has begun preparation work for 77 new Next G regional base stations &#8211 to be built over 10,000 km of track &#8211 over the next few months to allow the roll-out of the system.</p> <p>ARTC anticipates 20 sites will be constructed and operating by the end of this year.</p> <p>Replacing a series of old technologies, such as two-way radios and CDMA devices, the new network will provide telecommunications coverage for the interstate network &#8211 from Brisbane to Perth via Melbourne and Broken Hill, and in the Hunter Valley.</p> <p>The project aims to improve coverage in tunnels and across the Nullabor Plain, introduces new communications equipment for more than 700 locomotives, and is backed up by satellite if necessary.</p> <br />