The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement today that it will establish an industry oversight group to lead the development and implementation of a state-of-the-art train management system.
ARA Chief Executive Officer Caroline Wilkie said the rollout of an Advanced Train Management System (ATMS) would deliver safety and efficiency benefits to the rail industry.
“ATMS is a great example of Australian rail driving innovation to find new solutions that will make our industry better,” Ms Wilkie said.
“The creation of the oversight group will bring significant industry knowledge to the table to guide this important next phase of the project.”
The ARA has long supported the implementation of ATMS across the Inland Rail and Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) network to support improved safety and productivity outcomes in the rail sector.
Ms Wilkie said it was important to acknowledge other train management systems operated within the Australian network, particularly across metropolitan networks.
She said the National Transport Commission (NTC) was leading the National Rail Action Plan, which included a key focus on interoperability to ensure one overarching system for freight trains on the national network.
ATMS was developed by the ARTC and its technology partner Lockheed Martin and is currently operational from Port Augusta to Whyalla following extensive testing and development.
The oversight group of nine major rail freight businesses in Australia will provide advice to the Federal Government on the broader rollout of ATMS.
ENDS