Siemens and DAMM have announced an agreement to combine international train control standard ETCS (European Train Control System) with TETRA, for rail operators in Australia.
The agreement will allow those working in mining, freight and related industries to use long distance communication networks, in order to control ETCS-enabled trains. The initiative will see communication towers installed at distances of ten-plus kilometres, instead of the current typical requirement of between five and seven km.
According to a statement, the agreement stemmed from the fact that the standard communication protocol (GSM-R) is more suited to small distances and high population densities.
Speaking on the partnership, executive general manager of Siemens Mobility in Australia, Max Eichhorn said: “This cutting-edge solution leverages the power of TETRA technology to tackle the daily operational challenges and high long-term capital costs of rail networks moving across the significant distances within Australia.
“With each state mandating their own networks and no national framework, we wanted to introduce the most interoperable platform using ETCS that works anywhere in Australia. The agreement is particularly ingenious as it leverages existing infrastructure and networks, without the need to invest more, and prepares Australian rail for future technological progresses.”
Allan Detlefsen, chief commercial officer of DAMM said: “TETRA is a great fit for the mining industry as they are keen to deploy advanced systems like driverless trains and ETCS to get maximum efficiency. Using TETRA, Siemens enables the industry to do more with less, therefore increasing competitiveness.”
