The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has welcomed this morning’s announcement from the Federal Government, approving a first instalment payment of $15.5 million towards the implementation of the $65 million Advanced Train Management System (ATMS) project.
ARA CEO, Bryan Nye OAM, said he was pleased to see the funding announcement, which will enable the roll out of Stage 1 of the ATMS project which will provide significantly upgraded capabilities to the Australian rail industry.
“ATMS is designed to improve rail network capacity and reliability, through a communication based train management system that allows network controllers and the train drivers to operate trains in closer proximity than ever before and to be assured that they are doing it safely,” said Mr Nye.
“It also minimises the need to construct new or upgraded track infrastructure and increases capacity on the existing single-track network that meets industry’s need for greater rail capacity on a network which is enormously geographically extensive.
“ATMS is the cornerstone technology that will boost improved communications and digitalisation in the rail industry.
“It is incredibly important as it allows for a safer, more cost and time efficient and ultimately more productive system that will benefit not only the Australian rail industry but also the nation’s economy given the forecasted increasing freight task,” he said.
The announcement comes from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development Warren Truss and is being delivered by the national rail network manager and ARA member, the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).
“The ARA has long supported ARTC in its work on the ATMS project and will continue to advocate for further funding commitments in the upcoming federal budget to allow for the greater roll out of the project nation-wide,” said Mr Nye.
“I commend the Federal Government on its commitment to ensuring a safer and more technically efficient Australian rail industry that will allow our industry to grow from strength to strength,” Mr Nye concluded.
