Downer EDI announces new $200 Million Rail Contract for QR

Downer EDI Limited (Downer EDI) today announced that the Downer EDI Bombardier joint venture has received an order for an additional 20 three-car passenger trains from QR valued in excess of $200 million.

Downer EDI CEO, Geoff Knox said the contract follows on from previous QR orders late last year.

“This win is a great reflection on the success of our joint venture with our technology partner Bombardier and in our long-term relationship with QR to deliver reliable public transport for the people of Queensland.

“We are pleased to be assisting in the successfuldelivery of the Queensland Government’s transport policy and to the continued support of our products by the people of Queensland who rely on public transport to deliver them to and from home safely every day.

“We will commence manufacture of the new train cars later this year following the successful delivery and commissioning of our existing contract for the manufacture of 44 passenger trains for QR.

“The trains will be manufactured at our recently upgraded manufacturing facility in Maryborough, and we will be working with local suppliers to source components for the trains.

“In what has been a difficult time for many people in the region, we are pleased to be growing our workforce to cater for the growth in our Rail business,” he said.

Downer EDI’s Rail Division is well placed to further grow its market share in this strong sector.


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Sydney-Canberra high speed rail link

Recently, there was a suggestion for a high-speed rail link to be built between Sydney and Canberra which only clocks a 50 minutes travel time. This naturally regenerated the possibility of turning Canberra's airport into a viable second airport option for Sydney.


http://www.popsci.com.au/scitech/article/2009-02/high-speed-rail-link-make-canberra-sydney%E2%80%99s-second-airport

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/airport-push-for-sydneys-second-terminal-in-capital/1430265.aspx


Canberra Airport has also made public its 2009 preliminary draft master plan last week for the next 20 years.
http://www.canberraairport.com.au/air_planning/masterPlan09


What do you think?

Single digital train control system vital for Australia

“The implementation of a single Australian Digital Train Control System (ADTCS) is imperative if we are to increase rail’s capacity, productivity and safety,” Bryan Nye, CEO of the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) said.

Currently, there are 22 train control radio networks in Australia. This means that on average, an Australian freight train is fitted with up to eight (8) different radio systems.

Further, a train driver needs to interpret different signalling systems and deal with a multitude of train control systems and procedures to travel between states.

“This situation is clearly absurd, and reflects the chronic under-investment from governments in rail. It clearly impacts on the capacity and productivity of all rail operations, and acts in detriment of Australia’s economy, society and environment.” said Mr Nye.

Whilst a small segment of the Australian rail network has been upgraded to more modern technology, the great majority of the network is based on old signalling equipment.

With the rapid increase in rail use, the nation desperately needs a single Australian Digital Train Control System to underpin urban and regional passenger services as well as inter-capital and regional freight operations.

The ADTCS would ensure each train driver has only one digital screen and one radio microphone. This will set the pillars on which rail builds its future.

This kind of world class technology is already in operation in Europe and China and is being adopted in the US, India and South East Asia. Australia must adopt the ADTCS now.

“We call for Commonwealth and State governments to work together with our industry to bring Australian rail back into the 21st century.” concluded Mr Nye.

- Article taken from Transport & Logistics News