Track
Eprotect will detect whether a locomotive has failed to stop prior to reaching the stop board, and if so will apply the emergency brakes.
uploaded with active worksite locations, tracks a locomotive’s approach to a worksite. The KMC identifies the location where the locomotive should stop to conform to correct CSP procedure. Should the locomotive fail to stop as required, Tranzlog, via instruction from the KMC,
activates the locomotive’s emergency brakes thereby automatically bringing it to a stop. Off-the-shelf GPS technologies like
this are not readily available for use in the KiwiRail environment. Similar European locomotive stopping functionality could be adapted for use by KiwiRail but at a significant cost per locomotive and it would not take advantage of the existing KMC and Tranzlog functionality we have readily available.
Eprotect centres around the Kupe Mobile Controller and Tranzlog equipment.
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System malfunctioning is allayed by internal fault checking undertaken by the system during normal operation. Eprotect continually self-monitors and provides alerts to a fault escalation process should system problems occur. Eprotect is the first milestone in the development of an electronic worksite protection system envisaged to provide all rail safety and productivity improvement benefits. We regard track worker protection as a priority when undertaking any construction projects, something that is fully supported by KiwiRail CEO Jim Quinn. “Safety in the workplace is crucial for KiwiRail. Not only do we want to maintain our existing safety standards but we are also looking to continually improve our approach. This is something that is shown by the Eprotect initiative”
Through the smart use of appropriate technologies KiwiRail is certain that it is possible to develop a safety-critical protection system which allows a step- change in worksite safety and productivity benefits through maximising track worker time on track, and moving away from having to stop trains prior to entering worksites by guaranteeing they are safe and clear of track workers. The Eprotect intermediate step is focused on getting the first stage of safety improvements into the field quickly. It achieves this by efficiently using existing KiwiRail equipment within locomotives. This positive step will improve worksite safety and will be used as a secondary protection overlay to the current CSP procedure. System rollout will begin before the end of the year on part of the East Coast Main Trunk lines. The next challenge will be to continue the technical development of the complete worksite protection system. We have identified and tested the radio technologies we believe will provide the best integration of safety functionality and track worker ease-of- use in the field. To make this system concept a deployable product we now need to engage a development partner to turn our testing into reality. IRJ
IRJ December 2012
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