The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has awarded technology systems manufacturer Lockheed Martin a A$74.8m (US$72m) contract to develop a new communications-based train management technology for Australia's freight network.
The contract which is for the 'proof of concept' phase of the Advanced Train Management System (ATMS) where Lockhead will design, develop, construct and test an ATMS prototype on a 120km section of the interstate rail network in South Australia.
Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will provide all elements of the ATMS, including locomotive onboard processors; displays to provide warning to train operators and authorities and automated switching devices alongside tracks to safely route trains along dispatched routes.
Australia's ATMS has been designed to provide enhanced visibility into rail network operations, reduce the life-cycle cost of maintaining trackside signaling systems and increase the ARTC's capacity to move freight across its network, says the ARTC.
By Ozge Ibrahim
