Queensland Rail: The Telecommunications Backbone Network: improving operational & business communications

Therese MillerGeneral Manager Train OperationsAugust 2014

“Communities Connecting and Connecting Communities”

Topics1. The TBN – what it is and functionality

2. A brief history 1960-2010s

3. The Challenges in the 21st Century

4. How QldRail has addressed a Challenge

5. What’s happening now

6. Benefits for Operators

7. What customers can expect

8. Lessons States can learn

The Telecommunications Backbone Network

Operational safe working systems

Supporting operational and business efficiencies for optimal customer outcomes

A broad telecommunications network systems breakdown

Telecommunications

Transmission

Copper, optical Fibre,

-data, voice,

Telemetry/Interlocking

Station Services

Telephone (PABX)

Data

Runs over the transmission network and provides VOIP, allows remote equipment monitoring and configuration

Radio

Utilises microwave or UHF bands, to provide communications between station staff, Train Control, maintenance etc

A broad telecommunications functionality breakdown

Telecommunications

To safely conduct day-to-day safe

working operations

To communicate

with passengers, staff, drivers, controllers

To collect data and

disseminate information

To monitor our resources

To identify, determine, diagnose, problems

To improve future

operations

The Journey - Operational Comms <1970 through to the Business Comms of the 2010s….. Whats next?

Challenges Present ……. Future

Increasing demand for

bandwidth Managing Business

Disruptions; a demand to

achieve

Higher traffic capacity, shorter

headways, improve customer

service.

Data from the TBN assists in Timetable Design

Collection of data via

telecommunications

network.

Some solutions within the existing network.

Now and in the Near Future

• “Where’s my train” app.

• Remote Train Announcement System

• TOS review & Track Access System for UTC

• GTFS real-time feed

• Amalgamation of some passenger information systems

• Train Performance Analyzer

• Digital Radio

• BaT development (Fire & Life Safety) - ETCS

Benefits for Network Operators

• Reliability & redundancy with backup telecommunications to the site, backup

power supplies and duplicated systems.

• Real time information – immediate & consistent updates of changes.

• Capacity: Achieving higher traffic capacity, with shorter headways;

• Consolidation of systems gives consistency in communications

• Efficient implementation of business continuity plans.

Overall – increasing quality of customer service.

What passengers can expect from these developments

Seamless Timely Connectivity.

• Information & Communication - Greater ability to pinpoint locations of trains

more accurate arrival time for trains & connections.

• More informative ‘real time’ passenger information services;

Reliability Headway reduction = greater throughput / more trains running;

“The turn up and go” philosophy – Customers don’t need a timetable.

Passengers can now make informed decisions.

Safety & Security

• Safe Travel, Increase in CCTV capability, emergency phones, and in train

information systems contribute to safety and security in travel.

Lessons states can learn from TBN

• Providers of TBN need to listen to their customer – the Operator.

Likewise Operators need to know what they want in order to

service their customers & better assist TBN providers.

• The ‘Gap’ between Operational & Business Communications (from

1970s) has now closed & converged to produce a need for rail

operators to meet customer expectations.

• ‘Partner, procure and provide’ – work with the market to see what

best suits us.

• Interoperability

• Overall there is a need to evolve the TBN to be a digital-based IP

platform to better service the needs and expectations of its

communications, now and into the future.