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Rail CRC research found trains can run faster just as safely.
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RAIL CRC’s Cant Deficiency Project offers hundreds of
millions of dollars in savings for the rail industry by finding
that trains can run up to six per cent faster just as safely.
Rail CRC’s Project 96 – A Review of Factors Affecting
Allowable Cant Deficiency Levels – found that with improved
track and train maintenance, trains could run faster than
previously thought without increasing the danger of derailment or
track damage.
Australian Rail Track Corporation consultant and project manager
Fred Mau said as a result of these findings, ARTC had estimated
that transit times could be significantly reduced by allowing
trains to run faster without compromising safety levels.
“For example in the case of a train running between Melbourne
and Brisbane, the research findings mean a potential saving of 100
minutes off the total transit time,” Mr Mau said.
“One minute in transit time because of deviations or other
infrastructure improvements can cost up to $10 million – so
It could cost up to $1 billion to achieve the same transit time
savings as will be achieved by increasing cant deficiency.
“Rail operators get the equivalent of a safe freeby out of
all this – they can cover the same ground with less capital
outlay.
“This research will have a significant impact on
railway’s market share. The Federal Government is behind a
push to move from truck to rail transport especially on the east
coast of Australia. To be competitive with road transport, we need
to get rail transit time down, and these findings help us do
that.”
Project 96, managed by Mr Mau and led by Monash University’s
Graham Tew, is one of approximately 40 Rail CRC research projects,
which were established and supported under the Australian
Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Programme.
Rail CRC is based at Central Queensland University’s
Rockhampton campus and consists of rail industry partners –
ARTC, Pacific National, Queensland Rail, TMG Rail Technology, and
Rail Corp - and six university partners – Monash University,
Central Queensland University, The University of Queensland,
University of South Australia, Queensland University of Technology
and the University of Wollongong.
For more information on Rail CRC projects visit
www.railcrc.com.au
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