4Tel has signed a new contract with ARTC to modernize train control over 1,276 kilometers of track between Tarcoola and Kalgoorlie, with system commissioning scheduled for late 2026. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

4Tel has signed a new contract with ARTC to modernize train control over 1,276 kilometers of track between Tarcoola and Kalgoorlie, with system commissioning scheduled for late 2026
Image: 4Tel

This expansion will bring the Train Management and Control System (TMACS) to one of Australia’s major freight corridors. TMACS already operates on over 5,000 kilometers in New South Wales.

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Since 2001, TMACS has demonstrated consistent safety and reliability across multiple networks. It uses electronic movement authorities to streamline traffic while minimizing traditional trackside infrastructure.

The system actively prevents conflicts by issuing virtual authority limits, monitored in real-time. Alarms are triggered both in control centers and on devices when limits are exceeded.

How ARTC Plans to Modernize Train Control?

According to 4Tel CEO Tony Crosby, drivers and track crews will benefit from improved safety measures, such as proximity alerts and out-of-authority notifications. These features have already proven effective on the Country Regional Network.

Unlike manual processes, TMACS delivers digital control that reduces human error. It also supports more efficient train planning using electronic train graphs and screen-based forms.

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Brad Moorhouse, ARTC’s Group Executive of Safety and Systems, confirmed the system will integrate with eTAP, ARTC’s mobile work-on-track application. This integration aims to enhance both safety and efficiency on the corridor.

TMACS is the only control system in Australia certified to IEC 61508 SIL-2, making it a vital safety solution for freight operations. It ensures that all users operate within safe limits at all times.

ARTC currently operates TMACS through control centers across New South Wales, including its Network Control Centre North and South. The new servers for this project will be installed in ARTC’s Network Control Centre West in Adelaide.

Source: www.railexpress.com.au

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