By Peter De Keles

Author  Bio Train operations on Rio Tinto's heavy haul iron ore railways in the Pilbara are to be fully automated by 2015 under two contracts announced on July 6.

Title:	First large-scale deployment of driverless heavy haul trains
Publication:	Railway Gazette
Date:	07/06/12
LSOL.com Rating
Category	Real Trains
Overview	Ansaldo STS is to develop a modular signalling system including a centralised Vital Safety Server to manage train movements plus onboard 'driving modules' for the locomotives which will enable fully automatic operation. The conversion will re-use all existing lineside infrastructure, and is to be deployed with no disruption to train operations.
URL Link	Link to Full Story - Might still not be available online.
Click to download the attached file(s): PDF copy of article (47KB)

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unmanned trains

and how long will it take to get a car department worker to check the train out when it has an undesired emergency? Or when will they find out that the train just killed a car full of people trying to beat the train at a crossing?

Ron Selliers - 07/11/2012 - 07:26

Safety

Ron, Although most of the rail line will be in desolate areas it makes you wonder. In June, Rio Tinto train drivers for the first time won the right to collective bargaining. Too late? Driver-less engines are used in some rail yards here and safety is a major bone of contention. Rio Tinto also uses 150 driver-less trucks at their mines.

Peter De Keles - 07/11/2012 - 13:22

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