Train Management & Control System (TMACS) for Regional Rail Operations

There are currently five operational TMACS control systems; three for mainline operations by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) and two for NSW Country Regional Network (CRN) freight, passenger and bulk commodities operations.  

TMACS uses screen-based forms and electronic train graphs for efficient planning, changes and incident replay. It issues electronic Permit-to-Work authorities to track workers and cross-checks the validity of staff qualifications. The GPS tracking of train movements, track vehicles and track staff against issued authorities produces a total safety solution.  

TMACS offers three levels of control modes that can be used simultaneously on any line for any mix of rail operations and locomotive on-board technology. It is interoperable with third-party control systems and onboard Automatic Train Protection.  

It is currently used for Level 1 voice-based train orders and Level 2 electronic authorities simultaneously: 

• TMACS Level 1 – for mixed-fleet, voice-based, conventional train order working 

• TMACS Level 2 – for mixed voice and electronic movement authorities to trains 
• TMACS Level 3 – for electronic movements authorities to trains with on-board braking enforcement (currently under safety-certification to SIL-4)

TMACS uses a central vital server (conceptually like a radio-based interlocking) for all track access control, thereby achieving centralised network safety without vital communications to track users. If any transaction between a network user and the central server is not securely concluded, the safety status of the network or user cannot change. This means that communications disruptions are efficiency issues, not safety issues.   

This safe system design allows use of both private and public communications networks, offering flexibility for deployment. Across Australia, TMACS uses public 4G and Iridium satellite for train control communications of vital authorities. 

As TMACS removes the need for vital communications by design, user devices can be publicly sourced to allow any type and combination of field devices. For example, all track workers now use a specialist app on their personal smart phone or tablet for safe track access. 

TMACS has a very low CAPEX cost-per-kilometre for deployment and subsequent recurring OPEX. Minimal track-side infrastructure is required and is limited to inexpensive static signs. This configuration reduces signalling maintenance costs, vandalism, and copper theft issues along regional and remote area lines. A key benefit of TMACS is its very high availability due to the minimal infrastructure use.