Australia molds 'model' railway with computers (February 2003)
2/15/2023Australian rail research firm The Cooperative Research Centre for Railway Engineering and Technologies (Rail CRC) is heading the development of the country's/continent's $56 million "model" railway.
Through a partnership between the Australian government, rail industry and several universities, more than 150 researchers are creating a national repository of railroad-operation modeling and simulation tools. Researchers are calibrating computers to support national derailment investigations, real-time wear monitoring and anti-congestion scheduling.
With 26 projects underway and more than 12 planned for 2003, the research team also is trying to develop national software standards for container transfers, crew rosters, locomotive fleet assignment and track access — everything from ballast beneath tracks to trucks above.
The model railway will add intellectual property to existing railroad technology, said Rail CRC CEO Dudley Roach in a prepared statement.
Source: The February 2003 issue of Progressive Railroading