The train control system screen display provided no direct indication to the network control officer that one section of the established route was dual-gauge and another section single-gauge.
A clearly visible and audible on-screen alert for the network controller can be expected to contribute towards preventing a recurrence of this incident.
The network control officer currently receives a warning dialogue box if the train gauge and route selected are incompatible. The signal interlocking will hold the signal at stop if the route selected and train gauge are incompatible.
On-screen gauge alert
The train control system software has been modified to provide for an acknowledgable on-screen alert in the event that a network controller attempts to set a route that includes the wrong gauge for the train that is to use it.
The ATSB is satisfied that this proposed action will adequately address the safety issue.
ARTC will investigate with the Train Control System provider (Ansaldo) the option of removing the ‘route set’ functionality from the screen display where there is incompatibility between the route selected and the train gauge required.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is satisfied that the action taken by ARTC adequately addresses the safety issue.
