Developing Best Practice in Light Rail EngineeringMatt Rose – Engineering Manager DownerDaniel Caldwell – Design Manager WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff

- Current status

- What is Best Practice?

- Importance of Stakeholders

- Light Rail Standards

- Interaction between road and rail

- Rail systems engineering and integration

- The urban environment

- Critical success factors

OUTLINE

- Multiple existing systems across the country- Unprecedented growth & rejuvenation- Different types of systems- No Australian Standards for Light Rail- Inconsistent delivery models

CURRENT STATE OF AUSTRALIAN LIGHT RAIL SYSTEMS

- More consistent approach to delivering light rail systems- learning from past and current projects- Integration and expansion of existing systems- Stakeholder expectations and input- Whole of life optimisation- Positive contribution to urban renewal projects

WHAT IS BEST PRACTICE?

IMPORTANCE OF STAKEHOLDERSWho are the Stakeholders?

LIGHT RAIL

SYSTEM

OWNER

GOVERNMENT

COUNCIL

OPERATOR

MAINTAINER

DESIGN

CONSTRUCTOR

USER GROUP

UTILITIES

COMMUNITY

WHY DO THEY MATTER?

What have we learnt?- Safety- Managing project and residual

risk (early acceptance)- Defining business and system

requirements- Defining interfaces and overlaps- Efficient & collaborative

approval pathways- Integration of assets- Meeting safety assurance

requirements- Asset ownership and

maintenance requirements

- No specific Australian Standards- EN standards widely adopted but

not always fit for purpose- Hierarchy of standards

§ Business and System Requirements

§ Project Specific Requirements

§ Local and State government standards

§ International and proven standards

- Rollingstock specific requirements – each vehicle is different

- Need to consider Operations and Maintenance (O&M)

LIGHT RAIL STANDARDS

- Light rail operational modes- The boundaries of asset ownership and standards is sometimes

undefined- Shared use – maintenance, emergencies services, pedestrian

movements- Clearances and separation (no consistent standard)

INTERACTION OF ROAD AND RAIL ENVIRONMENTS

Defining the system requirement

Concept of Operations and System Requirement Specification

Complex interfaces between: - Communications and security- Control Systems and

Signalling- Power Systems and SCADA- Electromagnetic Compatibility

RAIL SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND INTEGRATION

Key is to define business and user requirements –agreement with stakeholders- SCATS- Utility providers- Operator- Rollingstock vendor

- Balance between user requirements- Human factors and risk assessment- Future planning – Urban integration- Wayfinding- Modal shift – improving connectivity between public transport

INTEGRATING ENGINEERING REQUIREMENTS INTO AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT

- Industry body- Develop common set of Australian

Standards for Light Rail

- Light Rail system owners- Early engagement with stakeholders- Limits of asset ownership- Clearly defined specification /

requirements

- Designer / Constructors / Rolling stock suppliers / Operators

- Improved definition of scope split

- Positive urban and community outcomes

CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS