The railway line which transports coal from the West Coast will be significantly improved by the replacement of its ageing signalling system.
ONTRACK has agreed to replace the signalling system on the Midland Line, which will greatly enhance the reliability of a key transport link.
The Midland Line links the West Coast with Christchurch and the Port of Lyttelton and is used extensively by coal trains as well as the TranzAlpine passenger service.
ONTRACK Signals and Telecommunications Engineering Manager John Skilton said the new signalling system will be a huge improvement.
“Modern equipment will replace the old and high maintenance signalling infrastructure on the line which will save on maintenance costs and improve running times on the important coal route,” John Skilton said.
“This is the latest in a number of projects where ONTRACK has focused on improving reliability and increasing capacity on the network to enable more freight to be carried by rail.
”Signals regulate the movement of trains and maintain safe intervals between trains.
The decision to upgrade the system on the Midland Line means most of the signalling on the 196km between Rolleston and Stillwater will be replaced and converted to centralised train control operation.
Currently trains on the line are signalled automatically without intervention from national train control. A trackside pole line is used to convey signalling power and control and both the poles and wires are deteriorating.
John Skilton said the much of the terrain the Midland Line crosses is rugged and subject to extreme weather and the ageing signalling system is vulnerable.
“In 2006 snow and lightning damage left the entire line without signalling for several days. Full signalling could not be restored until six weeks after the storm.
”ONTRACK will call for expressions of interest for the Midland Line re-signalling by the end of 2008 and expects that work will start in 2009.