Metrol, Melbourne rail network
Encyclopedia
Metrol is the central control centre of the Melbourne
suburban rail network. It controls signalling
, passenger information, and emergency procedures. It is situated in Transport House (599 Collins Street), in the CBD.
direct trains under the direction of the train controllers at Metrol.
Before Metrol, the points and signals in the Melbourne suburban area were controlled by a series of individual signal-boxes, under the direction of a train controller who coordinated train movements. The original function was to be the main train control facility for the Melbourne suburban railways, as well as to be the signal box for the City Loop, and to control the ventilation and other systems for the tunnels. It was later expanded in function to control points and signals for other stations in the inner Melbourne area.
The current area of point and signal control extends to Clifton Hill, Jolimont, East Richmond
, Flinders Street
, Spencer Street
, North Melbourne Junction
, and South Kensington. The outer section of the Hurstbridge line will also be controlled from Metrol after the completion of resignalling works, with work beginning in 2006. Metrol is also where information about cancellations or delayed trains is entered into the MetroSMS
disruption alert system.
on Batman Avenue and adjacent to Electrol, the control centre for the railway electrical substations and traction power supply. During construction the public discovered that the Metrol building would block the view from Russell Street to the Botanic Gardens and Government House, and that no planning permit being applied for. State Premier
Rupert Hamer
responded to public outrage and instructed the half built building to be demolished, and instructed all government departments that they must apply for planning permits, whether they were legally needed or not. The building was redesigned to be lower and which resulted in completion being delayed until early 1980. Metrol control of suburban trains commenced on 13 September 1980.
As part of the rationalisation of Jolimont Yard, the Metrol building was demolished in 1999 and was moved to a temporary location pending the replacement of the elderly technology with a new system. The functions of Electrol were relocated to a permanent location elsewhere.
National Express Group
, operator of half of the Melbourne suburban network, was required under its contractual obligations to introduce a new Metrol system by June 2001. Work on the Train Management Facility project started when Bombardier Transportation
was awarded an $11 million contract and proceeded with design work, with completion due for mid-2001. The project included plans for a back-up "disaster recovery centre" at Melbourne Central Station. In 2003 the State Government cancelled the now $18 million contract, saying it was unhappy with the deal.
On 28 June 2005 a leak in an air-conditioning hose caused Metrol to be shut down for two hours from 11.40am, resulting in 30,000 passengers being stranded and 66 trains cancelled, with 23 more trains cancelled later in the day due to flow on effects. Train operator Connex Melbourne
was fined $300,000 by the State Government for failing performance benchmarks.
The second attempt was made for a replacement train control centre was announced in May 2006 as part of the State Government Meeting Our Transport Challenges, and was costed at $88 million. The first stage is a $27 million contract for the design and installation of the new Train Control and Monitoring System that was awarded to Westinghouse Rail Systems Australia in March 2007. They will provide a customised version of the SystematICS control system, with completion expected in November 2010. Separate contracts will be tendered at a later date for a new passenger information system, a new reporting system and to refurbish the central control facility.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
suburban rail network. It controls signalling
Railway signalling
Railway signalling is a system used to control railway traffic safely, essentially to prevent trains from colliding. Being guided by fixed rails, trains are uniquely susceptible to collision; furthermore, trains cannot stop quickly, and frequently operate at speeds that do not enable them to stop...
, passenger information, and emergency procedures. It is situated in Transport House (599 Collins Street), in the CBD.
Operations
Metrol has two key functions—train control and signalling. Operations are split, with train control covering the whole suburban area, while control of points and signalling is only over a limited area in the centre of Melbourne. Outside this area, signal-boxesSignal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
direct trains under the direction of the train controllers at Metrol.
Before Metrol, the points and signals in the Melbourne suburban area were controlled by a series of individual signal-boxes, under the direction of a train controller who coordinated train movements. The original function was to be the main train control facility for the Melbourne suburban railways, as well as to be the signal box for the City Loop, and to control the ventilation and other systems for the tunnels. It was later expanded in function to control points and signals for other stations in the inner Melbourne area.
The current area of point and signal control extends to Clifton Hill, Jolimont, East Richmond
East Richmond railway station, Melbourne
East Richmond is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is located on the Lilydale, Belgrave, Glen Waverley, and Alamein railway lines, on Church Street, in the suburb of Cremorne...
, Flinders Street
Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street Station is the central railway station of the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets next to the Yarra River in the heart of the city, stretching from Swanston Street to Queen Street and covering two city...
, Spencer Street
Southern Cross Station
Southern Cross is a major railway station and transport hub in Melbourne Docklands, Victoria, Australia. It is located on Spencer Street between Collins and La Trobe Streets at the western edge of the central business district...
, North Melbourne Junction
North Melbourne railway station
North Melbourne is a railway station located on the northern edge of the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. The station is the point through which pass the west and north-west bound Craigieburn, Flemington Racecourse, Sydenham, Upfield, Werribee and Williamstown suburban railway...
, and South Kensington. The outer section of the Hurstbridge line will also be controlled from Metrol after the completion of resignalling works, with work beginning in 2006. Metrol is also where information about cancellations or delayed trains is entered into the MetroSMS
Short message service
Short Message Service is a text messaging service component of phone, web, or mobile communication systems, using standardized communications protocols that allow the exchange of short text messages between fixed line or mobile phone devices...
disruption alert system.
History
The Metrol train control complex was built as part of the City Loop project of the 1970s. The original site was beside Jolimont YardJolimont Yard
Jolimont Yard was an array of railway lines and carriage sidings on the edge of the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. Located between Flinders Street Station, Richmond Junction, the Yarra River and Flinders Street they were often criticised for cutting off the city from the river,...
on Batman Avenue and adjacent to Electrol, the control centre for the railway electrical substations and traction power supply. During construction the public discovered that the Metrol building would block the view from Russell Street to the Botanic Gardens and Government House, and that no planning permit being applied for. State Premier
Premiers of Victoria
The Premier of Victoria is the leader of the government in the Australian state of Victoria. The Premier is appointed by the Governor of Victoria, and is the leader of the political party able to secure a majority in the Legislative Assembly....
Rupert Hamer
Rupert Hamer
Sir Rupert James Hamer, AC, KCMG, ED , generally known until he was knighted in 1982 as Dick Hamer, Australian Liberal Party politician, was the 39th Premier of Victoria, serving from 1972 to 1981.-Early years:...
responded to public outrage and instructed the half built building to be demolished, and instructed all government departments that they must apply for planning permits, whether they were legally needed or not. The building was redesigned to be lower and which resulted in completion being delayed until early 1980. Metrol control of suburban trains commenced on 13 September 1980.
As part of the rationalisation of Jolimont Yard, the Metrol building was demolished in 1999 and was moved to a temporary location pending the replacement of the elderly technology with a new system. The functions of Electrol were relocated to a permanent location elsewhere.
National Express Group
National Express Group
National Express Group plc is a British transport group headquartered in Birmingham that operates bus, coach, rail and tram services in the UK, the US and Canada, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and long-distance coach routes across Europe...
, operator of half of the Melbourne suburban network, was required under its contractual obligations to introduce a new Metrol system by June 2001. Work on the Train Management Facility project started when Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
was awarded an $11 million contract and proceeded with design work, with completion due for mid-2001. The project included plans for a back-up "disaster recovery centre" at Melbourne Central Station. In 2003 the State Government cancelled the now $18 million contract, saying it was unhappy with the deal.
On 28 June 2005 a leak in an air-conditioning hose caused Metrol to be shut down for two hours from 11.40am, resulting in 30,000 passengers being stranded and 66 trains cancelled, with 23 more trains cancelled later in the day due to flow on effects. Train operator Connex Melbourne
Connex Melbourne
Connex Melbourne was a wholly owned subsidiary of French company Veolia Environnement, which had a franchise from the State Government of Victoria to operate all suburban passenger rail services in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. In August 2007, Connex's contract was extended to 30 November 2009....
was fined $300,000 by the State Government for failing performance benchmarks.
The second attempt was made for a replacement train control centre was announced in May 2006 as part of the State Government Meeting Our Transport Challenges, and was costed at $88 million. The first stage is a $27 million contract for the design and installation of the new Train Control and Monitoring System that was awarded to Westinghouse Rail Systems Australia in March 2007. They will provide a customised version of the SystematICS control system, with completion expected in November 2010. Separate contracts will be tendered at a later date for a new passenger information system, a new reporting system and to refurbish the central control facility.
External links
- Photos: Vicsig.net: Inside Metrol