Sydney’s first metro line, the Metro Northwest, is part of Australia’s first fully automated rapid transit systems, providing fast, safe and reliable mobility for city citizens.
GHD in a joint venture with Systra, delivered Independent Certifier (IC) services for the Operations, Trains and Systems (OTS) portion of the Sydney Metro Northwest project.
The signalling and train control system was designed to be capable of supporting Automatic Train Operation (ATO) at a grade of automation (GoA) level 4, as defined in IEC62290.
The requirement is to provide an integrated approach comprised of “systems engineering” and “risk-based” considerations and determine a contractor’s compliance with project requirements and specifications.
GHD acted independently to provide fair, unbiased and objective assessments in regards to compliance with the OTS Project Deed requirements.
Ensuring compliance, objectives and the vision is achieved
To ensure contractual deliverables with complex interfaces for multiple packages of work, GHD staff provided independent assessment of the CBTC supplier’s compliance and oversight during construction and testing phases to ensure the successful commencement of the first passenger service.
To achieve objectives, services include:
- Conducting surveillance, monitoring and review activities to certify compliance with the OTS Project Deed requirements
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Disclosing non-compliances with the Sydney Metro Northwest OTS Project requirements by any project participant as required by the Relevant Project Agreements
- Resolution of certification issues as early as possible
Underlining technologies
The underlying technology of the signalling and train control system was Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) system. This includes:
| Sub-systems and functionality: |
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| The communications systems include the following sub-systems and functionality: |
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| The Platform Screen Door (PSD) system includes the following sub-systems and functionality: |
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Monty Lang, GHD OTS IC Contract Manager said "We are excited to bring extensive experience and specialist discipline knowledge of CBTC to new projects in the global transportation market.”
“Our diverse Digital Train Control team brought world leading skills to this nationally significant infrastructure project.”
GHD was closely involved in the delivery of the Sydney Metro Northwest from the Commencement throughout the design, construction and completion phases of the OTS Works and temporary works, through to completion.
Sydney Metro Northwest entered passenger service on 26 May 2019 and was $1 billion under budget.
Throughout the contract the Systra/GHD team displayed a high level of technical competence and commitment to the task. The team operated in a very collaborative manner with an open approach to communications with both NRT [Northwest Rapid Transit] and Sydney Metro.
The team was well led and continually adopted a considered approach to issues to ensure a best for project outcome was achieved for all parties.
David Jackson
Northwest Rapid Transit Infrastructure JV
