KEY
HIGHLIGHTS
•
•
The Hexham Relief Roads were
commissioned in December 2014. An
integral part of our long term capacity
strategy, these new tracks reduce the
congestion of coal trains travelling into
the port, greatly improving efficiency and
reliability. Resulting benefits will flow
across the entire coal supply chain.
•
•
We have taken an active role, partnering
with the HVCCC to improve the way train
crew changeovers are managed. This
will result in a standard approach to the
planned and actual train crewing activities
across key locations in the network to
improve efficiency and reliability.
•
•
We are implementing a train forecasting
system that leverages the GPS-
enabled location services via the
In-Cabin Equipment (ICE) radio
system. This system will be able to
forecast the arrival of trains, once
loaded, to our customers’ load points
and coal terminals. It will be provided
to customers via a web interface
and enable integration of operational
activities across our customer base with
our network operation. This will reduce
labour costs for some of our customers
and add to our integration efforts.
•
•
We are leading a program to increase the
throughput from the Gunnedah Basin.
ARTC’s network control is focusing on
increasingly dynamic path programming
and decision making, the HVCCC is
managing planning and rail operators
are responsible for provisioning and train
operations. This focus is pivotal to meeting
the needs of our customers in this area.
•
•
To get more out of our existing assets,
we started work on a Hunter Valley
train park-up strategy in April 2015
using Hexham Relief Roads to stow
trains during network maintenance.
In the second stage of this strategy
we will work with rail operators to use
another three to four locations to stow
trains during network maintenance. This
strategy reduces the need to spend
capital on stowage areas, as well as
reduce rail fleet costs by enabling park-
up options that are safe and local.
•
•
Over the next few years, we are seeking to
introduce new technology and processes
to improve and optimise train network
management in the Hunter Valley. The
Dynamic Delivery Management project
(DDM) will transform our service delivery,
having the potential to enormously benefit
both our direct customers and their service
providers. Part of DDM is the ARTC
Network Control Optimsation project
(ANCO) which involves an overarching
process review, supply chain operations
review and, importantly, functional design
of suitable technology-driven enablers
to realise an increasingly efficient supply
chain, including the potential future
linkage with systems such as ATMS. The
first phase of ANCO was completed in
April 2015. ANCO Phase 2 will provide a
detailed solution design and transition plan.
Some of the benefits DDM and ANCO
will provide are more efficient methods of
train management; more stable, customer
focused network operations; reduced
train delivery cycle times; and, reduced
congestion on the network.
•
•
As part of our new business structure
and focus on customers, we have put in
place a non-coal business development
function within the Hunter Valley. The
initial focus is to investigate industry
and specific business opportunities to
organically grow services. This growth
focus extends to the investigation
of export / import opportunities in
conjunction with the Port of Newcastle’s
development plans.
18
