Presentations and Papers
Summary - Introducing the Next Generation Locomotive to the Australian Rail Network
Presenter: Paul Hewison
The following paper describes the introduction of what is now the most powerful and efficient locomotive operating across Australia’s Defined Interstate Rail Network. The locomotive was originally conceived by SCT Logistics after analysing the market and commissioning a study from Halcrow to determine motive power configurations that would best suit their expanding rail business. The designer and manufacturer of the SCT locomotive designated the GT46C Ace, is Downer EDI Rail. The paper gives an insight into how the locomotive was conceived, including the planning and modelling that determined SCT’s decision for choosing AC traction and the associated cost benefit analyses. Also discussed are the risks considered by SCT in taking ownership of their own fleet with technology which supersedes present locomotive fleets operating across Australia’s mainline rail networks.
The paper details the innovative solutions provided by Downer EDI Rail in engineering and manufacturing a locomotive to meet SCT’s demanding requirements for operation and those of the State Regulators and track access providers.
The paper concludes by comparing the operating performance of the new locomotive with the operator’s expectations.
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