The ETCS Program

The State has established the European Train Control System (ETCS) Program, a portfolio of projects and initiatives to implement the signalling requirements of TMR's Rail Network Strategy (RNS). It will transition the South-East Queensland (SEQ) rail network to ETCS operations and will provide additional safe and reliable public transport services for Queensland's growing population.

This program includes developing a new rail traffic management system, installing a digital radio system, and testing and commissioning ETCS equipment on rollingstock and the rail network. Projects currently underway as a part of the ETCS Program include:

• The Cross River Rail (CRR) Project which will establish ETCS on SEQ rail network including establishing the Traffic Management System (TMS) at the Queensland Rail (QR) Rail Management Centre (RMS), two tunnels under the Brisbane River complete with ETCS technology, and an ETCS pilot line on the Shorncliffe Line.
• ETCS fitment of New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) and inclusion of ETCS technology on the new Queensland Train Manufacturing Program (QTMP) fleet.
• ETCS deployment from Moorooka to Varsity Lakes (Sector 1 South).
• Queensland Rail ETCS operational readiness activities including workforce planning and training.

The ETCS Deployment Plan

TMR's RNS has analysed the regions of SEQ population growth to anticipate the demand for rail services and identify the capacity requirements of the SEQ rail network to 2033.

One of the many reasons for the State of Queensland's selection of the ETCS as its signalling solution for the SEQ rail network is that it provides up to a 20% improvement in network capacity over conventional signalling, which is more than adequate to address the majority of Queensland's network capacity requirements for the coming decades.

TMR has established the ETCS Program to plan the staged roll-out of ETCS in SEQ and has developed its ETCS Deployment Plan with a rolling 10-year deployment horizon. The ETCS Deployment Plan builds upon the initial deployment of ETCS on the CRR Project and is strongly informed by the RNS.

Planning is already underway for the subsequent deployment of ETCS on the Logan and Gold Coast (LGC) Faster Rail Project and the ETCS Deployment Plan identifies that ETCS is next required on Sector 1 North and the Direct Sunshine Coast (DSC) Rail Line. This will provide continuous ETCS Level 2 deployment from Caloundra to Varsity Lakes.

The Digital Radio System Project

The Digital Radio System (DRS) Project is the transition to the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS). The current international standard for ETCS data communication, the Global System of Mobile communications – Railway (GSM-R), is becoming obsolete and TMR's ETCS Program will be responsible for the transition to the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) from around 2027.

The CRR and LGC Project are deploying ETCS Level 2 using GSM-R, whereas the Sector 1 North and DSC Projects will deploy ETCS Level 2 using FRMCS as the data-bearer. This transition towards FRMCS will be difficult as standards have not yet been settled and there are a variety of commercial models to investigate.

Key considerations that need to be addressed include models of vendor engagement, capacity requirements for, and alternate telecommunications barer options, ongoing technology management and maintenance approaches and operational readiness and handover needs of the SEQ rail operator, QR.

Substantial effort will also be required to ensure this new technology is thoroughly tested and accredited in for-for-purpose virtual and physical testing environments that as yet are to be defined, and significant planning will be required to ensure an effective staged migration of technologies can occur when various segments of the same rail corridor are potentially operating on different telecommunications and potentially different ETCS systems.

The core role of the ETCS DRS Project Manager will be to work withing the TMR ETCS Project Team to co-ordinate input from technical experts, address complex interfaces with major projects, work with key QR representatives and present a logical structure for TMR's investment in FRMCS.

DRS Project Management Services

TMR is seeking an experience Project Manager, to provide targeted business case advisory and project management services; including but not limited to:

• Project Management and planning services aligned to progression of the DRS project through the required stages and necessary TMR investment gates;
• Delivery of key Business Case Equivalent (BCE) document chapters including, but not limited to, concept development, design, major project integration, options assessment, engagement, project scope, reference design, implementation/ delivery, and recommendations;
• Development of key DRS Project benefits and mapping to broader TMR program benefits;
• Targeted engagement with other contractors to ensure appropriate commercial/technical inputs are received; and
• Support regarding briefing papers for steering committees, agency working groups and engagement activities across state and local government departments.

The Project Manager will be required to work closely with QR subject matter experts.

The Project Manager is required to possess the following attributes:

• Knowledge of QR operations environment including telecommunications
• Ability to develop an integrated project plan of TMR/QR activities leading to decision.
• Ability to develop project information materials for QR and external stakeholder engagement.

1 October 2024 – 30 September 2025

1 x 12-month extension option to be exercised at TMR's discretion

The ultimate deliverables will be a key BCE chapter in accordance with a

1. Structured Project Plan mapped to BCE deliverables.
2. Population of all relevant chapters, including, but no limited to, concept development, design, major project integration, options assessment, engagement, project scope, reference design, implementation/delivery, and recommendations.
3. Participation in project meetings.
4. Co-ordination of project ream members and SME input.

Tenderers are to assume that specialist technical contractors are already engaged.