Derailment Containment Study - Morley Ellenbrook Line (MEL) / Bayswater Station & Turnback (BST)

Public Transport Authority (PTA) is constructing, and will soon be opening, new passenger rail lines and stations for the Perth region. PTA’s B-Series train will service the lines. Some of the new stations are elevated (relative to the ground) and therefore involve ascending and descending vertical track grades. There are also some horizontal curves on entry and exit to the stations. Due to the station’s elevation, there are a few critical track locations where the track has no embankment to allow a derailed vehicle to come to rest; instead, there is a vertical drop of several metres from the track to the ground. If the vehicle was to derail at these critical locations, the consequences would be severe. The combination of vertical changing track grade, horizontal curvature, B-Series’ acceleration and deceleration profiles, all possibly increase the risk that a derailment could occur. Currently there is no mitigations in place to prevent the vehicle from falling if a derailment was to eventuate at a critical location. PTA are therefore considering the introduction of some form of derailment containment. PTA therefore requires a quantitative assessment to calculate the likelihood of derailment to assist with a decision on whether a derailment containment should be considered. The aim the to requirement is to estimate the derailment likelihood of the B-Series 3-car set as it negotiates the critical track location using railway dynamics multibody simulation software. The PTA seeks the provision of Services, including (but not limited to): Build a numerical model of track and train to calculate the derailment measures for a range of relevant vehicle and track conditions.Compare the predicted derailment measures against established engineering standard safety limits to advise on the utilisation factor (ratio of predicted derailment measure to allowable safety limit).Perform sensitivity analyses on key model inputs where needed.Prepare a concise technical report describing the modelling work undertaken, the simulation outputs obtained, the resulting utilisation factor outcomes and any influential considerations from the sensitivity analyses.Weekly meeting, if needed, to discuss technical inputs, modelling progress, and any subsequent significant results.Weekly progress report advising on status of modelling progress and costs incurred.