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Australia’s TTG supplies energy-management system to KiwiRail

14 Jun 2013

Australia’s TTG Transportation Technology is exporting its trademarked system for running trains on time and at lower energy and environmental emission levels to New Zealand’s national rail operator, KiwiRail.

The two companies have signed a contract following a trial and competitive tendering process to roll out TTG’s Energymiser® C-DAS system across KiwiRail’s freight trains – retrofitting up to 182 mainline diesel and electric locomotives.

“Rail is already recognised as the least energy intensive form of land transport.  We are committed to a range of energy-saving measures across the business to optimise that natural strength so we can deliver value to customers and the environment,” said Iain Hill, General Manager of KiwiRail Freight.

“C-DAS technology will help us reduce the carbon footprint of our customers’ products and manage on-time running,” Mr Hill said of TTG’s connected Driver Advisory System (C-DAS).

Energymiser® C-DAS provides real-time advice on precisely where to coast, power and brake to conserve energy while helping ensure on-time running of trains. The system automatically adapts to actual conditions throughout each train trip. It can also improve on-time running of trains by interfacing with existing train scheduling systems to provide real-time advice to drivers on pacing between trains.

TTG exports Energymiser® to the UK, where it has achieved energy savings of 14 to 20 per cent for high-speed passenger and coal trains. The system is also used on large iron ore trains in Africa, where energy savings have reached 9 per cent. Freight trains in Australia, the UK and India have reported savings of 10 per cent or more, according to TTG.

Mr Hill said the new technology would help drivers across KiwiRail’s fleet of locomotives actively manage their driving to reduce energy usage.

New Zealand has set a target to halve net carbon emissions by 2050 from 1990 levels, as well as a short-term target of cutting emissions by 10 to 20 per cent by 2020.