REX Aug 2019

NEWS

WA

AutoHaul cements WA as ‘global leader in rail tech’

Automated trains have run more than 4.5 million kilometres on Rio’s railway since first operations last year.

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ISSUE 5 2019 | RAIL EXPRESS

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: RIO TINTO

Rio’s automated trains are controlled from its centre in Perth.

freight industry in this country into the 21st century and is rightfully the subject of global interest … the development of the world’s biggest robot is such a success because of the contribution from Western Australia’s skilled engineers and innovative workers.”

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: RIO TINTO

WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S MINES AND petroleum minister Bill Johnston says the completed rollout of Rio Tinto’s AutoHaul autonomous train program is a testament to the state’s pioneering of rail technology.

Senior Rio staff joined government officials and technology partners to celebrate the successful rollout of AutoHaul on June 14.

Rio spent $940 million delivering the AutoHaul program, which allows its 2.4-kilometre-long iron ore trains transport thousands of tonnes of iron ore from its Pilbara mines to export sites on WA’s north-west coastline, autonomously. Under AutoHaul, Rio’s fleet of 200 locomotives operate across 1,700 kilometres of private track, monitored by the miner’s Perth control centre, 1,500 kilometres away.

By the time the formal ceremony was held in June to recognise the successful launch of the program, trains had safely travelled more than 4.5 million kilometres autonomously since they were first deployed in 2018, the miner said.

Johnston, who represents the electorate of Cannington in Perth’s south, praised Rio’s work in the state’s north.

“I’d like to congratulate Rio Tinto, Hitachi-Ansaldo and all the other project partners for their hard work and dedication over the past decade in delivering this project, which really cements our state as a global leader in rail technology,” he said.

“AutoHaul has brought the rail

The project, which has been in the making for over 10 years since the launch of Rio Tinto’s Mine of the Future initiative in 2008, is considered the world’s first automated heavy-haul long distance rail network, delivering its first iron ore in July 2018.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore managing director Ivan Vella said that the project had attracted worldwide interest and cemented Western Australia as a heavy-haul rail leader.

“The success of AutoHaul would not have been possible without the expertise, collaboration and dedication of teams within Rio Tinto and our numerous partners,” Vella said.

“This project has cemented Western Australia as a leader in the heavy-haul rail industry and has attracted interest from around the world. The successful deployment of the world’s first heavy-haul long distance rail network demonstrates the potential for significant further improvement in such operations with others around the world looking to replicate.”

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