OzECP Brakes

Project Manager:

Prof Colin Cole (Director)

Participating Organisations:

• Faiveley Transport
• QR

Staff Members:

• Chris Bosomworth
• Joshua McDonald
• Mark Hayman
• Mitchell McClanachan

Technology/Research

New brake technology developed by Rail CRC and currently being commercialized by Rail Innovation Australia and its project partners is expected to change the way the rail industry operates. The OzECP brake system is superior to existing electronically controlled pneumatic brakes available on the international market as it can be retrofitted to existing trains, and even after OzECP is fitted the conventional brakes can be used as a back-up in the event of failure of the electronic system.

The benefits of the retrofit OzECP system include:

• OzECP is versatile and flexible.
• Modular design (easy to install and repair).
• OzECP brake is more reliable and safer as it is combined with a simple pneumatic brake valve as a back-up. In the event where ECP is not available the system is still capable of performing normal service and emergency braking.
• The system is designed to allow the train line to control additional brake functions or support additional systems such as the Train Health Advisory System (THAS) which is being developed currently by the same project partners as that of the OzECP product
• Compact and lightweight, the electronic brake controller is incorporated into the pipe bracket.
• OzECP is a low-cost alternative, expected to retail at a fraction of the cost of ECP brakes available on the international market.

Status

Rail Innovation Australia is commercializing the technology in partnership with international brake supplier Faiveley Transportation, rail operator QR and CQUniversity, with the support of a $869,500 Queensland State Government Innovation Projects grant. Commercial applications of the OzECP brake product are expected to be available in early 2010.

Industry uptake

QR has committed substantial resources to the development of the OzECP product with other Australian operators indicating significant interest in the final product.

Evaluated by STEM Partnerships in 2005, the OzECP brake product was estimated to have the potential to deliver a risk-free-value of $126 million over the next 15 years to the rail industry.