December 02, 2008

Rio Tinto trials automated train driving

It is reported that Rio Tinto Ltd is undertaking trials of automated train driving technology at its Pilbara iron ore mining operations in Western Australia. A project team is currently studying the application of automated train operation technology in a heavy haul capacity.

Mr Sid Hay acting GM railways of Pilbara Iron said that the study is part of the company’s continual business improvement process. He said that "The automated train operations project is one of a number of initiatives that the business is considering to help it reach its annual export target of 320 million tonnes of iron ore and beyond into the future. While the project will automate certain significant aspects of our rail operations such as train driving, we do not expect that there will be any reduction in staff numbers. In fact, we need to recruit additional people into our rail operations to support our future plans."

Rio Tinto expects to make a final decision on the ATO project later this year and if the technology gets the go ahead, it will take up to five years to implement across the company's rail network.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore operates one of the largest privately owned heavy haul railways in the world. The Pilbara rail network comprises 1,300 kilometers of rail track. The project is the first application of its kind in Australia as the automated train operation technology has previously been used only on passenger services