Rail Operational Simulation Modelling Support

Background

The purpose of the Public Transport Authority (PTA) is to provide safe, customer-focussed, integrated and efficient transport services.

The dominant transport challenge for the Perth and Peel metropolitan region in the coming years is how to provide sufficient capacity to cater for increasing levels of demand from commuters and other users who need to travel between the suburbs and the Perth CBD, and nearby activity centres, during weekday morning and evening peak periods.

Capacity on the public transport network (trains, buses and ferries) will need to be expanded as the population grows from the current level of 2 million people, to a forecast 2.7 million by around 2031. Beyond this period, State Government population and transport planning is based on 3.5 million people living in Perth and Peel by around 2050.

Since 2014, the PTA has worked to develop a Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) for the metropolitan rail network. The RUS provides a long-term strategic plan to meet forecast demand, through informing operational plans and subsequent infrastructure investment priorities.

This first edition of the RUS considers a planning horizon of the year 2031. Future generations of the strategy will continue to build on this planning to ensure a long-term framework for network development is maintained.

The RUS considers the network as a whole and delivers step changes in capacity for each of the five existing metropolitan rail lines, as well as the heritage lines built in the 19th Century: Fremantle Line, Midland Line, and Armadale Line (including the Thornlie Line (2005)); and lines built since: Joondalup Line (opened 1992/93) and Mandurah Line (2007).

The RUS presents an overview of:

• forecast patronage on each of the rail lines;
• the rail network, with assumed new line extensions and stations, that the RUS addresses;
• the proposed operating plan, being the train service timetable and allocation of rolling stock;
• the infrastructure investment required in order to deliver the operating plan; and
• considerations for implementation of the strategy.
  Rail operational analysis/simulation modelling is required to support development of PTA’s RUS.

Scope of Services

The PTA’s Infrastructure Planning and Land Services (IPLS) Division requires a consultant proficient in the rail simulation software OpenTrack to undertake simulations and analysis on the base case model to test operational sensitivities with schedule or engines, and build future infrastructure options models to test operational sensitivities and infrastructure proposals.

Services provided will be primarily to support the Infrastructure Planning and Land Services’ (IPLS) Rail Planning Manager. Additional services may be required within Transperth Train Operations (TTO).

To support development of the RUS, the PTA invested in OpenTrack for simulations of the Perth metropolitan rail network. A base case model of the network has been completed.

The Consultant will be required to:

1. work directly with the IPLS’ Rail Planning and Engineering teams to create, verify and document rail simulation model for the existing and future network.
2. liaise with TTO Service Planning and Rollingstock sections to verify train operation technical inputs into the models.
3. carry out other tasks and functions that are within the limits of the Consultant’s skills, competence and training as required
4. produce a rail operation report for specific projects as per clause 1.2.5 (Book 3 Schedule 9);:
5. Build models and undertake simulations and analysis;
6. Document the modelling and prepare reports;
7. Present modelling outcomes to stakeholders, both PTA internal and external, in a written and verbal format;
8. Follow PTA version control and model documentation processes, and contribute to the continued development of these;
9. Mentor PTA staff in developing their skills in using OpenTrack;
10. Interface the OpenTrack modelling with OpenPowerNet modelling, which is also being undertaken by PTA.