Australian mining group Fortescue has awarded Knorr-Bremse a contract to modernize the signalling and train control systems on its rail network in Western Australia. The project will enable remote updates of route data for ore trains weighing up to 5,000 metric tons.
Fortescue Metals Group, one of Australia’s largest iron ore producers, has contracted the German group Knorr-Bremse to modernize and digitize the signaling infrastructure on its rail network in the Pilbara region.
The Fortescue network spans approximately 760 km and connects the Christmas Creek, Cloudbreak, Solomon, and Eliwana mining operations to the port facilities in Port Hedland. Nearly 200 million metric tons of iron ore are transported annually via this infrastructure.
The exact value of the contract was not disclosed; Knorr-Bremse stated only that it is in the upper range of the double-digit EUR million range.
Trains will no longer stop to update data
The modernization program will be implemented in phases through mid-2027.
Knorr-Bremse will upgrade the current Incremental Train Control System – ITCS, the train control system used by Fortescue, and will migrate key infrastructure components to the ElectroLogIXS electronic platform, developed by the KB Signaling division.
The new equipment will enable real-time monitoring of the infrastructure and remote modification of traffic parameters.
Currently, ore trains, which can weigh up to 5,000 metric tons, must in certain situations stop and pull onto a siding to update their route data when track conditions change.
After the upgrade, dispatchers will be able to update this data remotely and in real time, without stopping the train. The solution is expected to reduce delays caused by congestion at loading facilities or unplanned maintenance work.
Rail Temperature Monitoring
Fortescue and Knorr-Bremse are also exploring the introduction of other technologies for network monitoring.
These include Electro Code 6 – EC6, a digital track circuit designed for precise train detection, and the Rail TempEst system, which measures rail temperature in real time.
Monitoring is critical in the Pilbara region, where extreme temperatures can affect infrastructure and necessitate speed reductions for trains. The collected data would enable faster adaptation of train operations to track conditions.
Long-Term Contract
KB Signaling, a U.S.-based company owned by Knorr-Bremse, will provide infrastructure control and signaling solutions.
“By combining proven systems with new digital capabilities, we’re enabling Fortescue to operate its network in a more flexible, resilient, and data-driven way,” said Jeff Baker, CEO of KB Signaling.
Fortescue operates one of the world’s fastest heavy-haul rail networks, built specifically to transport ore from the Pilbara region to Port Hedland.
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