AusRAIL - How Real-Time Data Improves Operations & Customer Experience w/ Metro Trains Sydney

AusRAIL, Nov 24 - In this presentation, we tackle a critical challenge in rail and transport: disruptions—and how Australia’s first driverless train operator, Metro Trains Sydney (MTS), is leveraging real-time data to reduce their impact. MTS demonstrates how implementing real-time data using the SIRI protocol has delivered tangible benefits, improving both passenger experience and operational efficiencies in rail operations.

The Service Interface for Real-time Information (SIRI) protocol is explained in simple terms, along with what is required for the SIRI processing engine to produce real-time information. This includes production timetables, estimated timetables, vehicle monitoring, situation exchange, and facilities monitoring, all of which empower rail and transport operators to run more efficiently.

The session concludes with Toustone’s Adam Sharp presenting additional use cases for real-time data in rail and transport, including Predictive Asset Management, Digital Twin, and Incident Management Prediction.

A few questions addressed during the AusRAIL Innovation Q&A include:
Is real-time data only applicable to greenfield rail and transport projects, or can it also be used in brownfield environments?
What are some challenges faced when implementing real-time data in rail and transport operations?
How does integrating and sharing more information with the public impact cyber security?

Session Highlights:
4:44 – Adam Sharp explains SIRI and the high-level architecture of real-time data reporting, including a live demo of a real-time train graph.
10:16 – Stephen Stanford shares how MTS has enhanced operational efficiencies and passenger experience in rail transport through real-time data.
14:39 – Adam Sharp discusses three future use cases for real-time data in the rail and transport sectors.

Speakers:
Adam Sharp – Director of Transport Analytics, Toustone
Stephen Stanford – Manager, Project Development, Metro Trains Sydney (MTS)

About AusRAIL:
AusRAIL is the premier conference and exhibition for the Australasian rail and transport industry, hosted annually by the Australasian Railway Association (ARA). This year’s event, held on the Gold Coast, brought together over 3,500 delegates from across the rail sector to discuss innovation and key challenges.

About Toustone:
Toustone is an Australian-owned company specialising in data, predictive analytics, and decision intelligence, driven by confident and seasoned data experts. We help leaders in rail and transport gain clarity on the current and future state of their operations, enabling them to make confident, smart decisions and achieve a competitive edge.

We achieve this by identifying, cleaning, unifying, and automating key data aligned with each organisation’s specific goals. Our expertise includes simplifying reporting, breaking down data silos, extracting accurate insights, automating workflows, and predicting the future performance of projects, departments, and entire rail and transport organisations.