Western Australia Orders Desktop Simulators for Drivers

CORYS has been awarded a contract by the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (PTA) for the supply, installation, and commissioning of 11 Ultra-Light Simulators (ULS) and four Instructor Stations, supporting the next phase of PTA's railcar driver training programme.

CORYS has worked with PTA since 2005, when it supplied the B-Series full cab simulator that remains operational today at the Claisebrook Railcar Depot.

The new simulators support PTA's rollout of Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC), which requires updated training for new railcar drivers and conversion training for existing ones. Eight ULS units will be installed in a classroom configuration, freeing up the main Claisebrook simulator for route knowledge training, while three further units go to the Claisebrook, Mandurah, and Nowergup depots. The additional capacity also supports the rapid growth in railcar driver numbers driven by the METRONET expansion.

As part of the project, CORYS will develop a new C-Series train model, allowing the ULS fleet to emulate both PTA's B-Series and C-Series Electric Multiple Unit fleets from the same simulator hardware.

“PTA have been working with CORYS for the last 20 years for the maintenance and upgrade of our Railcar Driver Simulator. As we enter into one of our largest upgrades to our network since electrification with the implementation of Communications Based Train Control (CBTC), we have again partnered with CORYS to deliver additional Railcar Driver training and competency capabilities. These Ultra Light Desktop Simulators will be invaluable as we work to provide CBTC familiarisation to our workforce. On completion of the upgrade, these simulators will become vital in ensuring our new railcar drivers can learn our network in a safe and efficient way before moving onto the live network and provide refresher training to our growing workforce,” said Jeff Jorgensen, PTA Senior Project Manager.