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NSW fuel-efficiency software helps reduce emissions on Indian Railways Australian export case study New South Wales rail company, TTG Transportation Technology, is conducting trials of its Freightmiser technology with Indian Railways.

An energy optimisation software technology, Freightmiser not only lessens the amount of fuel needed on rail routes but also reduces attendant carbon emissions.

Freightmiser has been developed over the past ten years by TTG Transportation Technology and the University of South Australia, supported by Australian government grants.

A computer-based system which sits inside the railway driver’s cab, it displays track profile information and calculates optimal speed and power applications to achieve best performance.

“Freightmiser can save between 8-16 per cent on fuel,” said TTG Transportation Technology’s Managing Director, Dale Coleman.

“That’s a huge amount.”

US$2 billion a year on energy Mr Coleman said that India spends about US$2 billion a year on energy for freight and passenger rail.

“The cost savings possibilities are enormous – and so are the possible reductions in carbon emissions.”

Indian Railways, a state monopoly run by the Indian government, is one of the largest and busiest networks in the world, transporting 16 million passengers and one million tonnes of freight every day.

Routes traverse the length and breadth of the country and cover more than 63,000km.

Mr Coleman said that preliminary work is now underway to run significant trials of Freightmiser on diesel electric trains on two routes, both over 400km, to the south and northeast of Mumbai.

“We expect the trials to be completed before the end of the year.”

He said that the trials are the first step towards adopting these types of energy saving and train pacing technologies in India.

“We are currently targeting the United Kingdom and China.”

In July this year, TTG Transportation Technology was a winner of the Australian Railway Industry Corporation (ARIC*) 2008 Export Awards, which recognised the significant contract for Freightmiser in India.

The company has also received an Austrade-administered Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) to assist with the marketing of its products.

Mr Coleman said that TTG Transportation Technology has recently opened an office in Beijing.

“We have just signed two Joint Venture agreements with important Chinese companies to jointly manufacture a number of our products for the China and international markets.”

* The ARIC is a member-based industry body, formed and supported by engineers, manufacturers and suppliers to the Australian railway industry. It provides members with industry information and international market opportunities and promotes Australia’s diverse range of railway industry products, services and technology internationally.

Company information TTG Transportation Technology Level 3, 225 Clarence Street Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: +61 2 9249 0100 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Website: www.ttgtransportationtechnology.com

August 2008 – www.austrade.gov.au/mediacentre