Cross River Rail: Preparing for Passengers

As major construction begins to wrap up across construction of the new underground line and our four new underground stations, the focus is turning to a new and complex phase of work: Testing and Commissioning.

What is testing and commissioning?

Testing and commissioning is the process that proves Cross River Rail is safe, reliable, and ready for passengers.

Before we can open, thousands of systems across the tunnels, stations, and wider rail network must be tested individually and tested to ensure they can work together.

The process ensures the railway operates as designed to help transform the way people will travel across South East Queensland.

At a glance: Testing and Commissioning

  • Testing and commissioning essentially means making sure every individual aspect of the new underground line will work in accordance with our project requirements
  • It is a significant and elongated process that we have to go through before passengers can use the Cross River Rail
  • Thousands of equipment systems are being tested across the tunnels, stations and tracks
  • Tests will also be carried out with moving trains – starting with one train at slow speed, then increasing the number and speed of trains until we are able to mimic real timetable operations
  • Testing emergency procedures and staff training will also be conducted as part of the testing and commissioning process
  • Before opening, everything must prove it can work safely and reliably

Why does Cross River Rail need testing and commissioning?

Cross River Rail’s four underground stations and twin tunnels are brand new and include complex systems like tunnel ventilation, passenger screen doors, and introduction of a brand new digital signalling system.

Not only must the systems in the stations and tunnels work reliably so that trains can run through Cross River Rail reliably, but the systems must also work in integration with each other and with the rest of South East Queensland’s rail network.

Testing and commissioning helps identify and resolve issues before passengers use the new underground line and helps prove that the Cross River Rail is safe, reliable and ready for passengers.

During this phase, the Operator, Queensland Rail, will be trained to operate and maintain the new systems under normal, degraded and emergency conditions.

What systems are being tested?

  • Signalling equipment
  • Platform screen doors
  • Ticketing systems
  • Traction power (train overhead power)
  • Power supplies
  • Lifts and Escalators
  • Hydraulic systems, including tunnel drainage, station drainage and vacuum drainage systems
  • CCTV, Public Address, Access control and Passenger Information systems
  • Fire systems
  • Tunnel Ventilation system

How is Cross River Rail tested?

Testing occurs in different phases depending on what is being tested. Not every system in the tunnels and stations will be tested in the same way, but everything will be tested multiple times.

For example, the Tunnel Ventilation System, which is responsible for ventilation, air conditioning and emergency operations in a fire, undergoes:

  • Factory acceptance testing: where equipment like fans, dampers, ducting and control cabinets are tested in the factory before being installed on-site.
  • Non-energised component site testing: Cables, damper actuators and the stations ventilation pathways are first tested without power to ensure they are installed correctly in the right location on-site.
  • Energised sub-system site testing: Fans, control dampers, system instrumentation and field control cabinets are all checked to be working while powered up.
  • Sub-system verification: This phase is where systems begin to work in integration with each other, and aligns with when the first test trains begin to run in the tunnels. For example, one test in this phase is the interface between the tunnel ventilation system and platform screen doors.
  • System verification:This phase is where systems begin to work in integration with each other, and aligns with when the first test trains begin to run in the tunnels. For example, one test in this phase is the interface between the tunnel ventilation system and platform screen doors.
  • Multi system verification: In this phase, the tunnel ventilation system is further tested working with other systems, including moving test trains, and also tested to ensure it can function under normal, degraded (something breaks) and emergency conditions.
  • Trial operations: The final tests are where everything is run by the Operator, Queensland Rail, as though it is in operation for passengers – this stage tests every system, not just the tunnel ventilation system – with trains travelling at speed through the tunnels with simulated passengers.

How do you test trains in the tunnel? 

Running test trains is a crucial part of the testing and commissioning process, as every system needs to work together, as well as in integration with moving trains.

For example, the passenger information screen needs to display how far away the next train is, an announcement needs to be heard by a passenger that their train is arriving, and the passenger screen doors need to open as the train pulls up to the platform in the right location.

The first test train will travel into the tunnel at very low speeds. Over time, the test train will travel through the tunnel at increasingly higher speeds, until eventually multiple test trains will run through the tunnel.

Trains will be tested in a variety of situations – including emergencies, and with a load that simulates passengers.

How does testing improve safety? 

Testing allows us to validate compliance with the safety requirements and identify issues and confirm that the Cross River Rail can operate safely and reliably.

It also allows us to prove that:

  • Systems operate as designed
  • Emergency procedures are effective
  • Operational teams are prepared and know how to use the equipment and technology
  • Ongoing maintenance process are established

  • Frequently Asked Questions

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    • Testing and commissioning is a complex process where every system needs to be tested multiple times across multiple stages.

    • Testing and commissioning essentially means turning technology, systems and equipment on, and making sure it functions as it is supposed to.

    • Testing is essential to prove that the thousands of systems that make up the Cross River Rail can operate safely and reliably.

    • Other recent rail projects have taken a similar approach to testing and commissioning that we are taking on Cross River Rail, where we are carefully and systematically managing the integration of the new rail into the network.

    Lessons learnt from other projects tells us that if we do not take the time to our testing and commissioning systematically, then we will fail to achieve the reliability that we want from the network at opening.

    • Test trains are not yet running in the tunnels, but when they do it is essential to conduct multiple tests to prove that they can operate safely and reliably before opening to passengers.

    • Operational readiness is about three things:

    • Demonstrating that the operating rules and maintenance procedures work in practice, using the real operators (staff) to test this
    • Successfully training staff – for example, there will be over 700 drivers who will need to be trained to operate trains through the Cross River Rail as well as the station staff
    • Finally – testing for when things go wrong. For example, we will test the evacuation of passengers from the stations.

    • Dynamic testing is what we call testing moving trains. First, one train at very slow speeds enters the tunnels, and gradually builds up to testing multiple trains moving at higher speeds. During this process we are testing the interactions between the train and the track, between the train and the platform screen doors, and we’re testing the network of communications, IT, and control systems that all come together to allow that to be managed remotely from our control centre.

    • Issues identified during testing are investigated, addressed and tested again.

    • No, testing covers every system in the station and tunnels including signalling, communications, power systems, safety systems and operational procedures with staff.

    • The new tunnels and stations need to undergo a complex and rigorous testing and commissioning process to prove they can operate safely and reliably before they can open to the public.

    • Yes, many emergency situations are tested in multiple phases of the testing and commissioning process.

    • Testing continues until all systems, procedures and operational activities can demonstrate they can operate safely and reliably for passengers.

    • Across the project, there are more than 10,000 tests that must be completed.

    • During the testing and commissioning process, tests are completed in a highly systematic way. There are a rigid set of standard procedures to follow, and in each phase there are clear test criteria that must be met before the system can move onto the next phase of testing.

    • Tests are run without passengers so that we can be confident that the railway is reliable and safe before we allow people onto trains. There are also regulatory reasons that passengers cannot use the tunnels and stations during testing, as agreement must be reached with the National Rail Regulator and rail operator (Queensland Rail) that the railway is safe before it can go into operation.