Bowen Rail Company leads the RACE with regional rail innovation

Bowen Rail Company’s tech developed in partnership with Brisbane-based software developer, Polymathian, to better manage rail traffic in Central Queensland will be showcased as an example of excellence in innovation at the 2024 Australasian Rail Industry Awards.

RACE Live is a unique data-driven freight rail management program that uses real-time intelligence from across the Carmichael Rail Network and Aurizon’s Newlands Rail System to achieve safety and productivity benefits when railing coal from the Carmichael mine to port for export.

BRC General Manager Brendan Lane said RACE Live’s shortlisting as a finalist in the Freight Rail Excellence category at the rail industry’s national awards reflected the company’s commitment to continuous innovation and improvement.

Mr Lane said RACE Live incorporated data from dozens of points in the supply chain, including other rail network managers, coal loading facilities, port operators, and planned maintenance works.

This data can include information such as the agreed train schedule, the live location of trains, and live loading and unloading information.

“Our aim since establishing our business in Bowen in North Queensland in 2020 has been to do things a little differently to advance the safety, environmental, and economic standards of the rail industry,” Mr Lane said.

“We’ve focused on creating a culture that has a positive local impact and reinforces our ASPIRE values of accountability, safety, people, integrity, respect, and excellence.

“And we’ve invested in the best available technology like our next generation rail fleet. RACE Live is another step on this path to create clever solutions by harnessing the skills and knowledge available right here in Queensland.

“RACE Live’s real-time visibility means our schedulers can anticipate potential disruptions or changes in the supply chain before they occur, allowing them  to work with train crews and other internal and external stakeholders to make proactive decisions to mitigate risks, adjust train schedules, or allocate resources accordingly.”

“The benefit is best demonstrated by the industry-leading 98 per cent service reliability we achieved on more than 1,600 train services in our last financial year, all of which means lower costs per tonne hauled for our customer, Bravus Mining and Resources.”

“We started work on RACE Live in 2020 and have continued to enhance it as the business has grown so to see it completed and performing is great reward for the team, and to be recognised in the Australasian Rail Industry Awards is the icing on the cake.”

The Australasian Rail Industry Awards will be presented in Sydney on 7 August.

ENDS

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