ECP brake: a 21st century break of gauge?

Electronically Controlled Pneumatic (ECP) brakes commenced operating in Australia in 2005 for captive unit freight trains and the technology is currently used by three rail operators. The potential benefits of this technology include increased network capacity and improved train safety. The barriers that apply to ECP brake implementation in Australia are almost identical to those faced in the domestic US rail industry. The significant barriers include two cost penalties for the transition of existing rail fleets to a future state where the ECP electronic brake is used for normal train operation. The first issue is the cost of train service disruption during the transition of operations between the two incompatible braking systems. The second issue is the high cost of fitting ECP brakes to the fleets of existing wagons. Progress towards fleet wide use of ECP brake will be limited where the driving factors for its adoption are based on the disparate needs of separate stakeholders. In this regard, the joint endorsement of an agreed implementation policy and a standard for ECP interoperability is essential if we are to avoid creating the 21st Century equivalent of a lbreak of gauger. This paper examines the barriers to investment in ECP train brakes by Australian rail operators and the issues we face if differing standards are adopted.