ViziRail’s Long Term Planning module provides a rich array of functionality to perform detailed train schedule creation and alteration, and manage collections of schedules/train templates known as ‘timetables’.
Timetables logically group a set of Train templates to run on a scheduled basis such as the day of week, and are managed together for Scheduling, Graphing and Reporting. This provides development and maintenance of Train templates relevant to train planners.
Ad hoc Train templates and schedules for special events such as public holidays and sporting events are able to be included in a Timetable.
The Short Term Planning module enables management of trains scheduled to run within the short term planning horizon.
Short term train schedules are automatically generated from day-of-the-week templates or via specialised functions for ad-hoc trains. The standard daily schedule may be altered to accommodate track maintenance, ad hoc traffic, service cancellations, special events, re-pathing of services and other changes arising up to and during the day-of-operation.
The ViziRail Train Running module provides train controllers and other operational staff the ability to collect and view information regarding trains running on the rail network. The daily train lists are automatically generated from the ViziRail Short Term Planning module.
The capturing of train event informaton permits users to monitor train performance and make decisions to improve productivity and efficiency on the network. Trains are able to be quickly identified if issues arise and delays readily attributed.
The ViziRail Electronic Train Graph (ETG) provides a live interactive display of the state of the rail network in a familiar train control diagram (TCD) interface. The ETG is interfaced with the train control system to reflect an accurate up-to-date state of the network and make schedule alterations available to the control system. The ETG is scalable to handle busy, complex networks with mixed traffic types as well as multiple control boards within the rail network.
ViziRail Planning Graphs are time/distance graphs for services in the Long Term Plan (LTP) and Short Term Plan (STP) modules, these are used by train planners to assist in the efficient planning of trains.
The ViziRail Train Graph is a graphical representation of the activities on a selected section of track, over a selected time period. The train line is continuous when the train travels between each of the graph locations.
The ViziRail graphing module allows printing preformatted train control diagrams to use as a visual aid in managing day of operation activities.
The Live Network Map is a geo spatial map of the rail network containing the latest position and train event information of trains running on the network.
The Map provides viewing of historical events at any given time and viewing of all train events for a train service.
The ViziRail Train Consist module provides viewing and management of train consists and includes a complete inventory of rolling-stock permitted to run on the rail network. Users have the ability to search rollingstock and view attaches and detaches on current trains. Train consists are automatically uploaded from operators systems via interfaces or DTPOS. Consists are able to be recorded against trains and any issues identified quickly.
The track possessions module provides the ability for users to create and manage track possession details over portions of the rail network.
As part of the planning process, impacts on the rail network due to planned maintenance or emergency situations arising during Day of Operation are recorded as Track Possessions. Possessions may affect the civil rail network or in electrified areas the overhead electrical network. Both kinds affect the trains that are scheduled over portions of the rail network for specific periods of time. Possessions are defined against selected Geography. As with other ViziRail functions, the Visual Geography Selector enables the affected Geography to be clearly identified.
The Speed Restriction module provides for creating, copying and maintaining details of speed restrictions and allows them to be displayed on a graphical interface.
Speed Restrictions are able to be created to allow a portion of the Rail Network to have different speeds defined for various types of trains for a specified period of time. Speed Restrictions may occur for a variety of reasons including maintenance work carried out on, or alongside tracks or heat affecting the tracks.
A Speed Restriction is created with the anticipated applicable dates and includes the person/group that authorised the Speed Restriction.
The Incident module enables authorised users to record events that may have an effect on safety of the rail network or the environment.
The details of these Incidents are collected and investigated. Incidents are initially recorded to include the services involved and all relevant details.
A Train Notice is used to notify personnel of changes to Train Schedules, track maintenance, ad hoc traffic, service cancellations, special events, re-pathing of services and other changes arising up to and during the day-of-operation. Authorised users create train notices based on the Short Term Plan for publication to specific users or all system users. Train Notices are created within specific Categories and Types, and issued within specific date ranges. Train Notice types include Maintenance Notices, Safety Notices and Possession Notices.
A Train Notice can be associated with one or more affected Train Services, this allows train amendments to be incorporated into the body of the Train Notices via standard paragraphs.
Rollingstock is able to be managed by defining the layout of Yards across the rail network to enable stabling when out of service.
The Rollingstock module enables Yards to be graphically defined and provides an interactive graphical interface using drag and drop functionality to place rollingstock on and off of scheduled trains by yard managers.
Planned maintenance and faults are able to be recorded against rollingstock within the Yard or while in service.
ViziRail provides the ability to share information with external systems. ViziRail accepts and sends information in industry standard XML format. These interfaces are managed via inbound and outbound message queues. Functionality is provided to view and manage these queues. Business errors resulting from processing inbound messages may be actioned from the inbound message queue.
Customised inbound and outbound interfaces can be constructed as required for interfacing with other business critical systems. Standard interfaces include:
ViziRail's planning and montioring modules are built on top of the base geography of the system. ViziRail allows the network Geography to be defined using a Visual Geography Editor.
ViziRail's geography module is built on top of Locations that are created to define control points along the network e.g. Platforms, Junctions or Stopping Points. Each Location can be grouped into various hierarchical structures for ease of use in other functions e.g. time zones, network control centres, train control boards, reporting territories and Yard complexes. Tracks are drawn from Location to Location to represent the rail network. Tools are provided to draw tracks using a variety of lines and curves.
ViziRail utilises versioning of Geography over time to allow for planned changes in the Railway Network coming online. ViziRail provides the ability to create Geography Scenarios that permit ‘what if’ scenarios to be modelled. This may include changes from major works such as track duplication, new sidings through to minor changes to Section Run Times. The Geography is validated and approved prior to being available for general use throughout ViziRail.