IRJ at WDF 2025: AUSTRALIA is pushing ahead with digital signalling in all major states, delegates at the Wayside Digitalisation Forum (WDF) 2025 in Vienna, Austria, were told. The second of the three-day event focusing on the development of digital signalling, included a keynote presentation from Australian supplier Sigtech’s principal rail signalling engineer, Stewart Rendell.
Addressing more than 200 delegates, he explained the difficulty with silo thinking across Australia, which was challenging attempts to develop unified signalling. This was, he said, compounded by the historic development of a variety of public and private networks and three different gauges.
Nevertheless, Rendell said that projects currently underway had all adopted digital signalling. Pointing to the phased implementation of Sydney Trains’ commuter services and the deployment of automated train control by Sydney Metro, both in New South Wales, he said: “These and similar projects in other states are really starting to focus attention on harmonisation and interoperability.”
Other key sessions at WDF included practical experience of digital interlocking in Germany, transitioning from track circuits to axle counters in France and preparing for the nationwide deployment of ERTMS in Finland, plus theme-led discussions on the Eulynx toolbox and signalling-related cybersecurity.
