As a part of a $650 million program to revitalise the Newcastle city centre and waterfront, and to deliver better transport mobility, a wire-free light rail system was introduced. The Newcastle Light Rail (NLR) project is an energy efficient and sustainable mode of transport and this Australian first, wire-free light rail project is delivering a high capacity, frequent service through the city centre.
Nova Systems provided engineering systems and safety assurance of the entire NLR project, on behalf of Downer EDI Group – the managing contractor and systems integrator, since the commencement of detailed design activities in December 2016. In addition, Nova Systems managed the implementation of a new Asset Information Management System (AIMS) for the project’s fixed infrastructure and fleet of six Urbos 100 Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs).
The arrival of the first LRV from Spain on Tuesday 11 September 2018, signified a key milestone as Nova Systems expanded its role on the project to also include test and commissioning management services and operational readiness support up until the NLR entered operational service in February 2019.
For the first time in the Australian transport sector, Nova Systems introduced its Requirements Assurance and Validation Suite (RAVS) to assist the testing of the LRVs built by CAF. The Nova Systems RAVS tool effectively and efficiently facilitated requirements compliance and assurance throughout the test and commissioning phase of the project.
Nova Systems successfully delivered the Final Safety Report and all associated data to Downer and TfNSW to enable the NLR project to enter service on schedule.
