Kupe Mobile Controller
ONTRACK and Xworks (NZ) Ltd

An excellent example of New Zealand engineering, the Kupe Mobile Controller enables the position of rail maintenance vehicles and suburban trains to be pinpointed by train control in Wellington. It interfaces with a GPS receiver and sends information either by a cellular network or, where cellphone coverage is lost, via the ONTRACK radio network.

Installation of the controller in rail maintenance vehicles contributes greatly to the safety of track workers, but it also leads to greater operational efficiency because it enables broader time “windows” to be used for maintenance work.

The controller is a versatile piece of equipment which can interface with different types of mobile radio. It is entirely a black box, with its software configured remotely through a central server. It was developed and largely manufactured in New Zealand primarily because there was no equivalent product available off-the-shelf anywhere in the world. It was produced on time and under budget.

The controller is original, innovative and a sound and versatile piece of work which has contributed significantly to building the reputation of New Zealand engineering and improving safety for track workers.

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