60 years of research. Shedding new light on freight rail technology.
Problem-solving through forward-thinking.
The inspiration for Transdiagnostics goes back to 2013, but it grew out of the collective 60 years of experience in rail of Peter Hogg and Glenn Vivian.
At that time, they realized that rail was falling behind other transportation industries — notably aviation, automotive, mining and shipping in the digital revolution. Quite simply, rail and the heavy-haul industry had failed to recognise the enormous benefits available from IoT, cloud computing, sensor-triggered data, machine learning and real-time feedback.
As long-term problem-solvers in rail, Peter and Glenn could see that the digitizing of railroad infrastructure promised enormous operational gains.
By rail operators, for rail operators.
Meet the founders of Transdiagnostics.
Peter Hogg
Glenn Vivian
VISION
Creating a step-change in the safety, performance and reputation of the freight rail industry.
Our journey
Peter has spent 40 years introducing technology into rail infrastructure as an employee, then consultant specialising in time and cost-saving solutions that have greatly increased overall efficiencies for some of the largest resource companies in the world. Just one of an incredible portfolio of successful projects is the End of Train (EOT) modification project. BHPIO’s (formally Mt Newman Mining) heavy haul railroad pioneered the introduction of this technology in Australia in the 1980s. While the EOT technology provided the driver with vital information, derailments due to brake-related faults continued to be a problem with their long trains, so the research department needed data to act. A solution featuring the use of a microprocessor and solid-state memory built on a printed circuit board was provided, proving to be much more robust and easily installed, eventually superseding the current antiquated and problematic solutions. But the solution not only solved the immediate problem, it allowed the client to analyse train driver/engineer behavioural data, and instill training to reduce problematic brake applications. Very soon the frequency of train separation problems dropped dramatically.
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Glenn, the Construction Director at Transdiagnostics, has 20 years of experience in railroad construction and project management across various countries and environments. His expertise spans signalling and communication, rail track construction, project management, rolling stock procurement and fit out including the world’s first heavy haul driverless trains at Rio Tinto Australia and various other passenger train system upgrades. He has worked on major infrastructure projects in India, Malaysia (Metro Rail) and the UK (High-Speed Rail – Channel Tunnel) and Australia.
Project experience includes the following;
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Between the two founders, there is an incredible amount of knowledge in every aspect of freight rail systems, giving clients the confidence that no matter what the requirements, there’s a Transdiagnostic solution that will transform the operation. The consistent focus across both their careers to date has been to strive for innovation. This has proven over time to provide immense benefits to clients. But also provided an integral step-change to the freight-rail industry to make it relevant and competitive now and in the future.
The time for change.
In developing our first Transdiagnostics product, Transend, initially the team mapped out what was considered the most important criteria. A concept was developed around the industry’s critical pain points. As with any disruptive technology, the idea would lead to challenging current operating paradigms. This concept rapidly evolved into Transend, a complete system that provides real-time data on a continuous basis. It’s a system that basically does away with expensive, poor performing maintenance-heavy wayside equipment while doing the same job infinitely better.
The team built the system based on strict criteria:
- First and foremost, a step-change on existing, antiquated systems.
- Pre-emptive diagnostics to provide earlier prediction of issues.
- Cross-functional collaboration tools and processes that support rapid and well-informed decisions in the event of a crisis triggered by outside events.
- Replacement of current fragmented, silo-based and marginally reliable systems of gathering data with a single source of highly accurate data that resides in a single repository.
- Data-richness such that all vital operational information is harnessed in real-time.
- Improve operational performance in ways that measurably boost profits.
- Easy to install and offer a positive return on investment.
- Future-proofed so it can easily accommodate any new developments in technology, notably automatic train operation.
In 2020, the MVP was completed and put to a real-world, four-year test on a pilot project.
The system was run through exhaustive tests for a score of functionalities for communication above rail (between sensors and rail cars), as well as below rail (between the train and manual switches, train to cloud communications, onboard and remote graphical user interfaces, remote programming, remote downloads and programming, energy harvesting; and track monitoring among others).
Based on the expertise of the team, the deep understanding of existing issues, ability to create the technology solution and a supercharged drive for innovation in the industry, the product didn’t just exceed expectations, it transformed the entire rail operation.
And this motivation is what drives Transdiagnostics. With new technologies and changes in the industry, there will always be ways to optimize and improve. Our challenge is to make sure they are easy-to-implement, make a huge difference to your operation, and mark a step-change in the freight rail industry.
