Case study · Infrastructure
Special train notices that create and send themselves
Interfuze integrated Arc Infrastructure's new train path ordering system (DTPOS) with its rail access management system (RAMS), so Special Train Notices are created and emailed automatically and planners fix schedule mismatches without IT.
Outcomes
- Automatic Special Train Notices, created in RAMS and emailed to stakeholders when a path request is approved
- Without IT planners resolve schedule mismatches and re-trigger notice approval themselves
The challenge
Arc Infrastructure manages the rail freight network in Western Australia, more than five thousand kilometres of railway across the state. Operators asked Arc's planners for ad hoc train paths, amendments and cancellations by email, with no clear audit trail.
These requests usually trigger a Special Train Notice (STN), which must be recorded in Arc's Rail Access Management System (RAMS) and sent to the relevant stakeholders. Planners entered every STN into RAMS by hand, which was slow and held up scheduling. Nothing showed when a request and the train schedule in RAMS disagreed, and the resulting data inconsistencies were an operational risk that often needed IT to resolve.
Arc chose the Daily Train Path Ordering System (DTPOS) to manage path requests and hired Interfuze to integrate it with RAMS. The main goal was to automate the STN process: update RAMS directly and email the notice once a path request is approved in DTPOS.
Our approach
We delivered the integration with an agile model, engaging stakeholders throughout. Workshops and feedback sessions with the planners shaped the solution around how they actually work.
We looked at the end-to-end process, not just the system integration, and proposed improvements beyond the original scope to streamline it and future-proof it.
The integration between DTPOS and RAMS creates STNs in RAMS automatically and emails them to stakeholders when a path request is approved. An error notification and feedback mechanism flags mismatches between the train schedule data in RAMS and DTPOS, and planners can resolve an issue and re-trigger the STN approval themselves, without IT.
The outcome
Manual STN entry and email distribution are gone, saving planners significant time and effort.
The process now heals itself: planners manage and correct errors on their own, so they depend less on IT. The project also supports Arc's broader digital transformation, improving data integrity, cutting double handling and modernising workflows.
“When Arc made the decision to adopt the DTPOS solution, Interfuze leveraged their deep understanding of our systems to deliver options that optimised our existing technology stack, helping to minimise unnecessary spend. In addition, they proposed automated solutions that streamlined business processes and eliminated duplication of effort for end users. The solution was well received across the board and has made a positive impact on operational efficiency.”