Acmena delivered requirements management and IBM DOORS Next specialist services for the Melbourne Metro Tunnel High Capacity Signalling project — enhancing traceability, reporting and team capability.

Incorporating twin 9km tunnels and five new stations under Melbourne’s CBD, the Metro Tunnel project will create a new end-to-end line from Sunbury in the city’s west to Cranbourne/Pakenham in the south-east. As part of the program, next-generation High Capacity Signalling (HCS) has been used in conjunction with a fleet of new High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT) to enable the new lines to run at maximum capacity.

Delivered by the Rail Systems Alliance (RSA), the High Capacity Signalling project was a significant work package and critical to the Metro Tunnel Project’s overall success. To manage program integration, engineering and deployment risk more effectively, the delivery agency, Rail Projects Victoria (RPV) has mandated the use of systems engineering principles throughout the project lifecycle, including the robust management of requirements and associated inputs at all levels.

IBM DOORS Next Requirements Management for Complex Rail Signalling Integration

As part of this strategy, Acmena – one of Australia’s leading providers of requirements management and IBM DOORS Next specialist services – was engaged in 2019 to provide requirements management and DOORS Next specialist services to the project. Through the provision of these services, Acmena led the development of new management processes for specific requirements and their relation within the defined hierarchy of requirements.

This was realised through the delivery of a major update to the project requirements management plan and the introduction of a set of subordinate work instructions used by project teams.

Delivering Value Through an Optimised Requirements Management Program

Acmena was also responsible for producing key requirements management reports for RSA, including the Requirements Traceability Report and Baselining Gap Analysis. Working closely with both internal and external project stakeholders, Acmena was responsible for enhancing the project’s requirements framework. It also optimised the use of IBM DOORS Next on the project in addition to its traceability reporting and has developed and delivered supporting online training modules.

Acmena also acted as a key interface with the client and requirements management representatives from other packages to ensure that the use of the program requirements framework and the management of interfaces remains as consistent as possible.

The system is now operational in the Metro Tunnel and between West Footscray Station (Sunbury Line) and Westall Station (Cranbourne / Pakenham Line).

The High Capacity Signalling project is one of several major rail programs through which Acmena has established its reputation as a specialist provider of requirements management and IBM DOORS Next services for advanced rail signalling projects across Australia.

Profile 

• Client: National Rail Consulting
• Cost: Confidential
• Services: IBM DOORS Next, Requirements management, Requirements traceability reporting, Baseline gap analysis, DOORS Next Training

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