Cr O’Malley referred to tokens, but the correct term is track warrant control.
It is a computer-assisted paper-based system that covers the traffic control from Mosgiel to Invercargill and Sawyers Bay to Oamaru.
It is run from the national train control centre in Wellington and is used across almost 60% of the KiwiRail network, in areas where traffic volumes are relatively low.
It differs from centralised traffic control, where signals are controlled by a train controller, also run from the national centre.
The centralised system operates between Sawyers Bay and Mosgiel, where traffic volumes are higher.
Cr O’Malley had criticised the use of dated technology, which he suggested slowed freight services.
In a follow-up statement, he said the centralised system enabled trains to radio they were about to start their journey and they then followed the signal lights until they got to the end.
Under the track warrant control system, each train had to stop every time it got to the end of a warrant area, call in for a new warrant and only once it had received one could it start up again.
This could result in more stops, increased fuel usage due to the stopping and starting and affected the ability of a line to operate at full capacity.
Cr O’Malley said he planned to bring the situation to the attention of Transport Minister Michael Wood, who is set to visit Dunedin in April.
KiwiRail announced in October last year it was buying 57 new locomotives for use in the South Island.
