I’ve not been writing for a while, which is what happens when life takes over and the system and/or discipline to continue writing is not there, but I was reminded of this website when Google sent an email telling me how my pages ranked. It was paltry and the most clicked link was around 7…
Recently I went to Scotland and visited the Isle of Bute. We took a short ferry trip from Wemyss Bay, which had a small railway station. I was very surprised that for a small town, it had quite a big terminal station. One can take a train from Glasgow, step off the platform at Wemyss Bay railway station, and walk…
Yesterday I complained to my wife that I don’t really like signalling railway, not the way some of my colleagues or the people I meet in the industry. I then went on that I don’t really adore engineering, either mechanical engineering such as automotive, where some people know the horsepower of the new concept car…
The results for the exams I took last year has been announced. Good news and bad news: I took two papers which are IRSE exam module C and D. For module C was a surprisingly positive result while module D was a near miss (aka I failed but not too bad). There’s even feedback on…
I read recently there was an agreement to build an LRT line in Johor, the southern most state in Malaysia which neighbours Singapore. This is in conjunction of the MRT/LRT link over the straits between Malaysia and Singapore, allowing people to commute using rail between countries, helping alleviate the dire traffic on the bridges connecting…
I went to an IRSE conference today and it made me think that there’s a few improvements that is in dire needs in Malaysia. Funny how talking about such a technical subject as ETCS makes you think about the basic things. I guess technology is always about a purpose or serving needs at the end…
I was almost finished with my working hours when I started watching the video below. I was working from home and my wife asked whether the video counts as working hours. https://youtu.be/CsGELduKK1U?si=WwZ90dEc6Mi4H3-Z Well I was almost finished but the video is surprisingly quite related to work. I have a vague idea about toy or model…
In the railway and signalling standard from CENELEC, i.e. the EN 50126 or 50129, it is mentioned that one of the strategy (if I am not mistaken) for designing a safe system is through the use of Defence in Depth. My understanding of this is that the there are various ways a function can be…
Someone asked recently on Linkedin, why aren’t railways using GPS for their train positioning. Here’s my answer below: 1. GPS is limited by infrastructure and obstruction2. GPS has lower accuracy, say for example, a norming point/balise. Quick google and saw it says around 1 – 5 meter accuracy. Based on this two points, it’s not…
Occasionally I read forums/facebook groups on transportation(s) in Malaysia. I’ve noticed that the questions most often would be along the line, “Why aren’t we having this ______ in Malaysia, it’s super advanced technology!” I would sometime reply and mention the restrictions and constraints related to the technology proposed. Sometimes people would reply, still pushing and…
