Quantum Rail solves remote rail crossing safety challenges with Westermo’s wireless technology
In the rail industry, ensuring the safety of level crossings, especially in remote areas, is often a challenge. Traditional upgrades to passive crossings (those without flashing lights or barriers) require extensive civil works, including trenching for copper cabling and installing power infrastructure. These projects are not only costly but also logistically complex, particularly in rural regions where terrain, environmental protection, and cultural heritage sites add layers of difficulty.
Image: V/Line
V/Line, a regional passenger rail operator in Victoria, Australia, manage hundreds of passive crossings across the state. These “passive” crossings rely only on signs, leaving travelers at risk of accidents. However, upgrading each site with traditional wired systems is very costly.
V/Line needed a cost-effective, safe solution to bring active protection to these remote crossings.
Quantum Rail, known for their innovative approach to rail engineering, partnered with Westermo to develop a wireless level crossing solution tailored to the unique demands of the rail industry. The system was successfully deployed in late 2025 at Farrells Lane near Stratford, on the Bairnsdale Line, an ideal test site due to its remote location and low traffic volume.
In this solution, train detection sensors placed along the track communicate wirelessly to the crossing’s central control unit. Instead of copper wires running hundreds of meters, the system uses Westermo’s rugged wireless networking devices to send signals instantly when a train is approaching. The entire crossing unit is powered by solar panels and batteries, meaning it can operate reliably off-grid, perfect for remote locations. This wireless, solar-powered design slashes installation cost and time: only small poles and antennas are installed at a few points, avoiding most of the digging and cabling work.
Quantum's expertise was crucial in delivering the communications and system architecture design and safety assurance for the wireless level crossing. Westermo’s role was to provide the communication hardware and technical support. Westermo engineers also worked together with Quantum and V/Line to configure the network and iron out any technical risks early on.
The picture shows wireless repeater units in a trackside cabinet,
up and down cabinet and the connection to the solar panels.
"Quantum has been aligned with Westermo on projects for the past eight years. The products are perfectly suited to the rail environment - they’re ruggedized and often designed specifically for rail."
- Daniel Martin, Operations Manager at Quantum Rail
"We always have access to some pretty clever people at Westermo, and it's easy to do business with them. The technical expertise and support we get when implementing projects like this is really helpful."
Project highlights
- Reduction in Installation Costs: By eliminating the need for trenching and cabling, the wireless solution significantly lowered the cost of upgrading level crossings.
- 12-Month Field Validation: The system operated reliably in shadow mode for a full year, proving its resilience to weather, interference, and environmental challenges.
- 1.6 km Wireless Range Achieved: The system successfully detected trains up to 800 meters in each direction, meeting the 35-second warning requirement.
- Type Approved and Commissioned: The solution is now officially approved for use across V/Line’s network, opening the door for broader deployment.
Fully commissioned and live in field
In late 2025, after the lengthy testing phase, the wireless level crossing solution received official type approval and was fully commissioned at the pilot site in rural Victoria. It is now live in the field, actively warning drivers of oncoming trains where previously only a stop sign existed.
With Westermo’s wireless technology and Quantum Rail’s engineering expertise, V/Line now has a scalable, cost-effective solution to improve safety at remote crossings, without the traditional barriers of cost and complexity.
To solve these problems that have hindered upgrades to crossings for 100 years is a really great thing to be able to do in 2025.” Daniel Martin concluded.
Ray Lock
Network application expert
For support inquiries, click here to contact Technical Support