Banner with Scott McGowan on top of a background with Metro Trains Sydney

How Metro Trains Sydney Keeps 70 Million Journeys on Track with COSOL’s AMaaS

Data and AI Government Transport Case Study by Scott McGowan /

At a glance

  • COSOL's AMaaS powers Metro Trains Sydney's digital asset ecosystem
  • Real-time data drives smarter operations and improved passenger experience
  • Partnership evolved from project delivery to 24/7 managed services
  • Toustone | COSOL's AI platform enhances insights, reliability, and compliance
Metro Train Sydney Logo
If you’ve travelled on Sydney public transport recently, you’ve likely experienced COSOL’s Asset Management as a Service (AMaaS) in action, a digital and data platform used by Metro Trains Sydney (MTS).

The Challenge: High-Stakes Reliability

MTS operates one of Australia’s most efficient transport systems: fully driverless, high frequency, with exceptional demands and an expectation to run on time, every time. With more than 70 million passenger journeys annually. With such high demand, even a small disruption could impact service efficiency and the customer experience for everyone who uses the Metro. This is a prime example of how reliability in asset management is essential for economic returns and efficiency.

Stat - 70 million journeys a year - MTS

The Solution: Digital Asset Management in Action

COSOL was engaged to implement a digital system to store and track all required asset data and plans, enabling MTS to reliably operate and maintain the Metro network. Building on this foundation, MTS collaborated further with our data analytics and AI experts at Toustone | A COSOL Company to develop a proprietary intelligence system.

This solution gathers complex data from multiple systems, automates analysis, and generates accurate, real-time insights and visual reports. The resulting cloud platform improves contract compliance, manages performance, cost, and risk, and ultimately enhances the passenger experience.

The Evolution: From Project to Partnership

COSOL continues to support MTS through managed services, running and enhancing the data and digital platforms that track its assets, operations, and performance. The platform ensures compliance, minimises downtime, and enables clear communication with passengers.

The platform for MTS is now more compliant, minimises downtime and better passenger experience
Our association with MTS exemplifies how a short-term project can evolve into a valued operating partnership, what we call AMaaS. COSOL advised on the digital and data platforms and currently provides 24/7 management, powered by our proprietary platform. We are a critical partner that MTS relies upon.
COSOL, like our customers, is always 'on'.
This evolution reflects COSOL’s desire to stay close to customers and focus on performance, costs, and reliability. Long-term service contracts provide deep expertise and stability for clients, while delivering recurring revenue with strong retention for COSOL.
When our customers can’t afford to fail, they rely on COSOL.

Spotlight: How Real-time Data Improved Operations & Customer Experience

Toustone | COSOL & Metro Trains Sydney at AusRAIL

Last year, we were on stage at AusRAIL 2024 with Metro Trains Sydney explaining how we have used real-time data to enhance operations and the passenger experience.

This is what we cover:

In this presentation, we tackled a critical challenge in rail and transport: disruptions - and how Australia’s first driverless train operator, Metro Trains Sydney (MTS), is using real-time data to reduce their impact. MTS demonstrates how implementing real-time data using the SIRI protocol has delivered tangible benefits, improving both passenger experience and operational efficiencies in rail operations.

The Service Interface for Real-time Information (SIRI) protocol is explained in simple terms, along with what is required for the SIRI processing engine to produce real-time information. This includes production timetables, estimated timetables, vehicle monitoring, situation exchange, and facilities monitoring, all of which empower rail and transport operators to run more efficiently.

The session concludes with Toustone | COSOL’s Adam Sharp presenting additional use cases for real-time data in rail and transport, including Predictive Asset Management, Digital Twin, and Incident Management Prediction.

A few questions addressed during the AusRAIL Innovation Q&A include:

  • Is real-time data only applicable to greenfield rail and transport projects, or can it also be used in brownfield environments?
  • What are some challenges faced when implementing real-time data in rail and transport operations?
  • How does integrating and sharing more information with the public impact cyber security?

Session Highlights:

  • 4:44 – Adam Sharp explains SIRI and the high-level architecture of real-time data reporting, including a live demo of a real-time train graph.
  • 10:16 – Stephen Stanford shares how MTS has enhanced operational efficiencies and passenger experience in rail transport through real-time data.
  • 14:39 – Adam Sharp discusses three future use cases for real-time data in the rail and transport sectors.

About COSOL

COSOL is built on one belief: in asset-centric industries, reliability is everything. We’re a trusted, data-led asset management partner for organisations around the world who can’t afford to fail. And known for our deep expertise, dependable delivery, and ability to keep critical assets performing at their best.

We recently celebrated 25 years in business, are Australian-owned and operated, and  recognised as reliable partners by their clients across the globe.

Board and Management - COSOL, Scott McGowan headshot, part of the Executive Team

About Scott McGowan

Managing Director & CEO of COSOL
Scott is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of COSOL Limited. He is a highly experienced executive manager with a demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams of professionals to new levels of success in highly competitive markets. Scott has over 20 years’ experience in both start-ups and global multinational corporations and possesses strong technical and business qualifications with an impressive track record in strategic planning, business unit development, project management, product development and system engineering strategies.