The Australian Rail Track Corporation has signed a 10-year contract with Telstra for the ongoing provision of the National Train Communications System.
The NTCS operates on Telstra's mobile network with satellite as a backup.
The project began in 2007 and was completed late last year with the switch-off of ARTC's last two regional radio systems.
The digital communications system covers ARTC's 8500-kilometre rail freight network.
"The Telstra-based NTCS will provide a platform for many of the new and exciting innovations being developed by ARTC," ARTC CEO John Fullerton said in a statement.
"Using the Telstra NextG network, applications such as safe travelling distance technology (proximity alerting), real-time locomotive tracking, sophisticated track and wayside monitoring technology, situational awareness systems and the next generation of train management — the Advanced Train Management System (ATMS) — all become possible."
Telstra built 70 base stations and 11 radio-fitted tunnels specifically for the project. In total, the NTCS employs 1024 Telstra mobile sites.
As part of the engagement, ARTC was shifted into a private cloud environment based on VCE's Vblock converged infrastructure, Telstra said.