A safety beacon designed in Australia that warns rail workers about oncoming trains is set to launch this week.
After months of trials in the NSW Hunter Valley, the Track Awareness Support System' or TASS has been launched to this week to coincide with National Rail Safety Week.
TASS is a portable beacon that feeds into the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s 3G train communication network.
It has been trialled over the last few months in several locations along the NSW rail corridors.
ARTC spokesman Michael van de Worp said the device is easily deployed and will save lives.
"It's a device that tells the people out in the field, that are working on the track, that there's a train within 10 kilometres," he said.
"It flashes and makes a lot of noise, and they acknowledge that and hop off the track.
"We've got lots of good systems now, but paper-based systems, and this brings rail into the 21st century.
"It's a technology project that we've put together to give an extra layer of warning."
van de Worp said will help prevent accidents by ensuring rail workers remain aware of possible danger.
"It gives you that early warning, brings back to your conscious level that there are trains in the area and you've got to acknowledge the noise and the flashing light.
"You've got to take action, so it certainly makes you make conscious decisions about being on track.
"We did a video with some of the chaps that are working with it and they like the portability and it acted as an extra level of warning," he said.
Image: ABC