GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

Funding for 45 level crossing projects

Work will start immediately on installing new boom gates and other safety measures at 45 high risk level rail crossings around New South Wales. Funding for these safety projects will come from the Federal Government's $150 million Boom Gates for Rail Crossings Program - a key element of the $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan. All up, the government has allocated $42.7 million to 45 projects in New South Wales.

Level crossing safety improved

A $1.6 million upgrade to level crossings at Deep Lead-Glenorchy Road, Deep Lead, and Glenelg Highway, Westmere, has been completed, improving safety for motorists. Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the crossings had been upgraded as part of the Victorian Government’s commitment to improve safety at level crossings. “The crossings now feature boom barriers and brighter flashing lights and in the case of the Westmere crossing, automatic advance warning signs as well, making them safer for motorists, heavy vehicle drivers and train passengers,” Ms Kosky said.

New RailCorp Board members

Minister for Transport David Campbell has announced the appointment of four new members to the Board of RailCorp. “The new members will join Railcorp Chairperson, Elizabeth Crouch, in guiding the organisation through a period of growth and improvement,” Mr Campbell said. The new Board members are Nancy Milne (OAM), Colin Smith, Greg Fletcher and Geoff Amos.

$13.6 million to improve safety

The Federal Government will start immediately on installing new boom gates and other safety measures at 34 high risk level rail crossings around South Australia. Funding for these safety projects will come from the government's $150 million Boom Gates for Rail Crossings Program - a key element of the $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan. $13.6 million will be provided to South Australia's 34 projects. Never before has the Federal Government had a program dedicated to improving safety and preventing accidents at level crossings.

Tender process begins for CBD metro

Businesses and consortia interested in the design and construction of the CBD Metro will be asked to register their interest from 30 March 2009, NSW Transport Minister David Campbell said. Mr Campbell said the NSW Government had introduced a streamlined three-stage tendering process to cater for high levels of interest in major contract packages for the CBD Metro. “With construction of the seven kilometre underground CBD metro rail line set to commence in 2010, the first phase of the tender process is about to commence,” he said.

Anna Walker announced as ORR Chairman designate

The Secretary of State for Transport has announced that Anna Walker has been chosen to succeed Chris Bolt as Chairman of the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), the independent safety and economic regulator of Britain’s railways. Ms Walker is presently Chief Executive of the Healthcare Commission. ORR Chief Executive Bill Emery said that it was an exciting time for ORR as they embark on a new corporate strategy. “I very much look forward to working with Anna to deliver our vision for Britain’s railways which is to promote continuous improvement in both health and safety performance and the value the railways offer to users and funders,” Mr Emery said. 

CCTV upgraded at 41 train stations

NSW Minister for Transport David Campbell has revealed that major CCTV upgrades have now been rolled out at more than 40 CityRail stations fitted with ticket gates. Mr Campbell said that 537 new cameras had been installed at the ticket gate areas as part of a $4.5 million program to boost security. “The cameras are able to capture high quality images to identify people who have committed offences on trains or station platforms and those who have engaged in other suspicious behaviour,” Mr Campbell said.

ORR publishes its plan for 2009-10

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has published its plan covering the period April 2009 - March 2010. This sets out ORR’s priorities for the forthcoming year, the first year of its five-year strategy - Promoting safety and value in Britain’s railways. ORR Chief Executive Bill Emery said the plan for 2009-10 sets out what ORR plan to do and the results against which they will test their success. “This will be a tough year for the railways, but the industry has shown it can deliver improved safety, quality for customers, and efficiency,” Mr Emery said. “By building on this and doing more, it can make an increasing contribution to the transport needs of our economy.”

Upgrades to the Cronulla line

Minister for Transport David Campbell has announced a three week closedown on the Cronulla line will take place during April to allow for critical work on upgrades as part of a project worth over $300 million. Mr Campbell said the Cronulla Line Duplication was a major piece of infrastructure that would deliver long-term benefits for locals and as such, the works involved would be extensive and complex. “In order for these works to be undertaken safely the electricity supply to the Cronulla Line needs to be shut off,” Mr Campbell said. “Switching off the power will mean this important upgrade can be undertaken quickly and safely with no risk to workers.”

Train contract creates jobs

NSW Minister for Transport David Campbell said the Government had finalised the contract for the delivery of an additional 72 OSCAR carriages for the CityRail network. Mr Campbell said the contract would create around 200 new jobs at United Rail’s Broadmeadow plant in Newcastle and around 40 jobs at Taree. “This $320 million contract will increase capacity on the CityRail network and deliver better services for commuters,” Mr Campbell said.

INDUSTRY

RailCorp responds to ICAC findings

RailCorp has given its full commitment to the implementation of all the measures recommended by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) aimed at strengthening its anti-corruption initiatives and procedures. RailCorp has provided ICAC with its response to the 40 recommendations made in the Commission’s investigation of bribery and fraud at RailCorp. The ICAC will assess the response and may provide RailCorp with comment and guidance. RailCorp Chief Executive Rob Mason said he will simply not tolerate unethical or corrupt behaviour. “I am determined to address each and every one of the issues raised by ICAC,” Mr Mason said.

Pedestrians risking lives at level crossings

QR is shocked by pedestrians who are risking their lives by flouting road rules and common sense, with 17 near misses between trains and pedestrians in March. Despite an education campaign and barriers at level crossings, pedestrians (including cyclists) are still risking their lives by trying to beat trains at level crossings just to save a few minutes on their journeys. In one of the most serious incidents a train driver had to use emergency brakes after a pedestrian walked in front of a train travelling at 90 kilometres per hour.

CP4 Delivery Plan: a new start for passengers

A new era for rail in Britain has begun as Network Rail embarks on a £35 billion program of expenditure targeted at building a bigger and better railway. The ambitious five year rail industry blueprint of investment includes plans for over 500 schemes and projects aimed at providing extra capacity or capability for passengers and freight customers with more seats, more trains, longer trains and faster trains. The blueprint, called the CP4 Delivery Plan, details the improvements to be made on the national rail system over the next five years, how train performance will increase to even higher record levels and how safety will reach new highs.

UIC world rail statistics for 2008

The International Union of Railways (UIC) has recently published provisional world rail traffic statistics for 2008, based on the monthly statistics provided by its members. These results are an indication of the major trends in passenger and freight transport in various regions of the world. The provisional statistics show an increase in passenger transport on all continents in 2008, while freight transport generally declined.

ACCIDENTS

ATSB report into derailment

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released a safety report into the derailment of Freight Train 6MP9 near Hines Hill in Western Australia. The train was carrying containerised general freight from Melbourne to Perth when it derailed 11 wagons near on 10 March 2008. Although there were dangerous goods on the train, they were not involved in the derailment. The investigation determined that wagon ABFY2797U derailed due to a ‘screwed journal’ as a result of a wheel bearing failure.

Inaccurate interpretation led to accident

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined that the probable cause of a collision of an Amtrak train with the rear of a Norfolk Southern Railway Company train on 30 November 2007 was the failure of the Amtrak engineer to correctly interpret the signal at Englewood interlocking. Amtrak's failure to ensure that the engineer had the competency to correctly interpret the signal across the different territories over which he operated was also found to be a factor. "As we discovered in this accident investigation, the comprehensive training and evaluation of the train crews is extremely critical," Acting NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker said.

Seven dead in Tanzania train crash

Police in Tanzania suspect a train crash on 29 March 2009 that left seven people dead was caused deliberately so that petrol could be stolen from the fuel tanks. Seven people have been arrested, including the driver of the cargo train and the station master. Initially the death toll was thought to have been as many as 15. The accident was caused by a passenger train, which hit a stationary cargo train near the town of Dodoma, in central Tanzania.

Report into Prince George derailment

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released its final investigation report into the 4 August 2007 train derailment and fire in Prince George, British Columbia. The investigation found that there had been an inadequate assessment of the risks associated with the activities and that management employees operating the remote control switching assignment the day of the accident were inadequately trained for the duties they were performing even though they were considered qualified from a regulatory perspective.