GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

Parkes to Cootamundra rail upgrade gets underway

The $91.5 million project will replace worn track as well as all the existing timber sleepers with 301,000 new concrete sleepers along the 201 kilometre Cootamundra to Parkes rail line. Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, congratulated the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) for moving so quickly to upgrade the nation's rail infrastructure. The line between Cootamundra and Parkes has never been upgraded to interstate standard. This has resulted in the line only being able to carry trains operating under strict weight and speed restrictions.

Installation of boom gates starts in NSW

The installation of boom gates and other safety measures at priority level rail crossings in NSW has begun. The Australian Government has allocated $42.7 million from its 'Boom Gates for Rail Crossings Program' to upgrade safety at around 55 high risk level crossings in NSW. Nationally, the $150 million program will fund the installation of boom gates and other safety measures at 292 level crossings.

Shortlist made for Sydney Metro construction contract

Three consortia made up of national and international companies have been short-listed for Sydney Metro’s major construction and tunnelling contract, NSW Transport Minister David Campbell said. The works to be carried out by the successful company will include constructing the structural lining in the tunnel, drainage, cross passages and excavating the underground stations and passenger entrances.

Light rail extension to be investigated

Minister for Transport David Campbell has announced that a light rail extension assessment study would now be carried out, following support from four local councils. Mr Campbell wrote to Ashfield, Marrickville, Leichhardt and City of Sydney councils seeking a contribution towards the study, which would look at potential extensions in the Inner West and CBD. “The study will look at the capital investment associated with the proposed extensions, as well as demand, technical issues, integration with other public transport, operating costs and other impacts. The study will commence shortly and will take around six months to complete.”

Reform agenda to revitalise Australia’s rail freight sector

Following the recent Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreement to progress national rail safety regulation, the National Transport Commission (NTC) has now outlined a national reform agenda for rail productivity. NTC Chief Executive Nick Dimopoulos said further reform is essential to ensure rail plays its part in servicing the growing land freight task safely and sustainably. “While the review focused on freight rail productivity, it found that we can improve national policies and planning so all transport modes work smarter together and compete on their own merits.”

Mount Isa rail plan looks to future growth

The ability of the North-West to reach its full potential during a forecasted minerals boom is the major focus of Queensland Rail's Mount Isa System Rail Infrastructure Master Plan, unveiled by Transport Minister Rachel Nolan. Ms Nolan said despite the current economic climate, long-term planning scenarios are being developed for the region aimed at catering for the anticipated growth and delivering infrastructure to support that significant development. “The plan outlines rail infrastructure options required to meet the range of future tonnage scenarios, including passing loop extensions, additional holding roads, changes to control systems, track strengthening, and motorised train points.”

Last sleeper put to bed on major rail upgrade

The first phase of one of the most extensive upgrades of the Tasmanian rail network came to an end on July 31 when the last sleeper was laid in the south of the State. The Minister for Infrastructure, Graeme Sturges, said the project, which began in Burnie in January, had involved the expenditure of $38 million on replacing sleepers and rails. “There is also a $4.9 million program of upgrades at 67 level crossings being delivered throughout the State and this is expected to be completed by the end of September.”

WA Government moves to tighten security on public transport

Transport Minister Simon O’Brien and Police Minister Rob Johnson flagged changes to the management of security on metropolitan buses and trains on August 5. Mr O’Brien said the recent spate of attacks on public transport were alarming and he had moved swiftly to ensure the Public Transport Authority (PTA) had entered into discussions with WA Police to enhance security across the network. Mr O’Brien and Mr Johnson said they would ask PTA and WA Police to develop proposals to provide an increased presence of uniformed police officers on buses and trains.

ORR releases National Rail Trends 2008-2009 yearbook

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has released its National Rail Trends (NRT) 2008-2009 yearbook, a key publication that provides an independent, comprehensive and accurate picture of the rail industry in Great Britain. Data are published by chapter on a rolling basis throughout the year to ensure that users have access to relevant and timely statistics. NRT now includes a chapter on health and safety statistics.

Government unveils high-speed rail plan to ground short flights

The British Government has made the demise of domestic air travel an explicit policy target for the first time by aiming to replace short-haul flights with a new 250mph high-speed rail network. The transport secretary, Lord Adonis, said switching 46 million domestic air passengers a year to a multibillion-pound north-south rail line was "manifestly in the public interest". Marking a government shift against aviation, Adonis added that rail journeys should be preferred to plane trips.

INDUSTRY

Queensland Rail lands massive contract

Queensland Rail (QR) has landed its largest coal-haulage contract in NSW, further intensifying its battle with southern rival Asciano. The 11-year contract with global coal giant Peabody Energy comes as the Queensland Government tries to off-load the coal freight division as part of a $15 billion infrastructure sell-off. Under the contract, QR will deliver up to 12 million tonnes of coal a year from Peabody's Wambo and Wilpinjong mines to the Port of Newcastle in NSW for export to the Asian market from 2010.

Ulan Line Alliance win

Macmahon Holdings Limited and Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) announced that ARTC has awarded Macmahon and MVM Rail work as part of the $100 million Ulan Line Alliance program. The package is one of three capital works programs designed to increase the coal carrying capacity of the Main Northern Railway Corridor in the Hunter Valley region of NSW. The Ulan Line Alliance will undertake the design and construction of eleven passing loops and associated tunnel ventilation works on the line between Muswellbrook and Ulan.

RTSA monthly update

The Railway Technical Society of Australasia (RTSA) has released its latest monthly update for South Australia. This issue includes:

• Reducing wheel/rail noise emission, with a focus on the Adelaide Hills
• Adelaide’s Belair track upgrade.

ARA fortnightly update

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has released its latest fortnightly update. This issue covers the Rail Technology workshop.

Albury to Seymour resleepering completed

The modernisation of the nation's rail network reached another major milestone, with work on the upgrade of a key section of the main line between Sydney and Melbourne completed. The $45 million upgrade of the line between Albury and Seymour in Victoria involved replacing all the existing timber sleepers with 225,000 new concrete sleepers. ARTC CEO David Marchant explained the upgrade of the line between Albury and Seymour would improve the overall efficiency on the interstate network. "Concrete sleepers in themselves may not sound significant but they will greatly improve the track's capacity and reduce transit times," said Mr Marchant.

Best July train punctuality for over a decade

In its fourth regular monthly performance update, Network Rail announced that period four, 28 June to 25 July, was a record month compared to the same period every year since the detailed records of train performance began in 1997/98. July saw 92.4% of trains arriving on time across Great Britain. Robin Gisby, Director of Operations and Customer Service, said: "Train punctuality is being maintained at historically high levels and our extra investment targeted at improving performance on the West Coast main line is seeing early signs of success.”

Rail industry agrees RISAS policy on bogies to reduce costs

The British rail industry has come together to make a landmark decision, by individually requiring Railway Industry Supplier Approval Scheme (RISAS) certification of suppliers for bogie overhaul. The scheme provides definitive and authoritative supplier assurance to the industry – providing enhanced safety and reliability, but at the same time significant resource and associated cost savings. One of the first major steps has been taken towards cost reduction, and allowing reinvestment of millions of pounds and person-hours by the British rail industry, by improving supplier assurance and removing duplication of audits. Network Rail’s Head of Supplier Assurance and Account Management Stuart Norfolk, also welcomed the move and said: “This is an important initiative that will pave the way for further collaborative effort to bring greater clarity and consistency to supplier assurance requirements within the industry.”

ACCIDENTS

NTSB releases track back to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released the site of the Ft. Totten accident back to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) on July 31. The site, located on the Red Line between Ft. Totten and Takoma stations in Washington, D.C., was the scene of the fatal collision of two WMATA trains on June 22. The NTSB's Signal and Train Control Group has completed its examination and testing of train control equipment at the scene of the accident.

Historic Muni streetcar smashes into SUV

Six people were injured on August 3, when one of San Francisco's historic F-line streetcars rear-ended a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and crushed it against the back of another streetcar that was stopped in traffic on Market Street. The crash, which occurred at 5:46 p.m. during peak commute hours, comes just two weeks after another Muni streetcar crash injured 50 people. The driver in that crash told investigators he blacked out before the mishap. Muni suspended service on the line, and traffic in the area was backed up for several hours. Bus shuttles were used to serve commuters. Service on the F-line resumed at 8:43 p.m.