GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

Installation of boom gates at rail crossings

The installation of boom gates and other safety measures at priority level rail crossings in NSW is moving ahead with work commencing at locations in the Southern Tablelands and Southern Highlands. The projects are being delivered by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).

Belair line reopens for business

Train services have returned to the new and improved Belair line following a multi-million dollar makeover of the track and several of its level crossings. Transport Minister Patrick Conlon said the project had gone extremely well and had been delivered on time and on budget. “The 15 kilometres of new track laid forms part of the State Government’s $2 billion, decade-long revitalisation of Adelaide’s public transport system," Mr Conlon said. "The renewal of the Belair line has delivered upgraded track formation, improvements to track geometry and alignment within the existing rail corridor and new long-life, gauge convertible concrete sleepers.”

Investment in sustainable transport future

Transport Minister Simon O’Brien has officially launched the State Centre for Research into Energy for Sustainable Transport (CREST) at Murdoch University. Mr O’Brien said the State Government’s $2.29 million investment in this centre would enable Murdoch University to unite the State's leading researchers in transport fuels and technologies. “The State Government is committed to fostering the development of new transport technologies, improving environmental efficiencies and sustainable productivity is one way of doing this. Through organisations like CREST, we can begin to make an important contribution to this critical change,” Commerce Minister Troy Buswell said.

$73 million Mildura rail upgrade complete

A major $73 million project to upgrade the Mildura rail freight corridor to increase train speeds and drive economic growth in regional communities is complete. Premier John Brumby and Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Anthony Albanese announced the completion of the $73 million upgrade. "The $73 million Mildura Rail Upgrade will shave at least 20% off the travel time along this rail freight route which will mean goods can be transported more quickly to customers,” Mr Brumby said. The completion of the Mildura freight upgrade now paves the way for the signalling and station works to start on the return of passenger services to Maryborough.

Criteria and procedures for track access contracts

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has released the latest edition of the document which reflects the charging and incentive structure introduced by their Periodic Review 2008 determinations for Control Period 4 (1 April 2009 to March 2014). The document sets out the criteria and procedures ORR expect to follow in processing applications for track access contracts.

New NTSB Vice Chairman 

President Barack Obama has designated National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Member Christopher Hart as the agency's Vice Chairman. Mr Hart was sworn in as a Member of the NTSB on 12 August 2009 to a term that ends on 31 December 2012. 

Setbacks bedevil Compass card

The San Diego Association of Governments' Compass card was released in May, a $40 million project that was originally supposed to be up and running three years ago. Software bugs still bedevil the fare system, which has already weathered missteps, forcing San Diego County's largest transit operator to delay a full rollout. The Metropolitan Transit System, which carries 290,000 riders daily on its buses and trolleys, had planned to phase in the plastic card from 1 July 2009. It now hopes to launch it in October. The card, which is akin to an ATM or debit card, debuted in May on the Coaster commuter train and premium express bus routes. It allows riders to establish a fare account and board a bus or rail car by tapping the card against an electronic reader.

INDUSTRY

RailCorp maintains staffing numbers

Following a review of stations in Sydney’s South and South West, RailCorp will maintain approximately the same number of RailCorp staff serving customers and providing other rail services, RailCorp Chief Operating Officer, Andy Byford, said. “The review of station operations is about providing the right number of staff at stations, with the right mix of skills, based on the travel patterns and needs of customers using that location,” Mr Byford said.

First of Connex’s 38 new trains arrive

The first of the new Connex fleet of passenger trains arrived at the Newport yards on 24 August 2009. It will be in service by the end of 2009, with all 38 trains in operation by 2014. In Melbourne’s western and northern suburbs extra stabling will be built at Newport, Sunbury, Craigieburn, Upfield, Epping and Eltham. Stabling will also be constructed in the south-east at Upper Ferntree Gully, Westall and Brighton Beach. Construction of the extra stabling across the network and the new maintenance facility at Craigieburn will commence in late 2009 and be completed in 2011.

AAR reports incremental carload gains in July

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) have reported that while there may be signs of incremental, month-to-month gains in carload traffic, year-over-year traffic remains down for July by 17.5%. According to AAR’s Rail Time Indicators report, intermodal rail traffic also remains down for July by 18% compared with the same month last year. “While rail carloads are up incrementally in recent months, things have yet to fully rebound,” AAR Senior Vice President John Gray said. “Looking at the data, we can certainly say traffic seems to be heading in the right direction - but we still have a long, long way to go.”

London to Scotland by train in just two hours

Network Rail has revealed the results of a detailed investigation into the need for new capacity on Britain's railway network. It concluded that a new 200mph high-speed line to the Midlands, the North West and Scotland - halving travel time to Scotland to just over two hours - was the best option generating almost £55 billion of value with a capital construction cost of £34 billion. Iain Coucher, Network Rail’s chief executive said that high-speed rail can transform Britain. "It can promote economic growth, regeneration and social inclusion," Mr Coucher said. "It is a low carbon option - cutting domestic flights and taking cars and lorries off the road. It will release capacity on the existing rail network and revolutionise passenger journeys."

ACCIDENTS

Investigation of collision between sewage truck and The Ghan

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has found that a collision between The Ghan passenger train and a loaded sewage truck occurred when the driver of the truck drove into the path of the train at a private road level crossing at 'Murrow Farm' near Two Wells in South Australia. The ATSB has released its final investigation report into the collision which occurred on 6 August 2007 seriously injuring the truck driver. At the time of the accident road traffic at the level crossing was controlled by stop signs. As a result of this investigation, the ATSB has identified safety issues primarily related to maintenance practices for the control of vegetation in the rail corridor which require action to reduce the risk of future collisions at this and other level crossings.

RAIB investigates collision between trams

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has released a bulletin focusing on a collision on 24 June 2009 at Blackpool Starr Gate, where a single car tram was approaching another tram that was stationary at a tram stop at the southern extremity of the route. When the driver applied the service brake, no braking resulted and by the time he applied the emergency brake, it was too late to prevent a collision occurring with the stationary tram. Although in passenger service, there were no passengers aboard either tram and no injuries to the crews. Minor damage to both trams resulted from the collision.

Company warned on bridge erosion before it collapsed

A scout leader said he warned an Irish train company about erosion on a rail viaduct several days before part of it collapsed. Ivan Barratt said he had noticed serious erosion on the Broadmeadow Estuary Rail viaduct on 14 August 2009 and phoned to warn Iarnród Éireann. However, on Friday 21 August a 20-metre section of the Dublin to Belfast railway line collapsed into the water. The company said an inspection found the damage was cosmetic, rather than structural. However, Mr Barratt, who said he had noticed worsening erosion on it over a period of several months, said it should have been evident there was a problem.

Uzbekistan train carrying crude oil collides with freight train

A train with empty cisterns on the Karshi-Bukhara line has collided with a freight train carrying 59 cisterns of crude oil at the 'Sulphur plant' station on 21 August 2009, a source in Uzbekistan Railways told RIA Novosti. The number of injured is unknown, but there was a fire as a result of the crash. Several derailed cisterns with crude oil and diesel locomotive ignited. "A departmental commission has been created and is investigating the cause of the accident," a spokesman for the agency said.

Disaster avoided after train hits concrete block on line

Passengers narrowly escaped death when vandals dumped concrete blocks on a railway line in Swindon. The rush-hour train, a high speed First Great Western 1L68 passenger vehicle carrying up to 750 people, struck the steel reinforced blocks near Stratton Green Bridge but managed to stay on the rails. The train was heading to London Paddington from South Wales, but was so badly damaged it could not continue its journey. Geoff Jackson-Haines, operations manager for Network Rail, said: “We still have no idea how the train stayed on the tracks. Normally you would be looking at a derailment and death. It was a 125mph train which would take a mile and a quarter to stop so there would have been no chance to avoid hitting those slabs.”

Boy who lost foot sues railroad

Legal action has been launched on behalf of a Calgary boy who lost his foot while trying to jump on a freight train and the brother who watched in horror. A statement of claim filed on behalf of Jashua and Andruw Piche seeks damages totalling $900,000 over the 15 August 2007 accident. The document names Canadian National Railway, the City of Calgary and the Forest Lawn Community Association as defendants. It says Jashua Piche lost his right foot after he and his brother entered a CNR yard through a broken fence. “Jashua Piche attempted to climb onto a moving train (when he) slipped and fell underneath the train, which subsequently rolled over him,” it states.

Collision with debris from bridge near London Liverpool Street

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has released its report into an accident involving a collision with debris from a bridge under construction near London Liverpool Street. At approximately 7.17pm on Wednesday 28 May 2008, train 1K12 collided with concrete debris lying on the track beneath the newly constructed bridge LTN1/19 near Liverpool Street Station. The debris had fallen from the bridge following the failure of supports at one end of the bridge deck. This caused a sudden jolt which shook the deck. The train came to a halt and there were no injuries reported. Both Network Rail and the emergency services overlooked a train requiring evacuation near Bethnal Green Station until after the site was declared clear.