GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

Next phase for Epping to Chatswood rail

NSW Minister for Transport David Campbell said the Epping to Chatswood rail link has moved into the next phase of commissioning with crew training scheduled to begin this week. Mr Campbell said the $2.3 billion rail link is the largest public infrastructure project currently underway in NSW and is on track to begin running as a shuttle service from 22 February 2009, subject to final safety and operational checks. “The Epping to Chatswood rail link will deliver a state-of-the-art service that will put around 12,000 extra people on the CityRail network every day,” Mr Campbell said. “The three new stations Macquarie Park, Macquarie University and North Ryde have been fitted with new technology, wide open concourses and modern facilities.”

Funding to help improve level crossings

The Federal Government has announced $890 million worth of funding to support Australian jobs by improving community infrastructure and safety on the nation’s roads. Black Spots, Boom Gates, Regional Roads and Community Infrastructure is an investment that will improve road safety and quality of life in local communities. This local community focused program underscores the Government’s commitment to reducing the number of accidents on Australian roads. This long term nation building investment will fund:

• around 350 additional safety improvement projects under the Black Spot Program
• bring forward the installation of around 200 new boom gates and other safety measures at high risk rail crossings
• a $500 million expansion of the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program – Strategic Projects
• $150 million of critical maintenance works on Australia’s national highways.

Burnley Station receives premium status

Burnley Station is the latest station on the metropolitan rail network to be upgraded to premium status and is now staffed from first to last train. Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the drive to upgrade and staff stations is part of a wider Victorian Government commitment to ensure people who travel on public transport reach their destination safely. “Commuters at Burnley Station are the latest to benefit from growing number of premium stations on the network, and the safety and security benefits that this brings,” Ms Kosky said.

NTC Deputy Chair confirmed

The National Transport Commission (NTC) is pleased to announce that the Australian Transport Council has appointed Professor Ian Johnston AM as Deputy Chair of the Commission. Professor Johnston brings over 30 years experience in the transport safety field to the NTC, including roles as Director of Monash University Accident Research Centre, Managing Director of ARRB Transport Research and Director-Road Safety for the Victorian Government. In January 2007 Professor Johnston received Australia Day honours for his services to transport safety, particularly road and maritime safety. “Professor Johnston’s leadership and commitment to innovation in injury prevention, based on sound research, have broadly influenced public policy in transport safety and made our roads and vehicles safer,” NTC Chairman Greg Martin said.

INDUSTRY

QR wins contract worth up to $100m

National transport and logistics company QR has won a contract worth up to $100 million to provide maintenance services for Australia's interstate rail network. In an eight year deal, QR will provide rail grinding services to the Australian Rail Track Corporation, which manages interstate, standard (1.435 metres) gauge track and NSW freight lines including the Hunter Valley coal chain. This is the largest external contract won by QR’s services business and increases its share of the national rail grinding market to 70% from 40% two years ago. It also continues the expansion of QR Services which secured new business in Western Australia and Tasmania last year.

Safety performance headlines for 2008

The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has published an Overview of safety performance for 2008, to provide the industry with some initial indications of trends in risk. The report provides the rail industry with a concise synopsis of the key safety indicators and trends for 2008, ahead of the more comprehensive analysis in the Annual Safety Performance Report (ASPR) to be published in April.

Heat no longer a burden on rail line

Extreme heat conditions no longer hold their sway over rail infrastructure on the majority of the line between Sydney and the Queensland border thanks to the introduction of concrete sleepers, Australian Rail Track Corporation CEO David Marchant announced. “As the mercury pushes toward 40 degrees, ARTC would, in the past, often have to implement temporary speed restrictions on numerous sections of the North South corridor particularly in NSW,” Mr Marchant said. “This was due to the potential for high summer temperatures to cause the steel rail to buckle. Thanks to the $400 million project to replace 2.2 million wooden sleepers with concrete sleepers on the North South corridor, temporary speed restrictions due to heat are for the most part a thing of the past,” Mr Marchant said.

ACCIDENTS

Golden Ridge derailment

As a result of the train derailment which occurred at Golden Ridge, east of Kalgoorlie on Friday 30 January 2009, a significant rail deviation or ‘detour’ is being established around the site of the derailment to ensure the track opens as soon as possible. New sleepers, rail and ballast are being laid in what is essentially a rail loop around the entire area affected. This will allow the rail corridor to re-open and freight rail traffic to recommence. The new deviation will be subject to a temporary speed restriction. Repair and recovery teams have been doing an exceptional job, working around the clock not only to construct the deviation, but also utility roads for vehicles and equipment to access the remote site. Once the deviation is completed, the clean up and recovery of the derailment site can continue without interrupting rail services.

NTSB launches investigation into collision

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into a collision involving two Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) passenger trains in Oakland, California on 3 February 2009. Two cars derailed, approximately 300 passengers were evacuated and there were nine minor injuries reported. Robert Campbell, senior rail investigator, responded to the scene and is coordinating with the California Public Utilities Commission. 

Gauteng carnage as trains collide

More than 300 train passengers were injured in two crashes involving four trains in Gauteng on Monday 2 February. In the first collision 11 people were rushed to hospital in a serious condition after two passenger trains collided near Lenasia, south of Johannesburg; 160 others were treated for less severe injuries and shock. This was followed by a second train crash in the vicinity of Springs on the East Rand in the late afternoon that injured a further 131 commuters. This crash resulted from a head-on collision of two passenger trains. Speaking from the scene of the second accident, Ekurhuleni Emergency Medical Services spokesman Rogers Maimela said two men were in a serious condition; the rest were being treated for shock.