GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

Twelfth Waterfall Report released

The Independent Transport Safety and Reliability Regulator (ITSRR) has released its twelfth quarterly report on the implementation of the NSW Government’s response to the Special Commission of Inquiry (SCOI) into the Waterfall Accident. The total number of recommendations currently closed or claimed by agencies to be closed was 168 or 95% of all recommendations at the close of the reporting period (1 October - 31 December 2007).

Trawalla upgrades complete

Minister for Public Transport Lynne Kosky has announced the completion of $780,000 in upgrades to three level crossings at Trawalla, significantly improving safety for roads users in western Victoria. Ms Kosky said the level crossings at Black Bottom Road, Scullin Road (Ercildoune Road) and Waterloo Road, had been upgraded to boost safety features as part of the Victorian Government’s commitment to improve safety at level crossings across Victoria. The Scullin Road, Trawalla crossing, the scene of the tragic 2006 accident, now features boom barriers, flashing warning lights and audible warning bells.

Major infrastructure on track for delivery

Around $1 billion will be injected into new rail and road infrastructure in the boom western corridor of south east Queensland, Minister for Transport John Mickel announced. Mr Mickel said work included an upgrade of the Ipswich rail line between Corinda and Darra, a new rail line between Darra and Springfield and duplication of the adjacent Centenary Highway. “This is about planning for the state’s growth and building on Queensland’s future,’’ Mr Mickel said. “The project includes the first new urban rail line to be built in the past decade and forms part of the Queensland Government’s $82 billion, 20-year infrastructure plan to manage growth.”

New fast Perth-to-Bunbury train?

Western Australia Premier Alan Carpenter has announced a feasibility study into a potential new fast rail service from Perth to Bunbury. “The study will look at a modern diesel train that would use the new electrified line from Perth to Cockburn Central, then proceed down the median of the Kwinana Freeway and the new Perth-Bunbury Highway,” Mr Carpenter said. “The new and more direct route terminating in the Bunbury CBD could reduce travel time by at least a third, to about one and a half hours, based on train speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour.”

Transport Legislation Review

More than 1,200 people representing more than 140 organisations have participated in the Victorian Government’s review of laws governing Victoria’s transport system, Minister for Public Transport, Lynne Kosky and Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas, announced. Ms Kosky said the Transport Legislation Review was reviewing the current Transport Act 1983 to ensure it provided a co-ordinated framework to support and continue to implement transport improvements into the future. “It has been almost 25 years since this Act was enacted and Victoria’s transport needs are growing and changing – we need to make sure our transport legislation meets the needs and expectations of the Victorian community,” Ms Kosky said.

Loan to support link from Mandurah

The Western Australian Government will provide a $5 million loan to the City of Mandurah to support the construction of a link connecting the new Mandurah train station and the Mandurah CBD. This will enable the City of Mandurah to relocate the existing Mandurah Bowling Club, which created a dangerous dog-leg in the transport link. Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the State Government assistance would ensure the rapidly-growing Peel Region obtained maximum benefit from the new Perth-to-Mandurah Railway.

GOVERNMENT CONTINUED

Upgrade begins in Gheringhap

Track works will begin in Gheringhap this week as part of the $73 million Mildura Rail Freight Upgrade. Victorian Minister for Public Transport, Lynne Kosky, and Anthony Albanese, the Commonwealth Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and Local Government, said the first stage of track works had already been completed in Mildura and the second stage of works would involve track works between Gheringhap and Ballarat. The upgrade is a joint project of the Victorian and Federal governments, with $53 million from the Victorian Government and $20 million from the Commonwealth AusLink program. Mr Albanese said the works will allow freight trains to run at speeds up to 80 kilometres per hour, reducing travel times between Gheringhap and Mildura from 14 hours to less than 10.

New requirements to improve train safety

Commuter and intercity passenger rail equipment will be safer under a new federal rule that ensures improved emergency window exit availability, specifies additional emergency rescue features and requires two-way communication systems, announced Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Boardman. “These safety features will help rail passengers evacuate from a train more quickly and provide emergency responders additional ways to reach trapped or injured riders should the need arise,” Mr Boardman said. Mr Boardman explained that the new regulations issued by the Federal Railroad Administration mandate that passenger rail cars be equipped with two-way communication systems that better help train crews inform and instruct passengers during emergency situations and allow passengers to report potential safety or security problems to them. 

INDUSTRY

Train security boosted

Connex has boosted security on train services in a major change to the way it patrols and polices the network. Since 3 February 2008 Intelligence Based Tasking has seen Authorised Officers targeting trouble hotspots on the network that have been identified through long-term analysis of police and Connex data in partnership with Transit Police. Connex Group General Manager Customer Services Geoff Young announced the change. "Connex is moving forward on safety and security and using these authorised officers in a strategic deployment that is a smarter way to get to where we're needed," Mr Young said.

Safety report and Strategic Safety Plan published

The Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB) has published a report summarising the safety performance of the rail industry for 2007, and the industry’s strategic safety plan for 2008-10. The report indicates that industry safety performance has generally been maintained and in some areas improved. However, there was one passenger killed in a train accident at the beginning of the year (the first for over two years). The strategic plan shows industry trajectories for the key areas of risk and gives an industry wide perspective of initiatives being taken by train operators and Network Rail.

ACCIDENTS

North West rail line reopens

The North Western NSW rail line between Werris Creek and Gunnedah, Narrabri and Moree has reopened following a coal train derailment on 29 January 2008. Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) crews worked to remove damaged coal wagons and rebuild the line at Breeza. A total of 19 wagons from a Pacific National coal train travelling from Boggabri to Newcastle derailed. The accident extensively damaged about 250 metres of track and a culvert as well as the loaded coal wagons.