GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

Transport info service contract on offer

Minister for Transport David Campbell said the NSW Government was looking to boost Public Transport Information in NSW by examining the latest website and call centre technologies. Mr Campbell said a multi-million dollar contract was being offered to operate the 131500 Transport Info service. “Getting people public transport information is the key to easy and efficient travel,” Mr Campbell said. “The 131500 Transport Info services are incredibly popular, with the website and call centre having about 25,000 contacts from passengers every day. Businesses who are interested in running this service and helping to deliver better transport information in NSW now have the opportunity to apply for the contract.”

New services for Caboolture and Ipswich lines

New morning peak hour rail services on the Ipswich and Caboolture lines starting in two weeks will cater for an extra 15,000 passengers each week. Transport Minister John Mickel said four new weekday services would start from 23 February on the two busy rail lines, providing an extra 1,800 seats and room for 1,200 standing passengers each weekday. “We are serious about tackling traffic congestion by investing in public transport and that’s why the Queensland Government is introducing two new six-carriage services to both the Caboolture and Ipswich lines,” Mr Mickel said.

Tackling congestion on the Sydney rail network

Construction work has commenced on the 36 kilometre Southern Sydney Freight Line, a project that will help clear the single largest bottleneck on the interstate rail network. The $309 million project will create 500 direct jobs and 1,500 indirect jobs. The project is being built and funded by the Commonwealth Government-owned Australian Rail Track Corporation. It is scheduled to be completed by early 2010. Currently, freight trains face frustrating delays on the Sydney network because of the priority given to passenger trains and because of limited track capacity. A dedicated freight line from Macarthur to Chullora will unclog this bottleneck by providing access to up to five freight trains per hour in the peak direction and 24-hour access to Port Botany through southern Sydney.

Illawarra stations to receive face lift

NSW Minister for Transport and Minister for the Illawarra David Campbell has announced that six Illawarra train stations will be repainted as part of a refurbishment program being rolled out across the network this month. Mr Campbell said the program will be carried out between February and June this year and will include a combination of external and internal painting. “Train stations are an important part of the CityRail network and the Rees (NSW) Government is committed to ensuring that they are clean and comfortable,” Mr Campbell said.

TransLink contingency plan for industrial action

TransLink is ready to implement a contingency plan to minimise the impact of planned industrial action affecting rail services next week, Transport Minister John Mickel announced. Mr Mickel said he remained hopeful an agreement between QR and the rail unions could be reached and that as a result rail strikes planned for next week could be averted. “At this stage, however, the advice we have received from the unions is that they are still pressing ahead with their plans for industrial action, and we have to prepare for that eventuality,” Mr Mickel said. “In the event of industrial action for 24 hours next Monday and Wednesday, trains will be cancelled across south east Queensland, placing extreme pressure on all transport services and road traffic in general.” Mr Mickel warned commuters across the TransLink network to expect lengthy delays if the rail strike occurred.

Tenders invited for Hawkesbury River Station

NSW Minister for Transport David Campbell has announced that tenders have been invited for the construction of station improvement works at Hawkesbury River Station on the Newcastle & Central Coast Line. Mr Campbell said the improvements will see increased safety, comfort and accessibility for CityRail customers. “The station improvements will make travel more convenient for all passengers,” Mr Campbell said. “Construction of the station improvement works will commence later this year and is expected to be completed in late 2009.”

go card hits quarter of a million milestone

TransLink’s go card has reached a significant milestone, with the 250,000th card being issued just a week after the go card’s first anniversary. Transport Minister John Mickel said more than 18 million trips had been taken on the TransLink network using go cards since they were introduced on 29 January last year and almost $50 million had been loaded on to cards. He said the strong numbers had been boosted by a recent go card education and awareness campaign, which has familiarised the public with the card and its benefits.

Network Rail fined £75,000

Network Rail has been fined £75,000 and ordered to pay £26,930 in costs for failing to ensure the health and safety of people working in one of its depots. Network Rail had denied the offence but were found guilty by a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court. Cabin Club Limited  (CCL) were also fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £3,559 costs after pleading guilty to four health and safety offences. The prosecution brought by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) followed an incident on 5 February 2007 at a depot in Chadwell Heath in Essex where a worker received an electric shock. Network Rail owned the depot and had contracted CCL to undertake work to install new accommodation units. The worker, an employee of CCL, received an electric shock after he cut into a buried cable with a hacksaw believing it to be a redundant oil pipe. He suffered extensive burns to his hands, forearms, face, neck, groin and chest, and has been unable to work since the incident.

INDUSTRY

Wodonga bypass work continues

Work on the Wodonga Rail Bypass continues in February with the commencement of $2.1 million in construction including five duplication bridges along the rail corridor. Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) Chief Executive Officer David Marchant announced that piling for the duplication bridges will commence this week in preparation for the laying of the bridge beds. “Construction of concrete piles is the first step in constructing the five duplication bridges as part of the bypass,” Mr Marchant said. “The base of the bridges will rest securely on these piles as the bridge proper is pieced together.” The Wodonga Rail Bypass duplication is part of the overall upgrade of the Victorian interstate rail network by ARTC as a result of the lease agreement signed during 2008.

Level crossing law breaking reaches five year high

The number of people breaking the law at level crossings in the United Kingdom is at a five year high, Network Rail has revealed. Running risks at level crossings should come with tough consequences and Network Rail is calling on judges and magistrates to stamp down hard on motorists jumping lights and dodging barriers, to act as a clear deterrent. Last year, over 55 days of delays to trains and passengers were caused by level crossing misuse, costing Network Rail around £1.8 million. Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher alerted people to the dangers. “The toughest consequence of breaking the law at a level crossing is to lose your life – thankfully that doesn’t happen very often,” Mr Coucher said. “But every week we see people who ignore warning signs and lights or drive round barriers at level crossings just to save a few minutes. This behaviour has the potential for massive damage, disruption and death.”

Warrnambool and Seymour lines under repair

Work is underway to repair the fire-damaged Warrnambool and Seymour train lines, although it is expected to be several days or more before trains return to some parts of the state. Assuming there is no worsening of fire conditions near rail lines, V/Line expects Warrnambool trains to fully return to service by Monday 16 February. The Seymour line, which was extensively damaged by bushfires on Saturday 7 February, will not see the return of any trains until Monday 16 February at the earliest.

ACCIDENTS

Three dead after Cuba train crash

Two passenger trains have crashed in Cuba, leaving three people dead and 93 others injured. Two of the injured are said to be in a critical condition after suffering fractured skulls. Investigators are now trying to establish why the trains collided as they were passing each other near Sibanicu city in Camaguey province. Analysts say Cuba's railways have suffered from a lack of investment and upkeep over the past 50 years. Adelante, the province's state-controlled newspaper, reported that the accident happened at about 0830 local time on Saturday 7 February. Several of the carriages of one of the trains left the tracks and tumbled away from the tracks. Adelante reported that the trains should have been on parallel lines at the time of the accident.

NTSB to hold hearing into collision

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold a public hearing on the 2008 collision in Chatsworth, California involving a Metrolink commuter train and a Union Pacific freight train. On 12 September 2008 Metrolink commuter train 111 and a Union Pacific freight train collided. As a result of this head-on accident there were 25 fatalities and numerous injuries. On the day of the accident the Metrolink engineer who was responsible for the operation of the train received and sent several text messages on his cell phone while he was on duty. “During the hearing, we will receive testimony, in an open forum, on safety issues related to the safe operations of trains, including the use of cell phones and the calling of train signals,” Kitty Higgins, Chairman of the Hearing said. “Witnesses will provide vital information on oversight of and compliance with the operating rules that were in place on the day of the accident.”