GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

Rail Safety Act 2008 commences

The Rail Safety Act 2008 commenced on 1 January 2009. It replaces the Rail Safety Act 2002 and implements the National Model Rail Safety legislation in NSW. The Rail Safety (General) Regulation 2008, Rail Safety (Drug and Alcohol Testing) Regulation 2008 and Rail Safety (Offences) Regulation 2008 will replace the 2003 Regulations. Transitional arrangements apply for some requirements.

QR allocates $10M for immediate start to work on priority level crossings

QR will target priority level crossings in North Queensland with $10 million approved to start work immediately on implementing improvements identified by a joint QR Task Force involving train drivers and rail unions. QR will also step up its community education and public awareness campaigns about the need for motorists to be vigilant when using level crossings. Transport Minister John Mickel said the urgent funding allocation and expanded community education campaigns would put greater focus on the on-going issue of level crossing safety. “This is not just a rail safety issue. It is also a road safety issue,” Mr Mickel said.  “There is a greater collective effort required by road and rail authorities together with local councils, and importantly with road users, to reduce the risk of future accidents,” he said.

$1M for Illawarra rail corridor

Minister for Transport David Campbell announced on 2 January 2009 a $1 million contract for maintenance projects over the next year along the Illawarra rail corridor.  Mr Campbell said the maintenance will take place between Como and Bomaderry, including the Cronulla and Port Kembla branches.  “This investment to upgrade the rail corridor on the Illawarra and South Coast lines will help improve safety and reliability on the CityRail network,” Mr Campbell said.

INDUSTRY

Record coal haul highlights upgrade of Hunter Valley rail network

Records continue to tumble as investment in the Hunter Valley Coal rail network continues. Australian Rail Track Corporation announced on 21 December 2008 that latest figures show a record haul of coal was delivered to port on the previous weekend. A total of 328,000 tonnes of coal were delivered to port over a 24 hour period shattering the old record of 314,000 tonnes.  The announcement of the record haul follows closely on the heals of the Federal Government’s announcement of investment totalling $1 billion in the Hunter Valley Coal rail network. This will increase export coal capacity from 97 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to 200 mtpa in 2012. The investment will also see the creation of over 500 new jobs, peaking at 650 in 2010.

ORR begins the legal process to implement its determination of Network Rail's funding from 2009-14

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has issued the review notices which start the legal process to implement its determination of Network Rail’s outputs and funding for 2009-14, which takes effect from 1 April 2009. The review notices make the necessary changes to the access agreements for all passenger and freight train operators, and users of stations. The changes to the access agreements along with the deeds of grant between Network Rail and  government will allow Network Rail to recover the income necessary to fund the required improvements to safety, performance and capacity it will make during 2009-14.

ACCIDENTS

North Queensland level crossing accident

QR has again appealed to motorists to be vigilant at level crossings following a fatal collision on 2 January 2009 between the Sunlander passenger train and a truck at Innisfail in North Queensland. The truck driver died in the accident at 11.20am and five passengers and a QR staff member on the train were injured and taken to Innisfail Hospital for treatment.