GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

18 trains ordered for metro system

The Victorian Government has ordered 18 new six-carriage Xtrapolis trains from Alstom for Melbourne’s metropolitan rail network, Minister for Public Transport Lynne Kosky announced. Ms Kosky said the awarding of the tender was an important step in the Government’s commitment to improve public transport services through investment in new infrastructure. “In a staged roll-out from late 2009, we will see 18 new trains come into service on the metropolitan rail network,” Ms Kosky said.

PN agreement to continue

Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure, Jim Cox, has met with freight rail operator Pacific National (PN) in Hobart to discuss the company’s Tasmanian operations. Mr Cox said PN indicated it had not made any decision regarding intermodal freight in Tasmania. “There is currently a national review of PN’s operations, and the company is also waiting on a KPMG report into its Tasmanian business to be completed,” Mr Cox said. “The company said it would be taking these into consideration before making any decision relating to Tasmania.” Mr Cox noted that the existing agreement with PN would continue.

Perth to Mandurah railway line opens

Western Australia’s new $1.32 billion, 72 kilometre Perth-to-Mandurah Railway service is officially operating. Premier Alan Carpenter and Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan joined 1,500 people to make the historic inaugural journey from the new Perth Underground station to Mandurah. The Premier said the $1.32 billion Perth-to-Mandurah Railway was the jewel in the crown of the State Government’s $1.66 billion new MetroRail project, the biggest-ever public infrastructure undertaking in WA.

Freight network review

Minister for Public Transport Lynne Kosky has confirmed the Government’s commitment to delivering a sustainable rail freight network for Victoria. Ms Kosky released the report of the Rail Freight Network Review, led by the Hon Tim Fischer, which is titled ‘Switchpoint – the template for rail freight to revive and thrive!’ “The Brumby (Victorian) Government is committed to a sustainable rail freight network for Victoria, giving the agricultural sector choice on how they get produce to market,” Ms Kosky said. In an immediate response to Mr Fischer’s report, Ms Kosky announced the Government’s decision to increase subsidies for grain shipments.

Investigation into engineering over-run

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has given details of its urgent investigation into Network Rail’s management of engineering projects. ORR’s investigation will focus on:

• the New Year over-running engineering works and its impact on train operators, passengers and freight customers;
• the robustness of Network Rail’s plans for the work to enhance the West Coast Main line, scheduled to be completed by December 2008; and
• Network Rail’s approach to planning and managing major projects on the railways.

ORR Chairman Chris Bolt said: “Passengers were badly let down by Network Rail’s handling of its Christmas and New Year engineering program. Now we, as their regulator, must look into how those failings came about, and decide what action needs to be taken to prevent similar problems happening again.”

GOVERNMENT CONTINUED

Blitz on Citytrain fare evaders

Queensland Rail (QR) Citytrain passengers who try to catch a free ride on the network will be hit with $150 penalty notices as QR cracks down on fare evaders. The blitz comes after a Translink survey conducted in November last year revealed fare evaders were costing the system around $10 million a year. Minister for Transport John Mickel said passengers should ensure they had enough time and spare change to buy a valid ticket before boarding trains. “Failing to buy a ticket is theft,” Mr Mickel said. “A majority of people do the right thing but a small percentage evade fares and this ultimately prevents more services being offered.”

FRA announces $3 million RRIF loan

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has announced the Columbia Basin Railroad Company (CBRC) will receive a $3 million loan under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) program. The CBRC will use the loan funds to purchase 73 miles of track it currently leases from the BNSF Railway between Connell and Moses Lake in eastern Washington State. The line acquisition is expected to increase efficiency and lower costs, allowing the CBRC to upgrade its track to handle heavier carloads.

INDUSTRY

Services resume after floods

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has advised that freight rail services through flood affected northern New South Wales resumed on 8 January 2008 and that XPT passenger services resumed the following day. ARTC Chief Executive David Marchant said the floods had caused considerable damage to the rail lines, especially around Kyogle. “We had washaways and track movement in several locations as well as a large amount of debris over the line,” Mr Marchant said. “But a tremendous effort by our work crews resulted in the main Sydney-Brisbane line being operational about a day ahead of when we expected.”

ARTC welcomes Greiner appointment

The Hunter Valley rail track provider, the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), has welcomed Nick Greiner’s appointment as independent facilitator for the Hunter Valley coal chain. David Marchant, ARTC’s Chief Executive Officer, was happy with the appointment. “If Mr Greiner brings transparency and fairness to the logistic determinations of the coal chain, and his public and private sector experience shows he can, then he will assist in breaking log jams and extracting greater efficiencies all through the Hunter Valley, from mine head to bulk carrier.”

ACCIDENTS

New charges over rail smash

Police have charged the truck driver involved in last year's Kerang rail disaster with 10 new counts of culpable driving, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Chris Scholl, 48, of Wangaratta, had been charged with one count of culpable driving in the aftermath of the disaster, in which his semi-trailer and a V/Line passenger train collided on a level crossing near Kerang in northern Victoria on 5 June 2007. A Victorian Police spokeswoman said this week that the major collisions investigation unit had decided to charge Mr Scholl with another 10 culpable driving charges.