GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

Northcote crossing upgrade completed

Acting Minister for Public Transport Justin Madden has announced the completion of a $365,000 upgrade to a rail pedestrian crossing at Northcote, significantly improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists and people in wheelchairs. Mr Madden said the Victoria Road crossing had been upgraded to boost its safety features as part of the Victorian Government’s commitment to improve safety at level crossings across Victoria. “This pedestrian crossing previously had a crib arrangement with signage, without active gates or audible warning,” Mr Madden said. “It now features full-height active pedestrian gates triggered by the approach of a train, audible warning and improved pavement surfaces, signage and fencing.”

INDUSTRY

ARA welcomes Switchpoint Report

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has welcomed the release of ‘Switchpoint – The template for rail freight to revive and thrive’. The rail industry, through the ARA, supports the recommendations contained in the report of the Victorian Rail Freight Network Review, led by the Hon Tim Fischer. “We are encouraged to see that the Victorian Government is taking sustainability seriously and very pleased that it has responded positively and quickly with the increased rail transport rebate for grain shipments,” Bryan Nye, Chief Executive Officer of the ARA said.

Wild weather hits train performance

December’s wild weather which produced extremes of lightning strikes, flooded railway tracks, downed power lines and debris damage followed by successive 40-plus degree days caused Connex’s performance to dip below the compensation threshold of 92%. December figures show 98.2% of Connex’s scheduled 52,500 trains ran and 91.6% of the trains that ran were on time. This is the first time since July 2007 punctuality has been below 92%. If less than 92% of trains run within five minutes of scheduled timed for any reason, Connex will compensate its customers who hold a monthly, six-monthly or yearly Metcard.

INDUSTRY CONTINUED

ARA fortnightly update

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has released its first fortnightly update for 2008. Articles in this fortnight’s edition include:

• The ARA welcomes the release of the Switchpoint Report
• Intelligent transport systems to improve level crossing safety
• Will the renaissance of rail be constrained by skill shortages?
• Understanding Rail Course
• Upcoming events.

Railroad Ten-Year Trends published by AAR

The 24th annual edition of Railroad Ten-Year Trends is now available from the Association of American Railroads (AAR). This edition presents data for the years 1997 through 2006. Railroad Ten-Year Trends provides tables and graphs which present an economic overview of the U.S. freight railroad industry, including Class 1 industry performance, traffic, financial statistics, employment, plant and equipment, and operations. In addition, the publication includes selected information on regional and local railroads as well as the websites of more than 250 Canadian, Mexican and U.S. railroads. It also lists all U.S. freight railroads and offers profiles of rail-related organisations.

UIC welcomes new container test train

The International Union of Railways (UIC) has welcomed the official launch of a new container test train linking Beijing, China, to Hamburg in Germany. The test train - which was launched by Hartmut Mehdorn, President of the Board of Deutsche Bahn - started operation on 9 January and is currently on its way from China passing through Mongolia, the Transsiberian route (Russia), Belarus, and Poland before arriving in Germany. The 10,000 kilometre journey should take less than 20 days. This new rail freight service linking Asia and Europe is a demonstration of the strategies developed by UIC to fully participate in the current and future growth of world trade and become a reliable and efficient partner in the global transport and logistic chain.