GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

Proposed stations and corridor revealed for West Metro

The NSW Government has revealed 11 proposed stations and a corridor alignment for the first extension of the Sydney Metro - the West Metro between Westmead, Parramatta and the city. Minister for Transport David Campbell announced on 30 June that a joint NSW and Australian Government funded feasibility study into the West Metro had resulted in plans being drawn up for proposed stations and a corridor linking the CBD to Parramatta.

Blackwood Station upgrade begins

Work is underway on a $4 million upgrade of the Blackwood Railway Station as the South Australian Government’s public transport revolution continues. Transport Minister Patrick Conlon said the work is part of the Belair line renewal, which is nearly complete with five kilometres of new track now in place. “The upgrade of Blackwood Station will complement the vastly improved, reliable and comfortable service we are delivering for hills rail commuters,” he said. Preliminary works are currently underway, with the station upgrade anticipated to be complete by late 2009.

New policy to drive common safety standards

Australia's Transport Ministers have unanimously voted to approve a policy and process for regulators to recognise industry-developed rail safety standards as ‘good practice’. The agreed mechanism will improve the take-up of national standards across the rail sector. Common standards reduce costs where freight moves between different rail operations in the supply chain. Previously, the rail industry had to ‘prove’ their standards were robust on a case-by-case basis.

WestNet Rail agrees to recommence services

Transport Minister Simon O’Brien said he was pleased to announce that the West Australian Government and WestNet Rail had agreed on a way forward to guarantee grain rail operations would be available on all lines for the 2009-10 year, including on the four lines previously withdrawn from service. Mr O’Brien said that as a result of discussions with WestNet Rail, an agreement was reached that would see the newly established Strategic Grain Network Committee (SGNC) take a leading role in examining and providing advice and recommendations on the future of the State’s grain rail network and the Government’s possible investment in it.

INDUSTRY

Network Rail publishes it’s Annual Report

Network Rail published its annual report on 26 June 2009, for the year 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009. The report reflects on a year in which the company delivered record levels of investment, strong financial performance with healthy profits reinvested in the railway and train punctuality at a new all time high. Commenting on the report, Chief Executive Iain Coucher said: "Network Rail has had a good year meeting or exceeding almost all its targets and those set by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).”

Signaling equipment installation a first for Saudi Arabia

Siemens Mobility has announced that the rail link between Dammam and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia has been equipped with the latest signaling and communications technology. The 449-km-long section of the line reserved for passenger service has been equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS) and marks the first-ever use of this technology in the Arabic world.

‘Would it kill you to wait?’ awareness campaign

Network Rail’s dedicated community safety team held a series of ‘Don’t Run the Risk’ awareness events on 25 June 2009 at Britain’s most misused level crossings in support of a European level crossing day of action. The team handed out leaflets that spelt out the chilling truth that taking a chance at a level crossing might be the last thing you do, and pose the question: ‘would it kill you to wait?’

ACCIDENTS

ATSB report into Stewart derailment

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released a rail safety investigation report into a train derailment near Stewart on 17 August 2007. The investigation found that the derailment occurred when a piece of rail containing a large, previously undetected vertical split head defect, disintegrated under train 6413. A rail insert that had recently been used to replace a section of defective rail found during a routine track inspection probably contained the defect. Thirty one wagons in total were derailed and 25 of those wagons were seriously damaged. There were no injuries. The track sustained significant damage and was closed for 4 days. As a result of the investigation, the ATSB identified a number of safety issues concerning train operations, record keeping and rail replacement practices.

Three killed in collision in China

At least three people were killed and 60 injured when two passenger trains collided on Monday 29 June in central China, state media reported. One of the trains crashed into two nearby houses, causing them to collapse. The accident happened at the railway station in Chenzhou city, Hunan province. A task force by the ministry and the Guangzhou Railway Group has been established to investigate the cause of the accident.

ATSB report into Katherine derailment

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released its final report into a train derailment near Katherine on 4 November 2008. The investigation found that a freight train operated by FreightLink derailed about six kilometres west of Katherine in the Northern Territory as a result of a track misalignment. Six wagons derailed and sustained minor damage and about 1,300 metres of track was destroyed. There were no injuries. Following the derailment, the track owner is undertaking actions to mitigate the risks of derailments occurring as a result of track misalignments.

Investigation into collision in Washington

The National Transportation Safety BoardIn is continuing its investigation into the 22 June 2009 accident involving two Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) trains on the Red Line in Washington. Investigators have been conducting nightly tests of the train control system at the accident site. Test progress was delayed by some water in underground access areas that made it unsafe for technicians to work on electrical cables until the water could be pumped out. The components being tested include track impedence bonds, wayside cables, and train control system circuitry for the track segment between the Fort Totten and Takoma stations.