GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

Implementation of nationally consistent rail safety laws

On 1 July 2008 the Independent Transport Safety and Reliability Regulator (ITSRR) released an Information Alert providing an update on the implementation of nationally consistent rail safety legislation in NSW. ITSRR has been working with the National Transport Commission (NTC), the NSW rail industry and other Australian regulators to develop and introduce nationally consistent rail safety legislation. Over the past 18 months ITSRR has consulted extensively with the rail industry, unions and peak bodies on the Draft NSW Rail Safety Bill and supporting Regulations with a view to introducing new legislation by 1 July 2008. During this period industry stakeholders have expressed concern about the formulation of the general duty within the proposed legislation. ITSRR has been working with thesestakeholders to resolve their concerns and also sought advice from the NTC. The NTC confirmed that the proposed NSW Bill and Regulations - including the formulation of the general duty - are consistent with decisions made by the Australian Transport Commission and the approved National Model Rail Safety Bill 2006. The NSW Government remains committed to introducing the legislation as soon as practicable to deliver national consistency in the regulation of rail safety. In the meantime,existing rail safety legislation continues to apply until these matters are resolved.

Tenders called for Lower Hunter transport needs study

On 30 June 2008 Chris Bowen, Acting Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, and Eric Roozendaal, NSW Minister for Roads, announced that tenders had been called for a comprehensive study into the transport needs of the Lower Hunter Region. Acting Minister Chris Bowen said the Department will work with the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) to manage the study, which will be conducted by an independent consultant. "The study will be an important step in developing strategies for transport connections between the major Lower Hunter centres of Maitland, Cessnock and Singleton and Newcastle and the F3," Mr Bowen said.

ORR Annual Report

On 26 June 2008 the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) published its annual report and railway safety statistical annual report. Follow the above link for full copies of the reports.

INDUSTRY

PN purchases land for Parkes terminal

On 1 July 2008 Asciano announced that its rail subsidiary, Pacific National (PN), had completed the purchase of 327 hectares of freehold land in the Parkes Multi Modal Transport Hub for the development of an intermodal freight terminal. The freehold land has concept plans already approved by the NSW Minister of Planning for the development of an intermodal freight terminal and container storage and warehousing. The site has sufficient land to accommodate the rail terminal and co-location of a container storage centre as well as national logistics and distribution facilities. A staged development will allow PN the flexibility to add capacity to its intermodal operations as it is needed in the future.

ARA Fortnightly Update

On 27 June 2008 the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) released its fortnightly update. In this issue:

• Development of RISSB Standard - AS7660 - Rail Network Control Radio Communications System Standard
• Review and Update of RISSB Code of Practice for the DIRN Vols 1, 2, 3 and Freight Loading Manual
• Draft Standards – Railway Rollingstock Drawgear Australian Infrastructure Standards Project
• Authoring of a RISSB Code of Practice for Rail Safety Worker Competency Assessment.

ACCIDENTS

ATSB report on Moloney Road level crossing collision

On 27 June 2008 the Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) released its final report into the collision which occurred on 13 December 2007. At the time of the accident road traffic at the crossing was controlled by 'stop' and approach warning signs. The investigation established that the truck did not come to a halt at the 'stop' sign and concluded that the truck driver's familiarity with the crossing, low expectation of encountering a train and his possible increased propensity to take risks were factors that may have led to him failing to stop at the crossing.

Derailment investigation report released

On 30 June 2008 the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) released Investigation Report 2007/003 into the derailment of Train 3MR2 near Roopena, South Australia on 22 May 2007. The derailment occurred about 28 track kilometres north of Whyalla. Twenty seven ballast wagons were derailed but there were no injuries. The investigation concluded that a number of factors combined to cause the derailment. A cross level track geometry defect caused body roll on the first wagon to derail which led to dynamic unloading of the wagon's leading, right-hand wheel. When combined with a horizontal and vertical alignment defect, wheel unloading increased further and the right-hand wheel moved into flange contact with the right-hand rail such that the risk of a flange-climb increased at the point of derailment. Non-compliant side bearer gaps, uneven load distribution and the wagon's sensitivity to spring compression length also combined to cause the front left-hand suspension springs to become fully compressed thereby increasing the amount of wheel unloading at the point of derailment.

Truck and train in fiery level crossing crash

On 2 July 2008 it was reported that a truck and a coal train collided at an unsignalled level crossing north of Proserpine in north Queensland. A fireball erupted following the collision just after 10am AEST. It took fire crews almost three hours to bring the blaze under control. The 55-year-old truck driver from Bundaberg and the 62-year-old train driver from Mackay were flown to hosptial.

East Tamar Rail Bridge Accident

On 2 July 2008 Graeme Sturges, Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure, announced that a structural engineering assessment would determine when the East Tamar Highway at the scene of a truck accident could reopen to traffic. The Minister said his Department was working as efficiently as possible to assess the situation, but the safety of the travelling public would remain paramount. Late on 1 July 2008 an excavator being transported on the back of a truck hit the northernmost rail overpass on the East Tamar Highway about 7.5 kilometres north of the Batman Highway and north of the chip mill. The road and the railway bridge (the East Arm Railway Overpass) were closed pending the engineering assessment. Contractors on site had been removing loose concrete debris which fell as the result of the accident.