GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

Design complete for Sydney’s new train

RailCorp and Reliance Rail have jointly announced that the final contractual design milestone on the NSW rolling stock Public Private Partnership (PPP) project has been achieved. Reliance Rail Chief Executive Officer Terry Kearney said Sydney’s next generation trains would be progressively available for commuter services from late 2010. RailCorp Chief Executive Officer Rob Mason said RailCorp was ready to place the new trains into passenger service as soon as they were available.

Investment in Tasmania's rail infrastructure

The Federal Government has finalised details of its $195 million investment in Tasmania's rail infrastructure following the decision by Asciano to cease its rail operations by 30 November 2009. Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, and Tasmanian Infrastructure Minister, Graeme Sturges, said that their governments have agreed to a program of capital works to support hundreds of local jobs and help restore the viability of the State's rail network.

Gold Coast Rapid Transit project

Work will start on the Gold Coast Rapid Transit system within weeks creating thousands of jobs, Premier Anna Bligh announced. Ms Bligh joined Federal Minister Justine Elliot and Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke to sign the agreement to jointly fund the Gold Coast Rapid Transit project, with the State Government committing $464 million. Ms Bligh said the government had approved the Business Case for the 13 kilometre project from Griffith University to Broadbeach, including Southport and Surfers Paradise, meaning work could now get underway.

Transport regulations to be streamlined

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed on 2 July 2009 to historic microeconomic reforms that will streamline the regulations applying to the nation's $46 billion transport sector. COAG has endorsed the creation of a national rail safety regulatory system and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) becoming the preferred investigator of rail accidents. Currently Australia has seven rail safety regulators, three rail safety investigators and different rules in every state. Transitional arrangements will come into effect in 2011, and it is proposed that all reforms will be fully implemented by 2013.

NTSB releases 2008 Annual Report

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its annual report to Congress on 1 July 2009, providing a summary of accident investigations and safety recommendations in the past calendar year. The 2008 report includes several new sections, including a review of agency accomplishments in the areas of international outreach, information technology, and planning and performance.

Benalla to Oaklands line upgrade on track

Around half of the 60 kilometre freight line between Benalla and Oaklands has been upgraded to standard gauge and is on track to be completed by the end of the year. Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the $16.5 million upgrade of the line would see the line converted to standard gauge and involve a sleeper replacement program.

New CityRail timetable available online

The new CityRail timetable due to be introduced on 11 October 2009 is now available to be viewed online at the Transport Info website. Transport Minister David Campbell said the new timetable would integrate the Epping to Chatswood Rail Link into the broader rail network, allowing CityRail to run additional services to benefit customers, with the new timetable designed to address crowding issues in the short term.

Maldon-Dombarton feasibility study

The Federal Government has committed a further $3 million to move to the next stage of assessing the feasibility of a rail line between Maldon and Port Kembla via Dombarton. The further $3 million commitment will fund detailed planning and engineering work needed to obtain firm costings and determine the viability of this project.

INDUSTRY

ARA Fortnightly Update

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has released its latest fortnightly update. This issue includes:

• Yellow Tie Dinner Competition
• ARA Melbourne Dinner
• Understanding Rail 2009

New report on the failure of Metronet

In July 2007, Metronet BCV and Metronet SSL, two companies set up to modernise London Underground’s infrastructure, went into administration when they became unable to meet their spending obligations. Their failure resulted in London Underground Limited having to buy 95% of Metronet’s outstanding debt obligations from its private sector lenders in February 2008. The main cause of Metronet’s failure was its poor corporate governance and leadership. This report focuses on the failure of Metronet and the ability of the various public sector bodies to manage risk within the PPP framework. It concludes that at the heart of Metronet’s fate lie problems of internal governance.

ACCIDENTS

First suits filed for DC Metro crash

On 8 July 2009, it was reported that three civil claims were filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C. relating to the 22 June Metro crash on the Red Line. The complaints accuse the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority of gross negligence after safety recommendations by the National Transportation Safety Board were ignored, according to families of those who died.

Report into Ffestiniog Railway derailment

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) released a report on 9 July into the derailment of a passenger train on the Ffestiniog Railway which occurred on 3 May 2008. The Ffestiniog Railway ‘Victorian’ train of heritage coaches was derailed as it ran through Gysgfa, between Rhiw Goch and Tan-y-Bwlch on the Ffestiniog Railway. Two of the five coaches which made up the train were derailed. The RAIB investigation identified that the immediate cause of the accident was that track components had failed and allowed the wheels of the train to fall between the rails. The RAIB has made five recommendations aimed at the Festiniog Railway Company, relating to its track inspection and maintenance procedures and to change control processes for its standing instructions.

NTSB statement on Disney monorail crash

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has reported that a Walt Disney World monorail train backed into another monorail train, near the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) monorail station on Sunday 5 July 2009. The operator of one of the trains was fatally injured. The operator of the other train sustained minor injuries. There are indications that the operator sustaining minor injuries had brought their train to a stop and had attempted to put the train in reverse prior to the collision.

JR West president charged with negligence

Public prosecutors have charged the president of West Japan Railway Co. (JR West) with professional negligence in connection with a disaster on the JR Fukuchiyama Line in 2005 that claimed 107 lives. The Kobe District Public Prosecutors Office indicted without arrest Masao Yamazaki, 66, on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in death and injury in connection with the 2005 derailment accident in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture.