GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

Epping to Chatswood integration moves a step closer

The process of integrating the Epping to Chatswood Rail Link (ECRL) is about to take another step forward, with trains to begin trial runs from Central to Hornsby through the underground link, Minister for Transport David Campbell said on July 18. Mr Campbell said the $2.3 billion link, which is currently running as a shuttle, will be integrated into the rest of the network with the introduction of the new CityRail timetable on Sunday October 11.

New campaign to reduce level crossing accidents

The Brumby Labor Government launched a new level crossing safety campaign on July 17 which reminds motorists and pedestrians that there are some things in life worth waiting for. Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the new advertisements were the latest installment in the Victorian Government’s ‘Don’t Risk It!’ level crossing safety campaign which highlights the dangers if motorists disobey road rules at crossings. Ms Kosky said the advertisements would appear on television, radio and online media from July 19 and formed part of National Rail Safety Week.

More trains arrive on time than ever before

Premier Nathan Rees said on July 19 that record on-time-running results had been achieved on the CityRail network for the past financial year. The release of the official figures show during 2008/09, on-time-running averaged 95.4 per cent – against a benchmark of 92 per cent. “These are the best results in 10 years with every CityRail line improving on-time-running,” Mr Rees said.

Network Rail fined £70,000 after train derails on poorly maintained level crossing

Network Rail was fined £70,000 on July 16 and ordered to pay costs of £25,000 for failing to ensure the safety of train passengers, train crew and road users by inadequately maintaining a level crossing. Network Rail pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced July 16 at Norwich Crown Court. The prosecution brought by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) followed an incident on September 12, 2006 at Croxton level crossing near Thetford, Norfolk.

FRA issues NPRM on technology to prevent train collisions

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo announced proposed rules designed to prevent train collisions through the use of Positive Train Control (PTC) on July 16. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) prescribes how railroads must use Positive Train Control systems to prevent train-to-train collisions. PTC technology is capable of automatically controlling train speeds and movements should a locomotive engineer fail to take appropriate action. For example, such technology can force a train to stop before it passes a red signal, thereby averting a potential collision. Other benefits of PTC systems include prevention of over-speed derailments and misaligned switches, as well as unauthorized incursions by a train into work zones.

Member Kathryn Higgins to leave NTSB

National Transportation Safety Board Member Kathryn Higgins submitted to President Obama on July 20, her resignation from the Board effective August 3. In her letter to the President, Higgins said, “I have loved the chance to work with incredibly dedicated public servants who are passionate about the challenge of making our highways, airlines, railroads, and waterways safe for everyone.” Higgins said she is leaving the Board to pursue opportunities in the private sector.

INDUSTRY

Construction on Minimbah Bank Third Rail Project moves into full swing

Construction work has progressed on a critical rail upgrade project to improve reliability and capacity of the Hunter Valley Rail Network to Newcastle, spearheaded by Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC). The Australian Government's $1.2 billion National Building package includes a contribution towards the $134 million first stage of the project, known as the Minimbah Bank Third Rail Line. This project involves the construction of approximately 10 kilometres of third rail track from Minimbah, west of Belford to Whittingham. ARTC CEO David Marchant said the construction work for Stage 1 is expected to be completed by early 2010. "This is a vitally important project as part of the Federal Government's national building package to meet the forecasted increase in demand for export and domestic coal in the Hunter Valley."

RTSA NSW July newsletter released

The Railway Technical Society of Australasia (RTSA) has released its latest monthly update for the NSW chapter. This issue includes:

• RTSA Dinner
• Point of View
• Video Competition: RTSA Tube 2009
• Push polling toward the metro?
• Traxx – The Euro look
• Sydney’s monorail and light rail.

National Rail Safety Week - Australia and New Zealand - 24-31 July 2009

Established in 2006, National Rail Safety Week (NRSW) is an Australasian Railway Association (ARA) initiative aimed at increasing community awareness about rail safety and improving behaviour at and around railways. The theme for 2009 is ‘All Level Crossing Collisions Are Avoidable’. The expected outcomes of the week are:

• To raise awareness in both metropolitan and rural areas of safe road user behaviour at level crossings
• To emphasise the impact that level crossing accidents have on train drivers and rail operators
• To encourage widespread understanding of actions being taken by the rail industry to address the issue.

Citizen journalists on prowl for train and bus operators asleep at wheel

Several high-profile public transportation accidents and a lack of a national, regional or local surveillance system to monitor the operators of the nation’s public transportation have prompted a flood of citizen journalists to try to capture operators asleep at the wheel or texting. A National Safety and Transportation Board spokesman confirmed there are no national, regional or local systems in place to monitor the operators of the nation’s public transportation.

ACCIDENTS

NTSB investigating light rail accident in San Francisco

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has begun an investigation into the July 18 transit system accident in San Francisco that injured more than 40 people. On Saturday July 18, a San Francisco Municipal light rail vehicle struck the rear of another light rail vehicle at the West Portal Station. Two Los Angeles-based investigators from the NTSB Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigations are responding to the scene.

Report released into an accident at Grosvenor Bridge, near London Victoria

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) released its report on July 22, into an accident at Grosvenor Bridge, near London Victoria, on November 13, 2007. A track worker engaged in a planned track inspection was struck by a passing train on Grosvenor Bridge south of London Victoria station. He suffered serious injuries. The RAIB investigation identified that the immediate cause of the accident was that the track worker moved away from a line under lookout protection and toward an adjacent line on which a train was approaching.

Black box shows car reached 68 mph before train collision

In the township of Canton, Detroit, a Ford Fusion was traveling 68 miles per hour before a 19-year-old driver hit the brakes just before an Amtrak train collided with the vehicle, killing all five of the vehicle's occupants earlier this month, data recovered from the vehicle shows. The Canton Police Department obtained access to the vehicle's black box on July 16 and called in a consulting firm to interpret its data, which includes driving speed and whether the brakes were engaged.