GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

Plans for Pyrmont's CBD Metro station

Sydney’s first metro project continues to take shape with preferred locations for the Pyrmont Metro station, its access points and construction sites finalised, following a period of community consultation. NSW Transport Minister David Campbell announced some changes had been made to reflect community concerns in relation to Union Square in Pyrmont. “The location for Pyrmont Metro station has been finalised representing another significant step forward for the CBD Metro project,” Mr Campbell said.

Preserving Broadmeadow roundhouse

Minister for Transport David Campbell said Broadmeadow’s historic rail roundhouse would undergo a major refurbishment to preserve its heritage value and create jobs for local apprentices. Mr Campbell said the 60-year-old building and main turntable would receive a $2 million makeover under tenders awarded to NSW firms Degnan Constructions and Forgacs Engineering.

Additional off peak trains for Werribee line

Daytime trains on the Werribee line will double in frequency under a new timetable to be introduced in July by the Victorian Government and rail operator Connex. Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the Werribee line would benefit from 225 new weekly services as part of 290 new and extended weekly services to be introduced on the metropolitan rail network from Monday 20 July 2009. “These new services will be a huge improvement for those who use the Werribee line during the day, as well as for people who choose to come home from the city after the evening peak,” Ms Kosky said.

Rail workers start interim employment

Minister for Infrastructure Graeme Sturges said the first rail workers from Pacific National Tasmania had begun interim employment offered by the State Government while repairs are made to the North-South rail line. Mr Sturges said that Pacific National had provided 17 workers in response to the State Government’s offer. “The State Government is pleased its rescue package for workers potentially left without employment due to the temporary closure of the line has been taken up,” Mr Sturges said.

Minister announces new CityRail timetable

Minister for Transport David Campbell has revealed the implementation date for the new CityRail timetable, which will integrate the Epping to Chatswood Rail Link and introduce additional services from Sydney’s west. Mr Campbell said the 2009 Timetable would be introduced on Sunday 11 October after an extensive public awareness campaign to ensure everybody is across the changes. “The timetable will integrate the $2.3 billion Epping to Chatswood Rail Link into the broader rail network, allowing CityRail to run additional services to benefit customers and off-set crowding issues,” Mr Campbell said.

First level crossing upgrades completed

Sixteen of the 59 level crossing upgrades funded in Victoria under the Federal Government's Economic Stimulus Package have now been completed. In just three months boom gates and flashing lights have been installed at sixteen high-risk level crossings across Victoria, with a further four projects likely to be completed by the end of the month.

Heart-starters to save lives on network

Premier Nathan Rees has announced that the NSW Government will invest over $900,000 to rollout 100 life saving defibrillators across CityRail’s busiest stations. Mr Rees said research shows that the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest improve dramatically when Automated External Defibrillators can be used quickly. “Defibrillators are common on commercial aircraft and in airports but this is the first major rollout by a public transport operator in Australia,” Mr Rees said. “More than 100 of the devices are being rolled out to the busiest points on the rail network and include the latest technology in emergency cardiac treatment.”

Future of high-speed rail

Vice President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood have challenged governors to think boldly when designing high-speed rail plans during a discussion at the White House. The session was a unique opportunity for state leaders to share their ideas with the Obama Administration about the future of high-speed trains in America. In April, President Obama released a strategic plan outlining his vision for high-speed rail. The plan identifies $13 billion in federal funds - $8 billion in the Recovery Act and $5 billion requested in the President’s budget - to jump-start a potential world-class passenger rail system and sets the direction of transportation policy for the future.

Mixed results for industry

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has published its national rail review, looking back over the past five years, and Network Rail monitor covering performance over the past year. Bill Emery, ORR Chief Executive said Network Rail’s performance over the past year was mixed. “While it has met many of its regulatory targets, it has missed others,” Mr Emery said. “Most notably it has failed to make the efficiency savings expected of it over the five year period to April 2009, and has fallen short of the levels of performance passengers and the industry expect on the West Coast Main line.”

INDUSTRY

Major infrastructure upgrade

RailCorp will invest $8.6 million over two weeks as part of its extensive track reconstruction program on the Newcastle & Central Coast Line. Over five kilometres of track between Morisset and Wyong will be replaced from Monday 1 June to Friday 12 June 2009. RailCorp spokesperson Marianne McCabe said the work includes replacing timber sleepers with concrete sleepers, installing new rails, renewing the overhead wiring and track adjustments, as well as a general clean up of the area.

New V/Line timetable to start in July

V/Line will introduce a new regional train timetable on most lines from Sunday 19 July to coincide with the new metropolitan Connex schedule. The new timetable will operate on the Bendigo, Echuca, Swan Hill, Geelong, Warrnambool, Bairnsdale, Traralgon, Seymour and Shepparton lines. V/Line General Manager Ursula McGinnes said the majority of services remain unaffected.

GrainCorp welcomes broadacre decision

GrainCorp has confirmed that it has reached an agreement with the NSW Government for the ownership and management of the NSW branch line (‘broad acre’) trains. This agreement will commence immediately. The arrangement between the NSW Government and GrainCorp involves the transfer at no cost of eighteen 48 Class locomotives and 180 wagons to GrainCorp. These trains will be used to consolidate grain from silos on the branch lines into Werris Creek, Parkes, Temora and Junee sub-terminals, for transfer to main line trains to the Newcastle and Port Kembla port terminals.

Time savings revealed on rail line

Freight rail between Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne is set to benefit from the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s (ARTC) $2.4 billion upgrade of the North South line with the release of the new ‘first stage’ timetable for the North Coast. ARTC Chief Executive Officer David Marchant explained that the new timetable is the first stage of three timetable updates thanks to the significant upgrade of the North South rail corridor. “The new ‘first stage’ timetable released by ARTC shows that Section Run Times on the North Coast have been reduced based on modelling including both the ‘Up’ and ‘Down’ directions,” Mr Marchant said.

Passing loop upgrades in Boggabri

Australian Rail Track Corporation’s (ARTC) commitment to upgrading the coal lines out of the Gunnedah basin continues with the extension of a passing loop at Boggabri. The loop has been extended to allow 1350 metre trains to stand while a train travelling in the opposite direction passes at regular speed. The overall effect will be to reduce transit time and therefore increase capacity on the line.

Network Rail’s long-term strategy launched

Network Rail has launched a network-wide route utilisation strategy (RUS) on scenarios and long-distance forecasts. The strategy will enable effective planning, facilitate efficient short-to-medium-term investment decisions as well as help to develop an efficient and environmentally-friendly railway for future generations. The plan looks at how long-term demand for passenger and freight services across the network could be affected by a range of different scenarios.

Locomotives for Russian Railways

Siemens, Russian Railways (RZD) and OJSC Sinara Transport Machines - a Russian manufacturer of freight locomotives - have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the manufacture and supply of modern electric locomotives. Siemens and Sinara are to build around 100 double locomotives a year for RZD, starting in 2010. The MoU was agreed to by the CEO of the Siemens Mobility Division, the President of RZD and the President of the Sinara Group at the Strategic Partnership 1520 Forum.

Network Rail announces annual results

Network Rail has unveiled its preliminary results for the year to 31 March 2009, 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. Unveiling the results, Chief Executive Iain Coucher said: "Network Rail has delivered a good set of results meeting or exceeding almost all its targets and those set by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).”

ACCIDENTS

Derailment and loss of life near Lillooet

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released its report (R06V0136) into the Canadian National freight train runaway and derailment near Lillooet, British Columbia, on 29 June 2006. In the Lillooet investigation, the TSB learned that no risk assessment was done before removing locomotives with dynamic braking from this extreme mountain territory. In this and other investigations, the Board learned that risk assessments required by Canadian National's safety management system (SMS) are not always being performed.