GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

TDC Information Sheets

On 12 June 2008 the Ministry of Transport announced the release of six new Transport Data Centre (TDC) information sheets including:

• Travel Zone Population Forecasts
• Travel Zone Employment Forecasts
• Strategic Travel Model
• Household Travel Survey
• Glossary of HTS Terms and Concepts
• Commercial Transport Study.

New campaign to keep ‘Graffidiots’ away from public transport

On 9 June 2008 the Western Australian Premier Alan Carpenter launched a campaign emphasising the anti-social aspects and serious consequences of graffiti vandalism. Mr Carpenter said the campaign, which uses posters and decals on board buses and trains, encourages people to report graffiti vandalism to a hotline. Transit officers and the Police Rail Unit will also start targeted blitzes at key hotspots on the public transport network.

Government responds to IPART discussion paper

On 6 June 2008 Deputy Premier and Minister for Transport John Watkins welcomed suggestions in an Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) discussion paper to improve RailCorp’s efficiency but said he would not accept any recommendations that reduced customer service. IPART released the discussion paper as part of its review of CityRail’s regulatory framework and fares. It noted that over the last few years CityRail’s costs have increased by more than the rate of inflation and taxpayers have contributed proportionately more to fund these rising costs than CityRail passengers. IPART Chairman Dr Michael Keating said that while fares will have to rise, any increase should be seen to be justified.

Government calls for public submissions on Pilbara rail access

On 10 June 2008 the State Government issued a call for public submissions on a draft third party haulage regime for railways in the Pilbara. Treasurer Eric Ripper said the release of both an issues paper and the draft regime followed extensive deliberation and consultation by the Pilbara Rail Access Interdepartmental Committee (PRAIC). Mr Ripper said the feedback would help the Government determine its final position on the regime.

Rail Safety Occurrence Data

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released an update to Australian Rail Safety Occurrence Data January 2001 – December 2007 published in May this year. The ATSB was notified by the South Australian Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure that the data originally published for South Australian running line collision with road vehicle incidents prior to 2005 included collisions with trams while running on roadways. These incidents have been removed from Table 13 in the amended version of the report.

FRA's proposed 2007 Rail Safety Bill

On 5 June 2008 the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released to the House and Senate the FRA Rail Safety Bill(H.R. 1516 and S. 918) "Federal Rail Safety Accountability and Improvement Act ". Follow the above link for the entire Legislative package.

ORR international best practice studies

On 4 June 2008 the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) launched a new International best practice studies page on its website. The page details the program of international fact-finding visits conducted during the summer and autumn of 2007 to railway administrations in Europe, North America and Australia. The study tour is part of the 2008 Periodic Review which will determine the regulated outputs and access charges for the five year control period (CP4) between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2014.

INDUSTRY

Network Rail fights for more funding

On 5 June 2008 Network Rail responded to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) draft conclusions on the funding of the railway by warning that the settlement puts at risk much need improvements for passengers and freight users. Iain Coucher, Chief Executive, said: “Demand for more and better rail services continues to grow. It is vitally important that we get the right level of funding to meet passenger and freight user needs, so that we can deliver the railway that this country needs into the next decade".

AAR urges Congress to consider Amtrak Bill

On 10 June 2008 Edward Hamberger, President and Chief Executive Officer Association of American Railroads (AAR), released a public statement to the House of Representatives urging them to support  the “Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008”. The Bill would authorise capital grants to help Amtrak bring the Northeast Corridor to a state-of-good-repair, procure new rolling stock, rehabilitate existing bridges, and make additional capital improvements and maintenance over its entire network. It would also provide congestion grants to Amtrak and the States for high-priority rail corridors in order to reduce congestion and facilitate ridership growth.

Train punctuality is at its highest ever

On 6 June 2008 Network Rail announced train punctuality had reached an all time high in a year of improvement on Britain's railways. Record levels of train punctuality coupled with record levels of investment and further cost cutting were the hallmarks of the past 12 months.

ACCIDENTS

Woman hit by tram in Victoria Square, Adelaide

On 10 June 2008 it was reported that a woman had suffered suspected spinal injuries after being hit by a tram and dragged underneath. Police said the woman was struck while standing at a pedestrian crossing. Acting Sergeant Ernie Zosens said the driver had sounded the horn, but the woman was unable to move out of the way and was hit, then dragged about eight metres under the tram.

Woman dies after car and train collide

On 11 June 2008 it was reported that a woman had died after her car and a train crashed in north Queensland on 10 June.

Three injured in railway accident

On 11 June 2008 it was reported that three workers were injured while carrying out repairs to power cables on a railway line in Essex. Network Rail said they were taken to hospital after the accident occurred. A British Transport Police spokesman said the three men fell up to 20 feet from an elevated platform, “which appears to have failed”.

NTSB release findings on rail-crossing accident

On 10 June 2008 the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the probable cause of an accident that occurred at a highway-railroad grade crossing in Elmwood Park, Illinois was a combination of factors including the intersection angle, the heavy holiday traffic and the complex street and rail pattern and related signal interactions at the intersection.