GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

ITSRR launches heritage operator page

On 23 June 2008 ITSRR launched a new webpage specifically for accredited heritage railway operators in NSW. This page is designed to provide these operators with easy access to key information resources available across ITSRR's website including legislation, relevant information alerts and educational material.

Appointment of Infrastructure Coordinator

On 22 June 2008 Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, announced the appointment of Michael Deegan as the inaugural Infrastructure Coordinator. The Infrastructure Coordinator is charged with overseeing the day-to-day operations of Infrastructure Australia and working closely with its 12 inaugural members. Minister Albanese said Mr Deegan will bring to the job a wealth of experience across infrastructure sectors from both the public and private domain.

ORR chairman calls for new long-term vision and plans

On 19 June 2008 the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) chairman Chris Bolt called on the rail industry to think radically about how it can meet growth in demand and increased customer expectations. In a keynote address to the Institute of Economic Affairs’ conference on The Future of Rail, Mr Bolt set out his vision of how the rail industry would develop over the course of the next control period (2009-14) and beyond.

INDUSTRY

Rio Tinto to go driverless

On 16 June 2008 Rio Tinto announced driverless trains will be operating on Rio Tinto's Pilbara heavy haul iron ore railway in Western Australia within five years. Automatic operation is firmly established in the metro sector, but the Pilbara project will be the first time it has been used on a heavy haul railway of this scale. There are 320 train journeys on the company's Pilbara network in a typical week, with a train movement along the line every 25 minutes and an average train cycle time of 33 hours.

Pacific National commences sale of Tasmanian rail operations

On 19 June 2008 a spokesperson for Asciano (the parent company of Pacific National) announced that Pacific National had commenced the sale of its Tasmanian operations as a going concern. Pacific National will continue to work with the Tasmanian government and potential buyers to ensure the long-term viability of rail in the State.

INDUSTRY CONTINUED

Safety DVD launch

On 19 June 2008 the British Transport Police launched a 10-minute educational DVD highlighting the dangers of trespassing on the railways. The educational DVD was made by Track-Off, a national railway safety campaign aimed at educating people about the dangers and consequences of railway crime, in collaboration with British Transport Police and the Kenyon family.

UIC proposes intermodal growth agenda

On 20 June 2008 the International Union of Railways (UIC) published Agenda 2015 for Combined Transport in Europe, the concluding report of the Diomis study launched in January 2006 to investigate ways of growing intermodal services. The study puts forward strategies and recommendations for railways, infrastructure managers, the European Commission, transport ministries and other bodies which would favour the development of intermodal transport in the context of saturated terminals and infrastructure.

ACCIDENTS

Train driver 'prevented worse accident'

On 21 June 2008 NSW Police reportedly praised the driver of a Sydney train involved in a fatal car crash for preventing a disaster by warning another commuter train travelling in the opposite direction to stop. A man died when his car left the Princes Highway, crashed through a fence and hit the Sydney-bound train between Waterfall and Heathcote stations in Sydney's south shortly before 6pm on Friday 20 June 2008.

Police arrest youths over railway obstruction

On 20 June 2008 the British Transport Police announced they had arrested two youths in connection with a railway obstruction near Farncombe railway station earlier in the month. The two youths were arrested following an investigation into the incident on 7 June in which rope and metal were suspended from the public footbridge on Summers Road. Police said the material, believed to be a cricket net with poles, was struck by the 2315 Waterloo to Portsmouth service, which was carrying 100 passengers at the time. The material was then dragged under the train, causing extensive damage to the train and the track.

Nine killed in Turkey as train hits bus

On 23 june 2008 it was reported that nine people had been killed and three injured in Turkey when a freight train slammed into a minibus on a level crossing. The accident occurred overnight near the town of Nurdagi in the southeastern Gaziantep province when the bus driver tried to cross over the tracks despite closed barriers, flashing lights and a warning bell, according to a statement from state-run railways TCDD.