GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

Training to improve maintenance at depots

Minister for Transport David Campbell visited Sydney’s biggest rail maintenance depot where workers will this month begin special training to fix rail carriages more quickly and efficiently. Last October Premier Nathan Rees committed the NSW Government to reforming the delivery of rail maintenance services. “The Flemington maintenance depot will be the first where workers will learn to multi-skill and meet repair turn around times in line with private-sector standards,” Mr Campbell said.

Contract awarded for communications system

A $152 million contract has been awarded for the new Metropolitan Train Safety Communications System Project, helping Melbourne’s rail network to be safer and more reliable. Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said work would now start to replace the existing metropolitan train radio system with new technology which will allow transfer of voice and data. “The Brumby (Victorian) Government is taking action to boost safety across the metropolitan rail network and this new system offers greater communication and accessibility to help deal with any incidents on the network,” Ms Kosky said. “It will operate alongside the network’s train control centre to provide improved information about train location and condition, resulting in better safety management and more reliable passenger information.”

Glenfield Transport Interchange public exhibition

Minister for Transport David Campbell has invited feedback from the community on the proposed Glenfield Transport Interchange. Mr Campbell said the interchange forms part of NSW Government planning to increase reliability on the CityRail network and provide for anticipated population growth in Sydney’s South West. “It will provide a modern, safe and accessible station, increased commuter car parking spaces and interchange facilities for rail commuters,” Mr Campbell said. “The project’s planning approval documents are now on public display and I encourage people to have a look.”

Rail investment helping the economy

Minister for Infrastructure Graeme Sturges announced that the millions of dollars being invested by the State Government to upgrade Tasmania’s rail infrastructure was also helping the local economy. Mr Sturges said the Government had spent $6.26 million on rail maintenance activities to date. “These works are underpinning employment in regional Tasmania during a time of global economic uncertainty,” Mr Sturges said. “This investment is ensuring that contractors’ order books stay full and they can provide valuable employment to Tasmanians.” In addition to the State Government’s ongoing investment, $20.77 million of Australian Government funds has been spent on capital works projects.

Thirlmere heritage centre upgrade

NSW Minister for Transport David Campbell turned the first sod to mark the start of an $8.6 million upgrade to the Rail Heritage Centre at Thirlmere. Mr Campbell was attending the Thirlmere Festival of Steam and said he expected the upgrade would lead to the Centre becoming a major tourist drawcard for the region. “The upgraded centre will ultimately offer a highly attractive environment for interactive exhibitions, steam train rides and for the telling of the story of the NSW railways,” Mr Campbell said.

Swanston Street safety improved

A $280,000 upgrade to the level crossing at Swanston Street, South Geelong, has been completed, improving safety for local motorists. Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the crossing had been upgraded to boost its safety features as part of the Government’s commitment to improve safety at level crossings across Victoria.

ORR decision on track access applications

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has announced its decision on applications for track access rights for passenger services on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). Following its proposed decision on 29 January 2009 and subsequent consultation, ORR has now decided on the applications for track access rights on the ECML – either to extend the period for which existing rights are in place, or for rights to run additional services. Michael Lee, ORR’s director of access, planning and performance, said the decision will lead to improved services at locations which are currently poorly served and will result in more frequent services to others.

INDUSTRY

PTSV report: Connex complied with plans

Connex announced it will be making major improvements and upgrades to the way it manages emergency situations at major events despite the Public Transport Safety Victoria (PTSV) report into the Oaks Day incident showing the rail operator had met agreed safety standards and procedures. While the PTSV report shows Connex complied to agreed safety procedures and standards, the magnitude of the incident meant planning and preparation needed to go further. “The PTSV report shows there was a series of events that led to the major disruption to services on the Northern Group and to Flemington special services on Oaks Day last year,” Connex Executive Chairman Jonathan Metcalfe said. “We said at the time this was a highly unusual event with a unique set of circumstances and should be considered extremely unlikely to ever be replicated.” 

Upgrade measures for priority crossings

QR has released the second report of its Level Crossing Taskforce which details additional safety protection measures for eight priority locations in North Queensland. The QR Level Crossing Taskforce, established to urgently assess level crossings in North Queensland, worked with local groups to determine further safety measures at each of the crossings. The local working groups, which included local authorities and other key stakeholders, discussed upgrade work that could be carried out at each crossing as part of a $10 million funding package. Tony Lucas, QR’s North Queensland representative, said QR valued the input and expertise of rail, road and police authorities and unions as well as local councils whose communities use these crossings every day.

KiwiRail to spend big on new trains

The New Zealand Government’s announcement of funding for new locomotives for the rail freight network and Tranz Scenic carriages is recognition of the important role rail plays in the New Zealand economy, the Chairman of KiwiRail Jim Bolger said. The Government announced funding of $115 million for 20 new locomotives and 17 passenger carriages for KiwiRail’s Tranz Scenic Fleet. "The Government’s decision is timely and welcome," Mr Bolger said. "The new locomotives will enable us to make considerable efficiency gains on key freight routes such as Auckland-Tauranga-Murupara and on the ‘Coal Route’ between the West Coast coal mines and the Port of Lyttelton.”

ACCIDENTS

Derailment near Manton Dam

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released a Transport Safety Report into the derailment of train 3DM4 on Tuesday 22 April 2008, approximately 58 kilometres south of Darwin near Manton Dam in the Northern Territory. There were no injuries as a result of the derailment but there was minor damage to the track and rolling stock. The investigation found that the draft key on the leading end of the 31st wagon had dislodged from the coupler shank, which allowed the coupler to withdraw and fall onto the track.  

Railroad union objects to cameras

Railroad union officials being questioned about last year’s deadly commuter-rail crash in California told a federal panel that they objected to having surveillance cameras facing inside the cab to monitor engineers and other crew members inside locomotives. The officials said they could accept outward-facing cameras - which, for example, would monitor the track - but that inward-facing cameras could violate the privacy of crew members. Instead, they suggested having a second person in the cab. Metrolink, the California commuter agency involved in the crash, plans to install inward-facing cameras as a way to try to prevent behavior that led to the accident, like the engineer’s use of his cell phone. The officials spoke during the second day of hearings of the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington.