GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

Comment invited on drug testing proposals

ITSRR is inviting comment on a discussion paper which examines proposals to amend the Rail Safety (Drug and Alcohol Testing) Regulation 2008 to:

• provide for oral fluid (saliva) testing to detect the presence of certain drugs; and
• introduce offences for the presence of certain drugs.

In addition, the discussion paper examines a proposal to require on-site urine drug screening to comply with AS/NZS 4308:2008, Procedures for specimen collection and the detection and quantitation of drugs of abuse in urine. The discussion paper can be viewed on ITSRR’s website.

Central-West transport study complete

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese has released a study into the transport needs of the Central West of NSW. As part of finalising this comprehensive study, the independent consultant that undertook the work met with local representatives and held a number of workshops to give the community a chance to have their say. The Government will now give serious consideration to the findings of this study, particularly those measures that could improve the movement of freight within and through this important part of NSW.

Move towards national transport markets

Australia’s Transport Ministers have recommended that the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agree on a transition to single national regulators covering rail safety, maritime safety and heavy vehicles, and a national rail safety investigator for rail accidents. National Transport Commission (NTC) Chief Executive Nick Dimopoulos welcomed the decision by Transport Ministers. “This is an important and historic step toward ATC’s (Australian Transport Council) goal of a genuine national market in transport,” Mr Dimopoulos said. “As Australia’s transport task grows, a more streamlined regulatory system will deliver long-term safety and productivity gains.” NTC has worked closely with all governments, industry and unions to develop the proposal for a single national rail safety regulator and investigator.

Rozelle Metro station moved

There has been another important development in the construction of the CBD Metro, with the NSW Government announcing the preferred location of the Rozelle Metro station. Transport Minister David Campbell said changes to the station access points and construction site had taken place after considering the views of the local community, as well as engineering and transport impacts. “Sydney Metro will work with the Balmain Tigers Leagues Club to finalise an agreement allowing temporary use of the club’s construction site to build the Rozelle underground station,” Mr Campbell said.

North-South repairs get underway

The Minister for Infrastructure Graeme Sturges said the State Government and Pacific National had agreed to a program of works required to re-open the North-South rail line. Mr Sturges said as part of the co-operative effort between the State Government and Pacific National, representatives of his Department and the company had undertaken a track inspection resulting in an agreed program of works to repair the track to enable train operations to re-commence. “It is expected that the works program will take between three to five weeks subject to factors such as weather,” Mr Sturges said. “The magnitude of this task should not be under-estimated. The works program will include the relaying of over 1000 lengths of rail and significant re-sleepering.” 

Ministry of Transport Director General resigns

Minister for Transport David Campbell has announced that Director General of the Ministry of Transport, Jim Glasson, is resigning from his position effective Friday 29 May 2009. Mr Campbell said Mr Glasson had served in the role for more than three years and was resigning to take up an opportunity in the private sector. “Mr Glasson has been a dedicated contributor to public transport improvements during his time at the Ministry,” Mr Campbell said. “I am professionally and personally saddened by his resignation but recognise that all government departments can benefit from renewal and the Ministry of Transport is no exception.”

INDUSTRY

Passing loop upgrade at Johns River

Improvements to the Melbourne-Sydney-Brisbane rail corridor continue to gather steam with the upgrade of a major passing loop by Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) at Johns River between Taree and Kempsey on the NSW North Coast. The upgrade of the new passing loop was brought forward thanks to joint funding between ARTC and the Australian Government as part of its $1.2 billion Nation Building package injected in December 2008. Specifically, construction of the loop involved a new turnout configuration, new signaling and significant track alterations.

Campaign to highlight rail safety message

Rail safety is the theme of a newly wrapped tram now running on Melbourne’s tracks. Yarra Trams, in partnership with V/Line, Fulton Hogan, Coleman Rail, GHD, Transfield Services, Public Transport Safety Victoria (PTSV) and the Australasian Railway Association, is running the safety branded tram in support of National Rail Safety Week 2009. Safety around railways is the highest priority for the industry. On average, 37 road users die nationally per year as a result of level crossing collisions, the vast majority of which could have been avoided if road users obeyed the road rules. The messages on the wrapped tram encourage drivers and pedestrians to act with care and avoid distractions near light and heavy rail.

ARA Fortnightly Update

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has released its latest fortnightly update. This issue includes:

• Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board update
• Great interest in Senate Urban Passenger Transport Inquiry
• Council of Australian Government (COAG) Rail Supplier Task Force.

Punctuality reaches all time high

Over 1.2 billion passengers last year (April 2008 to March 2009) enjoyed the best train punctuality ever recorded on Britain's railways as 90.6% of train services arrived on time. This was the highest since records began almost 20 years ago (1992). Back in 2002, when Network Rail took control of Britain's Rail infrastructure, train performance was languishing at record low levels (78.6%). Working closely with train operators, accompanied by high levels of investment and attention to detail, train punctuality has been pushed up every year and for the first time ever has reached and exceeded the 90% mark over a year.

Call for National Freight Program

The Freight Stakeholders Coalition, a longstanding group of the United States’ largest shippers and public and private transportation providers, has released the 2009 Surface Transportation Reauthorisation Platform. The Coalition’s 17-member organisations represent America’s diverse freight community and believe it is vital for the Federal government to provide a strong leadership role during the upcoming surface transportation reauthorisation process. Cornerstones of the stakeholders’ ten-point platform are the promotion of freight mobility under a comprehensive national freight program and adequate infrastructure investment for projects of regional and national significance to accommodate the doubling of cargo that is forecast to take place over the next 20 years.

ACCIDENTS

Broken boomgates cause delays

A motorist who crashed into boomgates at a level crossing in Queensland caused widespread delays for train commuters on 21 May 2009 and put lives at risk, QR warned. QR Network General Manager South East Queensland, Robert Moffat, said the incident happened at 7.10am at the Todds Road level crossing at Lawnton. “Fortunately no-one was hurt but thousands of passengers on the Caboolture and Nambour lines were delayed for up to 30 minutes,” Mr Moffat said. “The impatience of some motorists is mind-boggling. Despite our education campaigns and widespread publicity about recent fatalities in level crossing incidents, people just don’t seem to get it.”