GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

Drug & Alcohol testing officer authorisations issued under 2003 regulation expire soon

The Independent Transport Safety and Reliability Regulator (ITSRR) has reminded accredited rail transport operators to ensure their testing officers are issued with a certificate of authorisation under clause 4 of the Rail Safety (Drug and Alcohol Testing) Regulation 2008 before 1 January 2010. This certificate is separate from the written training statement issued to testing officers after they have completed their training. Testing officers do not need to be retrained, as the changes in the 2008 Regulation are not significant in terms of the legal powers of testing officers. However, testing officers should be aware of the changes in the 2008 Regulation and training courses should be updated in line with these changes. For more information, please contact Cathy Dowe, Policy Officer, on (02) 8263 7142.

Independent survey highlights CityRail improvements

Minister for Transport David Campbell welcomed the latest independent report card on CityRail’s performance, which showed customer satisfaction had improved in key aspects of service. Mr Campbell said the survey, conducted by the Independent Transport Safety and Reliability Regulator (ITSRR), showed clear and steady improvement compared with 2008 results. “The 2009 survey shows customers have the highest level of satisfaction with CityRail services since the ITSRR surveys began 6 years ago,” Mr Campbell said.

New passing loop at Mindaribba completed

The modernisation of the Brisbane-Sydney-Melbourne rail corridor continues unabated with the opening of a new passing loop at Mindaribba, between Maitland and Dungog in NSW, three months ahead of schedule. The $13.6 million project replaced an obsolete 700-metre passing loop with a new one able to cater for trains of up to 1,500-metres long. The Mindaribba loop project included new track, two new turnouts with entry speeds of 50kph, an overbridge and the installation of the latest signalling technology. This upgrade will enable trains to pass each other more safely and efficiently. Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) CEO David Marchant said the new passing loop at Mindaribba complements the other recently constructed loops at Dungog, Nana Glen, Tamrookum and Greenbank.

Sydney Metro's future operator is shortlisted

NSW Minister for Transport David Campbell has announced that two bids have been shortlisted, in the process to determine who will operate the Sydney Metro stage 1, Central to Rozelle. Mr Campbell said the two bids, made up of major national and international companies, will now compete to supply the trains, track, station fit-out, operation and maintenance for Australia’s first metro system. The shortlisted bids are Kujika and Met One. “The contract will be awarded to the successful consortium in late 2010,” Mr Campbell said.

Digital train radio system for metropolitan network

The State Government has allocated funding from the Victorian Transport Plan to install a Digital Train Radio System for Melbourne's metropolitan network. The new state-of-the-art technology will replace an ageing system to allow for more reliable train services. The updated system has enhanced voice and data capabilities to improve communication between train drivers and the central control unit. The additional data capacity of the new system will allow more immediate train notifications to passengers.

Work progresses on Springvale road rail crossing upgrade

Work is progressing on the $140 million Springvale Road Rail Crossing Separation Project, with the foundation concrete now being poured for the new Nunawading Station. Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, and Member for Deakin, Mike Symon, were onsite to oversee the concrete pour. Mr Symon said the project is expected to benefit local businesses through reduced traffic congestion and improved arrangements for pedestrians, car parking and buses. "Road safety will be greatly improved by this project and facilities for train passengers will also be enhanced with a new railway station to be built on the west side of Springvale Road, replacing the existing Nunawading Station on the east side.”

Green vision for transport in Brisbane’s West

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan released a long-term sustainable transport vision for western Brisbane's transport network. Minister Nolan said the Western Brisbane Transport Network Strategy would form a planning blueprint for all levels of government in creating an integrated transport network of rail, bus, road, freight, walking and cycling over the next 20 years. “Sustainable forms of transport such as public and active transport feature heavily in the strategy but the plan also seeks efficiencies in the infrastructure we already have for environmental and economic reasons,” Ms Nolan said. “If transport corridors like these had been part of transport and town planning 20 or 30 years ago, we wouldn’t now be resuming properties to build busways and we’d have billions of dollars of extra funding for services.” Ms Nolan said there were four key components to the strategy: rail, bus priority, active transport choices and a future north-south motorway.

Transportation fatalities fall in 2008

Transportation fatalities in the United States decreased by almost 10 percent in 2008 from 2007, according to preliminary figures released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). This marks the third consecutive year of decreasing transportation fatalities. The data indicate that total transportation fatalities in all modes fell by almost 4,000 from 43,384 in 2007 to 39,397 in 2008. Along with a significant reduction in highway fatalities, rail and pipeline deaths also decreased but fatalities in the aviation and marine modes ticked up slightly. Rail fatalities fell slightly from 794 to 777. The vast majority of these fatalities were persons struck by a rail vehicle.

INDUSTRY

ARA fortnightly update

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

• Disability policy update
• Passenger operators good practice initiative
• AusRail interview - David Marchant
• Rail communication spectrum.

RTSA publishes September newsletters

The Railway Technical Society of Australasia (RTSA) has released the latest edition of the NSW, South Australia and Rail Horizons newsletters.

ARA to strengthen advocacy and policy development activities

After six years of operation in Canberra, the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) Executive has conducted a review of the function and structure of the organisation. PriceWaterhouse Coopers were commissioned in April 2009 to undertake a review which canvassed a wide cross-section of ARA members to obtain their views as to the effectiveness of the organisation and value of current activities. As a result of the review it has been decided that the ARA will strengthen its advocacy and policy development activities. It will continue to be the single voice of the industry tackling the most pressing issues relevant to various sections of the industry and lobbying all levels of Government to drive reform in the best interests of the total rail industry.

AAR reports rail traffic remains down year over year

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported 282,341 carloads for the week ending 19 September 2009, down 9.6% compared with the same week in 2008. While the weekly year-over-year percentage decline was better than for the previous week ending 12 September 2009, down 19.8%, this week in 2008 was impacted by service disruptions associated with Hurricane Ike. Regionally, carloadings were down 4.8% in the West and 15.8% in the East. Intermodal traffic of 205,137 trailers or containers on US Railroads was down 12.4% from the same week last year. Container volume fell 6.29% and trailer volume dropped 35.5%.

NSC unveils experimental electric locomotive

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) has unveiled the latest in alternative energy locomotive technology at its Juniata Locomotive Shop in Altoona. NS 999 is a prototype 1,500-horsepower switching locomotive that relies solely on rechargeable batteries for power. "At Norfolk Southern we strongly subscribe to the view that sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint are solid business objectives that also provide enormous benefits to the communities we serve," said CEO Wick Moorman. "By utilising regenerated kinetic energy of the train and with no diesel exhaust emissions, NS 999 achieves those goals. This prototype locomotive was developed by Norfolk Southern, with the help of an incredibly creative partnership, including the US Department of Energy, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Pennsylvania State University, for which we are grateful."

Increased investment in rail offers significant environmental and economic benefits

The OneRail Coalition has sent a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patty Murray urging increased support for railroad investment in HR 3288, the FY2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill. OneRail noted that freight and passenger rail infrastructure improvements offer significant environmental, energy and mobility benefits, and will create good jobs for American workers particularly in states which have experienced losses in other sectors.

Network Rail commits £250m to reduce passenger disruption

Network Rail announced AmeyColas as its preferred bidder for a new contract to operate and maintain its fleet of high-tech, high-output track renewal systems. Over the next few years, Network Rail is increasingly moving towards carrying out more work at night, reducing disruption and making the network more available for passengers. Through modern machinery and efficient automation methods, Network Rail’s high-output systems can replace between 400-600 metres of track and ballast within eight hours, significantly reducing costs and disruption to passengers and freight users.

ACCIDENTS

RAIB releases annual report for 2008

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has released its annual report which covers the operational period of 2008. During the period covered by the report, the RAIB published 27 investigation reports and three bulletins. This total includes one report into an investigation opened in 2006; 21 reports into investigations opened in 2007 and five reports into investigations opened in 2008. In total, these reports contained 181 recommendations.