GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

Molong overpass construction underway

Construction of a new rail overpass at Molong on the Mitchell Highway is now underway. Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Transport Minister David Campbell said the new $5.6 million overpass, with its wider lanes and shoulders as well as dedicated left turn lane at the Wellington Street intersection, will improve safety, particularly for truck drivers. "The new overpass will replace the existing bridge which was built in 1938 and is far too narrow and inadequate for today's larger, heavier trucks," said Mr Albanese. The new overpass is expected to open to traffic in February 2010.

Weemelah line services to resume

Minister for Transport David Campbell announced that services would soon resume on the Weemelah – Camurra rail line. The Weemelah line, was suspended on 1 September 2009. “Rail services will resume once maintenance work is carried out to ensure there are no safety issues.” Mr Campbell said. “It’s expected that all works will be completed by February 2010, however, the NSW Government will investigate whether sections of the line can open earlier.”

New era for public transport information

Passengers will benefit from the next generation of transport information services as the NSW Government signs a new contract for Transport Info 131500, Minister for Transport David Campbell said. Mr Campbell announced that NSW Transport and Infrastructure had signed a five-year contract starting 1 July 2010 with international services company, Serco Australia. Mr Campbell said the new contract will provide NSW residents with easier access to better information, and will bring about improvements in transport integration and customer service. “The NSW Government is committed to providing fast, frequent, reliable and integrated public transport to the people of NSW,” Mr Campbell said.

Good start for new train and bus timetables

NSW Minister for Transport David Campbell welcomed a good start for the first morning peak period under new train and bus timetables. Mr Campbell said while it was still early going, he was pleased with the 99.6% On Time Running for CityRail services in the AM peak period. “The new timetable has started positively and I would like to thank CityRail staff and our State Transit and private bus workers, and ask them to keep up the good work,” Mr Campbell said.

Department of Transport release 2008-09 Annual Report

The Victorian Department of Transport tabled its 2008-09 Annual Report in Parliament on 15 October.

INDUSTRY

V/Line 2008-09 Annual Report released

V/Line submitted its 2008-09 Annual Report to Parliament on 15 October. The report confirms V/Line train use was up 9.5% to 12 million passenger trips in 2008-09. Coach patronage also grew 17.6% to 1.12 million passenger trips. During the past financial year, VLocity train carriage numbers increased 17.5%, with 14 new carriages taking to the tracks to boost capacity on 65 services each weekday, with a total 4940 extra seats. V/Line CEO Rob Barnett said the report showed a major shift in the way country Victorians travel, with train travel once again an integral part of the regional economy.

ARA fortnightly update

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

• Emergency management planning guideline
• RISSB code of practice for defining rail safety work
• Climate Change adaptation for the rail sector

AAR reports rail traffic continues to reflect down economy

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported that for the week ended 3 October 2009, rail traffic continues to reflect the down economy – originating 277,734 carloads, down 17.2% compared with the same week in 2008. All of the 19 carload freight commodity groups were down from the same week last year, with declines ranging from 2.7% for chemicals to 53.2% for metallic ores. Intermodal traffic of 206,293 trailers or containers on US Railroads was down 15.7% from the same week last year. Container volume fell 10% and trailer volume dropped 37%.

Travellers choosing high-speed trains over planes

With the advent of high-speed trains, rail travel in Europe has become so popular that some intercity flight routes are being cancelled. Now about 90% of people travel by Eurostar between London and Paris, and there's no longer any flights on the Paris-Brussels route.

No more excuses for level crossing misuse

As Network Rail begins its autumn Don’t Run the Risk level crossing awareness campaign, it reveals the ten worst excuses given to its staff, and calls on motorists and pedestrians to stop passing the buck or telling tales and start obeying the rules at level crossings to prevent further injury or loss of life. Between January and August this year, around three motorists a week narrowly avoided a potentially fatal collision with a train. Nine others have not been so lucky, with their vehicles smashing into trains. Seven people lost their lives at level crossings during this time. Tragically five more people have lost their lives in September, bringing the year’s total so far to 12.

ACCIDENTS

Coroner to investigate level crossing deaths

A Victorian coroner said she will hold three inquests into level crossing deaths in the state. Twenty-nine people have died in collisions between trains and vehicles in Victoria between 2002 and 2009 including 11 who died in the Kerang level crossing accident in 2007. A directions hearing into the deaths has been held in the County Court. Coroner Jane Hendtlass told family members and legal representatives that she plans to hold three inquests in total. One will focus on the death of Kate Stanley two years ago, another on the Kerang collision and a third concentrating on the driver’s familiarity of their routes.

Driver killed in derailment

The driver was killed and three other people were injured on 8 October 2009 when a train derailed at the station in Lezama in northern Spain, the Basque regional government said. The accident occurred when a commuter train hit the buffer at the station, crushing the front of the first car. One of the injured people is listed in a critical condition, another person is in a serious condition and a third person sustained only minor injuries, state-owned Euskotren said in a statement.

One dead, 50 injured in Bihar accident

A passenger was killed and at least 50 injured when the Amritsar-Katihar Amarpali Express train derailed in Bihar, police said. The engine and seven bogies of the train derailed late on 7 October 2009 between the Pasraha and Gauchari railway stations near Naugachia. Railway sources said the accident happened after the track caved in following incessant rain for 24 hours.