GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY

Sydney Metro Network Stage 1 - Preliminary Environmental Assessment

Sydney Metro has released the Environmental Assessment (EA) for Sydney Metro Stage 1, Central to Rozelle. The full assessment evaluates the potential environmental impacts of the project, seeking planning approval, and engaging in community consultation. It identifies measures to minimise impacts and enhance the benefits of the project. The EA is being exhibited until 12 October 2009.

Melbourne Metro tunnel shows future of transport

Soil and engineering testing works on the Melbourne Metro project could start before the end of the year with the Premier John Brumby revealing concept designs of stations and opportunities for urban renewal. Mr Brumby said Stage 1 of the Melbourne Metro project, at a cost of more than $4.5 billion, would add capacity for thousands more passengers on the suburban rail network and shape the future growth of the CBD and inner Melbourne. Construction on Melbourne Metro is expected to start in 2012.

New rail bridge one step closer at Brooklyn Sunshine Triangle

The modernisation of the interstate rail network continues with the lowering of a 100 tonne steel girder across Sunshine Road, as part of the new Brooklyn Sunshine Triangle bridge. Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, congratulated the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) for moving forward so quickly with vital rail upgrades across the country. The new bridge will provide a seamless connection between Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane, eliminating the need to shunt trains around within Tottenham Yard which can add an hour to transport time, in addition to congesting the network.

Gold Coast surveyors to plot Rapid route

Gold Coast residents will see the first signs of construction on the much-anticipated Gold Coast Rapid Transit project, with survey works underway along the 13km corridor. Minister for Transport Rachel Nolan said that surveyors from two Gold Coast companies had begun mapping sections of the corridor in Southport, paving the way for the start of design and construction work. “The start of survey activities along the rapid transit corridor signals the beginning of the delivery of this vital project and the associated benefits for the Gold Coast economy,” Ms Nolan said. The Gold Coast Rapid Transit project is scheduled to commence operations in early 2014.

Rail sale agreement finalised

The State Government and Pacific National have successfully concluded a business sale agreement for the purchase of Pacific National’s Tasmanian rail business. Subject to approval from State Parliament, from 1 December 2009 all rail infrastructure and railway operations in Tasmania will be maintained, managed and owned by a new State-owned rail company. The agreed purchase price for the business remained at $32 million, as previously announced.

AAR reports rail traffic continues to register gains

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has reported that rail traffic continues to register incremental gains on a week-to-week basis, but remains down year over year. Rail carloadings were at their highest level since the week ended 13 December 2008. For the week ended 29 August 2009, US Railroads reported originating 285,580 cars, down 16.2% compared with the same week in 2008. Regionally, carloadings were down 16% in the West and 16.6% in the East. Intermodal traffic of 202,553 trailers or containers on US Railroads was down 15.6% from the same week last year. Container volume fell 9.4% and trailer volume dropped 38.7%.

Performance improving on the West Coast line, but enforcement action not ruled out

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has published its Network Rail monitor, outlining the company’s performance during April to July 2009. The report highlights that since Network Rail and Virgin Trains agreed a revised performance improvement plan, punctuality on the West Coast main line has got better, reaching 86.4% in July. The average punctuality for the twelve months up to July now stands at 81%. ORR is now publishing figures on the proportion of trains cancelled or running significantly late. A target has been set for the industry, and the figures will show the percentage of trains which are either cancelled or delayed longer than 30 minutes on a number of routes.

First Gulf metro system to open

The first urban train network in the Gulf opened on 9 September in Dubai. The Dubai Metro will eventually become the world's longest driverless train system with more than 70km of track. It cost almost twice the original estimate and opens at a time when Dubai is suffering from economic troubles due to the global recession. The metro's challenge will be to persuade car drivers to get on board. The train system was conceived when traffic on the eight-lane Sheikh Zayed Highway, along which much of its track now runs, was bumper to bumper, morning and evening. The government anticipates 200 million passenger journeys on the metro each year.

INDUSTRY

UK trains set new record for punctuality

August saw 94.0% of Britain's trains arrive on time. The average over the past twelve months also reached new high levels with 91.1% of trains running to time. In its regular monthly performance update, Network Rail announced that period five (26 July to 22 August) proved to be another record month. Robin Gisby, director of operations and customer service said, "Passengers expect their trains to be on time, a basic part of our service that is being delivered. Their priorities are changing but the rail industry recognise that punctuality will always be key and we will continue to work hard to deliver even higher levels of performance."

ACCIDENTS

Trackworker struck by a train at Stevenage

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has released a report into an incident involving a trackworker being struck by a train at Stevenage, on 7 December 2008. During track renewal work on the East Coast Main Line immediately north of Stevenage, the two centre fast lines were closed to traffic while the outer slow lines remained open. After darkness had fallen, a track worker, who was standing between the up fast and up slow lines while a rail was being positioned on the up fast line, came into contact with a slow moving train on the up slow line. He sustained severe bruising to his back and damage to his vertebrae. The immediate cause of the accident was that the trackworker moved out of his position of safety to a point where he came into contact with the train.

Mother watched toddler son die on level crossing

A mother watched on in horror as her two-year-old son was struck and killed by a train at a level crossing, police have said. It is unclear how the two-year-old managed to pull apart metal railing gates that prevent people from accessing the crossing. Superintendent Paul Brogden of British transport police said, "It seems the toddler made his way down the path towards the line and then got on to the crossing and was hit by a train."