26 Sep 2025
RISSB Connect Edition 88, September 2025
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Edition 88, September 2025 
A message from Alan Fedda | CEO Next month, RISSB will mark World Standards Day with a joint MasterClass webinar with the NTC, focused on our role in the three-tier National Rail Standards Framework. This will be an important conversation about the future of rail harmonisation in Australia – why it matters, the challenges to adoption, and how RISSB is working with industry and government to make interoperability a reality. I strongly encourage you to take part in this discussion on 14 October, as it offers the industry a chance to learn about the standards and frameworks that will guide us into the future. Our recent visit to Western Australia reinforced the importance of staying connected with our members and seeing, first-hand, how standards can be applied in practice, and how our work helps strengthen both safety outcomes and industry confidence. We are also progressing significant work in shaping the new RISSB. Our focus has been on establishing a new standards prioritisation framework for harmonised standards as well as commencing the redesign of our standards development process. These initiatives will underpin the quality of our future standards and drive increased adoption. I look forward to sharing the details of this work as we progress. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our work to date. Industry engagement and expertise help make our standards practical and effective, and I look forward to continuing this journey together as the new RISSB takes shape. As always, feel free to reach out to me at info@rissb.com.au. 
Building closer ties with WA rail industryRISSB CEO Alan Fedda and our executives visited Western Australia last month, meeting with members, attending the ARA Perth Dinner, and touring Alstrom’s Bellevue Railcar Manufacturing Facility and PTA’s new operations centre for the MetroNet project. The visit reinforced RISSB’s strong commitment to supporting our members and the rail industry in WA. The rail industry supports WA’s economy moving bulk commodities to market and to ports for global exports, connects regional communities, and supports jobs, investment, and long-term economic growth. 
Celebrating Safety ExcellencePilbara Rail Maintenance (PRM) has been named winner of the Safety Excellence Award at the recent Rail Industry Awards. Supported by RISSB, this award recognises organisations that demonstrate outstanding innovation and leadership in rail safety. 
Strengthening standards through site visit insightsAt RISSB, site visits play a vital role in developing rail standards that are practical and effective. Seeing operations firsthand allows our Standards Development Managers to better understand real-world conditions, bridging the gap between technical requirements and the realities of day-to-day rail operations. PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTAS 7520.1 Body Structural Requirements - Part 1 LocomotiveUpdated to capture learnings from the Wallan incident, this standard aims to influence future designs of locomotives and locomotive power cars by:
For more information about the standard, email RISSB at info@rissb.com.au or click to download it from our website. Product in the news - Enhancing resilience in rail infrastructureIn the wake of recent flood events that have disrupted rail corridors across Australia, building a more resilient rail network has become an urgent priority for the industry. To address this, the RISSB has developed and recently released the updated AS 7637 Hydrology and Hydraulics standard, aimed at helping the industry to build resilient infrastructure. 
RISSB PRODUCT UPDATESReview of AS 7650 - Drawings and Operating Symbols for OHLE Rail SystemsAs part of RISSB’s ongoing review of all products, AS 7650 is currently being considered. AS 7650 provides symbols and drawing sets to be used for electrical layouts, including drawings for isolation, earthing and bonding and high voltage installations. Since the Standard was last reviewed RISSB has developed AS 7662.1 25kV AC Rail Traction Systems, with advice being given that AS 7650 is no longer relevant to the rail industry, with AS 1100 Technical Drawings the accepted industry Standard. RISSB is seeking comment from the rail industry on whether AS 7650 is still in use or can be withdrawn, with reference to AS 1100. AS 7650 is available here. Send your feedback to cfitzhardinge@rissb.com.au Current calls for Public ConsultationAS 7520.3 Body Structural Requirements – Passenger AS 7660 Radio Communication in the Rail Corridor AS 7634 Rail Infrastructure Survey AS 7507 Rolling Stock Outlines TRAINING AND EVENTSRISSB MasterClass WebinarsDriving national rail interoperability: A stronger role for RISSB in national rail standards development 
Understanding Sleep Disorders and the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers
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