PUBLICATIONS 

Calls For Development Group Members

Monitoring Hours Of Work Guideline

AS 7631 Railway Infrastructure – Sighting

AS 7451 Train Integrity (Formerly AS 7503.6) 

AS 7503 Train Identification Development Group Update

The Development Group met for the first time this week to discuss the current Standard and the scope of the review. A wide range of topics were raised, including AEI tag programming and placement, and the current vehicle alpha classifications. These and other areas of the Standard have been identified as requiring updating, and in the case of AEI tags, areas where improved harmonisation is possible. The group is currently doing a deep review of the Standard, and will reconvene in October to discuss their findings.

INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS

RISSB SPAD/LRTAE Group Meets

Over 20 operations and safety specialists from both heavy and light rail joined Graham Jackson and Cris Fitzhardinge at the recent SPAD / LRTAE Group meeting.

Chair Craig Dance guided the group through a wide range of topics, including the current SPAD / LRTAE categorisation, recent work on a study by Central Queensland University on risk triggered commentary, and the proposed SPAD / LRTAE Symposium to be held next year.

How the industry considers SPADs in an ATP / ETCS / ATMS environment was also discussed, with further discussions to be held.

African Appreciation For RISSB Hospitality

We were delighted recently to have received a very kind letter of gratitude from the South African delegation who visited Australia earlier in the year. They found their visit very informative especially in learning more about our risk model the Australian Rail Risk Model - ARRM. They also expressed their appreciation for the generous time from Aurizon, Queensland Rail and ONRSR, as well learning more about RISSB’s Horizons Program.

We’re very pleased to be strengthening ties with other railways around the world and we’re sure that we can leverage these mutual learnings for the benefit of the work RISSB does. 

Transport for New South Wales Briefing Session

On Monday RISSB was delighted to attend this important TfNSW briefing session and listen to their various discipline heads discuss their respective Standards development programs to understand priorities and the overall direction of their program. This will be enormously valuable in helping RISSB to understand where the overall direction of industry is going so that we can respond, and lead, where valuable. We also tap into similar thinking in other jurisdictions and we always welcome further discussion. 

ALCAM Appreciation Session Held

Yesterday RISSB hosted an ALCAM appreciation session with senior representatives from NSW Government who are involved in various aspects of level crossing safety for important projects/applications on their networks. It’s fantastic to see such interest in ALCAM as an important tool within risk-based decision making; further sessions are planned over the coming weeks. Similar sessions can be arranged for RISSB’s Australian Rail Risk Model ARRM.

MAJOR PROJECTS

National Rolling Stock Register Project Moves Forward

RISSB has been working with supplier Aquipa and, in consultation with some key industry stakeholders, to develop the National Rolling Stock Register. 

The software development phase of the project has now concluded, and the data validation phase has commenced.  Key industry stakeholders are working with RISSB and the service provider to ensure that the data imported is accurate. This work will continue in the coming months.

GENERAL NEWS

Congratulations Aurizon

On Wednesday evening RISSB honoured, rewarded and recognised the achievements of teams and individuals from organisations working right across the rail sector at the Australasian Rail Industry Awards.

Among the many winners on the night, the Safety Excellence Award, proudly sponsored by RISSB, for 2022 went to Aurizon for their Safety Leadership Program.

Congratulations to Angela James from Aurizon and the other major winners announced on the night.

Research Outcomes From "Training The Train Controllers" Project Now Available

New research outcomes funded by the Australian Research Council and supported by the RISSB SPAD Group have now been released for the Training the Train Controllers project. Managed and driven by A/Prof Anjum Naweed at CQUniversity, the research aims to support teamwork and workforce development to improve safety in Australasian rail operations. Eight organisations across Australia and New Zealand and 55 network controllers participated in the research project.

Some of the key research outcomes associated with non-technical skill requirements in network control have now been published and can be downloaded for free from the following link:  Science Direct.

OTSI Issues Safety Advisory

The Office of Transport Safety Investigations (OTSI) has issued Safety Advisory SA04/22 following a recent incident where a locomotive sandbox was displaced onto the track where it was struck by a trailing passenger service.

An investigation by the locomotive operator revealed the sandbox was extensively damaged and its fixing points on the bogie showed evidence of failure at the weld attachment points with the bogie frame. The incident highlights the risks associated with loose or damaged locomotive bogie mounted equipment.  

For more information, read Safety Advisory SA04/22 – Locomotive sandbox fixing arrangements.

News Shorts

The Federal Government has moved to establish a High Speed Rail Authority

Rail tunnel beneath Melbourne's Greensborough Highway to be extended

Queensland to release level crossing safety strategy in 2023

America's Union Pacific has rolled out a $600m green bond