Latest news
The NTC has released a Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (C-RIS) setting out proposed reforms to the RSNL.
The proposed legislative reforms respond to the findings and recommendations of the 2024 RSNL Review and support broader national rail reforms underway through NRAP.
These aim to modernise the RSNL, so it can better support national rail interoperability and greater harmonisation while maintaining safety as the law’s primary objective.
Consultation on the proposed legislative reform options is now open. The NTC is seeking feedback from across the rail industry, governments, unions and interested stakeholders. We want to know your thoughts on the proposed options, their impacts and how they should be implemented.
All feedback received will be considered as part of the development of the Decision RIS and final recommendations to ministers.
The closing date to provide feedback is Monday, 11 May 2026.
Consultation documents:
Background - creating an interoperable rail system
Australia’s rail system is made up of 18 separate rail networks with 11 different signalling systems, and countless different rules, standards and techniques.
With $155 Billion spend modernising our rail network, there is strong national support across governments and industry to reduce these differences. This will improve connectivity across networks and make rail simpler, safer and more efficient.
Interoperability Management Plan (IMP)
As a first step a new requirement was included in the RSNL National Regulations in November 2025.
This means rail transport operators on the National Network for Interoperability (NNI) now need to have systems and processes in place that identify and consider interoperability matters. These must be applied when making changes to operations on the NNI.
If interoperability matters are identified, an Interoperability Management Plan will be required.
To help operators comply with these changes, the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) has published an Interoperability of Railway Operations Guideline.
The NTC is exploring further changes to embed interoperability requirements into the RSNL via a Consultation Regulator Impact Statement (C-RIS).
