Topics
Changes to law to support national rail reform
2026 will be a significant year for national rail reform as we begin consultation on proposed options to deliver recommendations from the 2024 Rail Safety National Law review.
The review identified the need to better align safety and productivity, strengthen the role of the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator, enable the mandating of requirements that achieve interoperability, and improve transparency in information sharing and regulatory decision-making across rail networks.
These recommendations were unanimously approved by Australia’s transport ministers.
We will soon be releasing a Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (C-RIS) exploring proposed reform options to deliver the recommendations. This will be an important opportunity for governments, industry, unions and other stakeholders to provide feedback on both the options and how they will be implemented.
A 12-week public consultation period will follow, including virtual briefings and opportunities to make written submissions.
Stakeholder feedback will directly inform a Decision RIS and final recommendations to infrastructure and transport ministers, helping to shape the future of Australia’s rail system.
Formal approval of National Network for Interoperability
Much of Australia’s rail reform is focused on the National Network for Interoperability (NNI) which was gazetted in January. The details and full description are now available on the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) website.
Developed by the NTC in partnership with governments and industry, the NNI defines Australia’s major freight and passenger rail corridors connecting ports, regions and passenger terminals.
Recent changes to Rail Safety National Law regulations require rail transport operators on these critical corridors to have systems and procedures in place that identify and consider interoperability matters. These must be applied when planning changes to their NNI operations.
ONRSR has notified affected operators, who have until 28 February 2026 to comply. A guideline has been developed to support them with these changes. You can watch a webinar explaining the changes here.
The NNI is a key element of the National Rail Action Plan to improve safety, boost productivity, reduce costs, strengthen local manufacturing, support workforce growth and help Australia transition to net zero emissions.
You can find out more here.
Future-ready cyber skills for rail
As the rail sector continues to invest in digital train control technologies, keeping our systems secure has never been more important. Strong cybersecurity is essential to protect rail infrastructure and critical assets from emerging threats.
The NTC’s Future Skills Framework and Industry Skills Australia’s Rail Industry - 2025 Workforce Plan both highlight a clear need to build capability in managing cyber risks across operational and information systems.
To help close this gap, we’re developing an accredited cybersecurity training program designed specifically for the Australian rail sector. We’re working with TAFEcyber - the national consortium of cybersecurity training providers - and the Holmesglen Institute to leverage existing units in the information technology training package and tailor them to the rail context. These will be delivered through TAFEs across Australia.
Stay tuned for future updates on this new program.
Harmonising rules for a better rail system
Australian governments want to get more freight on rail to reduce road congestion, improve safety and support Australia’s emissions reduction targets.
At the NTC we’re helping to achieve this goal by making rail freight more competitive and better able to support local industries and major exports. To do this, we’re reducing differences across rail networks and taking a national approach to standards, technology, rules, processes and training.
A key element of the plan is our National Network Rules project. Through this initiative we are working with the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), Australian Rail Industry Standards Organisation (ARISO) and industry to develop common operating rules and practices for Australia’s rail networks.
By harmonising the different ways of working, we can boost productivity, and help freight operators deliver more competitive, flexible and reliable services.
To learn more about the project watch our video.