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This month, the National Rail Action Plan joined discussions on freight productivity, legislative reform and interoperable signalling that highlighted the practical steps needed to create a more connected national rail network.
NRAP – delivering practical reforms for a more connected railway
Creating a rail system that operates as one national network remains central to increasing rail's share of Australia's growing freight task.
Speaking at the Informa Rail Freight Conference in Melbourne last week, NTC CEO Michael Hopkins outlined the practical reforms underway through the National Rail Action Plan to help make that possible.
Michael noted that the projected growth in freight was a significant opportunity for rail to increase its share of the load, making our transport system safer, more productive and sustainable into the future.
The NRAP reforms are designed to create a rail system that operates as a single national network, with trains, technology, standards, skills and approvals recognised and able to work seamlessly across jurisdictions.
They include 12 legislative reforms endorsed by transport ministers to embed interoperability outcomes into the law and improve accountability and transparency.
We ran a Rail Safety National Law Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (C-RIS) to look at the impact of proposed reforms and received 25 submissions which we’re now analysing and considering. Recommendations will be put to ministers later this year.
Amending any law is challenging. We not only need the support of industry and unions, we need all states and territories, plus the Commonwealth to agree.
The Rail Safety National Law already includes a general safety duty requiring risks to be managed so far as is reasonably practicable. The challenge is determining how interoperability can also be recognised in the legislation without diminishing that safety obligation.
The current view is that, at the very least, interoperability should be an object or concept in the law. This will embed it as an outcome that the entire rail industry can aspire to, while not diminishing any requirement to meet a general safety duty.
Additional powers for the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator may also be required to support these reforms, with further details to be explored over coming months.
Interoperable digital signalling systems are crucial to optimising performance
At the Rail Turnouts Workshop in Melbourne this month, NTC rail technologies expert Alex McGrath joined industry representatives to discuss the engineering, operational and digital systems needed to improve network reliability.
Discussion reinforced that improving rail reliability takes more than better technology. It takes collaboration and a shared approach.
As networks become increasingly digitised, data, digital modelling and getting interoperability across digital signalling systems becomes crucial to optimising performance.
Alex gave an update on the mandatory standards being developed by the NTC to support the rollout of interoperable digital train control systems across the National Network for Interoperability (NNI) - Australia's critical freight and passenger rail corridors connecting cities, regions and ports.
The first two mandatory standards currently being drafted will establish a nationally consistent approach to ETCS trackside and onboard equipment, providing:
- alignment with European Technical Specifications for Interoperability, adapted for Australian conditions
- a consistent certification approach for onboard equipment
- flexibility to support different network configurations while maintaining interoperability
- national coordination to manage future changes, certification and ongoing implementation.
The workshop reinforced that improving rail reliability isn't just about better infrastructure or better technology. It's about bringing industry together around common standards, shared expertise and collaborative solutions that will keep Australia's rail network moving safely and efficiently.
Rolling Stock Registration Pilot Seeks Industry Participants
Over the past 12 months, the NTC has been leading a Technical Working Group of Rail Infrastructure Managers, Rolling Stock Operators and industry stakeholders to develop a more consistent approach to registering freight rolling stock across Australia's rail networks.
The project has produced a draft common registration application form and supporting processes for freight wagons and locomotives, designed to reduce duplication while maintaining existing safety and assurance requirements.
We’d like to thank all participating organisations, and the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator as observers, for their continuing commitment, time and collaborative contributions to the workshops. Thanks also to Qube for supporting the pilot by offering a modified wagon to test the new registration form and process which is currently underway.
We’re now seeking other operators with registration projects to help pilot the form across participating networks, including Transport for NSW, ARTC, UGL Regional Linx and Arc Infrastructure.
Interested operators can help shape future improvements by providing feedback on the pilot process.
For more information or to express interest, contact rollingstock@ntc.gov.au
Creating the environment to get more freight on rail
Australia's freight task is projected to grow by around 26 per cent over the next three decades. The question is, how much of that growth should be carried by rail?
A new report from the McKell Institute argues that if rail captures 30 per cent of future freight growth, Australia could save $640 million every year through lower emissions and improved road safety alone.
It notes that realising that opportunity will depend on making rail a more competitive option where it is most effective and improving interoperability and consistency across jurisdictions.
These are key priorities of the National Rail Action Plan, which is working with governments and industry to remove barriers to a more productive, nationally connected rail network.