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Shaping Australia’s first mandatory rail standards – your input matters
June has been a milestone month for rail reform, with strong engagement from stakeholders across the country as we progress work on Australia’s first mandatory technical and operational rail standards.
Close to 300 participants joined our recent webinar when we released a discussion paper exploring options for scoping the standards. A series of follow-up technical workshops attracted further interest, offering deeper insights into specifications and interoperability requirements.
The discussion paper draws on international experience and outlines key considerations for achieving interoperability from technical requirements to processes, delivery, and long-term management of the standards.
We’re now inviting your feedback to help shape the final proposal.
The closing date for feedback is Thursday 17 July.
Email your feedback using this form to NRAP-Secretariat@ntc.gov.au.
Building a seamless rail system to boost national productivity
At the NTC, we're working to unlock productivity and efficiency in rail by improving interoperability and consistency across Australia's networks.
During his keynote address at the Urban Rail Conference in Melbourne this month, our CEO Michael Hopkins highlighted the important role rail has to play in supporting our growing economy.
“National Cabinet has designated rail interoperability as a critical national priority. That’s because they recognise that achieving a seamless, interoperable national rail system is one of the biggest productivity gains we can make,” Michael said.
Through the National Rail Action Plan (NRAP), we're partnering with governments and industry to:
- cut red tape and streamline approvals
- align digital signalling systems
- harmonise rules and operational processes
- improve skills recognition and reduce duplicative training
Our role is to set the policy foundations — but achieving this vision of a safer, more seamless and more productive rail system requires collaboration.
Read more from Michael’s keynote address here.
Accelerating work towards a streamlined rolling stock approval process
Following the close of initial industry consultation in June, the NTC is accelerating development of draft Safety Assurance Guidance to help streamline Australia’s complex and varied rolling stock approval processes.
This guidance aims to bring greater clarity to roles and responsibilities for safety assurance within the current regulatory framework.
Feedback received during consultation showed strong support for key improvements, including:
- Clearer definitions of the roles and responsibilities of rolling stock operators, rail infrastructure managers, and the regulator
- Separation of the approval process into three distinct stages: certification, registration, and network approval
- Stronger regulatory backing for the AS7501 Certification Standard and other AS7500 suite standards
- A single national platform for application forms and rolling stock data
- Greater mutual recognition of assessments and approvals across jurisdictions
Draft Safety Assurance Guidance will be developed by the end of 2025. Further consultation with industry is planned working closely with the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator and in partnership with Transport for NSW.
To learn more about our work to get a simpler more streamlined rolling stock approval process, visit our website here.