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Why national coordination is critical for rail
Our goal is for Australia’s railways to operate as a more connected, interoperable national system.
That matters for safety and productivity, but also for rail’s ability to compete with road for the contestable freight task.
Jurisdictions are making significant investments in rail, improving safety, productivity and economic outcomes. When these investments complement each other, the benefits can multiply. It's a significant opportunity that we need to leverage. Digital technologies deepen the interdependencies between systems and networks. Aligning technology strategies and roadmaps early helps identify these dependencies and maximise benefits by avoiding differences in project scope, technology choices and deployment timings. National standardisation and harmonisation can address some of these differences. But, there’s a limit to how far we should standardise without constraining the supply chain or stifling innovation.
That’s why standards need to be supported by coordination at a national level.
The new draft European Train Control System (ETCS) Mandatory Standard, now open for consultation, specifically identifies the importance of having a designated national coordination function to drive alignment and coordinate key technical elements of ETCS to support interoperability.
European experience also highlights the value of having a strong, central, national authority, noting the critical role being played by EULYNX and the ERTMS Users Group.
A centralised national technical coordination function would complement standards by providing a clearer picture of the approaches being pursued, how they depend on one another and where conflicts could arise.
National coordination is essential to realising, and sustaining, the benefits of rail reform. By aligning investment, technology, standards and operations, we can reduce fragmented decision-making and deliver a safer, more productive and genuinely interoperable national rail system.
Have your say on Australia’s first mandatory national rail standard
With the draft ETCS Mandatory Standard open for consultation, we’re seeking industry feedback on whether the proposed requirements are clear and practical, strike the right balance between consistency and flexibility, and suit Australia’s rail environment.
More than 260 people attended our recent webinar, with others taking part in specialised technical workshops, to explore the consultation documents and proposed requirements in greater detail.
You can view a video of the webinar here.
The draft standard can be found here
And the consultation paper is here.
We welcome your feedback.
To find out more about the NTC’s work to align digital rail technology visit our website.
Help build a more mobile, skilled rail workforce
A nationally consistent rail system also needs a workforce that can move easily between networks.
We’re seeking consultants to help develop a quality assurance framework to support the mutual recognition of rail skills across Australia.
Right now, rail workers may need to understand up to 12 different rule books and maintain competencies for every network they work on. While many of these competencies overlap, they aren’t mutually recognised. This can mean workers need to repeat training for skills they already have when moving between jobs or jurisdictions.
A nationally consistent approach to mutual recognition will help reduce duplicated training, lower costs and make it easier for skilled workers to move between networks and projects. Workers will still need to meet legitimate network-specific safety and competency requirements. But the framework will establish the minimum requirements and assurance mechanisms needed to ensure mutual recognition is safe, credible and nationally consistent.
Interested in contributing?
Tender documents are available here.
• Submission deadline: 5 pm AEDT, 13 November 2026
• Tender enquiries: NRAP-Procurement@ntc.gov.au
To learn more about the NTC’s work to support consistent rail rules and a more mobile workforce, visit our website.
Planning for connected rail communications in 2033
Reliable, interoperable train radio communications are essential for seamless rail operations across Australia’s key interstate freight and passenger corridors connecting cities, regions and ports.
Currently, trains operating across jurisdictions must connect to different radio systems to meet individual network access requirements. As ETCS is rolled out, these systems will also need to support reliable data connectivity, with greater resilience and cybersecurity. This adds to the complexity of onboard equipment and rail communications infrastructure.
The Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) offers a pathway to meet these future needs. If implemented consistently and coordinated with ETCS, it could simplify onboard systems, improve connectivity between trains and control centres, and support more interoperable operations across network boundaries.
Realising these benefits will depend on how Australia coordinates the transition across its rail networks and fleets.
To explore the options, the NTC recently brought together 26 radio subject matter experts and technology leaders from all mainland jurisdictions for a workshop in Melbourne.
The workshop identified several early steps to support interoperable FRMCS across networks and fleets on major interstate freight and passenger corridors. This includes:
Standardised interfaces between systems to support compatibility.
Consistent radio frequency allocation across networks.
Minimum radio network performance specifications tailored to different operating contexts and aligned with each corridor’s operational needs.
A coordinated pathway for upgrading onboard equipment to support the transition.
These considerations provide a starting point for coordinating the transition to FRMCS and helping ensure future rail communications support a more connected, resilient and interoperable national rail system.
Thank you to everyone who contributed their expertise and insights to this important discussion.
Stronger road and rail connections support resilient communities
As Australia’s freight task grows, transport decisions have a direct impact on local communities – from road maintenance costs and access to jobs, to the reliable delivery of goods to businesses and households.
Flooding and severe weather can disrupt roads and railways, isolate communities and interrupt supply chains. Alternative routes and transport options help keep freight moving when disruptions occur.
“We need road and rail working well together to meet that extra demand,” NTC CEO Michael Hopkins told the Local Government Association of Queensland’s (LGAQ) Roads and Transport Forum in Cairns recently.
Customers need reliable services at competitive prices. Through the National Rail Action Plan, the NTC is working to address the rules, technology and approval processes that add cost and complexity to rail freight.
This will help rail carry more of Australia’s contestable freight task and support more reliable services for the communities and businesses that depend on them.
Find out more about how the NTC is working to improve Australia’s transport system at www.ntc.gov.au.