Streamlining rolling stock approval processes

Infrastructure and Transport Ministers have endorsed a National Pathway to coordinate and align existing rolling stock approval reform initiatives.    

This includes investigating ways to harmonise rolling stock testing requirements and locations to enhance efficiency and reduce costs for the rail industry.  

We know there are major inconsistencies across the industry, and varied approaches are driving up the cost and time it takes to get new rolling stock approved. Different rail infrastructure managers (RIMs) require varying levels of information from rolling stock operators (RSOs) and often use different documentation sets and approaches during the testing process.  

This means that rolling stock operators working across multiple networks will need to comply with different testing methodologies, acceptance criteria, documentation requirements and testing locations, even when they achieve comparable safety assurance outcomes.    

To help us identify options to harmonise these testing requirements, we have released a discussion paper for industry feedback. 

The discussion paper seeks feedback on the impacts of different rolling stock testing arrangements and feasible options for harmonisation.

It examines:

• the current state of rolling stock testing requirements  
• challenges arising from differing arrangements  
• options for harmonisation, including potential benefits and implementation challenges.  

It also explores lessons from international jurisdictions including the United Kingdom, European Union, United States and New Zealand, covering approaches such as simulation, centralised testing facilities and data transfer protocols.

The discussion paper includes several questions for stakeholder consideration.

Your feedback will help us better understand the impacts of differing testing arrangements and identify better options for harmonising testing requirements and locations.

To provide your feedback, see 'Have your say' below or email us at rollingstock@ntc.gov.au. Submissions close Friday, 17 July 2026.

Infrastructure and transport ministers have agreed on  a National Pathway to coordinate and align existing rolling stock approval reform initiatives across the country. The Pathway brings together programs currently undertaken by various jurisdictions and stakeholders.  

As requested by ministers, the Pathway adopts a staged approach.  

Stage 1 includes:

• developing written safety assurance guidance to clarify roles and responsibilities in the approval process  
• identifying common interface standards to be harmonised
• working with a core group of Rail Infrastructure Managers (RIMs) on developing a single application form for freight to streamline rolling stock approvals.

The NTC has expedited the preparation of draft safety assurance guidance to clarify roles and responsibilities of RIMs and Rolling Stock Operators (RSO) in the certification and registration steps of the approval process. The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) is leading the final stage of this project and intends to consult on the guidance in 2026.    

The NTC is also leading the development of a single application form for freight wagons, and later locomotives, through a Technical Working Group. The core group includes Transport for New South Wales, ARTC, Arc Infrastructure, UGL Regional Linx, Pacific National, Qube, and ARISO, with ONRSR and Queensland Rail as observers.

Lessons from developing the application form will inform the development of a broader national application which is the focus of Stage 2.

Stage 3 will build on the key lessons learnt from Stages 1 and 2, leading to a mandatory rolling stock approval standard, to be developed with industry, RIM, an RSO and ARISO input. 

Mandatory rolling stock standard

The mandatory rolling stock standard will be a process standard – not a technical or type approval assurance standard. A process standard defines the process of how work is done. It is likely to include elements such as:  

• adherence to and the adoption of the safety assurance guidance (to be released by ONRSR in 2026) outlining the roles and responsibilities of RIMs and RSOs in rolling stock approvals.  
• use of a common/single application form (once developed)
• single assessment process  
• use of the National Rolling Stock Register (when developed) to facilitate mutual recognition  
• coordinated testing, sharing of results and retention of information.

The NTC C-RIS consultation process sought feedback on a national coordinating function to:  

• administer the mandatory rolling stock process standard (once developed)
• maintain and administer a national register of applications and approvals
• administer a mutual recognition framework.

Background

Through NRAP, the NTC is working with networks, operators and the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) to remove the complexities and reduce differences between network requirements.  

We are doing this by:

• developing guidance on safety assurance to help rail operators and rail infrastructure managers meet their obligations under the Rail Safety National Law
• piloting a single application approach to reduce the administrative burden  
• investigating ways to harmonise rolling stock testing requirements and locations.   
   

In May 2025, we released a consultation paper analysing current rolling stock approval processes and sought feedback on ways to clarify the roles and responsibilities of different parties involved.  

A Summary of Feedback to the consultation paper which includes an overview of the National Pathway on streamlining rolling stock approvals can be found here.

ONRSR will develop a guideline on rolling stock approval processes and consult with industry in 2026.  We will continue to work with them on this important initiative.  

By making it simpler to get trains approved to run on our networks, we can save Australia’s rail industry tens of millions of dollars a year. And encourage operators to invest in new, innovative rolling stock and technology that produce less carbon emissions.

This will pave the way for a better rail system with newer and safer trains that makes rail freight more competitive. 
By helping to move a bigger share of freight onto rail, through NRAP we can:

• reduce congestion on roads
• improve safety
• reduce transport emissions and help Australia reach its net zero emissions targets. 
   

Australia’s nine major rail infrastructure managers each have their own sets of rules and unique approval processes for getting new trains on the network.

These processes can vary greatly. Networks rarely share information or recognise each other’s assessments. And often require very different levels of detail.

This means that an operator working across more than one network needs to navigate a unique approval process for each network on which they operate.  

This is a major challenge for operators and the rail industry. Particularly freight operators moving goods between our cities, regions and ports.  

It is:

• costly
• duplicates effort
• deters investment in newer, innovative rolling stock.

In some cases, operators still use older and less efficient trains because of the difficulty and time it takes to get new trains approved.

The National Rail Action Plan (NRAP) is streamlining the rolling stock approval process so that it’s simpler to get new trains running. 

This will pave the way for a better rail system with newer and safer trains that make rail freight more competitive. It will reduce road congestion and improve safety while also reducing transport emissions.  

Through NRAP, the NTC is working with networks, operators and the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) to remove the complexities and reduce differences between network requirements. 

We are doing this by:

• developing guidance on safety assurance to help rail operators and rail infrastructure managers meet their obligations under the Rail Safety National Law
• piloting a single national application approach to reduce the administrative burden  
• investigating ways to harmonise rolling stock testing requirements and locations.