National Rail Action Plan

With $155 billion of new investment underway, rail will play a bigger role in our nation’s future. 

We are working with governments and industry on a nationally consistent approach to align new digital technology, standards and skills training. 

It’s all part of the National Rail Action Plan to create a simpler, safer and better rail system.
 

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National Rail Action Plan - transforming our rail system

Right now, in Australia, there are 18 separate rail networks with three railway gauges, 11 separate signalling systems and many different standards and working rules.

All these differences drive up the costs of running trains and makes the rail system complicated.

The NTC is harmonising standards, technology and operations to make Australia’s rail system more competitive and sustainable.

Central to this reform will be a new national approach to rail standards.

Through the NRAP, we are bringing together network owners, investors, builders, and educators to:

  • reduce the number of train control systems from 11 to a few
  • reform how standards are developed and adopted to decrease differences across Australia’s rail system
  • grow Australia’s rail workforce with nationally recognised skills needed for existing and new  high-tech rail systems.


 

Rail reform - a national priority

National Cabinet - a meeting of all Australia’s first ministers and the Prime Minister - recognised the importance of creating a more seamless rail system by including rail interoperability as one of eight national priorities.

Australia’s transport ministers approved a four-year program of work for the NTC supporting the expansion and futureproofing of rail as it undergoes technological transformation.

Five priority areas of work are underway to support national rail reform:

  1. Aligning train control and signalling technology on the eastern seaboard
  2. Identifying the best mechanism for codifying a small number of critical standards and complementary rules to make rail more competitive
  3. Reducing the interoperability burden from a driver, crew and maintenance perspective
  4. Streamlining rollingstock approval regimes 
  5. Creating workplace solutions to meet the rails skills demand of the future with a focus on digital skills.

Rail interoperability

There are many different operating systems and safe working rules currently in place across Australia’s rail networks. Through the NRAP, we are working to reduce these differences and create a more interoperable rail system that makes the most of modern technologies.

The NTC's fully costed four-year forward work program endorsed by Australia's transport ministers will help:

  • remove operational constraints on the rail networks
  • drive interoperability
  • harmonise standards and operating systems
  • tackle the challenge of rail’s skills and labour shortages. 
     

While many trains have similar components, there are currently few shared standards. Standardising some components will create scale for local manufacturers and make rail more efficient. Consistency across operating rules and processes will help to harmonise how people work and are trained, and ensure their skills are recognised across networks. 
 


 

Developing an interoperability framework

To address the challenges of interoperability, the NTC has developed a National Rail Interoperability Framework.

The framework will reduce differences and improve connections between interstate freight and passenger trains, and the major city networks and ports. This will create a single integrated National Network for Interoperability (NNI) across the standard gauge network.

To help achieve this, Australia’s transport ministers have asked the NTC to work with states and rail infrastructure managers which operate on the NNI to develop a plan for the rollout of train control and signalling technology. 
 

National Network for Interoperability map

The interoperability framework also includes: 

  • Interoperability Advisory Group (IAG) of Australian rail investors, owners, network builders, rail infrastructure managers and rail operators to provide independent advice to ministers
  • Future technologies forums to learn from international developments
  • a memorandum of cooperation between ministers and industry committing to advancing interoperability.
     


 

Memorandum of Cooperation for Interoperability

A memorandum of cooperation (MoC) has been developed for the rail sector, requiring industry and governments to consider interoperability when investing in the rail networks.

First signed by Australian Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Hon. Catherine King MP, Victoria’s then-Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Hon. Jacinta Allan MP and the Australasian Railway Association, the MoC has now been signed by all Australian state and territory governments and many rail operators and industry participants.

Read the MoC and see the full list of signatories.
 

Streamlining rolling stock approval processes

Australia has 18 separate rail networks, each run by a different rail infrastructure manager (RIM).

Every RIM has its own unique set of approval processes and testing regimes that rail operators must follow to get approval to operate their rolling stock on the network. These processes can be costly, complicated and take months, even years, for network approvals to be granted.

If a piece of rolling stock operates across more than one network, the challenges multiply. And if it is sold, the whole approval process must be repeated by its new owner. This is inefficient, expensive and a major deterrent to investment and innovation.

Through the National Rail Action Plan, the NTC is working with the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) to:

  • harmonise testing requirements and test locations
  • develop guidance that will help rail operators, regulators and RIMs through the safety assurance process and meet their obligations under the Rail Safety National Law

By making it simpler to get trains approved to run on our networks, we can save Australia’s rail industry $30 million a year. And encourage operators to invest in new, innovative rolling stock and technology.

Locking in standards

To drive rail interoperability the NTC is taking a new national approach to standards. This includes identifying a few critical mandatory standards that will help to:

  • align digital train control technology
  • adopt a single onboard interface for drivers and crew
  • streamline rolling stock approvals processes.

We are exploring mechanisms to implement these standards and the legal and regulatory changes needed to mandate them in law.

Our fleets will be faster, safer, with less carbon emissions and able to take on a larger share of Australia’s freight market.

Skills

Around 70,000 extra workers are needed to build, run and maintain a modern, interoperable rail system.

To meet this demand, rail needs to attract more women and people from diverse backgrounds.

  • Women make up only 21 per cent of the rail workforce.
  • 89 per cent of enrolments in rail related training are male.

As part of the NRAP we are working with the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) and Industry Skills Australia (ISA) to attract a broader group of workers into the rail sector. We are making it easier for people to start and progress a rail career. And to have their skills recognised across networks.

Where are rail workers learning their skills? 3% of all rail enrolments are being delivered by TAFE. 22% of enrolments are delivered by enterprise providers, mainly by companies delivering bespoke in-house training. 75% of training for rail skills is delivered through private training providers.

Through the National Rail Skills Hub, we are collaborating with industry and educators to support the development of national credentials.

We are also identifying the new skills that will be needed as digital technologies are introduced and developing faster pathways to these skills with nationally recognised training.

Our work is focused on:

  • identifying consistent operating rules and practices that will reduce the need for bespoke training
  • harmonising training and onboarding processes for rail workers
  • driving digital skills training for modern technologies
  • creating a more inclusive and diverse sector that will attract more people to work in rail.
     

 

Building scale for local manufacturers

There are thousands of different components that make up a train, from wheels to glass windows and air conditioning.

As part of the NRAP, we are developing common standards for train components. If rail operators use the same parts and localise their production, Australian manufacturers can make more parts here, creating new jobs in our cities and regions.

This will be a key part of a new national standards framework.
 

Harmonising working rules and systems

Right now, different working rules apply on different networks. This is confusing for people who work across networks and means a driver has to understand up to seven different operating systems to take a train across the country. 

Through the NRAP, we are working with operators and government to harmonise these arrangements making our rail system safer and more efficient.
 

How to participate

If you'd like to express interest in the National Rail Action Plan and program, or ask us a question about our work, send us an email as we'd like to hear from you.