Australasian Railway Association (ARA) CEO Caroline Wilkie has urged decision-makers to take note of recommendations outlined in the recently released Harmonisation of Rail Standards Research Report to help cut down costs and create a safer and more efficient rail industry.
The report was jointly funded by the ARA, the National Transport Commission (NTC), Office of National Rail Industry Coordination (ONRIC) and the Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (RISSB).
It was prepared by GHD Advisory.
“It is critical that industry works together, with government, to reduce costs and inefficiencies in the rail industry to ensure a more sustainable, productive and safer railway network,” Wilkie says.
“Rail standards harmonisation, particularly in key areas such as signalling and control system standards, would foster technical and operational interoperability, enabling freight and passenger rail to move more easily between major cities and regions.”
Key initiatives outlined in the report include the creation of a national body to oversee the development of a National Rail Standards Harmonisation Strategy in conjunction with industry.
As it stands, 29 separate rail networks each use different standards, codes and rule books, technologies and processes for building, operating and accessing rail infrastructure, with some parts of the network pre-dating Australian Federation in 1901.
Stay in the loop by subscribing to the ATN newsletter
The report believes given the immense amount of funding that is projected to be pumped into Australia’s rail network in the coming years, the creation of a national overseer is crucial to ensuring investment can go as far as possible.
“Over $155 billion is forecast to be invested in rail over the next 15 years, which represents a previously unseen level of infrastructure spending,” the report states.
“Given the magnitude of expenditure, even modest efficiency improvements resulting from the appropriate application of harmonised national standards have the potential to generate significant investment returns from operational interoperability and rail equipment supply.”
NTC CEO Michael Hopkins says the report offers insight into what is preventing rail from having a larger freight and passenger share across Australia.
“This report lifts our understanding of what is stopping rail from having a bigger role in the national economy and moving more people and products between cities, regions and ports,” Hopkins says.
“The work is delivering the most significant change to Australian rail since electrification. It’s making rail simpler, safer and better through consistent national approaches.
“The first three mandatory standards to be introduced through NRAP will ensure the interoperability of signalling systems, support consistent driver interfaces and will simplify the rollingstock approval process.”
Each of the bodies is considering the proposals outlined in the report to determine next steps.
For a full copy of the Harmonisation of Rail Standards Research Report click here. To read the summary report, click here.
Read more ATN:
RMIT, Qantas partnership to benefit transport sector
Industry feedback sought on potential Qube acquisition
DHL launches transportation analysis series