From
midnight tonight a major step in reversing “the break of gauge” mentality
in rail safety will take place with the adoption for the first time of a
national operations and safe working code of practice.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation Ltd (ARTC)
will implement the national code of practice for operations and safe working
on its interstate rail track in Australia, Western Australia and New South
Wales.
David Marchant, Chief Executive Officer, said
“With the implementation of the national code of practice, it is appropriate
that in Australia’s Centenary year we are finally making strong progress in
establishing greater harmonisation across the nation’s various rail
jurisdictions.”
“The
major track owners and train operators, Queensland Rail, Rail Infrastructure
Corporation (NSW), Australian Railroad Group (WA), National Rail Corporation,
FreightCorp, Freight Australia and ARTC have all agreed to implement a nation
wide rail operation and safe working code of practice.” David Marchant said.
ARTC
is first to implement this code with its introduction to rail operations from
midnight Sunday.
Just
over a week ago in Darwin, the Australian Transport Council (Federal and State
Transport Ministers) endorsed the code impact statement.
The
code has been under development for the last 3 years under the auspices of the
Australasian Railway Association, the Commonwealth Government and each of the
State and private rail operators.
David
Marchant said “This is major step in gaining a safer and consistent
Australian rail transport network. As each jurisdiction moves to the national
code the rules will become consistent for train operators on the interstate
mainlines.”
ARTC
is hopeful that it will gain regulatory approval from the Victorian Regulator to
commence implementation, over the next 12 months of the national code on the
Victorian mainline track.
David
Marchant said “It has been a major effort by the train operators, National
Rail, Australian Southern Railways, Great Southern Railways, Freight Australia,
SCT, TOLL and Patrick to have their staff trained in the new rules. The track
maintainers Transfield and Rail Services Australia have also had to retrain all
staff in the new safe working codes.”
The
national code of practice in operations and safe working prescribes rules with
regard to signal compliance, train control communication protocols, track worker
safety, train configuration, and the rules of the road for train operations.
“Many
of these rules differed from State to State and the code is aimed to gain
operational consistency from Brisbane to Perth thereby increasing the overall
safety and efficiency of the rail network” David Marchant said.
ARTC is initially implementing the code from the Victorian border to Kalgoorlie and from Crystal Brook to Broken Hill.
For Further
Information Contact: David Marchant on 0419 733 201
Australian Rail Track
Corporation (ARTC)
was incorporated in July 1998 following an inter-governmental agreement
between the Commonwealth and all mainland States to establish a one-stop shop
for access to the interstate rail network.
Currently,
ARTC has responsibility for the management of 3600 kilometres of the
interstate rail network from Albury to Kalgoorlie via Melbourne and Adelaide
and from Broken Hill to Crystal Brook. ARTC also manages access to the
Tarcoola to Alice Springs Line on behalf of the Asia Pacific Transport Company
and to Appleton Dock on behalf of the Melbourne Ports Corporation. ARTC
provides equitable access to this network to train operators on a
non-discriminatory basis.
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