THE AUSTRALIAN rail industry has today (23 October) published a report outlining initiatives expected to harmonise national rail standards.
The Harmonisation of Rail Standards Research Report, prepared by GHD Advisory, was funded by the Australasian Railway Association, National Transport Commission, Office of National Rail Industry Coordination (ONRIC) and the Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (RISSB).
Australia’s “large and complex” rail network is not a singular system, but the composition of 29 distinct networks involving an estimated 197 accredited operators, the report says.
It notes the fragmentation of the network can be “problematic” for existing and prospective rail freight operators, and it set out to gain insight into what is preventing the adoption of existing international and Australian standards to achieve harmonised standards.
The report outlines several initiatives intended to streamline standards, technologies and processes for operating the rail network. It proposes a national body to oversee the development of a national rail standards harmonisation strategy, in conjunction with industry.
Australasian Railway Association CEO Caroline Wilkie said the report provides rigorous analysis to better inform ways to address current challenges in rail interoperability and prioritise the highest value areas of harmonisation.
“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,” Ms Wilkie said.
“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,” Ms Wilkie said.
National Transport Commission CEO Michael Hopkins said the research supports the work underway through the National Rail Action Plan (NRAP) to develop and implement a National Rail Standards Framework for Australia.
“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,” Mr Hopkins said.
“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.
“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.”
The report says that industry acknowledges that mandating of some key standards will be required to address the barriers and realise key benefits, similar to the approach applied in the European Union to address interoperability.
“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 says.
“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.”
Each of the bodies is considering the proposals to determine next steps.
