Edition 152, March 2022

INSIDE THIS EDITION

+ New Research To Support Streamlined Rail Industry Type Approvals
+ Open Calls For Public Consultation
+ Open Calls For Development Group Members
+ Train Horn Use Code Of Practice Update
+ AS 7638 Railway Earthworks Update
+ ATSB Derailment Report Now Available
+ Member Spotlight
+ H4.0 Starts With A Bang
+ International Cyber Security MasterClass Webinar 29 March
+ Attend This Year's Rail Safety Conference
+ Apply Safety Critical Communications In The Rail Environment Course I 4 April
+ Introducing Our Horizons Program Participants

New Research To Support Streamlined Rail Industry Type Approvals

The ARA and RISSB are collaborating on a new research project to quantify type approvals in the rail industry.

Synergies Economic Consulting will lead research to review the range of type approvals across the country and identify opportunities to save time and money by adopting a more nationally consistent, standardised process.

The research will build on efforts to achieve greater harmonisation in the rail industry and explore how to make improvements while improving safety.

The project addresses key actions in the ARA's Rail Supply Chain Blueprint, will support a national type approvals working group led by Transport for NSW, and will assist in informing RISSB's review of AS 7702 Rail Equipment Type Approval.

A report on the research project's findings is expected to be released in June.

Read the full announcement here.

PUBLICATIONS

Open Calls For Public Consultation

AS 7666 Train Protection and Control Interoperability

AS 7520.1 Australian Railway Rolling Stock – Body Structural Requirements – Part 1 – Locomotive

AS 7739.1 Digital Engineering for Rail Part 1: Concepts and Principles

Open Calls For Development Group Members

AS 7510.2 Braking Systems – Part 2 – Hauled Rolling Stock

Train Horn Use Code Of Practice Update

The Development Group has been meeting regularly to work through the hundreds of comments received regarding this new Code – there has been a lot of interest in this project!

The group are hoping to close out the review in March, with the aim to have the Code ready for the rail industry by late April.

AS 7638 Railway Earthworks Update

The validation report has been closed out by the Development Group and the final draft endorsed. The Standard is currently with the Infrastructure Standing Committee for review prior to submission to the RISSB Board.

It is expected that AS 7638 will be made available in mid-April.

GENERAL NEWS

ATSB Derailment Report Now Available

An ATSB investigation has concluded that change management and risk assessment processes, and unclear communication of a safety-critical action to train drivers contributed to the runaway and derailment of a train in Western Australia.

Access the newly released report here.

INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS

Member Spotlight

Welcome to Walhalla Goldfields Railway and MGC Solutions who recently became RISSB members.

Walhalla Goldfields Railway is a tourist railway located in the Thomson River and Stringers Creek valleys in Gippsland near the former gold-mining town and tourist destination of Walhalla.

www.walhallarail.com.au

MGC SOLUTIONS is a rail signalling, electrical, communication and utility infrastructure service provider offering a comprehensive range of project engineering, construction, maintenance and operational services.

www.mgcs.com.au

EVENTS & PROGRAMS

H4.0 Starts With A Bang

Over 120 young professionals gathered in Melbourne and online for the first 2-day forum for the Horizons 4.0 Program which included presentations by industry leaders, workshops and group work. Over half of the participants attended six optional site visits on Friday morning, rounding out a great program.

Many thanks to Deakin Uni, all the presenters, the wonderful participants for their engagement and contribution and to Downer, Yarra Trams, FLAIM (Deakin Uni VR), MTM, V/Line and Melbourne Metro for hosting site visits.

International Cyber Security MasterClass Webinar 29 March

Amir Levintal, CEO of Israel cyber security firm Cylus, is our next MasterClass webinar presenter.

Join us on Tuesday, 29 March 2022 at 4PM (AEDT). Hear about contemporary cybersecurity challenges that railways face and the broader impact of cybersecurity events on the industry. Plus, learn the governing principles of rail cybersecurity.

If you'd like to attend this webinar event, please register here.

Attend This Year's Rail Safety Conference

This year’s Rail Safety Conference – Australia’s largest conference dedicated to rail safety - is being held at Collins Square in Melbourne from 3-4 May.

Here is a small sample of Safety Climate and Climate Safety themed presentations that are on the agenda:

Evolving crisis management within an organisation despite a global pandemic
Jessica Sharpe, Head of Security, Yarra Trams

Should it be climate or culture, and what about a people capacity index?
Dr Garry Marling, CEO, Culture Radar

Safety’s role in futureproofing rail infrastructure for climate changes
Gemma Main, Senior Consultant – Systems Safety Assurance, Systra Scott Lister

Register yourself or your team here.
Find out more about the conference here.

Apply Safety Critical Communications In The Rail Environment Course I 4 April

Learn how to accurately communicate, provide timely and accurate rail operational information, and respond to unplanned situations or events appropriately in our accredited 1-day Apply Safety Critical Communications in the Rail Environment course. This course is ideal for rail safety workers who may be new to the rail industry, seeking refresher training or requiring rectification training due to an incident.

For more information about the course and to secure spot, email sweston@rissb.com.au.

INTRODUCING OUR HORIZONS PROGRAM 4.0 PARTICIPANTS

This week we're delighted to introduce Guo, Hussein, Sigma and Farah.

Guo Qi Peh ‌|‌ Aurecon

My name is Guo Qi Peh. I come from the border town of Johor Bahru in Malaysia and worked in different places like Singapore, Sydney, and Mauritius before landed in Melbourne. Over my past 10 years in the rail industry, I played several different roles within the realms of technical advisory and engineering design.

I am interested in railways because I enjoy solving complex problems and improving lives. Apart from that, I love to eat nice food and take photographs.

Hussein Hadar |‌ Sydney Trains

I commenced in Sydney Trains in 2009 as a Maintenance & Cleaning Manager and have held many roles within the Operations space which includes Shift Manager Train Crew, Crew Manager Train Crew & A/Associate Director Train Crew… and currently working at Cronulla [sunny beachside depot] as Senior Manager Service Delivery (Crew Service Experience). I’ve been involved in numerous change programs such as Maintenance & Cleaning Reforms, RailCorp to Sydney Trains transition, and currently a project lead for MTMS2 (More Trains More Services) at Waterfall Depot. Outside of business I’m building my first home which keeps me quite busy!’

Sigma Pervin |‌ Canberra Metro Operations

I have studied Civil Engineering and graduated from University of Newcastle.

I really wanted to work for transport, as I like the level of intricacy (yet interesting) of works involved from construction to operations and how it integrates with the existing infrastructure. Hence, which is why I chose to work for Canberra Metro Operations.

In my spare time, I like to cook and sit down to a nice crime novel.

Farah Melhem ‌|‌ ARTC

Hi, my name is Farah and I work at ARTC as a Snr Utilities Engineer.

I am currently on maternity leave and on returning to ARTC I will commence working with the Inland Rail Project, transitioning from the North East Rail Line (NERL) Upgrade project.

I moved into the rail industry a few years ago and have really enjoyed working on the large rail projects. Though the horizons program, I am looking forward to continuing to develop my knowledge of the rail industry and meeting a diverse range of people.