March Occupational Health in Rail Forum 

RISSB is co-ordinating an Occupational Health (OH) in Rail forum at the request of industry.

The forum will include a workshop covering topics such as drug and alcohol testing, withdrawal from substances,  medical category risk assessments – national standardisation and triggered medicals.

There will also be presentations from rail transport operators on OH in their organisation, what they are doing, a discussion on fatigue management with ONRSR and with MTA on the Rail Industry Worker card.  

Attendance is by invitation only and is limited to 25 people. The forum will be on Monday 23 March in Melbourne at V/Line starting around 9.30am.

If you want further information email Phil Allan at pallan@rissb.com.au

RISSB's Rail Safety Conference 
An Incredible 5 Site Tours on Offer

This year we're offering RISSB Rail Safety Conference delegates the following exciting site tour options: 

• Sydney Light Rail Randwick Stabling Yard Operational Control Centre
• Sydney Light Rail Heavy Maintenance Facility, Lilyfield
• Metro Trains Sydney – Maintenance Facility and Control Room
• Central Station Metro – New Platforms
• Sydney Trains Rail Operations Centre. 

This is your chance to go on a behind-the-scenes guided tour and get a first-hand look at some of the most innovative operations hubs and rail project sites currently in Sydney. 

Book your site tour when you register for the conference.

If you want more information, about the site tour and conference agenda please visit the official conference page to register to attend the conference, explore sponsorship or exhibition opportunities or find a list of confirmed speakers.

Infrastructure Standing Committee to Meet

The Infrastructure Standing Committee will be meeting over the next couple of weeks to discuss the infrastructure portfolio. RISSB’s Infrastructure Standing Committee members are all passionate about our industry, going above and beyond to: support national harmonisation, share information on significant issues affecting their discipline and play a critical governance role within the development of RISSB’s products.

A list of the current Infrastructure Standing Committee members can be found on this page.

Welcome New Members

Welcome to SteamRanger Heritage Railway who officially became a RISSB member earlier this week.

Help RISSB Develop its 2020 / 21 Work Plan - Send in a Proposal for a New RISSB Product

Have we heard from you?

You have just under three weeks to submit your proposal for a new RISSB product to RISSB.

If you’d like your (or your organisation's) idea to be considered by the RISSB team, you must complete our new online form and send it to info@rissb.com.au by 5pm on Sunday, 8 March 2020.

The National Rules Framework is Now Online 

The National Rules Framework is now available online, allowing all RISSB members the ability to browse and access the Framework through a simple, easy to use interface.

The National Rules Framework consists of those rules from the Australian National Rules and Procedures Project (ANRP) which are based on principles that are nationally applicable within the Australian rail industry.  

The National Rules Framework:

• Incorporates nationally applicable rules to cover rail operations and alignment to specific roles within rail operations
• Contains content derived from the ANRP to ensure each rule meets the intent of a set of rail operation principles
• Provides guidance to Rail Transport Operators on the safe and efficient transport of people, goods and materials
• Incorporates new technologies within industry
• Demonstrates traceability to the associated risks for which the rule is mitigating.

The delivery of the National Rules Framework this month is the first milestone in a project to develop a nationally applicable rule book, and a significant step towards achieving industry harmonisation.  

For more information and to access the National Rules Framework, go to this dedicated web page.

AS 1085.22 Alternative material sleepers

The latest addition to the AS 1085 series of standards (railway track materials) is currently being finalised by the Development Group. AS 1085.22 will assist the rail industry by specifying the performance requirements for sleepers made from non-traditional materials, and the associated test methods to establish conformity. It is the first new Standard to be included in the AS 1085 series since 2014 and reflects the rail industry’s desire to embrace the use of diverse recycled products and alternative materials.  

AS 1085.21 Turnouts, switches and crossings

The Development Group will be meeting on Tuesday, 3 March 2020 to work through a number of comments received during the recent public consultation period.

Current Public Consultations

AS 7724 Unauthorized movement protection – Operational requirements

Rail Cyber Security for Rolling Stock Train Control Systems Code of Practice

AS 7703 Railway signalling – Power supplies

Derailment Investigation and Analysis Workshop
16-18 March 2020

Location: Ipswich, QLD

RISSB's Rail Safety Conference 2020 
31 March - 1 April 2020

Location: Sydney, NSW

Every week we'll be introducing our new Horizons 2 participants to you. This week say hello to  Sue Rose, Aaron Sweeney and Behrouz Amani.

I’m the Senior Testing and Verification Engineer on the High Capacity Metro Train Project for the Department of Transport in Victoria. 

My day involves assessing contractual requirements, managing change with various stakeholders and supporting the formal train test program for the State. 

I really enjoying being part of the project as I get to see behind the scenes of what’s involved in delivery of a new fleet and would like to continue to work in these large projects.

My name is Aaron Sweeney and I’m a Civil Engineer working at Queensland Rail.  I’ve held a variety of track and structures maintenance roles throughout Queensland and the UK over the last 11 years. 

 I am excited to be participating in the Horizons Program as it will be an excellent forum to meet and engage with people in the rail industry.  I look forward to the opportunity to share my knowledge and learn from others.

Outside of work I spend my time entertaining my wife and kids!

My name is Behrouz and I’m the Senior Project Engineer at V/line based in Melbourne.

My job is to manage and deliver major track maintenance projects all around Victoria to keep the regional network live and safe for commuters. Basically, I scope up a work package, develop a solution, review designs, put together required paperwork, engage a contractor, organise materials, supervise the contractor during construction and get the job done, then move on to the next package.

I joined Horizons 2.0 to get an exposure of other aspect of rail industry, seeking state-of -the-art knowledge in rail and see what other people doing in their area. Build up the network and sharing experience with other rail experts is an unique opportunity which i’m looking forward to.

Outside of work, I’m self studying playing piano as a beginner. Hope it works!

Howard Collins OBE and The Horizons Program 

Howard Collins, Chief Operating Officer at TfNSW and most recently CEO at Sydney Trains will be a special guest of RISSB’s at the Horizons 2.0 Program forum in Sydney on 2 April.

Howard will speak about his career in rail and what lessons he would pass on as well as where he sees rail going in the broader transport system.