The Whistle Board Newsletter – No. 76, August 2020

RISSB's 2020 Rail Safety Conference Is Virtually On!
27-28 October 2020

How safe is safe enough? When it comes to events, the health and safety of our speakers, delegates and staff is a top priority and given the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Victoria and NSW, a decision has been made that the RISSB Rail Safety 2020 conference will now be delivered virtually.

We're still offering, a two-day supercharged program featuring Australian and international speakers, technical streams focused on tackling industry's big issues as well interactive panel discussions, but now we're delivering the full conference experience straight to your living room or workplace. 

This year, your virtual registration will provide you with unlimited access to an all new RISSB Rail Safety 2020 Event Platform. This will be an all-in-one venue to access:

• 40+ presentations and panel sessions – LIVE and ON-DEMAND for 3 months
• Renowned local and international industry speakers
• Bespoke pre and post event networking sessions
• Technical content (all approved papers, abstracts and technical content) available for download.

We've got special deals for RISSB members and young rail professionals! To take advantage of our special rates, please click on the blue 'Register Now' button below this story to take you to the bookings page.

Keeping checking your inbox for information about the conference, including confirmed speakers. Don't forget to visit the conference web page which will be progressively updated over the coming weeks as more information is confirmed.

*An agenda will be launched within the coming fortnight*

RISSB Tackles the Big Safety Issues

We work year-round to address a range of safety matters as determined by our stakeholders and our purpose as an organisation. As the name of our organisation suggests, Safety and Standards go hand in hand at RISSB.

While our most significant contribution to Rail Safety Week and the greater safety debate remains our catalogue of 200+ Standards, Guidelines, Codes of Practice and Rules, we've been helping drive the rail safety message in Australia and New Zealand and have worked tirelessly to address the very issues that our members have deemed to be top priorities.

Click on this link if you missed our special edition The Whistle Board newsletter issued earlier this week and would like to know how we are working with industry to make the rail network safer.

Projects On Parade

Each week we'll showcase a publication in our 2020 / 2021 work plan that we will progressing in the coming year.

Publication Type 
Standard

Publication Name 
AS 7658 Level Crossings

Overview
Every year a number of Australians lose their lives whilst using one of the 19,0000+ level crossings throughout the country. Because of this, level crossings present one of the most significant risks within the Australian railway network, to both the industry and the public at large.

RISSB continues to take a lead in assisting the industry to better understand and mitigate these risks. Part of that involvement includes the redevelopment of AS 7658 Level Crossings. This important Standard addresses those risks, through requirements and recommendations for design, operation and maintenance of level crossings. This redevelopment is nearing completion and, once published, will play a major role in making level crossings throughout Australia safer.

Standards Development Manager 
Cris Fitzhardinge - cfitzhardinge@rissb.com.au

AS 7664 Railway Signal Cable Routes, Pits and Foundations

The Development Group met for the final time this week to close out the remaining public comments. With this phase complete the sign off process starts, with publication planned for September this year.

AS 7460 Remotely Piloted Aviation Systems (Drones)

The latest draft has been finalised, with the Development Group recommending that it be issued for public comment. The Standard should be available later this month.

Light Rail Signalling Standard

A further meeting was held last week, with good discussions around terminology, definitions and the various types of signals used on networks around Australia. The Standard is progressing well, with a revised draft expected to be available for Development Group review next week.

AS 7658 Level Crossings

The Development Group is continuing their review of the validation report, with the remaining recommendations expected to be closed out this week.

Creating an Optimal Reality - Digital Twins in Transport

Join Dr Kellie Nuttall, National Lead for Analytics & AI at Deloitte at 12PM (AEST) on Tuesday, 18 August 2020 for RISSB's webinar #20 Creating an Optimal Reality - Digital Twins in Transport.

Kellie will discuss some of the challenges facing mobility in our cities (now and into the rapidly changing future). She will introduce Optimal Reality - A Digital Twin solution combining a range of emerging technologies which can be leveraged to support better transport system management and customer experience in our cities.

Please click on the blue 'Register Now' button to reserve your place in next week's webinar.

Missed this week's webinar? 
All past webinars have been recorded and are available on this https://www.rissb.com.au/home/webinars/ page. Simply find a presenter's name and click on the 'Watch' button near it.

Call for Public Consultation – AS 7703 Railway Signalling – Power Supply Systems

Call for Public Consultation – Wheel defects Code of Practice