Rail harmony urged
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An official report shows Australia’s 29 rail networks still refuse to speak the same language.
The industry-backedHarmonisation of Rail Standards (HoS) Research Report (PDF) recommends a shift toward uniform national standards in Australia's rail industry.
The report highlights the significant fragmentation of the current system, which consists of 29 distinct networks, each with its own standards, technologies, and processes.
The proposed changes are part of the broader National Rail Procurement and Manufacturing Strategy, aiming to enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability in the sector.
Prepared by GHD Advisory and funded by key industry bodies, the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), National Transport Commission (NTC), Office of National Rail Industry Coordination (ONRIC), and Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (RISSB), the report outlines the need for consistent standards to foster interoperability across networks.
The report suggests that harmonising rail standards could lead to more efficient rail operations, potentially saving billions of dollars while also supporting domestic manufacturing and job creation.
The research predicts an investment of over $155 billion in rail infrastructure over the next 15 years.
It proposes establishing a national oversight body to drive a National Rail Standards Harmonisation Strategy in collaboration with industry stakeholders.
The initiative aims to improve the interoperability of systems, streamline approvals, reduce training costs, and encourage the adoption of innovative technologies.
ARA CEO Caroline Wilkie says that harmonising standards, particularly in areas like signalling and control systems, could facilitate the seamless movement of freight and passenger rail across cities and regions.
“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,” Wilkie stated.
Michael Hopkins, NTC's CEO, said the research is aligned with the National Rail Action Plan, which seeks to develop a National Rail Standards Framework as part of broader national reform.
"The work is delivering the most significant change to Australian rail since electrification," Hopkins said.
While the benefits of harmonisation are clear, the report also identifies barriers, such as the lack of incentives for individual networks to align with national standards and the entrenched legacy systems of different states.
The proposed solutions include phased implementation and government funding support to ease the transition.
The report also points to international examples, such as the European Union, where consistent standards have enhanced rail interoperability and efficiency.
It recommends a “gradualist mandatory approach” to harmonisation, suggesting that mandatory adoption of standards could significantly improve economies of scale, safety, and environmental outcomes, ultimately aiding the industry's transition to net zero emissions.
Each commissioning body of the report is currently reviewing its recommendations to determine the next steps.