Topics
Streamlining rolling stock approvals webinar
The National Rail Action Plan (NRAP) program is reducing differences across networks and driving harmonisation to improve interoperability. A big focus of this work is to make it simpler and easier to get trains moving seamlessly across networks by streamlining the rolling stock approval process.
This week we held a webinar giving an update on the project. Around 170 people attended, including freight and passenger operators, rail infrastructure managers, suppliers, industry representatives and governments.
NTC CEO, Michael Hopkins led the session noting the scope of the reforms which are being delivered by the NTC, and our technical advisors NineSquared and Rail Confidence. The reforms include improving the clarity of roles and responsibilities of different parties. And looking at how the whole process – certification, registration and approval – can be streamlined and made consistent across networks.
If you weren’t able to make the session, you can watch a recording here.
To be involved in this reform you can contact the NTC team at rollingstock@ntc.gov.au.
You can also visit our website to learn more about how this work is making it simpler and easier to get newer, safer and more sustainable trains on our networks.
A digital signalling and communications pathway
A large part of our work improving interoperability involves identifying a digital signalling and communications pathway connecting Australia’s major cities, regions and ports. You can find out more about this and the development of Australia’s first mandatory rail standards in this month’s edition of Rail Express. An online version is available here.
Industry input to help harmonise operating rules
We’re also working to harmonise operating rules. Right now Australia’s rail networks have 12 different rulebooks. This make it difficult to get skills recognised across networks. It drives up training costs and increases the knowledge burden on rail workers.
We’re working with the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) and the Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (RISSB) to streamline rules and practices. This will reduce the need for bespoke training, improve workforce mobility and help to address rail’s critical skills shortages.
A line-by-line comparison of nine current rule books has identified rules with the most commonalities and prioritised these for standardisation.
This month we began extensive consultation including a series of one-to-one stakeholder sessions and workshops to identify the impact of these changes on costs, benefits and human factors.
We look forward to your participation.
You can find out more about the National Network Rules Project here.
How AI can help to accelerate the National Network Rules project
Comparing the many different rules and rail roles and responsibilities that exist across rail networks is a huge and complex task. The NTC is exploring ways that artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to hasten the process.
Specialist technical advice will help us understand how AI technology and tools such as Large Language Models (LLM) can be used to assess the current gaps in knowledge, skills and training.
An RFT for this work has been launched. You can find the tender documents on the NTC website here.
Submissions close 5pm 14 March 2025.