THE Australian government has agreed to make ETCS mandatory for all future digital signalling and control systems on the National Network for Interoperability (NNI).
The country’s federal minister for infrastructure, transport, regional development and local government, Catherine King, together with state infrastructure and transport ministers, have also agreed that a new Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (RISSB) will become the body for setting technical standards.
The adoption of ETCS will remove inconsistencies between jurisdictions, enabling seamless rail operations across state borders. Interoperability is expected to improve safety, optimise performance, and encourage further investment in the rail sector.
Progress on the national pathway for streamlining rolling stock approvals was also endorsed by the ministers, who support a national approach to the procurement of passenger rolling stock to maximise local industry participation.
RISSB and the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) welcome the latest decisions.
ARA CEO Caroline Wilkie says the “historic” decision to deliver nationally consistent digital train control and signalling systems will improve productivity and efficiency across the national rail network.
“The ARA has long advocated for greater harmonisation and interoperability in the rail industry and it is pleasing to see meaningful progress being made,” she says.
“This decision ends decades of inconsistency on the national network, which has made it harder for rail operators to move trains across the country.”
RISSB chair, Dr Gillian Miles, says a new, strengthened RISSB will support a more integrated national rail network in the digital age, which includes the mandatory standards for digital train control.
“This is a significant turning point for RISSB as we take on a stronger role in leading the implementation of the national rail standards framework,” she says.
“RISSB will continue to work with National Transport Commission (NTC), the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR), Australian federal and state governments, RISSB members, public and private operators and other key stakeholders.”
