ASSOCIATION OF TOURIST RAILWAYS

29 and 30 MAY 2004

Seminar

 Australasian Railway Association Activities

Presentation to ATR Seminar

29 May 04

Phil Sochon 

Discussion Points

•      ARA Development Activities

 •      Co-Regulation

 •      Heritage and Tourist Railway Association

Current ARA Development Activities

Strategic Plan

New concept of elements and risk environments

Strategic Plan

•      Currently no defined strategy for COP

•      Draft for consideration by CMC Board 26 May 04

•      Addresses:

•    new concept

•    national application

•    compliance

•    management

•    development and implementation

•      Input to co-regulation debate (concurrent)

•    Code is industry’s key contribution to co-regulation

 Fatigue Management

•      Based on work of industry sleep consortium in conjunction with Adelaide university

•      Initial industry consultation complete

•      NTC discussion paper soon to be released, will append draft Code to NTC discussion paper

•      RTBU key contributor

•      Poses low risk and high risk management options

 Drug and Alcohol Management

•      Initial industry consultation complete

•      NTC discussion paper soon to be released, will append draft Code to NTC discussion paper

•      RTBU key contributor

•      More development required

Health Assessment

•      Health

–   NTC lead, general support for content

–   Industry comment complete

–   Submitted to ATC – in progress

–   COP integration post ATC approval (subject to clarification of Code role post co-regulation debate)

–   NTC to retain management responsibility until co-regulation debate finalised

Rulebook Alignment

•      Objective to align the RIC rulebook and Code

•      Originated from development of Vic rulebook

•      Development Group formed

–   Project initiation 31 May 04

–   QR, PC, ARG, ARTC, ITSRR, DOI Vic

•      Success will assist more common national approach

Communications Code

•      Objective to develop and implement a national approach for future rail communications requirement

–   An interoperable national communications system

•      Draft functionality statement under development

•      Code development to commence late this year

Volume 4 (Track, Civil & Elec) redevelopment

•      ARTC sponsored changes

•      Development Group nominated

•      Commencement dependent on ARTC completion of drafting and risk assessment

Volume 5 (Rolling stock) redevelopment

•      Less prescriptive document to be developed

•      Project initiated late Apr 04

•      Demonstrator element being developed to confirm performance based approach

•      Important to progress as current Vol 5 is still a draft

•      New code will embrace strategy and will have national applicability

–   Will take time to develop

–   Incremental implementation

Glossary

•      Aim to develop national glossary of rail terminology

•      Joint NTC/CMC activity

•      Dictionary complete (166 pages)

•      Free access ARA database to be available Jun 04

–   Initially hold dictionary which will transform to a glossary

•      Terminology rationalisation process to commence Jun 04

Investigations Code

•      Objective to develop a code that establishes a common methodology for undertaking accident and incident investigations in the rail industry

•      Vic initiative, ICAM methodology & causal factors

•      A  national approach

•      COP logical vehicle

•      Opportunity to develop standard reporting

–   National database

Rail Career and Skills Council

•      To address aging workforce, lack of recognition of competencies, driver qualifications and moonlighting

•      Objective to develop a national rail worker training and licensing scheme

•      Major workshop Jun/Jul to explore way ahead with key stakeholders

–   Focus on enhancing

•    Recruiting

•    Career development

•    Education and training

•    Certificate of competency database

Co-Regulation

•      NTC process to define the co-regulatory environment for the Australian rail industry

–   Roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders

 •      Industry must form a cohesive view of what it expects and how it wishes to participate

•      The Code is a key document for industry and is the industry element of co-regulation

•      Workshop Jun 04 to further explore options

Heritage and Tourist Railways Association

•      ARA seeks to provide a unified industry voice

–    Many current activities where this is essential

•    Co-regulation

•    Data requirements (NSW)

•    Accreditation                     

•      Code to embrace the entire industry including Heritage

–    Govt and regulators intend to apply common standard

–    Code will need to address requirements of heritage and tourist rail

–    Need to explore heritage involvement in code development

•      ARA pursuing fundamental issues for the industry

–    insurance

–    training

–    Infrastructure

•    ARA representation to govt led to recent budget outcome

•    More work in hand to define requirement for further investment

Heritage and Tourist Railways Association

•      The benefits are long term and may not accrue immediately

•      Membership fees on an equitable basis

–    Non mainline associations covered by umbrella association membership

–    Prefer mainline heritage and tourist operators to have separate membership as contribution to rail environment maintenance

–    Either case, fee is $875 inclusive of Code access

•      ARA looks forward to developing a co-operative relationship with Heritage and Tourist rail

–    Seeking views on how we should relate to each other

Australasian Railway Association Activities

Presentation to ATR Seminar

29 May 04

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