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Pollution Reduction Program 4.2 Particulate Emissions from Coal Trains
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has published the results of particulate emissions monitoring undertaken on its behalf, as required under the terms of its Environment Protection Licence, ARTC CEO John Fullerton said today.
It is the second round of particulate monitoring results released, following a pilot monitoring report released in September 2012.
The monitoring was conducted at Raymond Terrace Drive in Metford using an Osiris particulate matter monitoring device from 30 November 2012 to to 29 January 2013.
The latest round of monitoring expanded on the pilot monitoring program objectives aimed at determining whether trains operating on the Hunter Valley rail network are associated with elevated particulate matter concentrations and if loaded coal trains had a stronger association with elevated particulate matter concentrations than other trains on the network.
“The monitoring results released today are in line with the pilot monitoring program results released in late September 2012, which showed little difference between train types,” Mr Fullerton said.
The monitoring program concluded that: “loaded coal trains operating on the Hunter Valley rail network, when measured at Metford, did not have a statistically stronger association with elevated particulate matter concentrations than other trains.”
The monitoring found there was no statistically significant difference in concentrations of Total Suspended Particulates (TSP), PM10 and PM2.5 (particulate matter with an equivalent aerodynamic diameter of 10 micrometres or 2.5 micrometres) between loaded coal trains, freight trains and passenger trains.
Similar to the previous results, the latest monitoring also found that average concentrations of TSP, PM10 and PM2.5 associated with unloaded coal trains, and average concentrations of TSP associated with loaded coal trains, were higher compared to when no train passed the monitoring station.
Average concentrations of particulate matter was also measured against wind direction during this monitoring period which shows there was a statistical difference between unloaded coal trains for TSP, PM10 and PM2.5 and loaded coal trains for TSP when compared with no trains and passenger trains passing the monitoring station.
“ARTC has provided the results of the monitoring to the NSW EPA and we will work with the Authority on what next steps are appropriate in line with our Environment Protection Licence,” Mr Fullerton said.
The full monitoring report and an executive summary are available on the ARTC website, www.artc.com.au.
About ARTC
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is the rail track and infrastructure owner and operator that works with coal companies and rail operators through the Hunter Valley Coal Chain Coordinator to coordinate planning and operation of the Hunter Valley Coal Chain. ARTC manages the rail maintenance, rail infrastructure development and train operations across the network as part of wider coal chain operations.
If you or your organisation would like to request the raw data related to this report, please email enviroline@artc.com.au for this request to be considered.