We look to continue reducing as much
risk out of the business as we practically
can, because any incident can potentially
cause harm to our employees.
While getting safety right starts with
our people, it is also something that is
supported by processes, technology and
infrastructure — and getting it right
in these areas will also contribute to a
safer workplace.
An example is the introduction of
Centralised Train Control (CTC) on
sections of the East West network
between Port Augusta and Tarcoola.
This system not only delivers capacity
improvements, but in removing a
manually transacted train order system,
we also drastically reduce the paper
and phone handling by our network
controllers and reduce the potential for
human error.
The Advanced Train Management
System (ATMS) will provide the next
step to this, helping reduce the number
of opportunities for conflict between
trackworker and train and improving
the visibility of train drivers as they near
work sites or opposing train services, in
addition to the efficiency benefits at a
network control level.
Our commitment to safety is also rightly
scrutinised when serious incidents or
safety issues take place on our network.
The Australian Transport Safety
Bureau (ATSB) released two major
incident reports in the past year that are
important for us as a business to reflect
on and learn from. The first related to the
ATSB report into the quality of the track
between Melbourne and Sydney and
the second related to a derailment near
Boggabri, NSW in 2012.
We have considered the findings of
these reports in detail and reiterate our
commitment to working closely with the
rail safety bodies to ensure we continue
to improve the safety and standards
of the national Interstate and Hunter
Valley networks, because it is in all of
our interests to have the safest and best
performing network possible.
We are encouraged by the rail industry’s
continued steps toward a national
approach across safety, standards and
investigative activity through the Office of
the National Rail Safety Regulator. When
complete, this centralisation will result in
better outcomes for all of the industry.
From a construction and infrastructure
perspective, the national approach can
be seen in rail safety certification and
we continue to work with industry and
the Australasian Railway Association on
delivering a simpler and safer Rail Industry
Worker program. Over 18,000 contractors
are now issued with Rail Industry Worker
Cards across the ARTC network.
We must continue to demand the best
possible safety practices from all of our
contractors and this will only further
benefit the integrity of our risk and
safety profile.
HUNTER VALLEY
In the Hunter Valley, our objective to
increase rail coal chain capacity and
performance to meet contracted volumes
continued through 2013/14. We met
capacity needs but also ensured that
producers received value for money and
the best possible productivity from their
investment in the network.
Actual coal chain capacity exceeded
coal tonnage every month during
2013/14 and in terms of reliability,
less than 0.8 percent of coal train
cancellations were attributable to
ARTC. This is a great result by the
Hunter Valley division, particularly
during constrained times.
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