National Transport Commission

The National Transport Commission is working with all governments and industry on the biggest change to Australian rail in over a century. Right now, our rail system is made up of 18 separate rail networks, 11 different signalling systems, and countless different rules. This impacts rail’s ability to move people and goods seamlessly across the country. With $155 billion being spent modernising rail networks, governments and industry have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to advance interoperability so that rail can play a bigger role in meeting the needs of our growing cities, regions and ports. Until now, rail transport operators have not needed to consider the national impacts of their individual network decisions. However, a recent Rail Safety National Law (RSNL) review has recommended that interoperability provisions be included in the law. As a first step, transport ministers have asked us to develop changes to regulations to require rail transport operators on freight and passenger lines between major cities and ports, to include an Interoperability Management Plan (IMP) as part of their Safety Management System. The Plan will ensure all matters of national interoperability are recorded and considered before making any changes to the operator's railway operations. Consultation on this draft amendment regulation closes on 4 October 2024. To learn more or have your say, visit our website: https://shorturl.at/bGWcp Advancing interoperability through the National Rail Action Plan will deliver the greatest change to our rail industry since electrification. It is a priority for all governments and National Cabinet, and we need everyone on board. Find out more about the National Rail Action Plan: https://shorturl.at/3PRhZ

Our CEO, Michael Hopkins, delivered a keynote address and joined a panel at the ITS Australia Summit in Sydney today on the challenges to be addressed for #AutomatedVehicles to run safely on our roads. It was an opportunity to continue the critical conversation with industry on how the NTC is delivering the regulatory and legislative reform needed for the safe introduction of automated vehicles to Australia. There are some consistent themes coming through globally and locally on the roll out of automated vehicles. Perceptions of safety have declined over the last couple of years and industry recognises this needs to improve. There is also broad consensus that getting the regulatory environment right is critical. Michael talked about the NTC’s role in working with the Australian Government on a new national law while also working with states and territories to align state and territory laws to create a nationally consistent approach. For the NTC, national transport reform is a process of collaboration - with governments, industry and the community. To learn more about our work, visit our website: https://www.ntc.gov.au/ CCAT - Centre for Connected & Automated Transport Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Department of Transport and Main Roads Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

We are excited to share that Stephen Lemon will bring his considerable experience in advancing rail interoperability to the NTC in a new position as Executive Advisor, Rail Technologies.  Stephen brings 35 years of experience in rail system strategy and development across Australia and the UK to this new role. Improving the interoperability of rail systems is a priority of National Cabinet and Infrastructure and Transport Ministers, to support a bigger role for rail to meet growing freight and passenger needs, and the decarbonisation of the transport system. In his recent roles Stephen has been an important player in national conversations about the importance of interoperability and harmonisation in the Australian rail industry, drawing on his global and local experience in introducing new rail system technologies on to complex rail systems. He has worked in the public and private sectors, leading Transport for NSW’s development of in-cab signalling and traffic management for Sydney Trains, and as technical advisor to Brisbane’s introduction of digital technology on Cross River Rail. The $155B pipeline of rail investments across Australia by governments over the next 15 years presents an opportunity to address longstanding legacy issues including rail skills shortages and operational inefficiencies, while supporting more jobs, local manufacturing, and modernisation of rail technology.   We’re looking forward to Stephen starting at the NTC. To find our more about our work in rail, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gzE5B4AY

The NTC was proud to be a partner for this year’s Australasian Rail Industry Awards.   Last night was a great opportunity to come together and celebrate the outstanding achievements of people from right across the industry. Congratulations to this year’s winners and finalists for your efforts in making rail even better.   Visit ARA's website for a list of this year’s winners: https://lnkd.in/gUVTZ8i   Thank you to the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), Rail Track Association Australia - RTAA, RTSA - The Railway Technical Society of Australasia, Permanent Way Institution - New South Wales (PWI-NSW),Institution of Railway Signal Engineers and Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (Australia) for continuing to champion success across the rail sector.

This week is TrackSAFE Foundation's #RailSafetyWeek. It's an opportunity to understand how we can work together to save lives and keep the network safe for everyone - from train drivers to pedestrians crossing rail tracks.   The TrackSAFE Foundation is the rail industry's harm prevention charity focused on reducing fatalities and injuries on the rail network.   It's a critical challenge for rail with fatalities on the network often having a severe and lasting impact on rail workers.    At the National Transport Commission we thank TrackSafe for its work and encourage you to find out more about what you can do to keep rail safe by visiting https://lnkd.in/e3Dm6zUT

Our CEO, Michael Hopkins, spoke at #ConnectRail this week on how we are working with industry and governments to create a better rail system for Australia though our National Rail Action Plan.   Michael shared the latest updates on delivering a single national rail system to make our networks safer and simpler for those who build it, run it and use it.   It includes a national interoperability pathway for train signalling systems to ensure the safe movement of passengers and freight across our networks for now and the future.   He also highlighted how we’re working to simplify the rolling stock approval process by piloting a single national application. This will reduce the burden on operators and make it easier and faster for them to get newer, safer and more efficient rolling stock onto the network.   Together these steps move us closer to more interoperable rail networks.   You can find out more about the NTC’s National Rail Action plan at https://shorturl.at/ASWgK

Our Chair Carolyn Walsh has welcomed two new Commissioners to the National Transport Commission – Loretta Lynch and MICHAEL BYRNE – and congratulated our Commissioner Jon Whelan on his extended appointment for a three-year term. Carolyn said our new Commissioners bring significant transport industry experience to the NTC Commission and will add their unique perspectives to our work delivering meaningful transport reforms for all Australians. Loretta Lynch has 30 years’ international and domestic experience in major transport projects, public transport, construction and the resources sector. She has been a leader in the transport industry heading Sydney Ferries, Melbourne Bus, Transdev and Gold Coast Light Rail, bringing a multi-modal transport perspective to the Commission.    MICHAEL BYRNE has had a distinguished career over 30 years in executive positions in the logistics and supply chain sector, including at Toll and LinFox. He has led the government response to the complex supply chain challenges of the COVID pandemic and continues as a member of the Australian Government’s export supply chain taskforce. Michael’s freight sector knowledge will help the Commission deliver our significant program of work in the heavy vehicle sector. As the Commission’s nominated state government representative, Jon Whelan brings both transport operations, policy and infrastructure expertise from his role as the Chief Executive Officer of the South Australian Government’s Department of Transport and Infrastructure. The Commissioners were appointed following a merit-based recruitment process. We now have the full complement of Commissioners to support the delivery of our growing work program.  

Our Chair Carolyn Walsh was at the Australasian Railway Association (ARA)'s People and Culture Conference recently talking about how focusing on collaboration not competition will help rail take on a bigger role in Australia’s transport task. Rail has entered a “purple patch” as new technologies improve the productivity and efficiency of Australia’s rail freight and passenger services. As part of this shift in mindset, organisations and workers need to embrace new ways of working, and build the many digital skills the workforce needs to help run and maintain a modern rail system. NTC Head of Rail Skills Bradley Giddins urged rail organisations to work together to build nationally recognised competencies and skills training for the benefit of Australia. Developing consistent skills for the rail industry is a big part of achieving harmonisation and interoperability under the National Rail Action Plan. You can find out more about the NTC’s National Rail Action plan at https://shorturl.at/ASWgK

This week our CEO Michael Hopkins spoke with ITS Australia and Compass IoT’s Byte Size for the second episode of their #ITSSummit2024 Podcast series.    The episode explored 'Working Towards a National Framework for #AutonomousVehicles in Australia', discussing our work in the automated vehicle space and our recent AV consultation.    You can listen to the episode here: https://lnkd.in/gBBzC_SS   And, you can learn more about our work with AVs here: https://lnkd.in/gCajawyx #AutomatedVehicles

This week, Sandra McKay, our Executive Leader rail reform, and our Rail Capability and Engagement Executive Advisor, Narelle Rogers, MAPP, had the privilege of participating in the Cambodian Women Mentorship Scheme. The Scheme aims to create opportunities for female-to-female collaboration and supports mentees in leadership positions in the Cambodian transport sector.   Sandra and Narelle have spent this week mentoring a female senior executive from the Royal Government of Cambodia’s Ministry of Public Works and Transport. The pilot program is developed to address the under-representation of women leaders in Cambodian transport sector.    Mentors and mentees engage in mentoring sessions, case studies, field trips, workplace shadowing, lived experience talks and panel discussions.    This positive initiative is part of the Australian Government’s Partnerships for Infrastructure program, which works with our Southeast Asian partners to drive sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth through quality infrastructure.