1. Level Crossing Safety & Accident Investigation International Rail Safety Conference Goa - 2007 Tony Simes Senior Transport Safety Investigator ATSB 30 Sept – 6 Oct 2007

2. The Rail Environment in Australia ●Developed as a collection of separate State-based rail networks ●Federal Government push for reform over past 30 years – Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) - Access – Private sector involvement - Operations ●Rail Safety Regulation – State based legislation – State based regulator – Co-regulatory framework ●Rail Safety Investigation – Federal based legislation (for interstate trains) – Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)

3. Accident Investigations ●Aviation ●Marine ●Rail Research Investigations ●Road / Aviation / Marine / Rail The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)

4. ATSB Mission The ATSB contributes to the wellbeing of all Australians by maintaining and improving transport safety and public confidence through excellence in: ●independent investigation of transport accidents and other safety occurrences ●safety data recording, analysis and research; and ●raising safety awareness and knowledge

5. Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 ●ATSB investigations do not apportion blame or liability ●Investigation reports cannot be used as evidence in civil or criminal proceedings ●All investigation reports must be publicly released ●The TSI Act gives the ATSB considerable investigative powers

6. Defined Interstate Rail Network (DIRN) Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Adelaide Darwin Perth

7. Rail Investigation Team ●Adelaide (South Australia) – 4 Investigators ●Canberra (Australian Capital Territory) – 2 Investigators – 2 Investigators (shared with Marine Team) ●Brisbane (Queensland) – 1 Investigator

8. Level Crossing Traffic Control Passive Control ●Relies on the road user detecting the approach or presence of a train through direct observation and reacting accordingly Active Control ●Relies on the road user sighting the flashing lights, recognising their intended message and reacting accordingly ●removes the requirement for direct observation of an approaching train

9. Railway Level Crossings in Australia ●Over 9000 public level crossings in Australia ●Only about 30% have active traffic control

10. Level Crossings Accidents ●The ATSB has investigated 15 significant level crossing accidents over the past five years – 1 involved a passenger bus – 4 involved cars – 10 involved trucks ●Only one involved failed level crossing traffic control ●Traffic Control – 9 at passive control crossings – 6 at active control crossings

11. Salisbury (South Australia) 24 Oct 2002 ●Human error (vehicle drivers) ●Traffic queuing ●4 people killed ●26 people injured

12. Aloomba (Queensland) 23 May 2003 ●Human error (vehicle driver) ●Crossing design and sighting ●1 person killed ●2 people injured

13. Horsham (Victoria) 11 Aug 2005 ●Human error (vehicle driver) ●1 person killed

14. Albury (New South Wales) 5 Jun 2006 ●Human error (vehicle driver) ●Drugs ●Mobile phone ●1 person killed

15. Kalgoorlie (Western Australia) 14 May 2007 ●Equipment failure ●Ongoing investigation ●1 person injured

16. Heavy Vehicles in Australia Road-Trains ●25m - 53.5 m long, some up to 175 tonnes in total weight. ●Road-trains in Australia are the largest in terms of weight and length allowed on public roads in the world. Standard Trucks ●Rigid trucks / trailers (12m - 19m long) ●Semi-trailer trucks (19m - 25m long)

17. Benalla (Victoria) 13 Oct 2002 ●3 people killed (on train) ●1 person injured (on train) ●Human error (vehicle driver) ●Crossing design and sighting

18. Lismore (Victoria) 25 May 2006 ●Human error (vehicle driver) ●Environmental conditions ●1 person killed (truck driver)

19. Tailem Bend (South Australia) 4 Oct 2006 ●Human error (vehicle driver) ●1 person injured

20. Elizabeth River (Northern Territory) 20 Oct 2006 ●Human error (vehicle driver) ●Crossing design ●Train conspicuity ●2 locomotive drivers injured

21. Illabo (New South Wales) 2 Nov 2006 ●Human error (vehicle driver) ●Ongoing investigation ●no injuries

22. Wingeel (Victoria) 15 Nov 2006 ●Human error (vehicle driver) ●Ongoing investigation ●1 person killed (truck driver)

23. Ban Ban Springs (Northern Territory) 12 Dec 2006 ●Human error (vehicle driver) ●Ongoing investigation ●2 significant injuries (truck driver and a train passenger) ●Several other minor injuries

24. Back Creek (New South Wales) 10 Mar 2007 ●Human error (vehicle driver) ●Ongoing investigation ●1 person killed ●2 locomotive drivers injured

25. Kerang (Victoria) 5 June 2007 ●Human error (vehicle driver) ●Ongoing investigation assisted by the ATSB ●11 people killed ●14 people injured

26. Two Wells (South Australia) 6 August 2007 ●Human error (vehicle driver) ●Ongoing investigation ●1 person injured (Truck driver)

27. Different perspectives create challenges associated with improving level crossing safety ●Road safety perspective. – Less than 1% of road crash deaths in Australia occur at level crossings – Funding is generally directed towards where the majority of deaths occur (roads) ●Rail safety perspective – Level crossing accidents usually result in death or serious injury – Generally account for a large proportion of fatalities associated with the railway – Actions of third parties are largely beyond the control of railway organisations. ●Community perspective – Recognise that sharing the road with other road users increases the risk of collision – By comparison, level crossing accidents are rare, have a high profile in the media and can have significant emotional impact on local communities – Heightened community focus directed towards the rail system, along with vigorous attempts to identify shortcomings in the railway crossing protection systems – Belief that level crossings needed to be better protected rather than focus on road rules that may have been ignored

28. Level Crossing Safety Improvements (Investigation outcomes) ●Public awareness and law enforcement ●Re-design of the road / rail interface (layout, road signals etc.) ●Re-assessment of bus / heavy vehicle routes ●Closure of the level crossing and grade separation ●Restricting access (truck size limits) ●Improving conspicuity of trains (flashing ditch lights) ●Recognition of the risk posed by large, long, heavy vehicles ●Ensuring sighting requirements are suitable for all vehicles

29. National Safety Initiatives ●Australian Level Crossing Assessment Model (ALCAM) ●National Railway Level Crossing Behavioural Plan (Australasian Railway Association) State Safety Initiatives ●Safety education campaigns in most Australian states ●Some states have initiated major infrastructure upgrade programs to improve safety at railway level crossings – Other initiatives both national and state based

30. Further information www.atsb.gov.au

31. Questions International Rail Safety Conference Goa - 2007 Tony Simes Senior Transport Safety Investigator ATSB 30 Sept – 6 Oct 2007