30 Oct 2026
Ballarat ALCAM Survey & Rating Training
Last week, ARISO delivered ALCAM Survey and Rating training in Ballarat, Victoria. The ALCAM risk methodology has been adopted across Australia and New Zealand, enabling level crossing risks to be identified and measured consistently.
The importance of this training was driven home mid-course when news broke of a collision between a loaded grain truck and a freight train at a level crossing near Ceduna, SA. Reporting on this crash highlights the questions this course trains people to ask:
- Are the controls right for the crossing?
- Can road users see an incoming train and stop in time?
- What does the grade leading up to the crossing do to the stopping distance for heavy vehicles?
Level crossing safety is a shared responsibility, so it was great to see so many organisations in the room.
Some participants were sponsored under the Victorian Railway Crossing Safety Strategy, including representatives from V/Line and Puffing Billy Railway. We had two participants from Rigore Engineering who travelled from regional NSW, and one from Vitruvius who flew in from New Zealand.
Ben O’Sullivan, a training participant and Northern Track Supervisor for V/Line, explained how Temporary Speed Restrictions (TSRs) that slow down trains as they travel through crossings reduces the risk of a collision but can also negatively impact customers.
“While TSRs mitigate risk, they also increase the travel time for passengers. ALCAM Survey & Rating Training helps the V/Line track team understand the type of rectification work required to address identified risks and remove TSRs, improving the safety and productivity of our rail network.”
There was also good news. Several crossings visited during the practical surveys had safety improvements made since our last Ballarat course.
ARISO’s Head of Learning & Development Matt Garratt noticed freshly painted line markings that had also been adjusted to address non-conformances with the Australian Standard.
“Seeing ALCAM survey observations becoming on-the-ground improvements is exactly why we run this training,” said Garratt.
Thank you to all participants for your engagement and commitment to making level crossings safer.
Interested in upcoming ALCAM training? Visit alcam.com.au/training to register your interest.
