About ARISO

National operations publications

ARISO develops and manages national operations publications that support harmonised and safe rail operations across Australia.

Introduction

Since its inception, ARISO has worked toward the national harmonisation of rail operations. Over time we have produced and now manage several important publications on behalf of the industry:

  • Operational Concept for the Australian Rail Network including the seven Fundamental Operating Principles
  • Australian National Rules Framework
  • Australian Harmonised National Rule or rules
  • Australian Network Rules and Procedures
  • Code of Practice on the Development and Maintenance of Network Rules
Conceptual relationship diagram

Fundamental operating principles

  1. Rail traffic must maintain safe separation via an appropriate method of signalling.
  2. Before any rail traffic is allowed to start or continue moving, it must have an authority to move that clearly indicates the limit of that authority.
  3. Rail traffic and other transport modes must be separated, or the interface managed.
  4. Rail traffic must be prevented from moving if the infrastructure’s integrity is suspected to be in an unsafe state.
  5. Rail traffic must be prevented from moving if the rail traffic’s integrity is suspected to be in an unsafe state.
  6. Rail traffic must only operate on compatible infrastructure.
  7. Safe separation must be maintained between people and rail traffic.

See the
Operational Concept for the Australian Railway Network
for the full framework and supporting materials.

National Rules Framework

The National Rules Framework provides core rules aligned to the fundamental operating principles. It sets minimum requirements for inclusion in an RTO’s safeworking rules and procedures.

Each network rule should align to one of the seven principles and highlight its relationship with the Australian Network Rules and Procedures.

National Rules Framework

Management System Framework – Reference Guide

This guide maps key national standards, codes, rules and guidelines to help organisations build or update safety management systems that align with the Rail Safety National Law and Regulations.

It supports accreditation and variation processes by classifying relevant ARISO publications against safety management system elements.

Download the Reference Guide (PDF)

Australian Network Rules and Procedures

ARISO developed the ANRP in 2009 and last updated it in 2015. The rules consider differing technologies across networks and provide options that RIMs can merge with network specific rules and procedures to form a rulebook. They remain applicable across Australia.

As technologies converge, options reduce which supports greater harmonisation.

Australian Harmonised National Rule

Building on the ANRP, ARISO is developing rules that RTOs can adopt verbatim. A National Rules Industry Reference Group of senior leaders from 14 RTOs provides strategic direction. Subject matter experts form the working group for the Australian Harmonised Network Rules.

The first harmonised rule “AHNR 2007 Communications” was developed from ANRP 2007, 2008 and 2025 and released in June 2021.

National guidance for development of network rules

A Code of Practice on the development and maintenance of network rules is available here.

Code of Practice – Development and Maintenance of Network Rules

The National Operations Publications

Acknowledgement

ARISO acknowledges the contribution of subject matter experts to the development of these publications, from development group membership to open review feedback.

Declaration

These publications were developed with input from rail experts and represent good practice for the industry.

Use and reliance remain the responsibility of the user to assess against their operational environment and risk profile.