White Paper: Streamlining the rolling stock approval processes

Improving standardisation and enhancing interoperability across multiple interstate and intrastate networks.

The purpose of the White Paper

The primary purpose of this White Paper is to inform and stimulate debate in the industry on the rolling stock approval
process. In doing so, it identifies existing good practice and opportunities to improve the efficiency and safety outcomes.
The substantial issue that was raised by the industry was not with the registration process itself, but rather with the
certification of rail vehicles. The Paper contains recommendations to address the concerns raised with rolling stock
approval processes, through cooperation and coordination within the existing co-regulatory environment.

The issue raised by industry

Registering a railway vehicle to operate across the Australian rail networks involves multiple networks managed by
different rail infrastructure managers and the train operators.

The multiplicity of approval processes to operate rolling stock across Australia has been identified by the rail freight
industry as a major deterrent to investment and innovation. The substantial issue raised by the industry within the
broader vehicle approval processes is largely related to the certification of rail vehicles rather than the registration
processes.

The rail freight industry is seeking to streamline vehicle approval processes to reduce the administrative burden with
transparent timeframes that hinders rolling stock utilisation.

Discussion points and recommendations

The Paper supports the further development and expansion of the national rolling stock register (NRSR) and procedures,
being developed by ARISO, which will help improve standardisation and enhance interoperability across multiple interstate
and intrastate networks. It puts forward a set of discussion points and recommendations for further consideration and will
operationalise the work being undertaken by the National Transport Commission.

Highlights

Size of the task

Rail freight is the backbone of the Australian economy. The need for rail to play a greater role meeting the
nation’s growing freight task and decarbonisation is significant and urgent. Complexities and delays in the
rolling stock approval processes significantly affect industry outcomes, including the investment in new
technologies. Streamlining the rolling stock approval process is a considerable task with significant engagement
with the key players involved.

Technical standards

It is important that all rolling stock operating on the rail network meet the technical requirements to be
compatible with the network infrastructure. Understanding the various standards at play within the rolling stock
approval process and the risks they are intended to mitigate is essential to understanding the challenges
associated with the rolling stock approval processes.

Data requirements

Rolling stock data exchange is core to the conversation and is considered critical to managing operational risks.
Having a mechanism to clearly define the data requirements, efficiently exchange that data, and make it available
for the industry is essential for improving the rolling stock approval process.