Safety issue

Safety issue description

ARTC’s systems for management of track lateral stability did not lead to identification of the location as a special location potentially vulnerable to track instability.
Issue number RO-2020-001-SI-01
Issue owner Australian Rail Track Corporation
Transport function Rail: Infrastructure
Issue status Closed – Partially addressed
Date issue released 22/04/2025
Issue status justification

The completed and proposed proactive safety actions should reduce the risk associated with this safety issue. The status is assessed as partially addressed due to some safety actions not yet being complete.
Issue finalisation date 22/04/2025

Safety action

Action type Proactive action
Action number RO-2020-001-PSA-317
Organisation Australian Rail Track Corporation
Action date 22/04/2025
Action description

ARTC has taken the following actions relating to the identified safety issue:

  • A standardised form of the Track Stability Management Plan (TSMP) has been introduced and included in the procedure for managing track stability. The standardisation has reduced variability which had previously been present in information collection and analysis relating to track stability management. 
  • A track and civil engineering team has been established to manage the development and review of all TSMP’s including pre-summer briefing, post high-temp season reviews and special location analysis. The centralisation of this function has increased the consistency and quality of TSMP’s and can achieve higher scrutiny of related data and actions.

ARTC has also undertaken to conduct a review of available technology for stress‑free temperature measurement along with considering the adequacy of the current approach to stress‑free temperature testing.
Action status Closed