Standards for accessing crew in overturned vehicle

The relevant standards (AS7522 – Access & Egress and AS7520.1 – Body Structural Requirements – Locomotive) are already included within our 2024/25 Work Plan, and are scheduled to commence next month. Depending upon the complexity and the interest and responses from the Public Consultation process, we expect the reviews to be completed by early 2025.

Action satisfactory and continue to monitor.

The review of the relevant standards (AS7522 – Access & Egress and AS7520.1 – Body Structural Requirements – Locomotive) have commenced and the scope of change includes findings from the said ATSB report. The project is progressing well, once the drafting is completed, the product will be made available for public consultation. 

It is expected to be completed middle of 2025.

Action satisfactory and continue to monitor.

Based on this investigation, the following standard was selected and included in the work plan for review.

• AS 7522 - Access and Egress

The updates focused on influencing future designs of primarily locomotives and passenger rolling stock by:

• Specifically detailing requirements for rolling stock that is subjected to a rollover event.
• Improving the survivability of train crew and passengers during and post an incident.
• Providing better emergency ingress and egress for both persons exiting and persons gaining access from external areas to assist in better outcomes for injured people.

The updated standards were published in June 2025.  https://www.rissb.com.au/products/as-7522-access-and-egress-2/

Key changes to AS 7522 - Access and Egress include the following:

• Incorporating the latest Australian person size data set for access and egress.
• Requirements for access and egress of crew cars/relay vans.
• Locomotive windscreens and windows to be used for emergency access and egress.
• All crew areas/cabs to have multiple emergency exits that are accessible in an incident event.

The Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (RISSB) has amended the appropriate standard to address scenarios similar to this accident and have included appropriate mitigation requirements for access and egress of occupant in the case of vehicle overturn. This safety issue is therefore assessed as adequately addressed.