Safety issue

Safety issue description

The administrative controls used by ARTC to warn train crew about temporary speed restrictions were vulnerable to errors in creation and communication. There were opportunities to improve the effectiveness of existing controls and adopt technology‑supported solutions.
Issue number RO-2022-005-SI-01
Issue owner Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC)
Transport function Rail: Other
Issue status Closed – Partially addressed
Date issue released 05/12/2025
Issue status justification

ARTC has implemented an electronic system to generate warnings for temporary speed restrictions that should reduce the risks associated with missed information. ARTC also plans to upgrade the electronic system to enable digital transmission of warnings to train crew which has the potential to reduce risks associated with communication.  As some safety actions are ongoing, the status is assessed as partially addressed. 

Safety action

Action type Proactive action
Action number RO-2022-005-PSA-001
Organisation Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC)
Action description

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

  • Issued safety briefings to existing network controllers to increase awareness of the location of kilometrage changes on the ARTC network and the need to include location descriptions on CAN warning forms.
  • Commenced development and delivery of ‘Board Information Books’ which provide information to network controllers, including locations of kilometrage changes.
  • Introduced a system to its network control centres to electronically generate CAN warning forms, called eTAP. The network controller must provide 2 types of location identification in order to generate a CAN warning using eTAP. The eTAP system is now the primary method used for generating CAN warnings.

Additionally, ARTC plans to upgrade eTAP to enable digital transmission of CAN warnings to train drivers by the ICE radio system. This upgrade, called eCAN, is projected to be implemented by 2028.

ARTC is also progressively reviewing its network information books to ensure that locations of kilometrage changes are identified and easily referenced by rail safety workers. 
Action status Closed