INCONSISTENT speed limits on damaged sections of the Melbourne-to-Sydney rail link could pose a safety risk, an investigation has found.
The finding is contained in a report released yesterday by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau into the quality of the railway line which has been troubled by mudholes that have forced freight and passenger trains to go slow.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation, which manages the rail line, has applied temporary speed limits with the report finding it had multiple restrictions between Melbourne and Albury in 2010 and last year, mostly at 80km/h but a few at lower levels.
Restrictions were imposed for several reasons, including dangerous mud holes.
Click play to watch a train bounce over mud holes near Chiltern last year.
In vestigators spoke with train drivers who highlighted “the potential for confusion” because multiple speed limits prompted a “high density” of warning signage, with differences between NSW and Victoria.
“In general, training, experience and driver professionalism has reduced the safety risk associated with unique state-based rules and procedures,” the bureau reported.
“However, a risk remains that operating under multiple rules and procedures has the potential to create driver confusion and as such may impact on rail safety.”
The probe found some signs warning drivers of speed restrictions were not properly installed and said sections where different restrictions overlapped were not managed well.
“Examination of temporary speed restriction records found that multiple temporary speed restrictions were often applied within five kilometres of each other,” the report stated.
“Considering that many freight trains are over 1½ kilometres long, it is evident that after clearing one restriction, trains would almost reach the next.
“Consequently, there is limited opportunity for trains to increase speed, and if they did, rarely could they reach maximum track speed before needing to slow in preparation for the next restriction.”
The corporation’s chief executive John Fullerton said action was under way to address the problems outlined in the report.
An official response by the corporation to the report said it was working with the link’s other network owners, including V/Line and RailCorp, to create uniform safety rules.
The corporation will also review the placement of its speed restrictions.
The report found no evidence of systematic issues within the corporation’s management that could compromise safety on the damaged parts of the track.
Mr Fullerton said he was reassured by that finding but more work on the Melbourne-Sydney link was needed.
“The ARTC does recognise that sections of the track between Melbourne and Sydney are affected by poor ballast condition and that track quality deteriorated after widespread heavy rainfall in the region during 2010 and 2011,” he said.
“Our priority now is to continue work to address the problem.”
The report also highlighted how the speed limits and ongoing maintenance had seen travel times blow out.
A final report, which will outline the extent and cause of the track deterioration, is due to be published by August.
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