Tuesday, June 4, 2024
ONRSR and the Suburban Rail Loop - A Case Study
Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop Authority (SRLA) is overseeing one of Australia’s largest and most ambitious infrastructure projects, comprising a 90-kilometre railway linking every major rail artery across the Victorian capital. Multiple early works sites have been established and the project is transitioning into major works delivery.
A generational project like this one requires an unprecedented level of planning and preparation and it is here that ONRSR has played an integral part in ensuring the project team is progressing vital conceptual work in the most informed and engaged way possible.
ONRSR’s Senior Manager, Major Projects, Raden Kusumo believes the key to the mutually beneficial working relationship his team has enjoyed with representatives of the SRLA was the early engagement of the national regulator.
“Our team has a lot of experience with a range of major projects that are underway across the country and as a result we’ve seen what good looks like and what bad looks like,” he said.
“By being able to share this information where it is appropriate with the SRLA team at a very early stage – essentially the conceptual stage – ensured we could help them avoid some of the pitfalls associated with projects of this scale.” ONRSR has been working with the SRLA since 2020, guiding the project team on exactly what is required of them from a regulatory perspective, helping them to understand how they ensure compliance with Rail Safety National Law and demonstrating how the project can be delivered safely.
“There are a range of considerations they have needed to have. They have had to make decisions about rail alignment, who are the correct entities to run various aspects of the work, and what are the safety considerations they have to incorporate in their conceptual design.” Raden Kusumo says.
"So, we’ve worked with SRLA to provide guidance around what a good safety management system looks like and importantly explaining to them that it isn’t about what ONRSR will accept, rather it is about what they need to do to assure themselves that their railway operations are safe SFAIRP."
Raden Kusumo, Senior Manager, Major Projects, Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator
A key focus for Raden and his team which has included Major Projects Manager, Jesse Nicolas and Principal Compliance Officer, Georgia Patras, has been dispelling some industry myths about the role of the Rail Infrastructure Manager (RIM) – the entity that ONRSR will ultimately be asked to accredit to oversee the delivery of part of the Suburban Rail Loop project.
“There’s a lot of misinformation about being a RIM, but essentially it is about ensuring you have the right competency and capacity to undertake the railway operations, as well as appropriate safety management systems with clear processes and procedures in place – it really doesn’t need to be much more complicated than that.”
“Once they understood that concept, the conversations have become more targeted, and our focus has since switched to making sure they are on the right track and pointing them in the right direction to develop their SMS documentation with a view to ultimately applying for accreditation.”
Glen Turnbull, the Deputy Director of Rail Safety Governance and Assurance with the SRLA says the authority has genuinely appreciated the support it has received from ONRSR in working through the conceptual phase of the project.
“The support has been invaluable in helping us navigate the challenges we have faced in the development of SRL East and for the practical advice and insights ONRSR has shared,” he said.
"The expertise and experience have allowed us to approach our challenges with a fresh perspective and consider alternative approaches that we may not have previously considered. The guidance has been instrumental in helping us make informed decisions and navigate complex situations."
Glen Turnbull, Deputy Director of Rail Governance & Assurance, Suburban Rail Loop Authority
ONRSR’s Major Projects team works with rail transport operators and delivery entities of large-scale rail projects across the country most of which involve a significant technical or operational change, particularly involving novel or innovative approaches and complex delivery model. Many are associated with the introduction of new rolling stock or railway infrastructure or have a high level of complexity due to intricate, multi-party organisational or contractual structures.
If the intended railway operations fall into these definitions, then, as in the case of the SRLA, early engagement with ONRSR, well ahead of any formal application considerations, is encouraged in order to promote safe and timely project delivery.
ONRSR has produced a range of information and guidance for duty holders under the RSNL that explain the minimum expectations when reviewing safety management for major projects. Please visit ONRSR’s dedicated Major Rail Projects page on the website for more information.
ONRSR has produced a range of information and guidance for duty holders under the RSNL that explain the minimum expectations when reviewing safety management for major projects. Please visit ONRSR’s dedicated Major Rail Projects page on the website for more information.