The reporter has raised a safety concern in relation to inadequate vegetation management within the rail corridor.
The reporter states, 'throughout the [Operator] regional network, vegetation management within the rail corridor is completely unacceptable, is unsafe and has caused impact to operations'. The reporter further advises that they have experienced locomotive stalling due to wheel slip caused by excessive amounts of grass growing over the rail to the point where the rail and sleepers are no longer visible.
Drivers are unable to exit the rollingstock to conduct train inspections as grass is growing up and over the track in various areas around the state, in particular the southwest and central west regions. The risk of injury to train crew is significantly increased when conducting full length consist inspections on foot, due to the excessive grass growth which is slippery, along with increased snake activity during the warmer months. The reporter states that there is also the potential for grass fires to affect train operations.
The reporter finally advises, formal reports have been made to [Operator's] network control on specific events however nil action has been taken to address the concern.
[Operator] acknowledges the reporter's concerns and the ATSB’s interest in the matter. At [Operator], safety comes first. Always.
[Operator] has been able to identify (through the supplied photos) the locations and nature of the issues raised. Noting the seasonality of some lines, particularly [commodity] lines for which these concerns appear to be raised, [Operator] can confirm that planning works do occur each year prior to the [commodity] season commencing. This includes assessment of the railway line by suitably qualified inspectors on a hi-rail vehicle on a scheduled patrol/inspection 96 hours prior to any trains traversing through the sections. Multiple items are inspected as part of this process to ensure the safety of the network, including identification of any vegetation management concerns which are actioned if required. Appropriate processes can be taken to rectify any raised actions.
In this instance, the photos appear to demonstrate that vegetation within the corridor wasn't identified as a concern in the scheduled patrol/inspection prior to the train running. [Operator] can confirm that an appropriate and expected outcome was completed following the notification of the vegetation management issue through to network control center by the train crew. It is [Operator's] process for network control centres to raise the reported issue with the relevant asset management team. A work order/incident report is created for action as noted in photographic evidence (supplied to the ATSB) demonstrating the vegetation has been managed.
[Operator] appreciates the concerns raised from the reporter and is happy to be able to demonstrate the notification and work order process has worked as expected in this instance. [Operator] encourages the ongoing reporting of any safety concerns by parties through to the relevant network control center, so the issue can be reviewed and any actions identified for the matter to be managed safely.
ONRSR has reviewed the reporter’s concerns and operator’s response including supporting information. ONRSR is satisfied with the operator’s response. The report will be considered in ONRSR’s ongoing compliance strategy with the operator and will be considered in any future regulatory activities focused on vegetation management.