Queensland Rail’s strategic risk monitoring and analysis processes were ineffective in identifying safety issues pertinent to their fleet from rail safety occurrences in other jurisdictions involving poor wheel/rail adhesion.
The Interim Appraisal Report of the Wheel Rail Interface Working Group has identified a range of measures to better identify and subsequently mitigate risks associated with specific types of rolling stock within our fleet including learnings from other jurisdictions nationally and internationally. Queensland Rail advised that further work in relation to these learnings is to be undertaken.
The ATSB notes that Queensland Rail continues to research and where appropriate implement findings and recommendations from investigations of wheel slide events from other jurisdictions and learnings of Wheel Rail Interface Working Group.
The ATSB is satisfied that the action proposed by Queensland Rail will, when completed, adequately address the safety issue. The ATSB will monitor the progress of the proposed safety action.
