Can you see this train? Aurizon and Pacific National launch lighting trials to stop level crossing fatalities

Two of Australia’s biggest rail companies have agreed to trial new lighting on their trains in response to a nationwide campaign aimed reducing the number of people killed at level crossings. Aurizon — the company that carts WA’s grain on rail for CBH Group — and Pacific National both confirmed this week it would conduct the trials in unison so “information and learnings” could be shared. The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator said the trials would fit in two streams — higher efficiency lighting and locomotive lighting — and be complete by the end of June. As part of the higher efficiency lighting trials, both companies plan to trial LED highlights to replace halogen headlights in locomotives that do not currently feature headlines. The brighter and longer lasting headlights are being fitted on an undisclosed number of locomotives on in WA and in the eastern states. The locomotive lighting trials involve integrating lighting with the existing ditch light circuit — located at the front and sometimes rear of a locomotive and positioned close to the track — so they are activated when the locomotive is approaching a level crossing. The ONRSR said there was minimal room to add lights to the top of the locomotive — due to gauge allowance — but options were being considered for front mounted headboard lights. An Aurizon spokesman confirmed its trials were being conducted on CBH and Aurizon trains carting grain in the Wheatbelt, and said the research would wrap up by the end of May. He said a range of factors would be considered, including engineering performance and visibility. A Pacific National spokeswoman said its trials would be held on the east coast of Australia — particularly in the Hunter Valley and regional New South Wales — and not in WA. She said its trials would run in unison with Aurizon’s so the two rail freight operators could share “information and learnings” as they progressed. Both trials are being co-ordinated through the Freight on Rail Group of Australia and the Office of National Rail Safety Regulator. Findings will be worked through with all members of the Freight on Rail Group, which is the peak body representing rail freight industry in Australia. Aurizon and Pacific National’s trials come two months after the Australasian Centre for Rail Innovation released a report investigating how train visibility could be improved. The 134-page train visibility report identified about 30 potential controls for improving train visibility at level crossings but said there was “limited evidence” regarding effectiveness, calling for “further testings”. A group of 12 families who have lost loved ones in rail crossing accidents, including four from WA, have been calling on rail operators to show leadership by improving trail lighting. The group released a statement after the report was released, saying they were disappointed it had recommended more trials and had “no faith” in the ONRSR, and would continue to call for legislation requiring rotating beacons on locomotives and LED side lighting on wagons. WA rail safety researcher Brett Hughes last week released a best-practice train lighting concept — called the Yarramony Lights concept — to send to rail companies and politicians as an example of what should be done to save lives. This includes front outline lights in two colours, side lights, rotating beacons on top, and a flashing light band across the bottom in two different colours. In a statement, the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator said it was in regular discussions with the Freight on Rail Group in relation to the train visibility program. A CBH spokesman last month told Countryman the company was committed to improving safety in regional communities and carefully considering potential controls contained in the train visibility report. He said CBH had — in recent years —modified its rolling stock to improve visibility, including the installation of reflective strips along the sides of wagons and providing “detailed” safety training for drivers to sound their horn when approaching crossings. CBH also plans to remove the infamous graffiti painted on the side of its trains. “In addition to this, CBH and Aurizon are planning on upgrading the headlights and ditch lights on our locomotives in addition to look at pulse lighting on locomotives to understand if this will improve visibility and ensuring that they work in parallel with road systems,” the spokesman said. “Utilising the engineering support within Aurizon, over the coming months CBH will develop the framework for a trial involving a lighting solution to be attached to wagons. “It is important that we build the parameters for this process so that they consider the longevity, power and angle of the light, the way the light is installed and how the light can be cleaned and maintained.”