Annual Report 2008-2009 - Department of Transport

150
Key Performance Indicators
Effectiveness Indicator: Number of serious rail accidents
per million train kilometres
Through administration of the Rail Safety Act 1998 (the Act), the Department
is responsible for promoting the safety of the rail transport system. In this
regulatory scheme, where railway managers are accountable for rail safety,
the Department:
• Accredits railway owners and operators to construct, operate and maintain
railways where they have met requirements in the Act including:
• demonstrating the competence and capacity to meet the
requirements of Australian Standard AS4292 Railway Safety
Management, Part 1: General and Interstate requirements;
• having a comprehensive safety management plan that identifies
significant potential safety risks; and
• an appropriate system to address those risks.
• Monitors performance of accredited railways to ensure they are complying
with the terms of their accreditation and their approved safety management
system and to achieve continuous development and improvement in
railway safety.
A ‘serious’ rail accident is one consistent with a Category A ‘notifiable
occurrence’ as described in the Rail Safety Regulations 1999, namely:
• An accident or incident involving the death of a person.
• An accident or incident involving serious personal injury to a person
(including a passenger, other member of the public, railway employee or
trespasser) that results in admission to hospital.
• A derailment of a train or rolling stock on a running line.
Number of serious rail
accidents per million train
kilometres.
2005-06
Actual
2006-07
Actual
2007-08
Actual
• A collision, including:
• A collision between trains, other rolling stock, vehicles or
obstructions or buffer stops on running lines (including a collision
as a result of a vehicle loading irregularity or an unsecured door);
and
• A collision involving a train with either a road vehicle or a person at
a level crossing, including a pedestrian crossing.
• A fire affecting rail infrastructure or rolling stock that endangers or could
endanger the safe operation of a railway.
• An explosion affecting rail infrastructure or rolling stock.
A train kilometre is the distance travelled by a train over one kilometre of track.
The indicator is calculated by dividing the total number of Category A
occurrences by the total number of train kilometres travelled (expressed in
millions) managed by accredited operators in Western Australia.
A reduction in the number of occurrences or a continuance of a zero return
would indicate that the safety outcome is being met on rail transport and gives
users reasonable confidence that the rail system they use is safe.
The result is economic growth and development through the promotion of
rail as a safe passenger and freight carrier connecting commuters and goods
to the desired destination for business or personal purposes. Social and
economic benefits are also accrued through avoiding the high costs associated
with rail accidents.
2008-09
Target
2008-09
Actual
3.99 3.36 4.23 4.00 3.90
Reasons for
Significant Variance