News in Brief – 27 January-1 February 2010

Paul Little recognised in Australia Day honours
By Rob McKay
Several prominent members of the Australian transport industry have gained national recognition in the 2010 Australia Day Honours list.
Toll managing director Paul Little was made Officer of the Order of Australia for service to the development of the transport and logistics industries through strategic leadership and promotion of corporate social and environmental responsibility, and to the community through philanthropic support of sporting and medical research organisations.
Outgoing BHP Billiton chairman Don Argus became a Companion of the Order of Australia for service to business and commerce through leadership in the mining and finance industries, and to the community through the promotion of philanthropy, and executive roles in conservation, health, charitable and sporting organisations.
Among those who became Members of the Order of Australia were:
.Donald Gillies for service to marine engineering and naval architecture, particularly through education and the development of professional standards, and to the community;
.John Stringer, for service to the maritime community through the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol and the integration of marine rescue resources; and
.Geoffrey Askew, for service to the aviation industry through contributions to security policy and the development of improved crisis management programs.
Source: Lloyd’s List Daily Commercial News – www.lloydslistdcn.com.au

First sod turned on $153m Westall rail upgrade
Major works started on January 27th on Victoria’s $153 million Westall rail upgrade. The project will deliver significant benefits to the entire Dandenong rail corridor, including passenger’s right along the line to Pakenham and Cranbourne, public transport minister Martin Pakula said.
With the Dandenong line corridor carrying more than 50,000 commutes every weekday. Pakula said the project will provide extra capacity with the construction of five new stabling yards which when complete and combined with the 38 new trains on order, will allow for more peak services from Westall station.
Works on the Westall rail upgrade are expected to be completed in 2011.

Heavy vehicle road deaths trend lower
By Rob McKay
While the heat has gone out of the truck-deaths debate of earlier this month, the latest figures released on January 28th have shown a decrease in heavy vehicle fatalities in the 12 months to June last year.
The overall 12.7% fall to 241 deaths involving heavy trucks and buses was partly due to an 18.6% drop in articulated-truck deaths to 118.
However, this was partially offset by a 3.5% rise in heavy-rigid truck deaths to 88 fatalities.
The federal transport department figures also showed a downward trend in articulated-truck deaths of 5% over the three years preceding June last year.
However, deaths involving heavy-rigid trucks have risen an average 11.5% in that period after having fallen at about the same rate in the two years before June 2006.
A spate of truck deaths in New South Wales over the Christmas/New Year period sparked calls for dangerous goods including fuel to be banned where practicable from road transport and for the reinstating of the subsidy to transport fuel by rail.
Source: Lloyd’s List Daily Commercial News – www.lloydslistdcn.com.au

California receives lion’s share of federal funding for HSR
The US state of California will reportedly receive $2.25bn to develop its high-speed rail project – the lions share out of the 31 states that have been granted $8bn in total from the US government’s 2009 economic stimulus package.
The money will be used to build a $42bn high-speed rail system connecting Anaheim and San Francisco through the San Joaquin Valley, it was reported.

Rail fatalities continue to fall in NSW
The number of fatalities on NSW's rail network is far lower than 20 years ago, dropping from 32 to four in 2008/09, a report has reportedly shown. The total number of injuries fell from 618 in 2007/08 to 604 in 2008/09.
The figures in the Independent Transport Safety and Reliability Regulator (ITSRR) report do not take into account the 19 deaths from ill health, trespass and suicide, it was reported.