A track possession is the temporary suspension of rail services to allow work within the rail corridor to take place in a safe and efficient manner.
A track possession may include movement of work trains or other rail vehicles into and out of work sites, subject to the relevant CRN Network Rules.
Track possessions are planned in the manner described in this manual and enacted via the types of work on track ‘authorities’ described in the CRN Network Rules.
John Holland Rail delivers the following types of work within planned track possessions, following consultation and communication with relevant internal and external stakeholders.
– Routine Maintenance (RM),
– Major Periodic Maintenance (MPM),
– Annual Works Plan (AWP) related capital works,
– Non-Annual Works Plan (AWP) capital works, externally funded works and works carried out by third parties.
Track possessions are published in a possessions program which aims to:
– Minimise cancellation of or disruption to passenger and freight services,
– Maximise possession time to ensure safe and productive time on track is provided to carry out required works,
– Provide suitable notice of possessions to rail operators and other stakeholders to ensure the commercial cost of disruptions is minimised,
– Improve maintenance planning to ensure the efficiency and productivity of track works,
– Issue possession timetables and notifications via Country Train Notices (CTNs) ,
– To minimise disruption to passenger and freight services, seek where possible to coordinate CRN possessions with possessions on adjacent sections of the ARTC or Sydney Trains networks,
– Seek to coordinate possessions with maintenance activities at loading points,
– Provide a process where rail operators are consulted during the development of the possession program.
– Ensure the representative of the network owner, Transport Asset Holding Entity (TAHE), is;
– Aware of the possessions program,
– Informed of the process used to develop it,
– Has the opportunity to participate in the development of the possessions program, and
– Made aware of changes to the program that may affect the operations of the network or may precipitate delays to rail services, prior to any changes being implemented.