By NZPA
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Tuesday 22nd October 2002 |
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However, the report also found that some parts of the infrastructure lacked the support of appropriate systems and were operating close to their practical limits.
The review, jointly commissioned by Tranz Rail and the Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA), investigated the maintenance and management of New Zealand's rail infrastructure, Tranz Rail said in a statement today.
Tranz Rail's asset replacement programme "appears to be providing an overall improvement in the average age and condition of assets and of the network generally", according to the report.
Specific areas identified where safety could be improved include management of continuous welded rail and the overloading of coal wagons, Tranz Rail said.
Tranz Rail managing director Michael Beard said Tranz Rail accepted further improvements could be made and would work with the LTSA on implementing the report's recommendations.
"Many of the current safety systems, operating agreements and auditing processes were put in place either when Tranz Rail took ownership of the network in 1993, or they are a number of years old," Mr Beard said.
"Halliburton has taken a fresh look at those systems and recommended they be strengthened and improved.
"... in the past six months we have dedicated nine teams and purchased specialist measuring equipment to address the issues surrounding continuously welded rail."
The report recommended that LTSA be given stronger regulatory powers, especially in the area of auditing, and a more proactive role in measuring safety performance and identifying emerging risks.
The findings were the second part of a report released in June, which investigated Tranz Rail's outsourcing practices and maintenance staff numbers.
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