Independent Review of Moreton Bay Rail Link signalling system

The Palaszczuk Government today released the terms of reference for the independent review of the signalling system procurement and governance as part of the delivery of Moreton Bay Rail Link (MBRL) Project.

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe announced the independent audit on Monday after receiving advice from Queensland Rail concerning outstanding issues with the signalling system for the rail project.

Mr Hinchliffe said the review will consider components of the infrastructure project as they relate to the signalling systems including, governance and contractual processes and the performance and integration of the signalling systems during design and construction.

"On Monday I announced MBRL would not be operational mid-year as previously stated because Queensland Rail testing had determined the signalling system currently installed does not meet the operational and safety standards found across the rest of the network," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"This review will determine what went wrong and how the signalling system was selected.

"This review will run separately to the work being undertaken by Queensland Rail into the requirements of the signalling systems in order for Moreton Bay Rail Link to open."

Mr Hinchliffe said the Queensland Government was in the process of finalising the commercial arrangements of the appointment of an expert to lead the review.

The full scope of the review will consider:

Governance and Contractual processes for MBRL, including: 

• Any signalling system related issues, risks and/or opportunities arising from the decision in 2012 to bring the project under the auspices of the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR);
• A review of the signalling system elements of the tendering and contract process;
• Whether the role assigned to Queensland Rail through contractual and/or governance documents and processes provided for appropriate involvement of the rail operator in the assurance processes relating to signalling; and
• Contract milestone payments relating to signalling, and gainshare payments, and the grounds upon which any payments have been made.

Performance and integration of signalling systems during design and construction, including:

• The nature of assurance activities by the project team, Queensland Rail, or other parties to monitor, test, and review signalling systems and signalling system interface/integration;
• The nature of interface/integration issues experienced between multiple signalling systems on the one network; and
• The adequacy of assurance activities, and lessons for future rail contract selection and oversight;
• The processes by which concerns raised by Queensland Rail or other parties regarding the signalling systems or signalling system integration were managed; and
• The assurance program being implemented by Queensland Rail in order to have the project commissioned

The Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Rail and other parties will also provide relevant documents as requested, subject to commercial or cabinet confidentiality. The review will also draw from the Queensland Audit Office report, 2015-16 Transport Infrastructure Projects.

It is expected that the review will be complete, with final reports handed to the Minister for Transport by the end of July.

Media Contact:         Jessica Hill 0475 950 772