Timing of the release of independent review of the Moreton Bay Rail Link signalling system

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe today confirmed he has received advice the Independent Review of the Moreton Bay Rail Link (MBRL) Project will be finalised in the coming weeks.

The Department of Premier and Cabinet who are leading the independent audit yesterday wrote to Minister Hinchliffe to advise they have requested the reviewer undertake further work to finalise the report.

"While I asked for the audit to be finalised before the end of July, I support the decision by the department of Premier and Cabinet to request further work," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"The audit was announced to determine what went wrong and how the signalling system was selected.

"This audit has been 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."

The full scope of the audit is outlined below:

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

Mr Hinchliffe said he expects the report will be finalised in the coming weeks.

Advice from Queensland Rail into the requirements of the signalling system in order for MBRL to open is expected to be finalised by mid-August.  

Media contact: Jessica Hill 0475 950 772