Rail Standards Updates

New ARTC design specification for overhead rail crossings

Earlier this year, the ARTC published a new design specification EEG-00-01 Requirements for Electric Aerials Crossing ARTC Infrastructure. The new document now replaces the former PYS 02 specification.

EEG-00-01 modernises ARTC specifications, aligns design requirements with AS/NZS 7000, simplifies the design process and compliance and improves construction outcomes.

For example, Essential Energy’s standard Wind Return Periods (see minimum below) and strength reduction can now be used. Interpretation and application of the old PYS 02 ‘Factors of Safety’ is no longer required.

Key changes include:

• A minimum 100 year Wind Return Period (WRP) can be used for lines up to 66kV. A 400 year WRP is required for 132kV and above.
• Essential Energy’s standard strength reduction factors apply. This means it is no longer necessary to create separate Neara models to assess rail crossing spans.
• Crossarms supporting crossing spans can now be attached with eyebolts. The requirements to band crossarms to poles has been removed.
• It is no longer necessary to concrete timber pole foundations (in fact, Section 3.2 forbids it).
• Composite poles and crossarms can officially be used

UGL Regional Linx requirements.

UGL Regional Linx has replaced John Holland Rail as operator of Transport for NSW’s Country Regional Network.

UGL has a general and overarching design specification CRN CS 540 Service Installations in the Rail Corridor. However, they do not have specific design criteria for overhead powerline designs which cross their rail corridor. Its requirements are as per CRN CS 540 Clause 5.3.1 General:

‘Aerial crossings for electrical, telecommunications and other utilities shall be designed and installed in accordance with relevant industry and Australian Standards.’

We have confirmed that UGL will be satisfied if designs are compliant with both the ARTC’s EEG-00-01 specification, and Essential Energy design and construction standards (which also comply with AS/NZS 7000). This effectively makes the design requirements for both ARTC and UGL jurisdictions the same. (Please note that VicTrack and Queensland Rail have separate requirements.)

Updates to standards:

In the coming months, we will update:

• our design manuals, including CEOM7097, CEOM7081 and relevant standard construction drawings
• rail specific information in the Neara Environments spreadsheet.

Reminder for design certifications that contain rail crossings.

Any design that contains a rail crossing will need to be approved by the relevant rail authority. Please submit your compliant plan to Essential Energy for ‘Endorsement’ prior to submitting your application to the rail authority. Our Design and Certification Officer will stamp the plan and return it to you to forward it on.

Once ‘In Principle’ approval is obtained from the rail authority, you can submit this to Essential Energy and we will finalise the certification and stamp the plan as ‘Certified’.

What do you need to do?

1. Review the above and start using the new standards in your design. Inflight projects that have not been submitted should be converted to the new standards. There is no requirement to amend current certified designs.
2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation.
3. View this communication via Essential Engagement

Further Information

If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au