Date: 6 March 2015Location: Sydney

The intersection of regulation and engineering for light rail systems

Light Rail 2015

• New Light Rail System

• Jurisdiction without Light Rail

Cathodic Protection Systems are not the same as stray current from DC railways.

Stray current corrosion

Cathodic Protection Systems

• Current is relatively constant

• System is intended to impress a current

Stray Traction Current

• Current varies quickly and

significantly in magnitude, and

can change polarity

• Current is unintended

Potential regulatory objectives

• Codify permissible interference voltage limits appearing on various classes of “foreign structures” as the result of the actions of another party, whether intentional (as in a cathodic protection system) of unintentional (as in the case of stray traction current);

• Establish a framework for cooperative interaction between parties to resolve stray current / electrolysis corrosion issues; and

• Provide for the registration of discrete equipment, such as cathodic protection systems and drainage bonds, in order that any person with concerns regarding possible interference potentials on their structure can readily apprise themselves of possible sources and the parties involved

Considerations for new jurisdictions

• Educating the regulator - what is their experience with stray current and cathodic protection systems

• Stakeholder consultation - asset owners and regulator

• NSW: Electricity Supply Act 1995 and Electricity Supply (Corrosion Protection) Regulation 2014

• registration of corrosion protection systems

• "corrosion protection system" - any appliances, wires, fittings or other apparatus designed, intended or used for the protection, by means of electrical currents, of metallic structures in contact with land, including water, from external corrosion and includes cathodicprotection systems, drainage bonds, boosted drainage bonds and cross bonds.

• Offences for not operating and maintaining CPSs in accordance with design specifications

• Annual reporting and system testing requirements

• QLD: Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 - no mention of stray current from railways

• VIC: Electricity Safety (Cathodic Protection) Regulations 2009 - includes references and regulates "stray current"

Electricity Network

Electrical Installation

Not Electricity Network

Not Electrical Installation

So… what?

• Overhead Line Equipment – How does the Law treat it?

• Electrical installations legislation (some examples):• Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004 (NSW)

• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (QLD)

• Electricity Safety Act 1971 (ACT)

• Applies to electrical installations

• Eg. electrical installation means any fixed appliances, wires, fittings, apparatus or other electrical equipment used for (or for purposes incidental to) the conveyance, control and use of electricity in a particular place (s3, Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004 (NSW))

• Definitions exclude electrical networks operated by utility providers - but light rail operators may not be utility providers

• Prescribe standards and offences in relation to the safe use of electricity:

• standard of electrical wiring work and installations - eg. comply with Australian/ New Zealand Wiring Rules;

• the reporting of serious electrical accidents

• Overhead Line Equipment – How does the Law treat it?

• Utility provider legislation (some examples)• Electricity Supply Act 1995 (NSW)

• Electricity Act 1994 (QLD)

• Utilities Act 2000 (ACT)

• Applies to utility providers and operation of

• electricity distribution systems to third parties

• Licencing requirements

• Economic and consumer protection regulation

• Connect consumers on application

• Maintain supply

• Protection of networks from third party interference

• Bridging the gap

• Queensland

• Electrical Safety Act excludes electrical equipment associated with providing electrical traction to a light rail and for signalling

• Transport Infrastructure Act provides for protection of light rail networks from third party interference

• ACT

• Utilities (Technical Regulation) Act 2014

• Explanatory statement notes aim is party to address move from large scale generation to emerging energy and water services including solar energy and extend the definition of a utility service (electricity generation connected to the network with a capacity of 5MW and above).

• Allowance for exclusion from Utilities Act licensing requirements = technical but no economic or consumer related regulation

• Solar, Blue Gen, District energy networks, (light rail networks?)

Road Rules

Trams?

• Do Road Rules always apply to Trams?

• Harmonised Australian Road Rules

• Existing jurisdiction specific roads and transport legislation

• Public transport regulation

• Should Road Rules always apply to Trams?

• Registration of vehicles

• Police powers and vehicle seizure and removal

• Are vehicles dutiable property?

• Compulsory third party insurance requirements

• Transportation of dangerous goods

• Alcohol and drug screening and intoxication offences

• Obligations when involved in accidents

Building attachments

• What happens if a wall bracket comes away from a building due to failure of the building and causes an incident on the light rail?

• What happens if an incident on the light rail results in the wall bracket being torn from the building and damages the building?

• Fortunately no history of this in the last 35 years in Melbourne.

• Rights of attachment to buildings for tramway overhead wires have been created in various ways.

Using the Road Reserve

• What legal standing does a light rail undertaking require to be able to place pipes and cables in the road reserve?

• Property right (easement) or other access right from land owner (the State or an independent statutory authority)

• Interaction with existing utility infrastructure

• Offences for interference with utility networks and infrastructure

• Relocate, remove or protect ?

• Negotiations with utility infrastructure owners - any parameters?

• Compliance with road closure and access and temporary traffic measures regimes

Why does all this matter?

• Certainty

• Tenderers

• Franchisees

• Regulators

• Enablement

• Building attachments

• Power supply cables between the zone substation and the alignment

• Governance

• Safety

• Accountability

Questions?