Sydney's rail radio black spots remain due to upgrade delays

Documents obtained under freedom of information laws show that radio black spots remain on Sydney’s rail network, more than 11 years after the Waterfall train disaster.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports this morning that full implementation of key recommendations arising from the investigation of disaster has not yet been achieved.

The $225 million digital system should have been in place almost five years ago.

The Waterfall investigation, led by Justice Peter McInerney, said, “The Waterfall, Hexham and Glenbrook rail accidents, and the other accidents considered by the Glenbrook Inquiry, all point strongly to the need for compatibility of communications systems throughout the network … It is essential that drivers, controllers, signallers, guards and trackside work gangs communicate using the same technology.”

The former NSW Labor government said it would have a digital radio system working across the network by the end of 2010, but did not sign a contract until 2009. The project was supposed to be finished by 2012.