New rail licences to track air and noise emissions

NSW rolling stock will now be licensed by the EPA

The EPA now directly regulates NSW operators of freight and passenger trains and railway infrastructure operators, through environment protection licences, to reduce noise and air emissions. The new licences:

• include operating conditions and pollution studies relating to wheel squeal, idling, braking, bunching and stretching and horn use,
• require new locomotives in NSW to comply with noise and air emission limits; and
• include monitoring and reporting requirements to allow the progress of the rail industry in reducing emissions to be determined over time.

The licences also require the rolling stock operators to provide the community with a way to report complaints.

EPA Regulatory Operations Manager Jacinta Hanemann said the EPA considered feedback provided by the industry, community and other relevant stakeholders in developing the licences for the rolling stock operators.

“We appreciate the commitment of the rail industry and our community stakeholders towards developing these new licences, taking into account the different view points over this period of time,” Jacinta said.

 “The licences are a flexible regulatory tool that can be amended, with consultation, to include revised or new requirements.

Jacinta told EPA Connect that the EPA will continue to work with the rail industry to progressively reduce air and noise emissions, establishing an industry Rail Noise Reference Group to progress noise related matters.

As part of its regulatory role the EPA will oversee compliance of the rail industry in accordance with their licence conditions.

The EPA has also updated the licences held by railway infrastructure operators.

All locomotives approved to operate on a licensed network in NSW are listed on a locomotive class register.

More information

• The licences are available on the EPA’s public register
• See frequently asked questions