The Australian Society of Section Car Operators (ASSCO), is an accredited railway operator that seeks access to railways for its members. It was originally registered as a non-profit organisation, under the Associations Incorporation Act in South Australia.
ASSCO was founded in November 1999, after a series of informal meetings, by a group of motor section car owners who were running in South Australia. [1]
At the time, many cars were being run using the insurance and systems of a number of heritage railways, including Steamtown, and often under the "work for ride" banner. Changes to the regulatory regime in South Australia allowed for the accreditation of a body as a railway owner and operator, subject to meeting the requirements of Australian Standard AS4292 Railway safety management. [1]
ASSCO was established to hold the accreditation, and in 2000, work commenced on the preparation of a safety management case for the group. The case considered obligations under the Rail Safety Act, Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Act, AS 4801/4804, AS4360, AS4292 and ISO 9000 quality systems. Interim accreditation was achieved in June 2000 [1] Work to prepare the safety case was done by one of the founding members, with operational experience coming from a former railwayman, whilst a number of the processes used by the North American Railcar Operators Association were considered and, were necessary, modified to meet Australian Regulatory requirements. [1]
By April 2001, the organisation had in place an access agreement, which meant accreditation could be granted. ASSCO was the first not-for-profit ("Heritage") railway to be granted accreditation as a railway operator without owning or managing its own railway line in South Australia. It was also the first heritage operator to start up under the regulatory regime since it was implemented. The committee at the time, and subsequently, has avoided taking (long term) responsibility for any infrastructure, because of the work and cost associated with its maintenance. That said, the group has held a lease over the railway between Kevin and Penong on the Far West of Eyre Peninsula. [1] [2]
Originally, operations focused on the railways of South Australia. Although realised early on that other states would be essential to assist the group to grow, work for access in other states did not commence for a few years. [3] It last operated in South Australia in 2004. [3]
After gaining accreditation, the group made a number of approaches to heritage and commercial railway operators for access.
The first railway to agree to host an ASSCO meet was NRG Flinders Operating Services Pty Ltd, operator of the Leigh Creek line, between Port Augusta and Copley. This was the longest run for section cars at the time, some 250 km. The event was run over the Easter Long Weekend, 2001. [4] This line carried one coal train each way each day, meaning the trip crossed trains both days.
ASSCO has also operated on railways owned by One Rail Australia, [5] Pichi Richi Railway, the Australian Electric Transport Museum and Lions Club of YPRail. [6] It has also leased the Kevin Penong line for two weekends. [2]
In line with its current focus on Queensland railways, ASSCO operates over the 42" gauge trackage of Queensland Railways. It has operated as far north as Cairns, including the Normanton-Croydon Railway. Its first run on the QR network was over the now closed line between Theebine and Kingaroy in April 2003 [7]
The group has accessed a limited number of heritage railways, including the Mary Valley Rattler. Mary Valley hosted ASSCO for a commissioning and training day on 23 March 2003.
The largest group of participants ever attended its Monto Loop Run (19 cars and 32 people) on a trip between Biggenden and Calliope in Queensland in April 2010. [8]
Like many heritage railways, ASSCO was adversely effected of the insurance crisis in the early part of the decade (2002–2003). Whilst a few thought the organisation was dead, work to regain insurance continued. This included support of other programs, even when these did not benefit the organisation directly.
ASSCO was eventually invited into a group insurance scheme run through the Council of Historic Railways and Tramways of South Australia Inc, enabling it to restart operations. This move also benefited other heritage railways in South Australia, as its contribution reduced the overall premium payable by other heritage railways. More recently, the group moved into other pooled premium schemes, and the cost of insurance on the open market has fallen considerably. [3]
The group realised the benefit of synergistic working when it was founded. That is, there must be a benefit for the organisation which hosts a run, or for a commercial railway owner, the access should be cost neutral, if not at a small profit.
Indeed, ASSCO members have provided a number of organisations with non-pecuniary benefits as a result of access.
As a charitable organisation. ASSCO donates a portion of member event fees to other non-profit organisations. Such as the Queensland Air Ambulance Service and the Don River Railway. [9]
ASSCO does not carry members of the public. However, members are themselves tourists, and provide a considerable boost to local economies where they operate.
ASSCO currently operate over the Queensland Rail network. ASSCO signed a 5 years access agreement with QR in May 2024.
On average, ASSCO holds 4 operations(events) a year.
ASSCO is attempting to seek access in NSW [9]
The organisation has around 50 members of which 30 are active. [10] Membership is by yearly subscription. several railway industry competencies are required to participate in ASSCO operations. It is not required to own your own section car.
Like all railway operators in Australia, ASSCO has been subjected to regulatory intervention by the Office Of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR). Mainly relating to improving policies and procedures.
Not having operated in South Australia since 2004. [3] ASSCO surrendered its accreditation in South Australia, in 2010.
ASSCO voluntarily suspended its operation mid 2019. ASSCO did so to bring its Rail Safety Management System (RSMS) up to comply with current legislation and standards. ASSCO Operations re-started in February 2020. [11]
Following an audit by the ONRSR, an Improvement Notice was issued on the 14th February 2023. This Notice was cancelled on the 8th March 2023. [12] Around the same time, Queensland Rail suspended access for all section cars to its network. The suspension stemming from concerns with level crossing safety. [9] The suspension was lifted a short time later after consultation between ASSCO and QR management. With improved safety procedures regarding level crossings, ASSCO resumed operation in April 2023.
ASSCO constantly monitors and updates, where necessary, safety policies and procedures in line with Rail Safety National Law (RSNL). As such, offers an environment for its members to enjoy Section Car travel safely. [9] [13]
ASSCO was an International Affiliate of North American Railcar Operators Association (NARCOA).
Queensland Rail (QR) is a railway operator in Queensland, Australia. Queensland Rail is owned by the Queensland Government, and operates both suburban and interurban rail services in South East Queensland, as well as long-distance passenger train services connecting Brisbane to regional Queensland. QR also owns and maintains rolling stock, in addition to approximately 6,600 kilometres (4,101 mi) of track and related infrastructure.
Rail transport in Australia is a component of the Australian transport system. It is to a large extent state-based, as each state largely has its own operations, with the interstate network being developed ever since Australia's federation in 1901. As of 2022, the Australian rail network consists of a total of 32,929 kilometres (20,461 mi) of track built to three major track gauges: 18,007 kilometres (11,189 mi) of standard gauge, 2,685 kilometres (1,668 mi) of broad gauge, and 11,914 kilometres (7,403 mi) of narrow gauge lines. Additionally, about 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) of 610 mm / 2 ft gauge lines support the sugar-cane industry. 3,488 kilometres (2,167 mi), around 11 percent of the Australian heavy railways network route-kilometres are electrified.
The Zig Zag Railway is an Australian heritage railway, situated near Lithgow, New South Wales. It was opened by the not-for-profit Zig Zag Railway Co-op as an unpaid volunteer-staffed heritage railway in October 1975, using the alignment of the Lithgow Zig Zag line that formed part of the Main Western line between 1869 and 1910. The line climbs the western flank of the Blue Mountains, using railway zig zags to gain height.
Australians generally assumed in the 1850s that railways would be built by the private sector. Private companies built railways in the then colonies of Victoria, opened in 1854, and New South Wales, where the company was taken over by the government before completion in 1855, due to bankruptcy. South Australia's railways were government owned from the beginning, including a horse-drawn line opened in 1854 and a steam-powered line opened in 1856. In Victoria, the private railways were soon found not to be financially viable, and existing rail networks and their expansion were taken over by the colony. Government ownership also enabled railways to be built to promote development, even if not apparently viable in strictly financial terms. The railway systems spread from the colonial capitals, except for a few lines that hauled commodities to a rural port.
Railway companies can interact with and control others in many ways. These relationships can be complicated by bankruptcies.
The NSW Rail Museum is the main railway museum in New South Wales, Australia. A division of Transport Heritage NSW, it was previously known as the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum (NSWRTM), Rail Heritage Centre and Trainworks.
Aurizon Holdings Limited is a freight rail transport company in Australia, formerly named QR National Limited and branded QR National. In 2015, it was the world's largest rail transporter of coal from mine to port. Formerly a Queensland Government-owned company, it was privatised and floated on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in November 2010. The company was originally established in 2004–05 when the coal, bulk, and container transport divisions from Queensland Rail were brought under one banner as QR National.
The Lachlan Valley Railway Society is an Australian rail preservation society based in the New South Wales Central Western town of Cowra. It was established in 1974 to preserve and operate former New South Wales Government Railways locomotives and rolling stock. It operates regular heritage train tours to a variety of locations across New South Wales.
The rail network in Queensland, Australia, was the first in the world to adopt 1,067 mm narrow gauge for a main line, and, in 2013, was claimed to the second largest narrow gauge network in the world, consists of:
The Interurban multiple units (IMU) are a class of electric multiple units manufactured by Walkers Limited/Downer EDI Rail, Maryborough for Queensland Rail's Citytrain division between 1996 and 2011. The IMU is divided into in three subclasses, units 101-110 as the 100 series, units 121-124 as the 120 series, and units 161-188, as the 160 series.
El Zorro was an Australian railway operator hauling freight and infrastructure trains in Victoria and New South Wales.
Great Northern Rail Services was a railway operator in Victoria, Australia. Great Northern Rail Services was incorporated in July 1993 and provided locomotives and train crews to other rail operators, ran general train operations and rail vehicle maintenance services in Victoria. The company was the first fully accredited and operational private rail operator in Victoria. The company ceased operations in November 2002 due to the increased public liability insurance costs.
One Rail Australia was an Australian rail freight operator company. Founded by a United States short line railroad holding company, Genesee & Wyoming Inc, in 1997 as Australian Southern Railroad, and successively renamed Australian Railroad Group and Genesee & Wyoming Australia, it was renamed One Rail Australia in February 2020 after the American company sold its remaining shareholding. In July 2022, assets from the South Australian, Northern Territory and interstate operations of the company were sold to rail operator company Aurizon Holdings Limited. The remaining assets, relating to coal haulage in New South Wales and Queensland, were sold in February 2023 to Magnetic Rail Group.
The Southern railway line serves the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The 197-kilometre (122 mi) long line branches from the Western line at Toowoomba, 161 kilometres (100 mi) west of Brisbane, and proceeds south through Warwick and Stanthorpe to the New South Wales/Queensland state border at Wallangarra.
The Beaudesert railway line is a disused branch railway in South East Queensland, Australia. The first section opened in 1885, the line was completed in 1888 and operated as a Queensland Government Railways (QGR) line until 1996. A heritage operation was undertaken for a short period in 2003. The Canungra railway line connected at Logan Village between 1915 and 1955, and the Beaudesert Shire Tramway connected with the terminal between 1903 and 1944. A study was undertaken in 2010 by the Queensland government concerning a potential Salisbury-to-Beaudesert rail corridor as a long-term potential proposal.
The Eyre Peninsula Railway is a 1,067 mm gauge railway on the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia. Radiating out from the ports at Port Lincoln and Thevenard, it is isolated from the rest of the South Australian railway network. It peaked at 777 kilometres in 1950; today only a 60 kilometre section remains open. It is currently operated by Aurizon.
The Rail Safety Act 2006 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia, and is the prime statute regulating the safety of rail operations in Victoria. The Act was developed as part of the Transport Legislation Review conducted by the Department of Transport between 2004 and 2010 and is aimed at preventing deaths and injuries arising from rail operations.
The Tourist and Heritage Railways Act 2010 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia and is the prime statute regulating the activities of tourist and heritage rail operators in the State. The Act covers the bulk of Victoria's operational tourist and heritage railways including many heavy and light rail operations and tramways, predominantly in regional areas of Victoria.
The Bus Safety Act 2009 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia and is the prime statute regulating the safety of bus operations in Victoria. The Act was developed as part of the Transport Legislation Review conducted by the Department of Transport between 2004 and 2010 and is aimed at preventing deaths and injuries arising from bus operations in Victoria and establishes a modern "best practice" regulatory framework to assist in maintaining and improving the Victorian bus industry's good safety record.
The Rail Motor Society, based at Paterson, New South Wales, is a community owned collection of preserved self-propelled railway vehicles and equipment from the former New South Wales Government Railways and its successors. The items in its collection date from 1923 through to 1972.