Southern Shorthaul Railroad Suspension Eased Again

Australia’s rail safety regulator has eased the Southern Shorthaul Railroad suspension for a second time, allowing additional operations while activities it still considers high-risk remain halted.

ONRSR permits additional rail work

The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator⁠ said on July 19 that Holdco Holdings, trading as Southern Shorthaul Railroad, could resume more rail operations after further assessment and onsite inspections.

The decision follows an initial partial lifting on July 10, when the operator was permitted to undertake some low-risk railway activities. ONRSR said the newly permitted work no longer presented a serious and immediate safety risk, but it did not identify the individual services or movements covered by the change.

All approved operations remain subject to additional regulatory oversight, including onsite inspections. The regulator said its review examined SSR’s safety management system, rolling stock operations, safety governance and assurance, and management responsibilities.

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ONRSR publicly announced the accreditation suspension on July 5 after a July 4 derailment at Berrima, New South Wales. Under the Rail Safety National Law⁠, a suspension can remain in force only where evidence supports the existence of a serious and immediate risk to safety. Operations still classified as high-risk therefore remain suspended.

Three runaway incidents remain under investigation

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation⁠ covers three runaway incidents involving SSR trains between March and July 2026.

At Clyde on March 12, one locomotive and five cement wagons rolled away during shunting, passed through points and struck a Pacific National locomotive. Several wagons derailed, and the rolling stock was damaged, but no injuries were reported.

At Marulan South on May 26, two uncoupled locomotives rolled away while the crew was outside the cab. A crew member boarded the moving locomotives and brought them to a stop without injuries or damage.

The July 4 event at Boral Cement Works in Berrima involved loaded cement wagons that ran downhill, passed through a buffer stop and derailed onto a passive level crossing. The incident caused significant wagon damage and cement spillage, but no injuries.

The Office of Transport Safety Investigations is conducting the inquiry under its collaboration agreement with the ATSB. Evidence collection includes interviews, recorded data, worker training and competency, and related incidents. The final report is currently anticipated in the second quarter of 2027.

Any further change to SSR’s accreditation will depend on ONRSR’s continuing assessment of whether the remaining operations meet the risk threshold required for suspension.