On 28 February 2026, the National Network for Interoperability and Rail Safety National Law interoperability requirements took effect.
This is a pivotal milestone as interoperability obligations under the Rail Safety National Law (RSNL) begin to apply for operations on the National Network for Interoperability (NNI). This moves Australia towards a safer, more unified national rail operations and formalises the new requirement to identify and manage interoperability matters before making changes on the NNI.
What is the NNI and why it matters
The NNI, established with unanimous Ministerial approval under the RSNL, defines the core metropolitan, interstate and intrastate corridors that carry Australia’s major freight and passenger movements. By designating the NNI, industry now has a clear, nationally consistent scope for interoperability planning, investment and operations.
Critically, accredited organisations operating on, or forming part of, the NNI must ensure proposed changes to their railway operations consider how systems will work safely and smoothly with other operators.
What is changing?
From 28 February 2026, the RSNL National Regulations (Safety Management System) amendments apply to in‑scope operators on the NNI. In practice, this means:
- Interoperability must be addressed within the safety management system (SMS) as part of change planning for operations on, or forming part of, the NNI.
- An Interoperability Management Plan (IMP) must be prepared where proposed changes raise interoperability matters, and the IMP must be proportionate to the interoperability impacts and associated safety risks.
- “Interoperability matters” are those relating to the ability of one operator’s railway systems to work together with others so that operations can be undertaken safely and seamlessly on the NNI.
These requirements build on the broader national direction to modernise and harmonise rail operations, including the agreed future pathway for digital train control and signalling.
Please see our previous publications for more detail on what these changes will mean for the industry.
For further guidance, please contact Chris Mitchell and Larissa Buriak.
