Hon Ken Travers asks the Minister for Transport about two recent rail system shutdowns caused by equipment fires, inquiring about the specific equipment, its age, and inspection frequency. The Minister provides details on the equipment involved, its age, and the inspection schedule.

AnsweredQoN 65Legislative Council
Asked
20 March 2012
Portfolio
Transport

QuestionView source ↗

METROPOLITAN
RAIL NETWORK — MAINTENANCE
65. Hon KEN TRAVERS to the minister representing the
Minister for Transport:
(1) What was the equipment that caught fire
on Tuesday last week and caused the shutdown of the rail system?
(2) What was the equipment that caught fire
today and caused the shutdown of the rail system on the Fremantle and Midland
lines?
(3) For each of these incidents —
(a)
how old was the equipment that caught fire; and
(b)
is the equipment regularly inspected, and, if yes, how often?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for notice of this question. The Public Transport Authority advises —
(1) A high voltage
return conductor cable.
(2) A surge arrester
on the booster transformer.
(3) For the incident on 13 March, the
equipment is from 2007; and, yes, the equipment is inspected every year. In
addition, it is subject to a visual check when crews are in the area. For the
incident on 20 March, today, the equipment is from 1989; and, yes, the booster
transformers and associated surge arresters undergo a specific inspection every
year. In addition, they are subject to a visual check when crews are in the
area. These checks are approximately every three months. Routine maintenance is
undertaken on the booster transformers every four years.

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