The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) has suspended the accreditation of Holdco Holdings, trading as Southern Shorthaul Railroad, after a serious rail incident at Berrima in New South Wales.
ONRSR said it exercised powers under the Rail Safety National Law after determining there was, or would be, an immediate or serious risk to safety unless Holdco’s accreditation was suspended.
The suspension follows an incident on 4 July 2026, in which several wagons rolled away and derailed at a level crossing on a public road.
No injuries were reported.
Why was Holdco’s accreditation suspended?
ONRSR said the Berrima derailment was the latest in a series of safety incidents involving the operator that are subject to regulatory oversight.
The regulator said its accreditation powers are based on whether rail transport operators can demonstrate the competence and capacity to manage safety risks associated with railway operations.
In this case, ONRSR determined that suspension was necessary to address an immediate or serious safety risk.
The regulator said the decision was not taken lightly, given the potential operational impact.
What happened at Berrima?
The incident involved several wagons rolling away and derailing at a level crossing on a public road.
While there were no injuries, the location of the derailment raises clear public safety concerns because the wagons entered a road interface used by the community.
ONRSR is investigating the Berrima incident.
The regulator said it cannot make further comment at this time.
What does this mean for rail freight operators?
A rail accreditation suspension can have immediate consequences for an operator’s ability to conduct railway operations.
It can also affect other rail transport operators, customers and network participants that interact with the suspended operator.
ONRSR said rail transport operators that interact with Holdco have been notified so they can manage impacts to their operations.
What happens next?
ONRSR said it will continue to work with Holdco regarding its accreditation status.
The investigation into the Berrima derailment will also continue.
The regulator said its priority is to ensure risks to rail industry workers and members of the public are effectively managed.
