Entering or working near rail land To keep rail land safe we only allow authorised people to enter and work on and near our land. To go onto rail land you must have a valid permit.
Various permits are available. To get a permit you’ll need to meet certain criteria, such as having a good safety plan. Examples include:
- Contractors - Whether you are working on behalf of ONTRACK or for a third party such as a utility company, council or a property developer, you can apply for a temporary permit to enter.
- Rail and lessees - If you want to permanently lease rail land you need to talk to our property team to find out what is possible. Contact the property team
Permit types
The most common permit is a permit to enter, for those who enter the corridor on an irregular basis. This permit is often used by surveyors, utility installers, or people working on developments next to the track.
Other permits include general authorisation, statutory authorisation and electrical safety permits. All permits have a standard administration fee.
The time it takes to get a permit depends on the nature of the work. Getting a permit can take between 24 hours and a couple of weeks.
How to get a permit
To apply for a permit you usually need to contact your local ONTRACK area office.
In some areas, you will need to get a permit from the local rail operator – who you get the permit from depends on what the rail land is used for.
Main lines and electrified areasTo apply for a permit to enter land around main lines and electrified areas contact ONTRACK.
Rail terminals, freight yards, freight sidings, maintenance depots
To apply for a permit to enter terminals, yards, sidings and depots contact the local rail operator. If you are unsure who to contact please call us on 0800 288 000 and we’ll help you find out who you need to talk to.
A combination of rail land types
To apply for a permit to enter a combination of main lines, electrified, maintenance and other areas contact ONTRACK.
Permit conditionsWhen you apply for a permit to enter rail land we’ll work with you to find out what conditions the permit needs to keep you safe. It will depend on:
what you want to do on rail land
how close to rail lines or structures you will be
how close you need to be to electric systems and the tracks
when you need to do the work.
Sometimes you’ll need more than one permit to do your work. For example, if you are working in an area with electrical overhead wires.
Getting permission also involves signing an indemnity form.
Breaking the permit conditionsBreaking the conditions of the permit will put your life and others at risk. If you break your conditions we will terminate your permit and you will have to leave rail land immediately.
If we have granted you a permit where you are unsupervised on rail land, we will visit you while you are working to conduct a health and safety audit.
Entering rail land without permission
You are free to cross rail land at official public or private level crossings. If you enter rail land anywhere else you put yourself and others at risk.
If you are found on rail land without a permit to enter or other authority you will be considered to be trespassing and asked to leave.
If you trespass or build on the rail corridor without permission you may face a fine of up to $100,000.
For more information on entering or working near rail land read our frequently asked questions.