FREIGHT operator Southern Shorthaul Railroad has had its accreditation mostly suspended by the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) following the launch of an investigation into several recent safety incidents.

SSR hauls grain and other agricultural commodities for many significant operators and agribusinesses, such as, Manildra, George Weston Foods, Allied Pinnacle, Louis Dreyfus Company, Arrow Commodities, Fletcher International Exports, DP World, SWIFT Freight, and Grainforce Logistics.

ONRSR initially announced a full suspension of SSR, under business name Holdco Holdings, accreditation on July 5.

Five days later, the regulator released a statement confirming that this had been reduced to a “partial suspension”.

“This action has been undertaken based on a determination that there is, or would be, an immediate or serious risk to safety unless Holdco’s accreditation was suspended,” the July 5 announcement said.

“The suspension follows a serious incident at Berrima in New South Wales on 4 July 2026 in which several wagons rolled away and derailed at a level crossing on a public road.

“Fortunately, there were no injuries resulting from the Berrima incident which ONRSR is investigating.

“The derailment at Berrima is the latest in a series of safety incidents involving this operator which are subject to regulatory oversight from ONRSR.”

The ONRSR accredits operators under the Rail Safety National Law “on the basis that they demonstrate the competence and capacity to manage risks to safety associated with their railway operations”.

“ONRSR’s priority is to ensure that risks to the safety of those in the rail industry and members of the public are effectively managed.

“Understanding the potential impact, the decision to suspend Holdco’s accreditation has not been taken lightly.

“Rail transport operators that interact with Holdco have been notified so they can manage impacts to their operations.”

On July 10, the ONRSR said it had “progressed discussions” with SSR and that the company had sought to assure the regulator “that it ha[d] addressed the immediate risks to safety associated with some of its low-risk operations”.

“Following a thorough assessment of the company’s submissions, that included a series of onsite inspections, the National Rail Safety Regulator, Dr Natalie Pelham, has made the decision to partially lift the suspension to allow Holdco to undertake some low-risk railway operations.

“These operations will be subject to additional regulatory oversight.

“Holdco’s accreditation in respect of all other parts of its railway operations remains suspended in accordance with the notice of immediate suspension.”

OTSI investigation

The NSW-based Office of Transport Safety Investigations (OTSI) is investigating three separate runaway incidents involving SSR, including the July 4 Berrima incident.

The Berrima occurrence involve multiple loaded cement wagons from a train which ran away while shunting at Boral Cement Works.

The consist rolled downhill through the buffer stop and derailed on to a passive level crossing, resulting in significant damage to multiple wagons and spillage of cement.

There were no injuries.

On March 12, a SSR train was uncoupled during shunting movements at Clyde, NSW.

Following this, one locomotive and five cement wagons have rolled away through a set of points and collided with a Pacific National locomotive.

Several wagons were derailed and all rollingstock sustained some level of damage, with nil injuries.

On May 26, two locomotives from SSR train 2273 were uncoupled during a runaround movement at Marulan South, NSW.

During this process, two locomotives have rolled away whilst the crew were outside the cab.

A crew member boarded the locomotives whilst in motion, bringing them to a stand.

There were no injuries or damage sustained.

The evidence collection phase of the investigation will involve interviewing witnesses and involved parties, examination of training and competency of rail safety workers, retrieving and reviewing recorded data, and the collection of other relevant information and related incidents.

A final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation.

Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, OTSI and the Australian Transport and Safety Bureau will immediately notify relevant parties, so that appropriate safety action can be taken.

Source: ATSB, ONRSR