{"id":"railways-operations-and-access-regulations-2025","name":"Railways (Operations and Access) Regulations 2025","slug":"railways-operations-and-access-regulations-2025","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"sa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":236907,"registerId":"sa-railways-operations-and-access-regulations-2025-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-06","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Railways (Operations and Access) Regulations 2025","content":"South Australia\nRailways (Operations and Access) Regulations 2025\nunder the Railways (Operations and Access) Act 1997\n\nContents\n1\tShort title\n2\tCommencement\n3\tExtension of operation of access regime\nSchedule 1—Repeal of Railways (Operations and Access) Regulations 2020\nLegislative history\n\n1—Short title\nThese regulations may be cited as the Railways (Operations and Access) Regulations 2025.\n2—Commencement\nThese regulations come into operation on 31 October 2025.\n3—Extension of operation of access regime\nPursuant to section 7A(6)(b) of the Railways (Operations and Access) Act 1997, the period of operation of the access regime is extended for a period of 5 years commencing on 31 October 2025.\nSchedule 1—Repeal of Railways (Operations and Access) Regulations 2020\nThe Railways (Operations and Access) Regulations 2020 are repealed. \nLegislative history\nNotes\n\t•\tFor further information relating to the Act and subordinate legislation made under the Act see the Index of South Australian Statutes or www.legislation.sa.gov.au.\nPrincipal regulations\nYear\nNo\nReference\nCommencement\n2025\n107\nGazette 16.10.2025 p4065 \n31.10.2025: r 2\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument does not alter substantive access rules; it extends the period during which the existing access regime operates for five years from 31 October 2025 (r3) and repeals the Railways (Operations and Access) Regulations 2020 (Schedule 1). Any rights, obligations, fees or procedural details remain those set out in the primary Act or other subordinate instruments."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument (three operative items): short title, commencement, and an extension clause — low drafting complexity.","Substantive effect depends on cross-reference to the primary Act (s7A(6)(b)); interpreting practical consequences requires consulting the Act.","Repeal of the 2020 regulations requires comparing prior regulations to confirm there are no unintended gaps or transitional issues.","Fixed commencement date and a single 5‑year extension reduce ongoing administrative ambiguity."],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations extend the operation of the access regime under the Railways (Operations and Access) Act 1997 for five years from 31 October 2025 and repeal the 2020 regulations. They take effect on 31 October 2025. They affect parties governed by that access regime — railway operators and anyone seeking access under the Act — by continuing the existing legal framework; the regulations do not set new access rules themselves (see r3 and Schedule 1)."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed as the legislative text was not accessible. The page returned a 'Page Not Found' error, meaning no comparison between original intent and final form is possible."},"complexity_factors":["No actual legislative text was provided — the source URL returned a 404 error","Analysis is impossible beyond title inference","Complexity cannot be assessed without content"],"plain_english_summary":"The link yields a 404 so the Railways (Operations and Access) Regulations 2025 text wasn’t retrievable. From the title, the instrument would set operative rules under South Australia’s rail access framework—governing operation and use of rail infrastructure, safety and operator obligations, and access rights—directly affecting rail operators, infrastructure managers and businesses seeking network access.\n\nWithout the actual regulations, no substantive legal conclusions can be drawn."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains its original narrow purpose of extending the access regime. There is no expansion of scope; it performs exactly the function intended by the parent Act's extension mechanism."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short: only 3 operative provisions plus a repeal schedule","No defined terms section","No cross-references to other legislation beyond a single citation to section 7A(6)(b) of the parent Act","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Single mechanical operation: extending a time period and repealing spent regulations"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this does:**\nThese regulations extend the \"access regime\" for South Australian railways for another 5 years, starting 31 October 2025. The access regime is the system that allows third parties (companies other than the railway owner) to negotiate access to use railway tracks and infrastructure.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Railway operators** in South Australia who need to use tracks they don't own\n- **Track owners** (like government or private rail infrastructure owners) who must negotiate access with third parties\n- **Businesses** that rely on rail freight or passenger services, as the access regime affects competition and service availability\n\n**Why it matters:**\nWithout this extension, the legal framework allowing competitors to access railway infrastructure would expire. This could reduce competition, potentially increase costs for freight and passengers, and create uncertainty for rail businesses. The regulations also clean up the law by repealing the old 2020 regulations that these replace.\n\n**In short:** It's a housekeeping measure that keeps the lights on for rail competition in South Australia."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/railways-operations-and-access-regulations-2025","history":"/api/acts/railways-operations-and-access-regulations-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/railways-operations-and-access-regulations-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/railways-operations-and-access-regulations-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/railways-operations-and-access-regulations-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/railways-operations-and-access-regulations-2025/documents"}}