Arc Infrastructure is proud to be partnering with above-rail and below-rail operators to promote PAE Awareness Week, which runs from 3 – 9 November 2025.
PAE (Proceed Authority Exceedance) refers to a train exceeding the limit of authority.
In earlier years, the awareness week focussed only on SPADs (Signal Passed At Danger), but the campaign has been broadened to include all authority exceedances (PAEs) on the rail network, such as written authorities when a train is not in signalled territory.
By including all authority exceedances, in both signalled and non-signalled territory, ensures there’s awareness of these incidents across the entire network. From 2025, the campaign will be known as ‘PAE Awareness Week’.
Arc’s Head of Operations & Customer Management Rod Smith said this year’s campaign is dedicated to emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus – the focus of drivers, our network controllers and anyone interacting with the rail network.
“39% of driver Proceed Authority Exceedances in 2025 were caused by distraction, so it’s imperative we continue to remind anyone who interacts with the network that their focus really is what keeps everything on track and ensure everyone gets home safely,” Rod said.
"Arc remains committed to upskilling our people and continuing to collaborate with all users of the rail network — including rail operators, regulators, and other stakeholders — to ensure the safety of all users.”
Arc thanks the above-rail and below-rail operators for their continued support of the initiative, which also includes bi-monthly working groups with all operators on the network.
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