A partnership between the Australian, New South Wales, Victorian and Queensland governments and the Australiasian Railway Association has been established to develop a Rail Manufacturing Technology Roadmap.

 

Announcing the Roadmap, Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said it was important that governments understand the rail industry’s technology and manufacturing capabilities so they could identify and support development opportunities and ensure the industry continued to contribute significantly to the national economy.

 

“The Roadmap will build a vision for the rail industry and provide direction for the next 30 years. It will identify pathways and areas for industry focus and investment, boosting capability and encouraging innovation,” Senator Carr said.

 

“Australia’s rail industry extends from signalling, communications and track to rail components and building and maintaining rolling stock. I am delighted that all of these areas have come together for the first time to work on this important project.

 

“I thank Bruce Griffiths, the Government’s Rail Supplier Advocate, for the central role he has played in bringing industry and state governments to the table on this.”

 

The Roadmap will be developed over the next 12 months by ANU Edge, with the Cooperative Research Centre for Rail Innovation, the University of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing and Strategic Connections Group.

 

Rail industry stakeholders and interested parties are encouraged to put forward their views through the various workshops, interviews and surveys that will be run.

 

The Roadmap project is jointly funded by the Australian Government, industry – through the Australasian Railway Association – and the Victorian, Queensland and New South Wales state governments.

 

For more information on the Roadmap and other Rail Supplier Advocate initiatives is here.