Rail transport is vital to Australia’s livelihood and
economic growth. In the near future, freight transport and urban
passenger trips are expected to grow significantly in line with
population growth and increases automotive fuel price.
The rail industry is working to satisfy this substantial
increase via a concept of Efficient Rail which will help
achieve a significantly higher modal share of freight and passenger
traffic.
During its 7 year lifespan (2007 - 2013), the CRC for Rail
Innovation will seek to transform the Australian rail industry by
the provision of world class collaborative industry responsive
research leading to high levels of adoption and commercialisation
of outcomes.
The CRC for Rail Innovation will be
Australia’s leading rail research provider delivering
programs related to Economic, Social and Environmental
Sustainability; Operations and Safety; Engineering and Safety; and
Education and Training.
The CRC research will improve rail’s profitability,
service delivery, safety, efficiency, employment, and environmental
sustainability. It will also help underpin industry reforms and
changes in Government investment and policies.
To date, five principal programs have been identified by the
CRC. They are as follows:
Program R1 aims to develop new approaches to maximise the triple
bottom line value of the Australian rail industry and its
sustainability in response to growing freight demand, increased
mineral exports, and increased urban passenger patronage linked to
rising fuel prices and urban population growth.
Key outputs of R1 include Efficient Rail development,
recruitment and retention, rail corridor sustainable planning
system and complex supply chain strategy.
Program R2 aims to provide a national framework for risk and
safety management based on the principles of maximising efficiency
within the Australian rail industry while simultaneously enhancing
and promoting safety.
Key outputs of R2 include customer and public safety,
technologies and strategies, freight interface safety and
efficiency as well as workplace safety culture guidelines.
Program R3 aims to improve engineering and safety, particularly
in areas where large savings are possible. These areas include
predictive condition-based maintenance systems, innovative methods
of increasing average train speeds, performance based standards,
application of automation, and monitoring technologies to train
operations.
Key outputs of R3 include enhanced
maintenance package based on condition monitoring, integrated
infrastructure and rolling-stock capacity enhancement system and
performance based optimisation of train interface
standards.
Program 4 aims to contribute to the Rail Skills and Careers
Council’s focus on improving the relevance and national
consistency of education and training across the industry. Program
4 will also progress an education and training program to up-skill
industry to use new technologies and support implementation of
Efficient Rail based on tertiary (including VET)
education, training and skills development.
Key outcomes of Program 4 are standardisation, including
technical capability; national capability building and learning
pathways.
A key criterion for success is that research programs must be
supported and adopted by industry. Program 5 will ensure that there
is a focus on high impact research to deliver maximum benefit to
participants, the rail industry and the Australian economy. The CRC
will ensure that there is an up-front industry commitment and an
industry “champion” for each project.
As demonstrated above, the CRC aims to deliver economic,
environmental and social benefits to the Australian economy, the
rail industry and its participants. The CRC believes that
unprecedented research excellence and commercialisation outcomes
will effectively strengthen the creation of Efficient Rail
and help transform the Australian rail industry.
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