Australasia
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Metro Report InternationalInvestor increases stake in Sydney light rail PPP concessionaire
AUSTRALIA: John Laing Group has agreed to acquire pension investor Aware Super’s 62·5% stake in Sydney light rail finance, design, build and operating PPP concessionaire ALTRAC. The deal is expected to complete by the end of Q4, taking John Laing’s stake from 32·5% to 95%. The ...
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NewsManufacturing skills centre to develop rail industry capabilities
AUSTRALIA: The development of local rolling stock manufacturing skills forms a central part of a A$7·1m Manufacturing Centre of Excellence training facility which is to be developed in Maryborough in Queensland. Announcing plans for the centre on August 28, the state government said it would provide ...
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NewsEnhanced passenger information system ordered for Queensland EMUs
AUSTRALIA: Singapore-based ST Engineering’s Urban Solutions business is to provide an enhanced version of its AGIL passenger information system for the 65 six-car electric multiple-units that Downer is to supply under the Queensland Train Manufacturing Programme. ‘In addition to strengthening our presence in Australia, this contract ...
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NewsKiwiRail locomotives shipped to New Zealand
NEW ZEALAND: Stadler has shipped the first two of the Class DM main line diesel locomotives that its Valencia factory in Spain is building for KiwiRail. In 2021 the national railway awarded Stadler a €228m contract to supply 57 six-axle locomotives for ...
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NewsPractical recommendations to support women in the rail sector
Source: ARTC AUSTRALASIA: The Australasian Railway Association has published a report designed to help the rail industry better understand what hinders the entry, retention and progression of women, with 10 practical recommendations. The Progressing gender equality in the Australasian rail sector: barriers and supportive practices report ...
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NewsMock-up aims to ensure Queensland trains are accessible to all
AUSTRALIA: A mock-up built by Allweld Manufacturing is being used to gather feedback from future users including train drivers, people with reduced mobility and cyclists to ensure that a future fleet of electric multiple-units will be accessible for all. In 2023 Downer beat CAF and Alstom ...
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Metro Report InternationalSydney metro extension opening boosts cross-harbour transport capacity
AUSTRALIA: An extension of the Sydney Metro running beneath the harbour to the Central Business District and Sydenham opened on August 19.
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NewsUnipart acquires Australian rail bearing and axle box reconditioning business
AUSTRALIA: Unipart completed the acquisition of the former Schaeffler Rail Bearing reconditioning business in Auburn, New South Wales, on August 12, saying it ’plans to provide an expanded range of services to the Australian railway industry’. The business refurbishes around 20 000 passenger and freight rolling ...
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NewsAustralian ETCS interoperability initiative underway
AUSTRALIA: Wabtec and interstate infrastructure manager Australian Rail Track Corp are collaborating on the development of a set of standards to facilitate the deployment of ETCS technology across the country’s long-distance trunk routes. Wabtec is investigating the capabilities of ARTC’s Advanced Train Management System, with a ...
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NewsAustralasian Railway Association organises study tours for InnoTrans delegates
INNOTRANS: The Australasian Railway Association is organising events around InnoTrans 2024 to provide its members with an ‘outstanding business development opportunity’ where they can promote themselves to the global market, connect with decision-makers and build relationships with potential partners, suppliers and customers. ARA will organise a ...
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NewsAustralasian rail industry study tour to visit London and Paris
INTERNATIONAL: The Australasian Railway Association is organising a study tour to London and Paris the week before InnoTrans, to provide delegates with insights into topics including interoperability, high speed rail, sustainability, infrastructure development and operations, as well as networking opportunities with industry leaders. The London leg ...
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NewsAll contracts awarded for Victoria section of Inland Rail project
AUSTRALIA: John Holland has been awarded a A$470m contract for works on the Beveridge to Albury Tranche 2 section of the Inland Rail project to develop a 1 700 km freight corridor linking Melbourne and Brisbane. The contract includes construction works at Benalla, Euroa, Wandong, Hume ...
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NewsMetro Academy enables rail recruits to hit the ground running
AUSTRALIA: A ‘state-of-the-art’ Metro Academy has been opened in Melbourne to train rail staff ready for the opening of the cross-city suburban rail Metro Tunnel at the end of 2025. The academy has classrooms, tracks and platform replicas, including station equipment, and will support the existing ...
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Metro Report InternationalYarra Journey Makers to operate world’s biggest tram network
AUSTRALIA: The state of Victoria has awarded the Yarra Journey Makers joint venture of Transdev and John Holland the next contract to operate the Melbourne tram network. This is the world’s largest, with around 500 trams, 1 600 stops, 24 routes, more than 250 km of ...
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In depthAustralia: Sydney – Newcastle plan marks another high speed attempt
Australia’s High Speed Rail Authority has been tasked with drawing up proposals for a new line between Sydney and Newcastle, as the first step in developing a 1 750 km route linking urban and regional centres along the East Coast corridor.
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NewsRolling Stock Procurement Pipeline aims to reduce boom and bust
AUSTRALIA: The Office of National Rail Industry Coordination has published a National Rolling Stock Procurement Pipeline webpage, which aims to provide an overview of current projects to enable purchasing decisions to be timed to avoid ‘boom and bust’ cycles. It includes procurement location, estimated value, status, ...
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NewsSCT Logistics automates resource management tasks
AUSTRALIA: SCT Logistics has signed a multi-year agreement to use Trapeze Group’s Rail Workforce Management software to automate a range of complex staff and fleet resource allocation processes. SCT has around 1 500 employees, including drivers, shunters and maintenance workers, plus a fleet of 40 locomotives ...
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NewsScenic Plus coach refurbished for New Zealand tourist train service
NEW ZEALAND: National railway KiwiRail’s tourist train business Great Journeys New Zealand has unveiled a coach which has been refurbished to provide a premium ‘immersive travel experience’ on the 223 km TranzAlpine coast-to-coast service between Greymouth and Christchurch. ‘The innovative carriage is the icing on the ...
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NewsFirst C-Series EMU enters service in Perth
AUSTRALIA: The first Alstom C-Series electric multiple-unit has entered service on the Perth suburban network’s Joondalup and Mandurah lines. More than 10 000 people entered a competition to win around 150 tickets for the inaugural ride on April 7, ahead of start of regular operation the following day.
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NewsCommunication training to improve suburban train accessibility
AUSTRALIA: Adelaide suburban train operator Keolis Downer Adelaide has been accredited under the Communication Access Symbol initiative to help passengers with communication difficulties. Accreditation involved 234 front line staff completing nine months of specialised training. Tools include communication cards and vision boards showing stations and key ...