Australasia

  • Hiivr unveiling
    News

    Hiivr Rail autonomous wagon unveiled in Western Australia

    2023-12-08T10:00:00Z

    AUSTRALIA: Western Australia rail infrastructure concessionaire Arc Infrastructure and US technology partner Parallel Systems have unveiled a prototype autonomous container wagon following three years of development. The battery-powered wagon branded Hiivr Rail was demonstrated to government and industry stakeholders at the Kenwick Freight Rail Facility in ...

  • AusRRIN launch (Photo Senator Tim Ayres)
    News

    Australian Railway Research & Innovation Network launched

    2023-11-24T11:00:00Z

    AUSTRALIA: The Australian Railway Research & Innovation Network has been launched to identify and deliver critical research and innovation in support of the National Rail Manufacturing Plan. AusRRIN includes Monash University’s Institute of Railway Technology, Central Queensland University, University of Queensland, University of Wollongong and ...

  • au-melbourne-MurrumbeenaBuild-17T.4598_JK
    In depth

    Australasia: Investment pipeline promises ‘golden age of rail’

    2023-11-14T15:18:00Z

    Rail has a critical role to play on the path to net zero in Australia and New Zealand, but key issues including a lack of interoperability between networks and jurisdictions need to be urgently addressed.

  • 231003Racks-with-ETCS-equipment
    In depth

    Signalling: Queensland enters the digital age

    2023-11-14T05:00:00Z

    Bringing together public and private sector partners, the Sequence Signalling & Systems Alliance is pressing ahead with the introduction of ETCS Level 2 train control across the South East Queensland rail network.

  • Rio Tinto AutoHaul train (Photo Hitachi Rail)
    News

    Interlocking upgrade on driverless heavy haul network

    2023-11-09T10:26:00Z

    AUSTRALIA: Hitachi Rail is to begin work shortly on the third and final phase of upgrading interlockings on Rio Tinto’s autonomous heavy haul rail network in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. In 2018 Rio Tinto launched automated operation under its AutoHaul programme, with Hitachi technology ...

  • Melbourne G Class tram mock-up (Photo Alstom) (1)
    Metro Report International

    Melbourne G Class tram mocked up for testing

    2023-11-01T11:00:00Z

    AUSTRALIA: A full-size mock-up of Melbourne’s future G Class tram has been produced to obtain feedback from passenger, driver, technical and accessibility groups ahead of series production. In 2022 Victoria’s Department of Transport awarded Alstom a €700m framework contract to supply 100 customised Flexity 2 trams ...

  • Roy Hill Wabtec FLXdrive battery locomotive
    News

    Pilbara heavy haul battery locomotive unveiled

    2023-11-01T09:30:00Z

    AUSTRALIA: A FLXdrive battery-powered heavy haul locomotive for iron ore mining company Roy Hill has been unveiled at Wabtec’s factory at Erie in the USA. ‘This FLXdrive locomotive represents a major step in the journey to a low-to-zero-emission future’, said Wabtec President & CEO Rafael Santana ...

  • Wellington train
    News

    Changes follow review of commuter rail disruption

    2023-09-14T07:00:00Z

    NEW ZEALAND: KiwiRail is taking action to improve track inspection on passenger routes in Wellington and Auckland following the publication of a report into service disruption during May which Greater Wellington Regional Council Chair Daran Ponter said provides ’an eye-opening account of poor decision-making’. The report ...

  • Transdev Wellington EMU
    News

    Wellington train operating contract extended

    2023-09-13T11:09:00Z

    NEW ZEALAND: Greater Wellington Regional Council has extended Transdev’s contract to operate local passenger trains under the Metlink brand until July 3 2031. Transdev has operated the services since 2016, carrying more than 1·3 million passengers/year on 2 000 services/week. It runs 3·22 million train-km/year on ...

  • Ben Carroll MP at Flinders Street station facilities opening
    News

    More inclusive facilities for train drivers

    2023-09-10T05:00:00Z

    AUSTRALIA: Enhancements to provide more inclusive facilities for train drivers at Melbourne’s Flinders Street station have been completed. This includes the creation of all-gender locker rooms with private changing rooms, and a maternity room with private areas for expressing and spaces to rest. Other upgrades include new ...

  • InnoTrans
    News

    ARA plans Australia and New Zealand pavilion at InnoTrans 2024

    2023-08-24T05:00:00Z

    INNOTRANS: The Australasian Railway Association will once again host a pavilion to showcase the Australian and New Zealand rail industry at InnoTrans 2024. ARA said it anticipates taking a strong delegation to Berlin, building on its success at the 2022 event. The organisation is seeking feedback ...

  • Melbourne tram passenger with guide dog
    Metro Report International

    Yarra Trams deploys navigation technology for visually impaired passengers

    2023-08-17T05:00:00Z

    AUSTRALIA: The NaviLens mobile app and codes are being rolled out to assist blind and low-vision passengers to travel independently on Melbourne’s Yarra Trams network. The codes, which look like brightly coloured QR patterns, are initially being installed at every stop on Route 96 as well ...

  • Turnit_Ride_UI_Example
    News

    NSW TrainLink booking system contract awarded

    2023-08-12T05:00:00Z

    AUSTRALIA: Transport for New South Wales has commissioned Estonian company Turnit and its local partner Spiketech to supply a replacement booking system for NSW TrainLink long-distance services. This will provide an end-to-end digital platform to plan, book and pay for regional train and coach services used ...

  • A Sydney Trains Waratah EMU on a T3 Bankstown service arrives at Sydenham, which is being remodelled as part of the metro project.
    Metro Report International

    Sydney rail to metro conversion confirmed

    2023-08-01T14:34:00Z

    AUSTRALIA: The New South Wales government has committed to completing the conversion of Sydney’s T3 Bankstown Line from a suburban railway to an automated metro, as the final section of the City & Southwest Metro project. When the current state government was elected in March, it ...

  • Inland Rail project
    News

    Dedicated ARTC subsidiary to lead Inland Rail project

    2023-07-29T05:00:00Z

    AUSTRALIA: Infrastructure manager Australian Rail Track Corp has established a dedicated subsidiary to take responsibility for the 1 700 km Inland Rail freight corridor linking Melbourne and Brisbane, following a highly critical review of the project. Announcing the restructuring on July 7, federal Minister for Infrastructure, ...

  • C series
    News

    Innovation Council appointed to grow Australian rail supply sector

    2023-07-20T05:00:00Z

    AUSTRALIA: The federal government has appointed a Rail Industry Innovation Council tasked with streamlining practices to increase domestic manufacturing as part of the National Rail Manufacturing Plan. The council is chaired by Jacqui Walters, who has been appointed as Rail Manufacturing Advocate with the aim of ...

  • The Overland Dry Salt Lake South Australia (Photo Journey Beyond)
    News

    The Overland to continue for a further three years

    2023-07-19T11:02:00Z

    AUSTRALIA: The Victoria state government has agreed an A$11·5m three-year package to support the operation of The Overland long-distance passenger trains.

  • Queensland train
    News

    ‘Over and back’ speeds Brisbane ETCS testing

    2023-07-06T11:01:00Z

    AUSTRALIA: Hitachi Rail has adopted ‘over and back’ switching principles to speed up the testing of digital train control systems being installed on the southeast Queensland rail network. ETCS Level 2 operation is being introduced in conjunction with Brisbane’s Cross River Rail project, which will see ...

  • Impression of train for Queensland
    News

    Downer picks Hyundai Rotem to support delivery of Queensland EMU fleet

    2023-07-05T08:04:00Z

    AUSTRALIA: Downer has formed a consortium with Hyundai Rotem to build, commission and maintain 65 six-car 1 067 mm gauge electric multiple-units for Queensland. The Queensland government had selected Downer in February as the preferred bidder over CAF and Alstom for the A$4·6bn contract, which is ...

  • CBH Group is to buy 17 Wabtec 1 067 mm gauge diesel locomotives.
    News

    Australian grain shipper orders locos and wagons in growth drive

    2023-07-04T10:05:00Z

    AUSTRALIA: Western Australian grain co-operative CBH Group announced an agreement to buy 17 Wabtec 1 067 mm gauge diesel locomotives on June 29, and the following day placed an order for CRRC Meishan to supply 200 standard gauge and 450 narrow gauge hopper wagons. The orders ...