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Railways capability overview
Australia’s vast terrain, crowded cities, widely scattered communities and diverse climatic conditions have led to the creation of one of the most modern and sophisticated railway networks in the world.
With an annual turnover of more than $8 billion and employing around 75,000 people, the rail industry is renowned for its innovative engineering solutions to a variety of environmental, economic and technical challenges.
Every year on Australia’s rail network, more than 500 million tonnes of freight is hauled, 650 million passenger journeys are completed and Australian rail companies export millions of dollars of products and consultancy services around the globe.
Major international project wins include high-speed track construction in Taiwan, rail track construction in Saudi Arabia, locomotives in Kazakhstan, signalling and passenger vehicle maintenance projects in Hong Kong, locomotives and metro consultancy services in China, and high-speed simulator technology in the UK.
Other Australian rail products that have been exported across the world include specialised rolling stock, passenger vehicle ventilation systems, security systems and sound and vibration mitigation systems.
Prominent markets for Australia’s railway products and services include Malaysia, USA, Indonesia, China, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Philippines, New Zealand, South America and Europe.
Heavy haulage railways
Australia is internationally renowned for its heavy haulage railways. These single-line networks carry some of the world’s heaviest and longest freight trains whose diesel-electric locomotives haul in excess of 130 million tonnes of iron ore every year. In Queensland, over 120 million tonnes of coal is hauled annually via electric locomotives, which have been designed and built in Australia for Queensland’s challenging tropical conditions.
Light rail systems
Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide all have a light rail system as well as conventional urban railways. Melbourne’s light rail network covers 236km of street and reserved-track lines and operates 800 cars over more than 40 routes. This 1435mm gauge system, which is fully integrated with Melbourne’s heavy railway and bus service, is the largest and most economical network of its type in the developed world.
Tramways
Australia has developed and operated some of the largest and most sophisticated agricultural and mine tramways. This technology is available as a complete materials-handling system, as modular equipment, or as parts.
Examples of Australian technical innovations include the development and introduction of:
- High-speed bogie design for passenger and freight trains
- Computer information, technology for rail signalling, ticketing and training
- Cost control and planning systems
- Dry brake fuelling systems, pollution control environmental systems and carriage cleaning systems
- Simulators for driver training and train operating
- Optical techniques for monitoring rail conditions
Australia's R&D achievements include:
- Wheel-rail interface developments, particularly wheel grinding techniques trialled throughout Australia and Hong Kong
- Ultrasonic and stress testing in rails
- Computer simulations, particularly train path simulations
- Signalling for automatic train protection and control systems
- Head hardened rail to lengthen the life of heavily loaded rails
Australia’s public and private railway professionals are renowned for their skill and experience in developing and operating efficient railway systems in tropical and desert areas.
They have established a global reputation for their extensive experience in all aspects of the design, development, construction, operation, maintenance and refurbishment of modern rail systems.
Consultancy skills include feasibility reviews, route surveys, planning, detailed design and project management, financial analysis of options, infrastructure reviews, passenger reservation systems and information technology.
Australian railway consultants have completed numerous projects overseas, including transport planning in Eastern Europe and Asia, and benchmarking in Hong Kong and the UK.
Australia's public and private railway network currently comprises a total of 37,000km of multi-gauge tracks.
Current domestic rail projects include a $437 million contract to supply and maintain new railcars for the South West Metropolitan Railway in Perth, a $212 million contract to maintain locomotives in Queensland, a billion dollar upgrade on the Brisbane to Cairns link and additional rolling stock for the Alice Springs to Darwin rail link.
In addition, Queensland Rail is expected to order at least 200 new locomotives to satisfy the demand from new developments such as mines and smelters, including a $1 billion zinc mine and refinery in Townsville.
Major players in Australia’s rail industry include companies such as United Group, Downer EDI, Bradken and Bombardier Transportation.
(Sources: Australian Railway Industry Corporation (ARIC), IbisWorld Australia)
For more information please visit:
www.ara.net.au – Australasian Railway Association Inc
www.rtsa.com.au – Railway Technical Society of Australia
www.aric.com.au – Australian Railway Industry Corporation
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