The Federal Government has released the Rail Manufacturing Roadmap – On Track to 2040 – following extensive industry and academia collaboration.

 

The Federal Minister for Industry and Innovation, Greg Combet, urged industry leaders to make good use of the document in preparing their companies for the future.

 

"I encourage the industry to embrace the findings in this Roadmap, and harness the opportunities to innovate and grow Australia's rail manufacturing industry,” Mr Combet said.

 

Developed over twelve months, the Roadmap identifies three technical priority opportunities of Materials and Manufacturing, Monitoring and Management, and Power and Propulsion among 80 promising applications of local capability and technology.

 

Key outcome areas identified during the consultation process included six strategic implementation areas of governance, policy, research, funding, collaboration, and standardisation and regulation. The Roadmap also presents 22 recommendations supporting implementation areas.

 

The Roadmap was developed by ANU Edge with the Cooperative Research Centre for Rail Innovation, the University of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing and Strategic Connections Group.

 

The project was jointly funded by the Commonwealth, industry through the Australasian Railway Association, and the Victorian, New South Wales and Queensland Governments.

 

Mr Combet also thanked those involved in the production of the document, which he says will play a crucial role in delivering a cohesive vision for the Australian rail manufacturing sector’s future.

 

"Finalisation of the project is an excellent achievement and I would like to thank Bruce Griffiths, the Rail Supplier Advocate, for his tireless work with the rail industry in bringing the project to fruition.

 

"This project is symbolic of the industry's determination to achieve a consensus on a vision - it outlines directions for future opportunities and pathways. Importantly, it sets out necessary short-term decisions that will lay the foundations for long-term sustainability,” Rail Supplkier Advocate Bruce Griffiths said.

 

The report can be found here:

http://www.innovation.gov.au/Industry/AustralianIndustryParticipation/SupplierAdvocates/Documents/OnTrackTo2040-Roadmap.pdf