Skip to content
Transport Automotive

Renaissance of rail – The ARA hosts study tour to significant rail sites in London and Paris

Australasian Railway Association 2 mins read

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) will host a group of 30 rail industry leaders on a study tour of London and Paris this week ahead of the international InnoTrans trade show in Berlin.

The study tour will provide Australian rail organisations with the opportunity to gain valuable insights from global industry leaders on key topics, including interoperability, high-speed rail, sustainability, infrastructure development and operations.

The ARA’s CEO Caroline Wilkie said the study tour also provides the opportunity for Australian rail suppliers and their counterparts in the UK to explore export opportunities in Europe.

“With Australia undergoing an unprecedented $155 billion of rail infrastructure investment, this is a very valuable opportunity for local rail organisations to share experiences and hear first-hand from European counterparts about the successes and challenges in building and modernising major rail networks,” Ms Wilkie said.

“The study tour will include visits to significant rail sites such as HS1 and HS2 and the Elizabeth line in London as well as RATP Dev’s driverless metro line Paris, and a briefing on lessons learned during the recent Olympics and Paralympics,” Ms Wilkie said.

“Australia is enjoying a renaissance of rail, with expanding light rail projects in our major cities, high-speed rail back on the agenda and game-changing projects such as the Sydney Metro and Suburban Rail Loop in Melbourne set to vastly increase patronage.

“This study tour is part of the ARA’s mission to drive collaboration with industry and government to build capability, support innovation and foster a sustainable and resilient rail industry.”

In London, the group will be briefed by Siemens on ETCS and CBTC and complete station tours of Kings Cross and St Pancras Stations. The tour will also include briefings from key government and agency representatives, including from the Railway Industry Association (RIA), Department for Business & Trade, Department for Transport, Rail Partners (Operators Association) and RSSB.

The program will also include talks on UK rail research and innovation from representatives at Network Rail, the Institute of Railway Research at the University of Huddersfield, University of Southhampton and UniPart Rail.

While in Paris, the study tour will receive a joint presentation from RATP Dev and SNCF on lessons learned from the Paris Olympics and Paralympics as well as visit the Rail Express Regional (RER) and receive a briefing on the 2012-2025 major modernisation (new rollingstock, scheduling, Automatic Trains Operations) and tour the operating control room.  The group will also visit the Paris Metro Line 14 (driverless metro) for a briefing on its extension and modernisation, followed by either a Captrain rail freight and logistics briefing or a trip to Grand Metro Paris Express hosted by Transdev.

Following the study tour, the ARA will lead an Australian trade delegation of more than 160 representatives to the world’s largest rail industry fair, InnoTrans, which opens in Berlin on Tuesday September 24.

The delegation from 86 Australian and New Zealand organisations, including passenger and rail freight operators, contractors, manufacturers and suppliers, will showcase the latest innovations and developments in rail.

The ARA has more than 230 members in Australia and New Zealand, covering every aspect of the rail supply chain, including passenger and freight operators, track owners, managers, consultants, contractors and suppliers. 

The ARA is the voice for the rail industry and is committed to advancing issues critical to the Australasian rail industry’s collective success and ensuring rail is at the forefront of government transport policy and investment. 


Contact details:

Natasha Wallace

Senior Manager - Strategic Communications

0499 272 672

Media

More from this category

  • Transport Automotive
  • 11/02/2025
  • 15:09
Electric Vehicle Council

NVES helping the suburbs more than the inner city

Australians living in the outer suburbs and earning middle incomes will have access to modern and fuel efficient cars that will save them up to $3,000 per year under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), according to the Electric Vehicle Council.The vehicle efficiency standard is about driving down prices for cleaner cars in Australia. It incentivises car makers to gradually reduce the total emissions of the cars they sell, giving motorists dozens more choices at a lower purchase price and cheaper running costs.Electric Vehicle Council CEO Julie Delvecchio said: “The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard is helping more Australians living in…

  • Environment, Transport Automotive
  • 07/02/2025
  • 16:05
Electric Vehicle Council

Australia charges ahead with major EV infrastructure funding boost

The Electric Vehicle Council has welcomed the allocation of new federal government funding that will see hundreds of new kerbside chargers installed in Australia. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced $2.4 million for EVX Australia to install 250 kerbside chargers providing 500 charge points, across metropolitan and regional areas in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Julie Delvecchio said: "It’s exciting to see the federal government allocate additional funding to expand essential EV infrastructure.” Investing in and expanding Australia’s electric vehicle charging network is crucial in accelerating the shift to EVs for…

  • Transport Automotive
  • 07/02/2025
  • 03:56
Akwel

AKWEL: 2024 REVENUE OF €989.0M

        Champfromier, February 6, 20252024 REVENUE OF €989.0MAKWEL (FR0000053027, AKW), parts and systems manufacturer for the automotive and heavy-vehicle industry, specialist in fluid management, mechanisms and structural parts for electric vehicles, has recorded for 2024 a consolidated revenue of €989.0M, (-7.3%).in €m — unaudited20242023VariationPCC variation (1)1st quarter263.5274.6-4.0%-3.3%2nd quarter265.3271.2-2.2%-2.2%3rd quarter228.9253.1-9.6%-9.2%4th quarter231.2267.4-13.5%-13.7%Twelve-month total 989.01066.4-7.3%-7.0%(1)   At constant scope and exchange rates.The last quarter 2024 confirms the trend observed in the previous quarters, with revenue down -13.5% to €231.2M.For the whole of 2024, revenues at constant scope and exchange rates fell by -7.0% with a positive foreign exchange impact of €2.2M.The geographical distribution of revenue points…

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.