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Welcome to the second ACRI newsletter.
We are pleased to present this publication, including latest news and important events, to be distributed regularly.
For more information about ACRI you can visit our website at www.acri.net.au.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
IHHA Conference
June 2015
RailNewcastle Conference
July 2015
AusRail Plus Conference
November 2015
World Congress on Rail Research
May 2016
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
Vicki Brown, Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Australasian Centre for Rail Innovation.
Realistically, when you need to move 100,000 people or so in a very short time from a point in a city, only rail can do it. Yes, people might connect to other modes of transport after a rail journey or other modes of transport might help move some of the people initially, and those transport modes are essential, but for large-scale people movement, it has to be rail.
I was pondering this as I looked out from the conference facilities at the Melbourne Cricket Ground across the vast empty rows of seats. I was attending the 2015 Annual Forum of the Australian Logistics Council. You cannot help but imagine an AFL Grand Final when viewing that site. People in the transport industry then ponder the logistical question of just how do you move all those people - the MCG can seat 95,000 and have standing room for another 5,000.
A quick look at the map provides the answer: Richmond Railway Station and Jolimont Railway Station are right next to the MCG. From Richmond you can travel to the far eastern edge of the city. Jolimont can take you north and south of the city and some way to the west, but not enough. There is no rail from the airport to the city in Melbourne and in general the west is not well served.
Melbourne's transport system and the balance between road and rail became a hot topic at the ALC Forum. The debate highlighted some of the flaws with provision of infrastructure in Australia.
In particular, the recent difficulties and reversals relating to the East-West Link road in Melbourne became the focus of discussion. The previous Coalition Government in Victoria signed contracts for the construction of the first stage of the East-West Link road just before the State election and the Federal Coalition provided $1.2 billion in funding for it. The then Labor Opposition said if elected it would not go ahead with the project because it wanted the money to go to public transport, particularly rail.
Since winning office Victorian Labor has said it will legislate to minimise any compensation that the consortiums which signed up might seek.
Read more here...
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ACRI Work Programs are now delivering
ACRI Work Programs have now commenced with three main areas of interest: Heavy Haul, Level Crossings and Passenger Rail.
Read more here... |
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John Anderson at the 2015 ALC Forum in Melbourne
ACRI Chairman the Hon John Anderson AO made his address to the ALC forum, outlining the importance of research and innovation in rail, and the transport industry more generally.
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ACRI shows itself to the Industry at the ALC Forum
The 2015 annual Forum of the Australian Logistics Council in Melbourne brought together the leading logistics, infrastructure and transport companies across Australia.
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ACRI and RISSB to Deliver Health and Safety Research
ACRI and the RISSB have taken a major step in ensuring the continuous improvement of safety in the rail industry with the release of advanced research into safety culture.
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ACRI now a Participant of the Rail Manufacturing CRC
The Australasian Centre for Rail Innovation has signed an agreement with the Rail Manufacturing CRC. The RMCRC will have the opportunity to work with ACRI Participants and their research and strategic analysis providers.
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Rail Knowledge Bank
One-stop Shop for Rail Research:
ACRI's Rail Knowledge Bank will very soon have its 4,000th entry. It is an impressive and extremely useful resource for those interested in anything to do with rail transport.
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CRC Rail Level Crossing Near Miss Survey
Created by the CRC, this survey has been designed to understand what a near miss is, and what motivates train drivers to report near misses. The closing date for the survey is 30 June 2015.
To read more, or to take part in the survey, click here...
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DEDICATED TO PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL, INDEPENDENT, APPLIED RESEARCH AND STRATEGIC ANALYSIS
The Australasian Centre for Rail Innovation (ACRI) will undertake or facilitate targeted, applied research and strategic analysis to solve issues raised by rail industry participants or other entities, whether with a commercial or public policy interest in the rail sector or transport sector more broadly.
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