The ARA held its first member-only Supply Chain Webinar, joined by key senior representatives from across industry who shared major updates on their programs of work.
Natalie Currey, ARA’s General Manager Supply Chain & Diversity shared key insights into the Rail Industry Executive Committee’s revised strategy for 2024.
Key focuses include harmonising procurement – standards, type approvals, consistency of processes – as well as capability profiling, workforce, diversity and social procurement. Investment in rail is also a priority to support a sustainable pipeline addressing decarbonisation and aging infrastructure.
Natalie shared key updates on the progress of the Harmonisation of Standards research that the ARA in partnership with NTC, ONRIC and RISSB have commissioned GHD to complete, alongside updates on Project i-Trace, Meet the Buyer and the upcoming Capability Directory.
ARA CEO Caroline Wilkie shared key updates on the Innotrans delegation to Berlin and shared the itinerary for the accompanying Paris and London Study Tour, which includes key site visits organised at major stations and communications centres. Caroline also shared an update on the upcoming launch of the ARA’s report, Progressing Gender Equality in the Australasian Rail Industry.
Attendees also heard from Lidija Dumbaloska from TfNSW and Andrew Brenchley from DTP Vic who provided an update on the recently completed type approval trials between TfNSW and DTP (Vic) and the soon-to-be-launched Type Approval Framework. Lidija outlined the costs and challenges of not having national type approval and outlined the proposed national framework which is being assessed as part of the current trials underway between TfNSW & DTP (Vic) of which the goal is to ensure robust compliance with specified performance requirements, streamline current business processes and minimise duplication of effort.
Andrew shared further insight into the recent type approval pilot trials that occurred across eight rail products, including electrical and signalling products. Due to the trials’ success, an MoU has been signed between DTP (Vic) and TfNSW which will allow greater information sharing, encouraging reciprocate approval processes and changing the requirements agreement process to further encourage harmonisation. It is hoped that more jurisdictions will also sign MOUs in the coming months.
Sandra McKay from the NTC said that advancing rail interoperability is on the National Cabinet’s agenda; with the Prime Minister, state premiers and chief ministers understanding the importance and the significant productivity gains we will achieve from this prioritisation. To support this shared commitment from Government and industry, a Memorandum of Cooperation for Interoperability was signed last year. Sandra shared further insight into the National Rail Action Plan five key priority areas alongside major updates.
Will Marshal from the Office of National Industry Coordination (part of the Department Industry Science & Resources) shared key background information relating to the establishment of ONRIC and appointment of the National Rail Manufacturing Advocate Jacqui Walters, alongside insights into progress of key initiatives arising from the National Rail Manufacturing Plan. Will touched on the launch of the National Rollingstock Procurement Pipeline recently, emphasising that the work is essential to improving the visibility of rail procurement and increasing the coordination, cooperation and transparency across all rollingstock projects. Will also shared the priority for ONRIC in the coming months will be shifting its focus towards the freight and heavy haul sector to better understand unique manufacturing challenges and how ONRIC can best support the sector.
We also heard from the ARA’s General Manager – Sustainability Joeley Pettit on the Rollingstock Decarbonisation Critical Path and First Nations Research currently underway. The critical path explores pathways to net zero rail operations with a specific focus on rollingstock decarbonisation and examines a range of issues relating to technology and the barriers to adoption of zero/low emissions rollingstock. The critical path outlines recommendations to support the industry’s journey to net zero. The ARA will be launching this report on 15 July and will be sharing further information once the report is launched.