RISSB Connect Edition 8, March 2023

INSIDE
THIS EDITION

+ Public Consultations
+ Opportunities for Greater Savings in Smarter Railway Procurement
+ Rail Safety Conference Early Bird Prices Finish Today
+ MasterClass Webinar 28 March 2023
+ Conference Speaker Launches Responsible AI Network
+ Tech Trends to Watch
+ Congratulations to Monash University's IRT 

PRODUCTS

Public Consultations

This week we released two draft Standards, inviting industry to provide feedback to RISSB.

AS 7702 Rail Equipment Type Approval
This updated Standard was informed by the findings of a study commissioned by  RISSB and the Australasian Railway Association that reviewed the range of type approval processes used across the country and identified opportunities to improve outcomes.

The study found that industry and governments could save time and money by adopting a more nationally consistent standardised process as there are currently:

* Inconsistencies and duplication of effort across jurisdictions resulting in increased costs
* Inconsistencies in type approval requirements
* Processes that constrain competition and innovation by making it prohibitively difficult to obtain type approval for new products and technologies.

To support a harmonised approach to type approval and the outcomes of this study, the updated AS 7702 Rail Equipment Type Approval seeks to encourage harmonised type approval processes by providing guidance on:
* Cross acceptance (mutual acceptance) between rail transport operators and suppliers
* Minimum requirements for product information/acceptance pack documentation
* Recognising the competency of those undertaking type approval evaluation
* Recognition of other applied (applicable) type and trails testing.

To access the draft, please download it here:
AS 7702 Rail Equipment Type Approval

AS 7635 Track Geometry
The purpose of AS 7635 Track Geometry is to provide a harmonised and consistent approach to managing track geometry across jurisdictions. First published in 2013, this updated Standard provides guidance to rail infrastructure managers and other responsible parties tasked with the design, construction, commissioning, monitoring, maintenance, and modification of rail tracks in Australia.

It notably includes additional design parameters for broad gauge and revised geometry defects thresholds and responses for plain line track.

To access the draft, please download it here:
AS 7635 Track Geometry

To make comments on either draft, please use the commenting tools in Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader to comment in-line with the text.

Please return your PDF with comments to amuscat@rissb.com.au by Sunday, 21 May 2023.

Opportunities for Greater Savings in Smarter Railway Procurement

Last week the ARA released its report into the inefficiencies in current state-based approaches to railway procurement citing a missed saving of $1.85Bn over the last decade due to lack of coordination between states and misalignment of local content policies. You can see the article on  the ARA’s website here.

Going forward, this represents a tremendous opportunity for our industry to drive out cost, and improve harmonisation and interoperability, while stimulating local manufacturing and creating Australian jobs. Indeed these are the objectives of the National Transport Commission’s (NTC’s) National Rail Action Plan (NRAP), and the federal Government's Office of National Rail Coordination, which RISSB is very pleased to support.

Within NRAP, RISSB co-chairs the harmonisation stream of activity in which we are also halfway through delivery of a 3-year program of work to create a suite of Standards for high volume consumable components, as well as deliver a National Vehicle Registration System.

These projects will help to create the platform upon which the savings referred to in the ARA report can be released.

TRAINING AND EVENTS

Rail Safety Conference Early Bird Prices Finish Today

Early bird prices for this year's Rail Safety Conference finish today, so get in quick to get your discount.

To be held in Sydney on 2-3 May, this year's conference features two exemplary days of keynotes, industry panels, an exclusive conference dinner, a site visit and much, much more.

If you'd like to book a ticket for you or your team to attend, go to www.railsafetyconference.com.au. You will also find the agenda and list of speakers on this page.

MasterClass Webinar 28 March 2023

Ahead of Stress Awareness Month, we've invited former NRL player and coach, Matt Elliott from The Change Room, to discuss mental wellbeing, resilience and performance for our next MasterClass webinar.  Our next webinar will be held on Tuesday, 28 March 2023.

Matt will be sharing his thoughts and lived experience on:

*   The number #1 thing you can do to improve your health and performance (and why it’s often overlooked)
*   A daily practice to build wellbeing and resilience that is used in high performance environments
*   A lesson from Mt Everest.

Click on the blue button below to register to attend.

GENERAL NEWS

Conference Speaker Launches Responsible AI Network

Businesses wanting to capitalise on a plethora of opportunities offered by AI are encouraged to learn more about the responsible AI network.

Launched by RISSB Technology and Innovation Conference speaker and CSIRO Director of AI, Stela Solar,  the world-first support network will help Australian businesses make the most of the trillion-dollar opportunity presented by new technologies.

According to the CSIRO, AI will be worth $22.17 trillion to the global economy by 2030, and Stela is on a mission to build value for Australian people, businesses and the country, through use of artificial intelligence. 

Stela is passionate about removing barriers to positive technology adoption and engagement. And over the past 15 years, she has cultivated expertise in capturing new revenue opportunities presented by emerging technologies and business model transformation.
Read the full story here.

Tech Trends to Watch

Digital cyber security upskilling; increased focus on the development of AI governance, regulations, and standards; and AI becoming regular "apprentices and tools" are just some of the tech trends that CSIRO experts have identified as ones to watch. Read the full story here.

Congratulations to Monash University's IRT 

Congratulations to Monash University's Institute of Railway Technology for receiving a $500,000 research and development grant from the Victorian Government. The funding will enable the IRT to develop "the next generation" of composite plastic sleepers that will be used throughout Victoria and Australia's rail networks.  Read the full story here.

RISSB has long championed decarbonisation and in 2021 and 2022 worked with a broad range of stakeholders including infrastructure managers, suppliers and researchers, to develop AS 1085.22 Railway track materials: Alternative material sleepers, paving the way for industry to source, use and recycle non-traditional materials in the rail network.