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Industry courts next wave of engineers

Industry courts next wave of engineers

Rail put its best foot forward in a bid to win the hearts and minds of emerging engineers during the Monash Institute of Railway Technology's (IRT) industry-student engagement afternoon on 10 September. Hosted by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Elizabeth Croft, and IRT director Ravi Ravitharan and his team, the session featured five-minute presentations by more than a dozen pro­fessionals speaking directly to engineerIng students on career pathways and opportunities within rail.

20 Years of IRT Instrumented Revenue Vehicle

20 Years of IRT-Instrumented Revenue Vehicles

The Monash Institute of Railway Technology (IRT) is celebrating 20 years at Monash University. Throughout 2020, we’ll be taking a look at some of the fundamental changes IRT helped to bring to the railway industry. The first of these is the Instrumented Revenue Vehicle (IRV), also known as Instrumented Ore Car (IOC) and Instrumented Coal Wagon (ICW) programme, which began in 2002 and is still delivering and expanding to new areas today.

People still needed to shape railways

People still needed to shape railways

Professor Hannes Gräbe, chair in railway engineering at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, delivered the 2019 lecture in railway engineering honouring the 40-year contribution of Dr. Stephen Marich to the railway industry. The lecture has been hosted every year by Monash Institute of Railway Technology (IRT) in Melbourne since 2014.

Recycled-waste sleepers enter first metro trial

Recycled-waste sleepers enter first metro trial

NEARLY 200 SLEEPERS MADE from primarily a mix of recycled plastic have been incorporated into track in inner-suburban Melbourne. In a first for metropolitan rail in Australia, the composite product unveiled on the network on 24 June is being trialled by Public Transport Victoria (PTV) in collaboration with Monash University's Institute of Railway Technology(IRT)

Plastic Sleepers under test by QR

Plastic sleepers under test by QR

Plastic raillway sleepers produced by a Mildura, Victoria, manufacturer are being tested by Queensland Rail (QR) as part of its plan to roll out alternatives to traditional infrastructure.Integrated Recycling has developed the Duratrack composite

Remote Track Inspections using Drones

With over 40,000km of track, Australia has the sixth largest railway network in the world. Current railway track inspections involve costly and occasionally dangerous practices, which are especially difficult in remote areas, but developments by

"Don't save yourself into trouble"

Increased operational demands are being placed on railroads. These demands come with financial constraints, Dr Robert Fröhling, principal engineer in the technology management department of South Africa's Transnet Freight Rail, tells an audience

Boom Time! - But Now What?

On Friday 27 October, the Permanent Way Institution (PWI) New South Wales hosted more than 400 rail industry delegates at the 2017 annual convention in Sydney with the theme 'Boom Time! But Now What?!?'  The NSW rail Industry

Instrumented Revenue Vehicles Drive Track Maintenance Efficiencies

Rising demand is posing major challenges for railways around the world. They must invest significant sums to renew and enhance their infrastructure, while at the same time keeping lines open as much as possible to handle the increased traffic. As maintenance windows shrink and renewals budgets tighten, infrastructure managers need to find responsive strategies to drive efficiencies whilst ensuring safe and reliable operationsy

V/Line Accepts Report on Heat Speed Management

V/Line engaged Monash University's Institute or Railway Technology (IRT) and Central Queensland University (CQU) to carry out independent reviews on heat speed restrictions on the state's freight lines. V/Llne has accepted all the recommendations in two reports. In response to industry concerns, remedial work undertaken on the freight network had allowed the casing of speed restrictions for the 2017-18 summer and trains would still be able to run even when the temperature reached 36°C.

Never a Better Time to be a Rail Engineer

The rail Industry is a seller's market as far as engineers are concerned, with companies bidding strongly for the right skills. That was the message that emerged from 'Shaping the Future of Railway' hosted by the Institute of Railway Technology (IRT) and held at the Australia Synchrotron adjacent to Monash University Clayton Campus.