NSW supports rail technology project

The New South Wales Government has lent its support to a national rail technology plan, which aims to boost Australia’s rail manufacturing industry.

The National Rail Technology Roadmap is a joint initiative between the Commonwealth’s Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR), the state governments of NSW, Victoria and Queensland, and the Australasian Railway Association.

The roadmap project will examine and identify the Australian rail industry’s technology and manufacturing capabilities and development opportunities as well as contribute to high level implementation plans for execution, said NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Stoner.

The project’s short-term view will provide a capability map for the rail industry to 2021 that will “highlight gaps and opportunities, identify export and import replacement opportunities, and guide investment attraction efforts,” said Stoner.

The longer term innovation roadmap will go to 2040 and will be developed to identify key strategic opportunities and implementation plans, support investment decisions, and set out means and timelines for implementation.