Australia's biggest rail industry event underway

The three-day event assembled more than 700 national and international delegates and speakers to discuss the role played by rail transport, challenges of the future and technology advancements.

Infrastructure Australia chief executive Michael Deegan and the European Commission Delegation's Australian ambassador, David Daly, were among 90 speakers scheduled to speak.

Australasian Railway Association chief executive Bryan Nye said that this year’s theme was about efficiency and shared knowledge.

“With both passenger and freight networks stretched to capacity and forecast growth predicting this trend to continue, if rail is to provide the required levels of service into the future, it has to get ‘cleverer’ and do more with less,” Mr Nye said.

Railway Technical Society of Australasia executive chairman Martin Baggott said that use of cutting-edge technology was also at the centre of the industry's thinking.

"It takes less effort to complete work if one doesn't fall into the traps and it takes less effort when smart technology is applied to the existing assets and resources," Mr Baggott said.

More than 200 companies are exhibiting at the event.

For daily coverage from the event, go to www.railexpress.com.au