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Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Marketing Manager, Austrade, GPO Box 5301, Sydney NSW 2001 or by email to [email protected] Publication date: October 2013 Cover and inside cover images courtesy of Laing O’Rourke Austrade gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Martin Baggott in the preparation of this report. 2 HEAVY HAUL, INTERMODAL AND FREIGHT RAIL Image courtesy of Meridian Image courtesy INNOVATIVE AND PROVEN SOLUTIONS DELIVERING SUCCESS HEAVY HAUL, INTERMODAL AND FREIGHT RAIL 3 INTRODUCTION World-leading rail infrastructure and operations have INDUSTRY OVERVIEW long underpinned Australia’s success in the resources and freight logistics industries, allowing the sector to operate INDUSTRY STRENGTHS efficiently and reliably as a major global competitor. COMPANIES AND Established partnerships between Australian This industry capability statement gives you an CAPABILITIES resources and rail companies support the overview of Australian capability in the heavy delivery and long-term sustainability of haul, intermodal and freight rail industries, resources projects, which are often critical for including examples of some of the many FURTHER national economic development and growth. Australian companies with specialist expertise. Australia has the heaviest and longest heavy INFORMATION Talk to your local Austrade representative haul trains in the world and is pioneering for more tailored advice and information several world firsts, including remotely about connecting and partnering with the located train control centres and automated, Australian heavy haul, intermodal and freight driverless heavy haul trains. rail industries. Australia can deliver state-of-the-art solutions across every step in a heavy haul or freight rail project – from planning, design, construction, equipment, operation, safety and maintenance through to training and research and development (R&D). 4 HEAVY HAUL, INTERMODAL AND FREIGHT RAIL Image courtesy of Laing O’Rourke Image courtesy Australia can deliver state-of-the-art solutions at each stage of a heavy haul or freight rail project HEAVY HAUL, INTERMODAL AND FREIGHT RAIL 5 Australian heavy haul, intermodal Australian companies and research rail infrastructure are also essential for INTRODUCTION and freight rail expertise is broad centres have a strong record of the viability of resources projects and and diverse. It encompasses not innovation and R&D across all aspects Australia has considerable expertise to INDUSTRY OVERVIEW only ‘below-rail’ capabilities such as of freight and heavy haul rail. This offer in all these areas. planning and design, infrastructure allows the industry to be flexible, Australian capabilities in leading- construction, facilities, infrastructure efficient and resourceful and provides INDUSTRY STRENGTHS edge design, planning, operation and systems and technologies, but also tailored solutions to challenging and maintenance can minimise downtime ‘above-rail’ capabilities like rail system sometimes unique problems. and interruptions in the operation of COMPANIES AND operation, maintenance, rolling stock A harsh climate, huge distances to resources projects over their lifetime, and related technologies, and training CAPABILITIES cover and remote mining locations which can significantly reduce costs (including management-level training, are some of the challenges that the and improve efficiency. safety and environmental training and Australian industry has met with FURTHER technical training for operations and innovative and proven solutions to maintenance). INFORMATION transport resources successfully by rail Australia runs the world’s the heaviest from ‘pit to port’. Similarly challenging and longest heavy haul trains, with axle conditions exist in regions such as loads of 40 tonnes and train lengths the Middle East, Mongolia, South of 2.5 km or more. It is implementing America, North Africa and South Asia world firsts for heavy haul rail, including – and Australia has the capacity to train control centres located more deliver heavy haul and freight solutions than 1800km from the train networks, worldwide. driverless trains which operate 24 Training, safety and the reliable hours a day, every day, and fully continuous operation of pit-to-port automated maintenance facilities. 6 HEAVY HAUL, INTERMODAL AND FREIGHT RAIL Image courtesy of Rail Skills Australasia Image courtesy HEAVY HAUL, INTERMODAL AND FREIGHT RAIL 7 PIT-TO-PORT AND EDUCATION AND A framework of education pathways INTRODUCTION has been pioneered by the INTERMODAL FREIGHT TRAINING Australasian Railway Association so INDUSTRY OVERVIEW SERVICES For any rail operation to run smoothly, that employees can progress their safely and reliably, a skilled and careers through continuous learning. Australia’s heavy haul capabilities are well-trained workforce is essential. Areas of learning with formalised INDUSTRY STRENGTHS closely linked to its position as a major Australia is a world leader in many accredited courses are: resources producer and exporter. fields of education and training, and The resources industry has led to the • rail infrastructure and rollingstock COMPANIES AND the rail freight and heavy haul sectors development of capabilities in long design are no different, providing training CAPABILITIES haul freight and innovative solutions • rail infrastructure construction and education for everything from to harsh conditions and remote capacity building for government • rail infrastructure maintenance FURTHER locations. Australian expertise in officials through to management, • rollingstock maintenance minerals transport also encompasses INFORMATION operational, technical and trades- the design and delivery of mine site • operations employee training related requirements. loading, port unloading and materials including drivers, train controllers handling facilities throughout Australia As well as engineering degree courses and freight handlers and overseas. provided by a number of Australian • signalling design and maintenance universities, Australia delivers a The logistics chain is very dependent • rail communications and networks wide range of vocational education on its longest arm – the railway. This • rail operations management and training options, some via the has meant that a number of systems including business continuity and Technical and Further Education have been developed in Australia RAMS (TAFE) system, relevant to the rail to schedule operations and permit freight sector. • track maintenance transparency of operations to all the • rail logistics and supply chain elements of the chain. Many of the management strengths Australia’s intermodal and freight rail sectors possess have been • rail safety management. developed from Australia’s heavy haul Further information can be found at rail capabilities. training.gov.au 8 HEAVY HAUL, INTERMODAL AND FREIGHT RAIL ITTD delivers the right people Case study: training behalf of Transnet Freight Rail, the largest freight haulage company in In heavy haul and freight operations, Africa. ITTD worked with Transnet skilled personnel are as vital as state- in other areas, including advice and of-the-art equipment. Australian firm guidance on staff recruitment and International Transport Training and retention, organisational development Development (ITTD) has earned an and carrier paths, and continuing international reputation providing development of its training programs. experienced personnel and training services to the transport industry. • conducting an independent audit on training and competence, developing Since being established in 1996, ITTD has a competence matrix for drivers, expanded to open offices in the Middle and developing and delivering an East, the UK, South Africa and Dubai. advanced course for trainers on behalf Recent projects include: of RapidKL in Malaysia • measuring and evaluating skill sets of • specialist advice to Bovis Lend Lease revenue protection officers (Authorised Dubai on all facets of operations and Officers) for Yarra Trams in Melbourne operator management for its Dubai to ensure they met the competency Metro project. This included a full requirements for a new government training needs analysis, investigating qualification and sourcing overseas development options and developing and delivering • providing engineering input for in-house, tailor-made training courses. maintenance documentation supplied for the Citadis tram operated by Yarra • delivering an international training Trams in Melbourne. program for freight rail drivers and on-job trainers, conducted in Melbourne and South Africa, on Image courtesy of CERT HEAVY HAUL, INTERMODAL AND FREIGHT RAIL 9 TTG