Premier Nathan Rees, Minister for Transport David Campbell and Vice C... Premier Nathan Rees, Minister for Transport David Campbell and Vice Chancellor Gerard Sutton recently visited UOW’s rail workshops.

Premier Nathan Rees and Minister for Transport David Campbell. Premier Nathan Rees and Minister for Transport David Campbell.

 
 

SMART Rail Institute

Recognising the significant part that rail infrastructure plays across the nation the University of Wollongong, as part of the SMART Infrastructure Facility, is establishing a $20 million SMART Rail Institute.

The NSW Government, though RailCorp, has provided $10 million which will ensure that the SMART Rail Institute will become Australia’s pre-eminent research and training facility for rail research and technology.

The institute will be headed by a Foundation Professor of Railway Engineering and will be overseen by a Management Committee which will include participants from RailCorp.

In addition the institute will host a Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, research and support staff, specialised rail machinery, new rail laboratories and equipment and a state-of-the-art IT system for simulation and modelling.

Key areas of research

The institute will develop excellence in a range of key rail industry research areas including;

• System design (Asset Management, Signalling, Power Supply and Quality, Scheduling and Logistics);
• Below Rail Technology. UOW are acknowledged leaders in geotechnical work, rail track stability and control, and ballast design. This is supported by substantial engineering test equipment (examples of current equipment attached);
• Wheel/Rail interface, including materials engineering for both wheels and rails, and welding and joining technologies - these are also current UOW strengths;
• Infrastructure Design, Modelling, Analysis and Visualisation. UOW is currently building this substantial facility within SMART and it will be able to provide rail planners with state-of-the-art analysis and simulation facilities, and allow detailed cost benefit analyses, and the visualisation of alternative infrastructure designs and different operational paradigms;
• Rolling Stock Design, including operation and maintenance, traction and automation. UOW is currently running training courses in these areas (eg for RailCorp);
• Occupational Health and Safety - driver training, level crossings, signalling.

Training

As part of its activities the institute’s research development activities will aid the development of rail related course materials that will enhance mainstream Bachelor of Engineering courses, further strengthen rail related postgraduate coursework offerings and tailor continuing education courses to meet the specific needs of industry.

Our students will be given opportunities to interact with RailCorp on many occasions including site visits, thesis topics and vacation employment for selected full-time engineering students.

We will develop rail specialists fully equipped to meet the future demands of this vital industry.