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An innovative autonomous rail container wagon that is set to transform how goods are moved at the WA Government's future Westport has earned Arc Infrastructure a major award at the Australasian Rail Industry (ARI) Awards.
Almost 800 people gathered in Melbourne on Wednesday night to congratulate the 16 winners, with Arc Infrastructure receiving the Freight Rail Excellence Award.
The top gong, the Career Achievement Award, also went to Arc Infrastructure employee Kevin Reeves, a Network Operation Interface Principal who has spent 50 years working in the rail industry.
Australasian Railway Association (ARA) Chief Executive Officer and ARI Awards judging chair Caroline Wilkie congratulated Arc Infrastructure on its win and Mr Reeves for his outstanding commitment to the rail industry.
"Arc Infrastructure's autonomous rail container wagon will enable much faster movements to and from port and will make rail more competitive with other modes. It is incredible to think that this innovation has the potential to increase rail modal share from about 20 per cent at Fremantle Port to nearly 100 per cent at the proposed Westport," Ms Wilkie said.
The wagon can be positioned directly under quay cranes, loading and unloading quickly. The project is aligned with WA's Westport initiative and focuses on safer and more efficient transportation while reducing environmental impact. Trials are planned for later this year, with the innovation set to offer a range of safety benefits for the freight sector.
Mr Reeves began his career at regional WA stations and later moved to Perth, where he held numerous operational positions before specialising in safeworking.
Ms Wilkie said Mr Reeves is well-regarded in the WA rail industry for his commitment to training and mentoring train controllers.
"Kevin has had an outstanding career and has been a real champion of safeworking, a go-to expert on rules and a well-respected mentor and trainer. The judging committee congratulates Kevin for his contribution and dedication over an impressive 50 years working in rail," Ms Wilkie said.
The 2023 awards featured 16 categories recognising individuals, organisations and rail projects in the areas of diversity and inclusion, sustainability, passenger, infrastructure, innovation, supply, customer experience, freight, signalling and systems engineering and safety.
The Awards are supported by the Australasian Railway Association, Institution of Railway Signal Engineers, Railway Technical Society of Australia, Rail Track Association Australia, the Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board and the Permanent Way Institution (NSW).
Below are details of the WA award winners at the Australasian Rail Industry (ARI) Awards:
- Career Achievement Award – Kevin Reeves, Arc Infrastructure: Mr Reeves has had an impressive 50-year career in rail, marked by leadership, integrity and a commitment to mentoring the next generation of rail leaders. Starting in country stations and advancing to safeworking roles, he has seen significant industry changes. Kevin is regarded for his training and mentoring of staff, has excelled in setting new ways of working and embraced innovation. He was seconded to the role of National Rules Implementation Specialist with the Rail Safety Manager and in 2014 became a Network Controller, where he provided guidance for rules and procedure issues and interface. Described by colleagues as humble and approachable, Kevin has a key role in Arc Infrastructure's projects. Kevin's enduring connections and knowledge sharing define his remarkable legacy.
- Rail Freight Excellence Award – Autonomous Rail Container Wagon, Arc Infrastructure: This innovative solution aims to transform rail into a strong competitor to road freight. It addresses limitations in existing ports by positioning itself directly under quay cranes, loading and unloading quickly, and can carry two containers. The project involves immersive learning scenarios, technology-enabled solutions and focuses on capturing tasks historically carried out by road freight. It has the potential to increase rail modal share from 20 per cent to nearly 100 per cent at the proposed Westport, transforming container logistics. The project is aligned with Westport and focuses on safer and more efficient transportation and reducing environmental impact. Trials are planned for later this year.
