The rail industry has announced the 16 winners across Australia and New Zealand of the Australasian Rail Industry (ARI) Awards.
Australasian Railway Association (ARA) Chief Executive Officer and ARI Awards judging chair Caroline Wilkie said almost 600 people gathered in Sydney at the Hilton Hotel last night to congratulate the winners of the highly anticipated awards.
"The degree of talent and innovation in the rail sector is incredibly impressive and the individuals and projects highlighted tonight are testament to the hard work and dedication at every level of the industry," Ms Wilkie said.
"The extraordinary contribution of this year's nominees illustrates a very bright future for the rail industry as it delivers a once-in-a-generation $155 billion pipeline of construction to expand rail across our passenger and freight networks.
"I am incredibly impressed by the achievements showcased at this year's ARI Awards, which highlight commitment to a high-quality rail network that is safe, efficient, innovative and sustainable."
The 2024 awards feature 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.
Metro Trains Melbourne won the Customer Service Excellence Award for its transport management for the Taylor Swift concert series, with an additional 145 train services and more than 200 additional staff deployed to get more than 130,000 attendees to concerts over three nights.
Phil Ellingworth, Chief Engineer at Metro Trains Melbourne, won the Career Achievement Award in recognition of his significant contribution to the industry.
"With over 42 years of dedicated service in the rail industry, Phil's leadership, technical expertise, innovation, mentorship and unwavering focus on safety has contributed significantly to the rail sector," Ms Wilkie said.
The Awards also featured a range of individual awards for emerging leaders and young rail professionals.
The Emerging Rail Specialist Award was awarded to Curtiss Hood, the Young Achiever Award went to Samiha Najem, Associate Director of Operational Technology, Sydney Trains, the Young Rail Professional Award was awarded to Dylan Jacobs, Associate Track and Civil Engineer, Jacobs and the Signalling and Systems Engineering Award was awarded to Mohan Sankarasubbu, Principal Signalling Engineer, Hitachi Rail Australia.
"All of these deserving winners have leapt out of the starting blocks and proved their dedication to best practice and sustainable, innovative solutions, driving tangible improvements in the rail industry," Ms Wilkie said.
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).
QUOTES FOR ARI AWARDS
Career Achievement Award - Phil Ellingworth, Chief Engineer, Metro Trains Melbourne
Please attribute to the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) CEO Caroline Wilkie:
"The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) congratulates Phil Ellilngworth, Chief Engineer, Metro Trains Melbourne, on winning the Career Achievement Award.
"With over 42 years of dedicated service in the rail industry, Phil's leadership, technical expertise, innovation, mentorship and unwavering focus on safety has contributed significantly to the rail sector," Ms Wilkie said.
Young Achiever Award - Samiha Najem, Associate Director of Operational Technology, Sydney Trains
Please attribute to Permanent Way Institution President Mark Harris:
"Permanent Way Institution (PWI NSW) congratulates Samiha Najem, Associate Director of Operational Technology, Sydney Trains, on winning the Young Achiever Award.
"Samiha has significantly advanced safety, security and reliability within Sydney Trains, particularly with her work on uplifting Operational Technology systems, including implementing cyber security measures. Samiha's innovative strategies, collaboration and dedication to driving technological advancements is impressive."
Young Rail Professional Award - Dylan Jacobs, Associate Track and Civil Engineer, Jacobs
Please attribute to Railway Technical Society of Australasia (RTSA) National Executive Chair Stratton Killis:
"The Railway Technical Society of Australasia (RTSA) congratulates Dylan Jacobs on winning the Young Rail Professional Award. Dylan's career in both South Africa and on significant rail projects in Australia has highlighted his ability to implement innovative solutions to complex engineering problems. His work exemplifies engineering excellence and dedication to safety in the rail industry."
Emerging Rail Specialist Award - Curtiss Hood, Engineering Manager, Acciona Rail
Please attribute to Rail Track Association Australia (RTAA) President Jonathan Barnes:
"The Rail Track Association Australia (RTAA) congratulates Curtiss Hood, Engineering Manager, Acciona Rail, on winning the Emerging Rail Specialist Award. Curtiss has shown exceptional innovation and leadership with his development of the Key Switch Isolation method which has already saved significant time and costs and, most importantly, improved safety."
Signalling and Systems Engineering Excellence Award - Mohan Sankarasubbu, Principal Signalling Engineer, Hitachi Rail Australia
Please attribute to the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE) Section Chair John Skilton:
"The Institution of Railway Signal Engineers congratulates Mohan for winning the Signalling and Systems Engineering Award. Mohan has over 21 years' experience in rail signalling, playing a pivotal role in several transformative projects, including the Brisbane Cross River Rail project. Mohan has repeatedly innovated to enhance operational efficiency and has contributed significantly to the industry by actively supporting the development of younger engineers."
Infrastructure Project Excellence Award - Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC)
Please attribute to Railway Technical Society of Australasia (RTSA) National Executive Chair Stratton Killis:
"The Railway Technical Society of Australasia (RTSA) congratulates the ARTC on winning the Infrastructure Project Excellence Award. The ARTC team has been instrumental in modernising critical train communications across Australia through the National Train Communications System (NTCS) Technology Refresh Project, ensuring a seamless transition from 3G to 4G."
Customer Service Excellence Award - Metro Trains Melbourne – Taylor Swift concerts
Please attribute to the Australian Railway Association CEO Caroline Wilkie:
"The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) congratulates Metro Trains Melbourne on winning the Customer Service Excellence Award. Faced with significant logistical challenges, MTM demonstrated outstanding customer service during the Taylor Swift concert series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, ensuring the smooth and safe transportation of more than 130,000 attendees over three nights."
Safety Excellence Award - Queensland Rail's Mental Health Co-Deployment Trial
Please attribute to the Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (RISSB) GM Stakeholder Engagement, Sharon Tang:
"The Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (RISSB) congratulates Queensland Rail on winning the Safety Excellence Award for the Mental Health Co-Deployment Trail.
"Safety incidents related to mental health on the rail network have a significant impact on the person, their family and friends, and rail employees. Queensland Rail's Mental Health Co-Deployment Trial with the Queensland Police Service Railway Squad and Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services was an Australia-first initiative on the rail network, and is continuing to contribute to the safety and wellbeing of the community."
Employee Engagement Excellence Award - Metro Trains Sydney - One Business One Line
Please attribute to the Australasian Railway Association CEO Caroline Wilkie:
The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) congratulates Metro Trains Sydney on winning the Employee Engagement Excellence Award. Metro Trains Sydney has MTS has set a new standard in authentic and meaningful employee engagement through their initiative, 'One Business One Line'.
Freight Rail Excellence Award - NSW Ports and Patrick Terminals – Project SABRE
Please attribute to the Australasian Railway Association CEO Caroline Wilkie:
"The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) congratulates NSW Ports and Patrick Terminals on winning the Freight Rail Excellence Award.
"Project SABRE has revolutionised rail operations at Port Botany by introducing the world's first fully automated on-dock rail terminal (AutoRail) integrated with an automated container terminal. This $190 million investment has increased capacity, efficiency and safety and significantly reduces truck movements on city roads, cutting emissions and transport costs."
Supplier Excellence Award - Kallipr
Please attribute to the Australasian Railway Association CEO Caroline Wilkie:
"The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) congratulates Kallipr on winning the Supplier Excellence Award.
"Kallipr's pioneering projects, including real-time rail temperature monitoring with Aurizon and flood monitoring with Keolis Downer Yarra Trams and Transdev Sydney Light Rail, have set new benchmarks for safety and operational efficiency.
Rail Innovation of the Year Award - Aurizon and Kallipr – Captis Recharge temperature monitoring system
Please attribute to the Australasian Railway Association CEO Caroline Wilkie:
"The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) congratulates Aurizon and Kallipr on winning the Rail Innovation of the Year Award.
"Aurizon, in collaboration with Kallipr, has significantly enhanced rail safety and operational efficiency by implementing an advanced rail temperature monitoring system using IoT technology. The Captis Recharge IoT data loggers provide real-time temperature data from rail tracks, enabling precise and immediate operational decisions. This innovation not only improves safety by preventing track buckling but also reduces operational disruptions, delivering significant cost savings and increased efficiency."
Sustainability & Environmental Excellence Award - Western Program Alliance - Mt Derrimut Road Level Crossing Removal Project (Deer Park)
Please attribute to the Australasian Railway Association CEO Caroline Wilkie:
"The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) congratulates Western Program Alliance on winning the Sustainability & Environmental Excellence Award.
"The Western Program Alliance has demonstrated outstanding innovation and commitment to sustainability, delivering several firsts in rail. By incorporating climate adaptation measures, Indigenous design, and novel materials like Polyrok, they have set new benchmarks for sustainable infrastructure. Their efforts in reducing urban heat, enhancing community spaces, and First Nations involvement have created a lasting positive impact on the environment and local communities."
Diversity & Inclusion Excellence Award - Queensland Rail – Engineering Pathways program
Please attribute to the Australasian Railway Association CEO Caroline Wilkie:
"The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) congratulates Queensland Rail on winning the Diversity & Inclusion Excellence Award.
"Queensland Rail's Engineering Pathways program, in partnership with Multicultural Australia, provides refugees and asylum seekers with opportunities to gain experience and qualifications in rail engineering.
"Since its inception, the program has supported participants in overcoming barriers to employment, offering hands-on experience across a variety of engineering disciplines. This initiative not only enhances the talent pool within Queensland Rail but also reflects the Queensland Rail's commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce."
Passenger Operations Excellence Award - V/Line – New Fairer Fares Policy
Please attribute to the Australasian Railway Association CEO Caroline Wilkie:
"The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) congratulates V-Line on winning the Passenger Operations Excellence Award.
"V/Line's New Fairer Fares Policy has significantly enhanced transport affordability by aligning regional public transport fares with metropolitan zones. This initiative has resulted in record-breaking patronage, and not only improved accessibility but also fostered positive economic and environmental impacts across Victoria."
Keeping Communities Safe on and Around Rail (TrackSAFE Foundation) - Canberra Metro Operations - Student Accessibility Inclusion Liaison (SAIL) program
Please attribute to the Executive Director of the TrackSAFE Foundation, Heather Neil:
"The TrackSAFE Foundation congratulates Canberra Metro Operations on winning the award for Keeping Communities Safe on and Around Rail.
"Rail safety is a skill for life. The SAIL program is a great example of understanding and learning from lived experiences to create a targeted and authentic rail safety program."
Images of the ARI Awards and winners can be found here.
