New agreement is set to advance railway research for heavy freight and passenger operations

CQUniversity is on track to further strengthen a relationship with the Australasian Centre for Rail Innovation (ACRI) to meet the research needs of the rail industry.

A new research agreement for a program of research that will take place over the next two financial years was signed in Rockhampton this month.

The Director of the Centre for Railway Engineering' Prof. Colin Cole said with this new agreement in place' CQUniversity achieves a continuation of the relationship with ACRI.

"CQU has enjoyed working with ACRI since 2014 on research projects hosted in the Centre for Railway Engineering and in the Appleton Institute'" he said.

"This new agreement has an expectation by both parties to grow capability and avenues of research delivery and so better serving ACRI's industry partners and enhancing the profitability and efficiency of the railway industry."

ACRI links government and private sector railways through collaborative research to ensure continued improvement in productivity and sustainability to underpin the competitive position of the rail industry.

It was formed in 2014 by the industry and university partners from the CRC for Rail innovation' (of which CQUniversity was a member) which operated from 2007 to 2014.

Since then' CQUniversity has had the opportunity to work with ACRI industry participants in applied research and engineering solutions to advance Australia's heavy haul rail operations.

Some of the projects conducted by CQUniversity in conjunction with ACRI included Empty Train Aerodynamic Improvements' Quantifying the Impact on Track Maintenance of High Traction Locomotives' and Quantifying the Impact on Track Maintenance of High Traction Locomotives.