30 Jul 2026
ARISO leading industry conversations on the future of rail freight and infrastructure
ARISO was present at two industry forums, contributing to national conversations about the future of Australia’s rail freight operations and the critical infrastructure that underpins the network.
At the Rail Freight Conference in Melbourne, ARISO CEO Alan Fedda joined industry leaders to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing Australia’s freight sector. While rail freight is often described as the backbone of the national economy, operators continue to navigate varying regulatory frameworks, operational requirements and safety obligations across jurisdictions.
During the conference, Alan highlighted the practical steps ARISO is taking to drive greater consistency and harmonisation in rail standards to reduce complexity while maintaining the highest safety standards.
“Harmonisation can reduce complexity and help drive long-term growth in the market for rail freight,” Alan told the conference.
Discussions throughout the event also explored network capacity, decarbonisation, digital technologies, supply chain resilience and the future of freight operations.
ARISO also continued its leadership at the East Coast Rail Turnouts Workshop in Melbourne, building on the success of the West Coast Rail Turnouts Workshop held earlier this year. ARISO led discussions on one of the most hardworking and critical assets in the rail network – turnouts – and the role harmonised standards play in improving safety, reliability and interoperability.
Sudha Niles, General Manager Products and Innovation, and Cris Fitzhardinge, Senior Standards Development Manager shared their collective expertise at the Workshop, chairing sessions, fielding questions in the ‘Ask ARISO’ session and facilitating panel discussions.
As Australia works towards greater harmonisation across the industry, ensuring consistency in turnout design, manufacture, installation and maintenance is becoming increasingly important.
The workshop explored how industry is moving towards a more nationally coordinated approach to standards development, supporting improved interoperability while maintaining a strong focus on safety and operational performance. It provided an important opportunity for infrastructure managers, suppliers, engineers and technical specialists to discuss practical challenges, share innovations and contribute to the future direction of turnout management across Australia.
As Australia’s national rail standards organisation, ARISO continues to work with industry to develop standards that respond to emerging technologies, evolving operational needs and the priorities identified by governments and industry stakeholders.
