18 Aug 2026
Australian Governments invest in national rail standards to lift productivity
The chair of the Australian Rail Industry Standards Organisation (ARISO), Dr Gillian Miles, today welcomed the historic level of support from all Australian governments to align on how rail operates across freight and passenger networks.
Readying Australia for a smooth transition to digital railways, a transformative agreement between Infrastructure and Transport Ministers Meeting (ITMM) and the industry-based ARISO includes a five-year work program to reduce differences that predate federation.
“This will be a game changer for productivity by reducing fragmentation and it will prepare rail to play a bigger role in passenger and freight through harmonised standards and rules that make trains run more seamlessly,” Dr Miles said.
“ARISO can help governments and industry save millions in future procurement cycles and reduce unnecessary differences across the country – from the colour of hi-vis vests, to the size of train bodies, wheels and components, along with the way new rolling stock is accepted across multiple networks.”
Under the agreement, ARISO will develop best practice approaches with operators to remove differences across network borders that are a hand brake on the economy.
“ARISO already plays a role in setting rail standards and will now be tasked with reforming national rail standards and developing best practice approaches with industry,” the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King said.
The work program will deliver direct benefits to accredited rail operators, suppliers and manufacturers and government departments and includes:
- Strengthening ARISO to become the national technical source of authoritative, system-wide advice on standards development, co-ordination, and implementation to drive rail harmonisation and interoperability nationally
- Faster and targeted harmonisation of agreed rail standards and rules where it yields the highest national returns, with implementation support for industry adoption
- The development of a consistent rule book to support rail into the digital age, with fewer but higher quality operational rules to improve safety and lift productivity
- Ensuring the smooth rollout of European Train Control System and other digital technology through the development of supporting standards
- An uplift in capability within ARISO to provide technical leadership in systems engineering, operational technology, rolling stock, signalling and train control.
ARISO will work with industry members to establish new assurance mechanisms to build confidence in the new national standards development process.
A new focus on supporting industry implementation will show the economic and other benefits of harmonisation.
ARISO Chair, Dr Gillian Miles (AM) said:
“We welcome the commitment from Governments to drive greater consistency across rail and ARISO is getting on with the task, working with governments and industry to deliver practical outcomes that improve safety, interoperability and productivity across the rail network.”
“The transition to digital rail presents enormous opportunities, but realising those benefits requires a coordinated national approach to standards, assurance and implementation.”
ARISO CEO Alan Fedda said:
“ARISO’s new 5-year work plan will deliver direct benefits to accredited rail operators, suppliers and manufacturers and help ensure Australia’s rail network is equipped to meet growing freight and passenger demand while improving safety, reliability and efficiency for decades to come.”
Background
ARISO is Australia’s industry-led national rail standards body. Under the new five-year work program, ARISO will lead the development, assurance and implementation of nationally consistent rail standards and operating rules.
The reform program supports priorities endorsed by Infrastructure and Transport Ministers and contributes to National Cabinet’s objective of a safer, more efficient and better-connected national transport network, including a coordinated framework of standards to enable the rollout of ETCS and other digital rail technologies across Australia’s National Network for Interoperability.
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