Australia advances rail infrastructure through new appointments and funding

The Australian Government has appointed Professor Eva Hanly and Christopher Rayner to the High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) Board. Hanly, a strategic adviser with extensive experience in complex infrastructure projects, will serve a three-year term. Rayner, an experienced rail executive from the UK with expertise in rolling stock and operations, has been appointed for two years.

Separately, the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has endorsed the launch of the $52 million Transport Resilience and Capacity Kickstart (TRACK) Program. The initiative aims to increase freight movement via rail to improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and enhance the resilience of Australia’s national supply chains. The first round of the program will offer up to $26 million in incentive payments to support containerised and bulk freight shifts to rail.