The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has released the On Track to a Sustainable Future – Australian Railway Association Sustainability Guide to assist the rail industry in achieving a net zero future, offering practical solutions for small- to medium-sized businesses in the industry.
ARA CEO Caroline Wilkie emphasised the importance of the rail industry in Australia and New Zealand’s sustainable development, stating it is crucial for achieving net zero targets.
“Continued investment in sustainable transport systems is critical to achieving net zero targets and will drive the economy and benefit the wider community,” Wilkie stated.
She emphasised the need for sustainability to be integrated into all aspects of the rail supply chain to achieve net zero targets.
“With about a third of rail industry businesses consisting of 20 people or less, it is essential that small and medium businesses play an active role in driving sustainable outcomes to support the industry’s success,” she added.
The Sustainability Guide, developed in collaboration with ARUP, offers practical advice on key issues such as leadership, decarbonisation, resilience, biodiversity, diversity, and inclusion.
ARUP Australasia Rail Leader Alice Reis stated that ARUP’s contribution to the report builds on a long-term commitment to creating genuine change across the industry through systems thinking.
“The challenges we face are complex and require collaboration across all areas of the sector, as well as interdisciplinary research and thinking that drives innovation,” Reis said.
“While recognising the need for cross-sector collaboration, this report provides an important focus on what a strong commitment from the rail industry to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals might look like and how that can help drive the development of safer, more resilient and sustainable railways for everyone,” she explained.
The report showcases successful network innovations and how operators, track owners, and manufacturers collaborate with suppliers to enhance outcomes.
Wilkie noted that the rail industry is demonstrating sustainable innovation through new construction methods and transitioning to renewable energy. She said the guide supports collaboration to embed sustainability at all asset lifecycle stages, demonstrating industry commitment to sustainable outcomes.
“This goes beyond environmental solutions and resilience measures across the rail network. It also includes a strong focus on diversity and inclusion for a more sustainable and productive workforce,” she added.
The ARA research indicates that the rail industry can significantly contribute to the decarbonisation of Australia and New Zealand’s transport networks, as it generates 16 times less carbon pollution than road transport.
More efforts will be made to engage industry representatives in implementing new sustainability measures next year.
