The Cooperative Research Centre for Railway Engineering and Technologies – Rail CRC – was established on 1 July 2001 as part of the Federal Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Programme. The Centre commenced as an unincorporated joint venture between six universities and six major Australian rail companies – the first transport-related CRC in the programme’s history.
Rail CRC was established with a vision for ‘a new era for rail in Australia – world standard railway systems through cooperative research’. Throughout six years of innovative research, Rail CRC became arguably the premier rail research centre in the nation, with the combined expertise of more than 150 researchers working collaboratively with industry partners to deliver valuable research, knowledge and innovation to the railway industry.
Rail CRC received Commonwealth funding for six years until 30 th June 2007. In addition, Rail CRC secured cash and in-kind support from industry and universities. With participants across freight and urban systems, rail operators and track owners combined, Rail CRC was charged with increasing rail’s efficiency, reliability, safety and skills through world-leading research for the betterment of the Australian rail industry and the community at large.
At the end of six years and with the closing of Rail CRC in June 2007, the Commonwealth Department of Science, Education and Training approved licensing of Rail CRC Intellectual Property to the spin-off company Rail Innovation Australia.
Rail Innovation Australia is now charged with commercializing key technologies developed in Rail CRC and growing this business going forward.
