A leading railway research centre has secured a grant to improve railway safety and efficiency.

The Institute of Railway Technology (IRT) has been awarded an Australia China Council Grant to advance safer passenger railway operations in Australia and China, including Hong Kong.

In collaboration with Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation, IRT will work on safer railways using innovative in-service monitoring technologies.

The IRT at Monash University is regarded as a leading track and vehicle research centre in the region.

IRT Director Ravi Ravitharan said: “Our long-standing partnership with the HK MTR Corporation is further strengthened by this announcement.

“This grant will assist to expand and create new networks, bringing together counterparts in governments, industry and other institutions that are delivering and maintaining major rail infrastructure in both countries.”

“[The project] is supported by the Australian Government through the Australia-China Council of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.”

“This new funding provides valuable and strategic financial support to enable the benefits of IRT research to be effectively implemented,” Deputy Vice-Chancellor Ken Sloan said.

“The collaboration further strengthens our ongoing relationship with China in many areas of both research and education and further highlights Monash's increasing global impact.”

More information is available here.