As the industry counts down to the planned opening of Sydney’s $21.6 billion metro line on 4 August, Connect Rail 2024 is exploring and celebrating the matrix of planning, policy and technology required to get rail projects running.
Featuring over 70 speakers and three conference streams, Connect Rail’s full two-day program brings together a spectrum across the sector of innovators, decision-makers, adopters and operators who bring new technology to life. Taking place on the 5-6 August at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, the event is an opportunity to see the future of rail first-hand.
“We’ve curated a lineup that ensures every corner of the industry – from government to tech and innovation – gets actionable takeaways,” Connect Rail program director, Tina Karas, said.
The program starts with a joint plenary featuring three keynote presentations from Assistant Minister for Trade and Manufacturing, Senator Tim Ayres, ONRSR’s Chief Executive Dr Natalie Pelham, and National Transport Commission CEO and Commissioner Michael Hopkins.
As the day unfolds, participants will dive into a high-energy panel discussion on the State of the Nation, which will feature panelists from government departments alongside Transport for NSW and Public Transport Authority of WA. Alstom’s Matt Byrne will take a look at the future of rail tech, while CommBank’s Vivek Dhar will decode Australia’s carbon market landscape.
After lunch, the action will split into two concurrent tracks covering rail decarbonisation and rail operations. This will include presentations, case studies and panel discussions from Pacific National, Rio Tinto Iron Ore, Queensland Rail, Sydney Trains, Aurecon, Transport for London, V/Line, and Alstom, to name but a few, delivering game-changing insights.
Day two will dive straight into rail infrastructure and rail decarbonisation. The morning highlights will include an international keynote address from Carolyn Cox of City Rail Link discussing building a sustainable legacy, as well as a strategic panel discussion with five of the industry’s decarbonisation leaders. Cyber security and intelligent infrastructure will also be covered in the morning, before further presentations from Downer, Arup, Jacobs, Metro Trains Melbourne, Sydney Metro and more.
The final sessions will start with an industry spotlight panel, discussing what new technologies can be expected in the next 20 years – collaborating in a time of rapid digital transformation. Taking part in this panel will be Alstom Australia & New Zealand Managing Director Pascal Dupond, ARTC’s Head of Technology Capability Kerry Maidment-Grocke, Transport for NSW’s Chief Engineer Dr Christian Christodoulou, and Redding Consulting Managing Director Naomi Dickinson.
To round out the event, RISSB Rail Safety Professional of the Year Winner, Ann Tomlinson, will have a trackside chat on pathways, projects and people with 2024 Women in Industry Excellence in Transport Winner, Anne Modderno.
For more details and to secure a spot, visit www.connectrail.com.au. It’s where the rails meet innovation, and the future accelerates!
Image: Anton Gvozdikov/shutterstock.com
