IRJ at UITP 2015, Milan. Sir Peter Hendy, who has completed his two-year term as UITP president handed over to his successor Mr Masaki Ogata at the closing ceremony of the 2015 congress.

A new rail maintenance technique developed by Hardface Technologys is revolutionising heavy-haul track maintenance practices in Australia. Shamus Walsh, general manager at Hardface, outlines the development and application process, and the benefits offered by its Hedkote rail repair solution.

Australia's largest railfreight operator Aurizon has sought to grow its business primarily through its heavy-haul capabilities. However, recent turmoil in global iron-ore and coal markets is creating some turbulence for the operator's aspirations, writes Mark Carter.

THE detailed construction schedule for Sydney's CBD and South East light rail line was released on May 28, with major city centre works on the 12km route scheduled to start on October 23.

AN audit of Australia's infrastructure carried out for the federal government by Infrastructure Australia says that without action to improve transport, congestion could cost the country $A 53bn ($US 41.8bn) in just over 15 years while road journey times along major urban arteries would increase by 20%.

KIWIRAIL is set to receive an additional $NZ 400m ($US 294m) in state funding over the next two years as part of the New Zealand government's 2015-2016 budget, which was announced on May 21.

THE state government of Western Australia issued its budget for 2015-2016 on May 13 with a commitment to funding the extension of the TransPerth suburban network to Perth airport, but the proposed Max light rail project appears to have been put on hold.

METRO Trains Melbourne (MTM) has awarded Nomad Digital a contract to install remote condition monitoring (RCM) systems on four Alstom X'Trapolis EMUs in a proof of concept which could lead a full fleet rollout of the technology.

AUCKLAND Transport celebrated a milestone in the $NZ 1.6bn ($US 1.2bn) modernisation of the city's suburban rail network on May 16, when electric services operated on all lines for the first time.

WHILE the new 2015-16 budget published by Australia's federal government on May 12 will see increases in spending on both rail and road infrastructure, the rate of increase for road is much greater than for rail, and federal funding for urban rail will be slashed.