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The body structures of most modern Australian freight rolling stock were designed to the 1992 ROAAAR standard. The introduction of AS 7520.2 in 2012 constituted a revolutionary change in approach to established structural design practice. Prior to AS 7520.2 there had been a steady evolution of freight rolling stock structural design standards used in Australia. This evolution was based on extensive service experience and the results were invariably successful when standards were properly applied. The significant change in direction indicates an imperative for a quantitative comparison of AS 7520.2 with antecedents to fully appreciate the relative change in mitigation of the risks of structural failure. The inevitable complexity of rolling stock structural design standards eliminates any possibility of a simplistic comparison along the lines of "A is more or less conservative than B, by a factor of C". Here, a practical quantitative method of comparison is shown, using a contemporary style of coal wagon as an example. It is concluded that the degree to which structural failure risks are mitigated by AS 7520.2 is significantly less than for ROA-AAR. It is further concluded that application of AS 7520.2 does not result in a uniform rating of structural capacity, a fundamental requirement for any such standard. Caution should, accordingly, be exercised when relying on AS 7520.2. Recommendations for further development to surmount material deficiencies identified in AS 7520.2 are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers Australia's commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 and the contribution of the rail industry, and in particular diesel passenger rolling stock, to achieving the targets. In reviewing alternate fuel technologies that could be implemented to reduce emissions, it proposes key parameters that should be considered when evaluating options to lower or replace diesel propulsion with zero emission alternatives. Since 2018 Mott MacDonald has been involved with the zero-emission multiple unit ('ZEMU') due to enter service in San Bernadino County, California in 2024. Lessons learnt from this experience are applicable to the Australian rail industry, including the factors that influenced the selection of alternate fuel technologies for that application. This paper discusses these lessons covering the importance of a well-established project objective to allow comparative assessment, consideration of industry acceptance of alternate technologies and cost implications. Infrastructure impacts, existing fleet conditions, maturity of technology, operations and maintenance impacts including range, and safety are also all explored as part of this review. The paper draws on the above lessons to propose a way forward for the Australian rail industry to consider potential options to lower emissions with the goal of progressing to zero emissions in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the largest infrastructure projects in recent times in Australia, the Southern Cross Station in Melbourne represents a specific marker of transition from craft-based, manual techniques to digital and industrialized techniques in building design and construction. Using this project as a case study, this paper analyzes implicit opportunities and challenges in large scale complex design and construction projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]