The Rail Track Association Australia (RTAA)

The Rail Track Association Australia (RTAA), is a voluntary, not-for-profit organisation, dedicated to pursuing and promoting the interests of track infrastructure within the Australian rail sector. With a proud history which began in 1973, the RTAA brings together owners, contractors, consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, academics, research and development personnel, regulators and individuals who are part of the Australian rail track community.

Membership is invited from individuals, corporations, government bodies, tertiary education institutions, rail suppliers, manufacturers and service providers.

Key activities of the RTAA include:

• Hosting the Field Days event – the largest outdoor rail event in the southern hemisphere
• Sponsoring the Frank Franklyn Young Achiever Award
• Hosting networking and technical meetings across Australia
• Coordinating technical papers for AusRail
• Hosting the annual Australia Day event.

Objectives

The objectives of the RTAA include:

• Initiating sponsorship and/or co-operation with others in research development and the evaluation of railway track and its components
• Bringing together specialists in the areas of design, construction, fabrication, operation and maintenance of railway track
• Fostering collaboration between railways, suppliers of track components and equipment, and service providers in the fields of design, consultancy or contracting
• Seeking the participation of government departments and agencies, universities and other institutions and research facilities with the aim of encouraging the optimisation of railway operations, especially in relation to railway track performance and economics
• Sponsoring the development of realistic standards in relation to track, its components and the practices employed in construction, operation and maintenance.
• Conducting meetings for the purpose of bringing together entities interested in railway track and its associated disciplines and to providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information
• Disseminating information to seek technical and other data from members and interested entities concerning the progress of research and new developments with aim of providing assistance in the evaluation of performance and economics of railway track and components.
• Providing effective management, operation and development of the Association.