<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> Each year, the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) turns to industry to nominate colleagues for the Annual Rail Industry Awards for Excellence. </span> <p>Nominations for the 2010 round of awards opened on September 1, with submissions encouraged for the following six categories: individual corporate career achievements safety innovation and improvement young achiever and ARIC excellence in rail export.</p> <p>ARA chief executive Bryan Nye said the awards are a way to acknowledge the individuals and corporate organisations promoting improvements within the rail industry.</p><p>“The rail industry employs over 100,000 staff in more than 150 companies. As an industry, we help customers take over 670m train trips annually, move more than 660m tonnes of freight, and ensure that 41,000km of track, more than 1,800 locomotives and 32,000 carriages and wagons are built and maintained,” Nye said.</p><p>“The Annual Rail Industry Awards for Excellence are an opportunity to recognise the contribution of rail industry employees who make our industry what it is.”</p><p>The awardsare open to all sectors of the rail industry and to all employees. They are not restricted to executive or senior management. Staff in all areas and at all levels are encouraged to submit nominations.</p><p>Presentations of the six award winnerswill be made at the 2010 AusRail Conference Gala Dinner in Perth on November 24.</p><p>Each of the six category winners will receive return airfares to Perth, one night’s accommodation and one complimentary ticket to attend the Gala Dinner where they will be awarded a trophy and certificate to recognise their achievements.</p><p>Category winners will also be publicised in the <em>Financial Review.</em> <br /> Criteria apply for each award category. To view the criteria and complete a nomination form, visit: <a href="http://www.ara.net.au/site/events.php" target="_blank">www.ara.net.au/site/events.php</a>.</p><p>Nominations are open until Thursday September 30. Completed nomination forms can be submitted to <a href="mailto:ara@ara.net.au">ara@ara.net.au</a></p><p>For more information on AusRAIL including the popular Gala Dinner visit: <a href="http://www.ausrail.com" target="_blank">www.ausrail.com</a></p>
