The Australian rail industry is set for two days of robust discussion and debate as the ARISO Rail Safety Conference 2026 takes centre stage in Melbourne on May 19-20, bringing together operators, regulators and innovators to tackle the sector’s most pressing challenges.
Under the theme “The New Standards Era”, the conference promises to move beyond policy rhetoric to examine the real operational implications of rail reform, harmonisation and interoperability.
Productivity commission keynote highlights national reform agenda
Perfectly timed following the 2026–27 Federal Budget, the keynote address from the Productivity Commission will outline how 13 of 17 priority reform areas from its five-pillar inquiry framework are being progressed. With direct implications for rail safety and industry productivity, the reforms – expected to reduce regulatory burden by $10.2 billion annually and boost GDP by $13 billion per year – focus on incentivising investment and innovation, reducing red tape, and accelerating approvals.
Recognising rail’s vital role in national economic resilience and community safety, these productivity reforms position industry to deliver enhanced performance while maintaining the highest safety standards.
Confronting the hard questions
A standout panel discussion will address six critical issues shaping the industry’s future. Leading the conversation will be operators who daily grapple with practical implementation challenges, including, Adrian Teaha from the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), Jamie McDonald from Sydney Trains, Corrie Summers from TasRail, Jesse Baker from Rail First, and Ben Fountain from Aurizon. Sudha Niles from the Australian Rail Industry Standards Organisation (ARISO) is confirmed to be the moderator.
The panel will tackle whether harmonised three-tier mandatory standards truly simplify compliance or merely add complexity. They’ll explore whether the industry has reached sufficient maturity to have honest conversations about appropriate risk levels, and whether excessive controls might paradoxically create unintended safety consequences.
Economic viability sits at the heart of the discussion. As standards transition from theory to practice, who bears the implementation costs? The panel will examine how to ensure fit-for-purpose applications that don’t burden businesses with excessive expense whilst maintaining safety integrity.
With multiple reform initiatives underway simultaneously, managing the quantum of change becomes crucial. Finding the balance between moving too slowly to make impact and too fast to implement safely.
The inaugural Great Debate
In a highlight session, six industry experts will step outside their comfort zones for “The Great Debate”, arguing the provocative motion: “Driverless systems are the only way forward for rail safety.”
Professor Anjum Naweed, Dr Andrew Hussey and Karen Grumley will champion the affirmative, whilst Stephen Lemon, Montserrat Elbas Yagüe and Patrick Hornby defend the negative position. Moderated by Alan Fedda, attendees will cast the deciding vote on this thought-provoking proposition.
The conference represents the conversation the industry needs to have and the solutions it must find – together.
Book your place for the rail safety event of the year at www.railsafetyconference.com.au
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