Monash University’s Institute of Railway Technology will consult on at least $1.6 billion of investment by Mass Rapid Transport Jakarta, after the pair signed a Memorandum of Understanding on May 13.
Under the MoU, the sides will work collaboratively on Indonesian infrastructure projects including the 14.5-kilometre mass rapid transit system under construction in Jakarta.
The memorandum was the result of a relationship held since 2015, when Monash IRT director Ravi Ravitharan visited Indonesia.
Ravitharan visited the Southeast Asian nation again last week, for a signing ceremony also attended by senior officials from MRT Jakarta and Victorian training and skills minister Steve Herbert.
“This is a great example of Victorian expertise and innovation playing a key role in what is one of the most significant infrastructure projects in our region,” Herbert said.
“Victoria has some of the world’s best universities and I congratulate Monash for striking such an important MoU with MRT Jakarta.”
Consultancy provided by IRT will include expertise in vehicle and track instrumentation, vehicle and train performance, condition monitoring, component testing and failure analysis.
Both parties will jointly develop technical standards, to aid future MRT operations and maintenance.
The IRT will also advise on strategic options for future MRT operation, and will provide technical advice relating to track maintenance, rolling stock and its instrumentation, and noise and vibration management.
“Monash IRT has an established track record in solving railway related technical issues, and its solutions have been adopted by railway systems throughout the world,” a statement from MRT Jakarta said.
“This institution is continuously developing new technologies to support increasing productivity and safety requirements at the same time as reducing risks and costs.”
The IRT evolved from BHP’s Melbourne Research Laboratories in January 2000, giving it an involvement in the railway industry of more than four decades.