Melbourne, innovation, industry legends… and a tamper simulator that nearly broke our Founder.
What a week.
Our Founder, Ann Tomlinson, and our People and Brand Manager, Ali Edgar, packed their bags (and their stamina) and headed to Melbourne for AusRAIL PLUS 2025. It’s the biggest rail event in the Asia–Pacific and this year it returned to Melbourne for the first time in ten years.
More than 6,000 delegates, over 600 exhibitors, 120 speakers and four days filled with new ideas, impressive tech and some very memorable conversations.
And yes, Ann tried the tamper simulator.
“I only tamped 20 sleepers and I was completely exhausted.
It felt real, the pressure was real, and the simulator technology is insane.”
— Ann Tomlinson, Founder, Alium Works
Behind the Scenes on Day Zero
Before the crowds arrived, we were lucky enough to walk through the exhibition hall while everything was still being built. It honestly felt like watching a cathedral of innovation come together piece by piece.
The usual big players were there, but we also noticed a wave of international exhibitors showcasing technology from Europe, Asia and North America. Robotics, AI tools, predictive maintenance systems, sustainability solutions. It was all humming away quietly before the opening rush.
Arden Station Site Visit: A Conference Favourite
Delegates were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of Arden Station, which opens to the public this Sunday as part of the Metro Tunnel.
If you haven’t seen it yet, Ann’s video tour shows off the station’s architecture, passenger-flow features and accessibility design. Watch the tour of the Arden Station here.
For more on the Metro Tunnel project, visit the official government page.
Conference Highlights
This year’s speaker sessions were genuinely impressive. We saw:
Leaders from across the world sharing their vision for the future of rail
Deep dives into safety, digitalisation, sustainability and workforce development
Honest discussions about the skills pipeline and the gaps we need to prepare for
Panels featuring Tier-1 operators, regulators, engineers, technologists, policy specialists and emerging professionals
It struck a great balance between big-picture thinking and practical advice.
Social Events That Delivered
Women in Rail Breakfast
Held in the Melbourne Room and sponsored by McConnell Dowell, this was one of the standout moments of the week.
Ann commented on how refreshing it was to see such a genuine mix of women and men in attendance. It really reflects the progress rail has made in inclusivity and allyship. Read more about it here.
The Yellow Dinner
Always a highlight and this year it felt like classic Melbourne glamour.
No photos from us because we left the cameras safely at the hotel, but trust us.
The food was fantastic, the conversations were lively and the laughs were generous.
The rail community knows how to host a great night.
Our Campaign: “Are You Smarter Than a…?”
This might be our most entertaining idea yet.
Armed with a microphone and a questionable level of enthusiasm, we roamed the exhibition floor and tested the knowledge of:
Engineers
Rail Safety trainees
The rail regulator (yes, really)
The results:
No one was harmed
No one’s performance review is in danger
A few people may have ended up on imaginary PIPs but all in good fun
This little campaign brought a huge amount of energy to the floor and reminded everyone that rail is not just machinery, metal and spreadsheets. It’s people, curiosity, humour, creativity and collaboration.
A Celebration of Rail’s Diversity and Possibility
This year’s AusRAIL felt like the best we’ve ever attended.
Not because of the scale, but because of the people.
We saw a real sense of openness across the sector.
More voices being heard.
More collaboration.
More questions about how we build and support the workforce of the future.
Our mission has always been to shift the perception of rail.
It isn’t just trains, tracks and station masters.
It’s engineering, digital systems, safety, analytics, sustainability, human factors, community impact and career opportunity.
And this week proved exactly that.
What’s Next: Video Highlights Coming Soon
We’re now editing footage from the week, including interviews, quizzes, candid moments and plenty of laughter. These videos will be rolling out shortly and we cannot wait to share them.
Looking Ahead: Next TLI42422 Intake
Now that AusRAIL is behind us, we’re focusing on our next 10-week, live online Cert IV in Rail Safety Management (TLI42422).
This format continues to be one of our most popular because it’s interactive, closely connected to industry and designed to build real capability.
The class is almost full, so this is a great time to secure your spot. Apply here.
