To help prepare the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the future of rail, Siemens Australia organised a three-day rail academy for customers in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Held in Melbourne, the inaugural ASEAN Rail Signalling Academy combined theoretical and practical components to educate participants on current and future rail technologies.
Speaking on the academy, Sales Manager at Siemens Australia Michael O’Sullivan said, “We saw the success of Siemens Rail Academies in other parts of the world and wanted to replicate this to help progress the ASEAN region. The academy is unique in that it provides our customers with a truly education experience that will lay the foundation for their digitalization journey”.
The initiative comes at a critical time as rail has been identified as priority for countries in the ASEAN to help cope with increasing demands and opportunities stemming from digitalization.As part of the academy, participants heard global and local Siemens experts’ discuss topics that are critical to the future of the rail industry such as digitalization in rail, cyber security, rail signalling, turnouts, digital point machines and condition monitoring.
The academy also provided participants with hands on experience when they visited Siemens’ Port Melbourne facility where the product development and manufacturing of railway signalling equipment for domestic and export markets is carried out. The facility showcased many of the technologies that had been discussed throughout the academy including externally and internally locked point machines, end position detectors, axle counting systems and signals.