Key dates
-
Abstract submissions open
End of February
-
Abstract submissions close
7 April
-
Abstract author notifications
May -
Scholarship applications open, Registration open, Priority access for social function tickets*
June -
Scholarship applications close
25 August -
Scholarship notifications
8 September -
Standard registration deadline, Social function tickets available to non-registered ARA members
(if still available)
21 October -
Free exhibition visitor registration opens, Social function tickets available to non-registered non members
(if still available)
11 November -
AusRAIL PLUS 2025
25-28 November 2025
*registered delegates and AusRAIL PLUS sponsors/exhibitors
The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) invites you to submit an abstract for possible inclusion in the official AusRAIL PLUS 2025 conference program.
AusRAIL PLUS 2025 abstract submissions are now closed.
Please read the following details on how to submit your abstract before submission.
Presentation formats
Abstracts can be submitted for oral presentation only.
Oral presentations
Oral presenters will be asked to make a verbal presentation at the conference including a PowerPoint presentation. The presentation will run for 20 minutes plus five minutes Q+A, totalling 25 minutes.
Submission guidelines
General information
- All submissions must be in English. English is the official conference language, and all presentations must also be in English.
- Submission titles must clearly indicate the nature of the presentation.
- Submissions must not exceed 300 words, be clear and concise.
- References are not required for submissions.
- Abstract submissions will be considered for presentation in a the conference program. This is NOT a platform to submit marketing pitches or product updates. If you wish to provide a product update we have opportunities available in our Exhibition Theatre. Please contact sponex@ausrail.com to discuss.
- To keep our program fresh and engaging, we ask you to confirm that your presentation will not be featured at any other rail-related event before AusRAIL PLUS 2025. Please note that any content presented at another rail event prior to AusRAIL PLUS 2025 will be removed from the program
Oral presentations
- Submissions must not exceed 300 words, be clear and concise, highlight relevant aspects, findings and conclusions.
- Incomplete abstracts or abstracts not written in English cannot be processed and will not be reviewed.
- Abstracts submitted under a technical stream must also submit a full paper – details will be shared with successful authors.
Submission themes
All submissions must relate to one overall theme as indicated below.
You are then also welcome to indicate up to another three areas of interest if you wish when completing the submission process.
Innovation in Construction and Infrastructure
- Cross-border collaboration
- Product type approval
Digitalisation, AI and Automation
- Cyber Security
- Autonomous vehicles
- Infrastructure investment to future proof networks
Rolling Stock
- Product type approval
Passenger Experience
- Passenger Safety
- Case Studies
- How to get more people on rail
Asset and Lifecycle Management
- Infrastructure and assets monitoring
- Product type approval
End-to-end Sustainable Transport
- Clean energy transition
- Alignment of industry
- Emergence of Hydrogen Technology
- Sustainable infrastructure
- Circular Economy
- Resilience
Securing the Next Generation of Workforce and Skills
- Career pathways and progression
- Solving Skills Shortages
- Diversity within the rail industry
Rail Safety
(No focus points listed)
Technical Streams – IRSE, RTSA, RTAA, PWI
- IRSE technical stream
- RTSA technical stream
- RTAA technical stream
- PWI technical stream
Other
Not sure where your abstract fits? Please submit your abstract under this topic.
Further questions
If you have any queries about your submission or require any further information, please email program@ausrail.com
Terms & Conditions
- Submitting author hereby commits with the data protection and privacy policy.
- Submitting author declares that the abstract/s submitted are the original work of at least one author/presenter.
- Oral presentations can only be presented by a maximum of two authors – the presenters must be a listed author on the submission.
- All accepted presenters are required to register, pay, attend and present their material at AusRAIL PLUS 2025.
- No funding is provided to presenters.
- If the submission is selected, consent is provided for the presentation slides, video, audio recording and photos taken during the presentations to be used and published by the Australasian Railway Association and Rail Knowledge Bank, including being provided to delegates of AusRAIL PLUS 2025.
- Submitting author must declare that their work does not conflict with any existing copyright agreements with alternate publishers.
- If your abstract is accepted for a technical stream (RTAA, RTSA, IRSE or PWI), you must submit a full paper which will be peer reviewed and published in Rail Knowledge Bank. Full Papers must be submitted by 29 September 2025.
- Submissions remain the property of the Australasian Railway Association who reserves the right to publish and distribute.
- To keep our program fresh and engaging, we ask you to confirm that your presentation will not be featured at any other rail-related event before AusRAIL PLUS 2025. Please note that any content presented at another rail event prior to AusRAIL PLUS 2025 will be removed from the program
