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“Modern railways don’t just run on tracks — they run on safe, integrated systems that think, respond, and evolve.” — Akshaya Malaviya

We're thrilled to feature Akshaya Malaviya, one of Australia’s leading experts in signalling, train control, and rail systems engineering, on the 79th episode of the Railway Transportation Systems Podcast.

With more than 30 years across Indian Railways, ARTC, Queensland Rail, Metro Trains Melbourne, UGL and Interface Rail Engineering, Akshaya has shaped some of the most complex rail programs in Australia — from high‑capacity digital signalling (CBTC) to multi‑disciplinary systems integration, safety assurance, and major network enhancements.

In this episode, we dive into:

🔹 CBTC, ETCS and the realities of transitioning from legacy systems
🔹 Managing assurance for mega‑projects like the Melbourne Metro Tunnel
🔹 What true systems integration looks like across signalling, rolling stock, PSDs and control systems
🔹 Risk, governance and safety case development — done right
🔹 Technology selection, business case challenges and the future of digital rail

Whether you’re a signalling engineer, systems specialist, project director or simply passionate about the future of rail transport, this conversation is packed with insights from someone who has led at scale.

If you’re looking to understand where rail systems are headed — and what it takes to deliver them safely and effectively — this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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“The challenge of the modern railway about the technology; it’s all about the people and the seamless integration of the functionality that technology enables into a living, breathing operational network while maintaining absolute safety and assurance.” — Mark Smith

We are thrilled to welcome Mark Smith (FIEAust CPEng Eng Exec), Project Lead at Australian Rail Industry Standards Organisation and former Executive Director at Transport for NSW, to our 78th episode of the Railway Transportation Systems podcast!

With over 30 years of experience across the UK and Australia, Mark has been at the forefront of some of the most complex rail transformations in recent history. From establishing and leading the engineering and assurance settings for the Digital Systems Program (ETCS L2) in Sydney to delivering an array of complex engineering services to enable multi-billion dollar transport infrastructure portfolios, Mark brings a wealth of "hands-on" executive experience to the table.

In this episode, we dive deep into:

• The Digital Shift: The technical realities of implementing ETCS Level 2, ATO, and Traffic Management Systems in brownfield environments.
• Systems Integration: Why "system-of-systems" thinking is the only way to deliver modern rail projects.
• The Human Element: Building engineering competency and the critical role of the Rail Safety Worker in a high-tech future.
• Leadership & Governance: How to balance commercial delivery pressures with rigorous safety assurance.

Whether you are a systems engineer, a project director, or an industry enthusiast, this conversation offers a masterclass in rail leadership and technical strategy.

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“Rail safety shouldn’t depend on clear skies. It should depend on clear perception.”

We’re thrilled to host Vicky Alman, CEO of NIART Systems, on the Railway Transportation Systems podcast.

In this episode, we explore how NIART’s radar-powered perception platform, is redefining rail safety and reliability—delivering long-range obstacle detection (1200m+), all-visibility performance, and a practical pathway from driver assistance to autonomous operations. We also dig into lessons from real-world projects with Indian Railways and Alstom, and how operators can integrate radar as an end-to-end solution or as a service.

Tune in to learn:

• Why radar is mission-critical in fog, rain, snow, and darkness
• How multi-sensor fusion builds safety redundancy
• The ROI story: preventing accidents, reducing downtime, increasing efficiency
• What’s next on the autonomy roadmap for rail

Learn more about NIART: niart-systems.com

The podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon Prime, Apple podcast, YouTube, Audible, Overcast, Castro, cast box and Pod friend wherever you listen.