Monash University has secured a new rail engineering project in India aimed at improving maintenance and performance across the country’s dedicated freight rail network.
The agreement between the Monash Institute of Railway Technology (Monash IRT) and the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) marks the first project to proceed under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2025 to strengthen heavy haul railway engineering cooperation between Australia and India.
The project will focus on optimising the wheel-rail interface on India’s Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors, which together form the world’s largest heavy haul freight rail network. The work is expected to support rail safety, improve reliability and reduce long-term maintenance costs across the corridors.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in New Delhi, Monash IRT Director Professor Ravi Ravitharan said the partnership builds on years of collaboration between the two organisations.
“Monash IRT has a long standing relationship and has collaborated with DFCCIL since 2016. Through this project our team will work closely with DFCCIL engineers and technical staff to transfer knowledge and to advance heavy haul railway engineering in India,” Professor Ravitharan said.
He said the collaboration would contribute to the future performance of India’s growing freight rail sector.
“Monash IRT and the DFCCIL will continue to explore further collaborative projects as part of this broader partnership and continue to strengthen freight rail performance and innovation across both countries.”
Monash IRT is recognised internationally for its work on wheel-rail interface engineering and has advised major heavy haul rail operators around the world.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) and Senior Vice-President at Monash University, Professor Craig Jeffrey, said the institute’s expertise had been developed through years of applied research and industry partnerships.
“This collaboration reflects the Institute’s proven capability in solving complex rail engineering problems, with outcomes that have been successfully adopted internationally,” Professor Jeffrey said.
DFCCIL Managing Director Praveen Kumar said maintenance planning had become a priority as India expands and modernises its freight rail infrastructure.
“Improving rail maintenance has been identified as a critical factor in the newly constructed freight lines. DFCCIL is delighted to secure independent expert support from the world-renowned Monash Institute of Railway Technology, and through this project, will develop indigenous knowledge in this field.”
The project forms part of a wider Australia-India collaboration in transport infrastructure and engineering research. Under the 2025 memorandum, Monash IRT and DFCCIL agreed to pursue joint research, training and technical development initiatives.
The agreement also includes opportunities to establish a future Centre of Excellence in Rail Maintenance, with a focus on wheel-rail interface management and improving system reliability across India’s freight rail network.
As freight volumes continue to grow across India, railway authorities are increasingly investing in technology, engineering expertise and workforce development to improve efficiency and extend the life of critical rail assets. The partnership with Monash University is expected to contribute to those efforts while strengthening research and technical links between Australia and India.
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