$3m grant to increase rail safety

Perth company JRB Engineering has received a $2,994,411 Commercial Ready grant to develop a system to enhance rail safety.

"The system will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of railway asset management through early identification of wear and faults,'' said Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

JRB Engineering was one of 40 companies across Australia sharing in $23.6 million funding from the latest announcement of Commercial Ready and Commercialising Emerging Technologies (COMET) grants funding.

Carr said JRB Engineering's system involves both fixed and mobile front-end devices that monitor the health of rolling stock and track infrastructure, using electronic, thermographic and video means.

A back-end IT system will provide data services to end users at remote sites via radio, internet and mobile phone.