ARISO rail standards body: board set for 2026 transition

The ARISO rail standards body is taking another step toward building a new technical standards organisation, with board appointments that will oversee a two-year transition from 1 February 2026.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The Australian Rail Industry Standards Organisation (ARISO) has named Matt Longland, Steve Butcher, Sally Stannard and Jeroen Weimar as new board members. They will sit with chair Dr Gillian Miles and directors Dr Tim Kuypers and Tony Braxton-Smith during the transition period.

Don’t miss…Energy agreement for the Warsaw–Łódź high-speed line: CPK and PSE

Longland is Chief Executive Officer of Sydney Trains. Butcher is Managing Director of the Rail & Transport Division at John Holland. Stannard serves as Director General of Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), while Weimar is Secretary of Victoria’s Department of Transport and Planning (DTP).

ARISO rail standards body governance changes

The new board reflects a decision backed by members at ARISO’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in November 2025. Members supported ARISO’s strengthened role in rail standards development, including the adoption of standards aimed at improving harmonisation and interoperability across Australia’s rail network.

National rail standards framework Australia

Over the next two years, the board is set to guide ARISO’s transformation to support mandatory rail standards Australia, develop harmonised standards, and back local standards where needed within the national rail standards framework Australia (for context, see the National Transport Commission’s work on a national approach for rail).

Dr Miles also recognised outgoing board members Kylie Gallasch, Mark Carling, Genevieve Nix, Scott Cornish, Amy Lezala and Garry Taylor, noting their commitment to governance excellence, strategic insight and dedication to ARISO’s purpose, including their role in key decisions and in shaping the organisation’s future direction.

“This is a significant next step in shaping and building ARISO, starting with the governance and leadership of the organisation as we take on a stronger role in implementation of the national rail standards framework that will focus on greater consistency across the entire network and deliver greater safety and productivity,” Miles said.

ARISO Chief Executive Officer Alan Fedda said the year has started with “real momentum”. He pointed to a new prioritisation framework now at industry consultation and work underway to refine ARISO’s standards development process, a focus also reflected in related industry coverage by Railway Supply.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed: