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Global rail expert heads up Australasian team

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Trish Sunga Trish Sunga Australasia Press Office,Sydney
22 April 2020

With record investment in passenger and freight rail in the region, Stefan Sanders has been appointed Arup Australasia’s new Rail Advisory Leader.

He is also leading the Rail Operations Planning Adviser commission from Rail Projects Victoria, with Arup helping to develop a network wide rail strategy and supporting operating plans for defined rail corridors.

Stefan is an internationally experienced project director with extensive background in rail strategy, appraisal, operations, PPPs and private sector participation. 

“

Delivering excellent railway services to users is not just about building new infrastructure but ensuring the railway can operate better to capitalise on such investment. By focusing on the user and good operations, a well-run railway can shape a more prosperous and better city. ”

Stefan Sanders Stefan Sanders Principal | Rail Advisory – Australasia Leader

Commenting on industry trends, Stefan nominated integrated and sustainable public transport, with rail as the ‘heavy lifter’ in urban areas.

“At the same time as record investment, there are new focus areas for investors and operators such as infrastructure resilience, green energy sources and seamless customer experience,” he said.

“There are very significant responsibilities in rail planning. We need to consider a wide range of stakeholders and their interests over a long period of time.”

Stefan will work with clients providing specialist advice and integrating Arup’s expertise in operational planning, economics, land use planning, sustainability, business case development, and transaction and investment advice.

He has had 30 years’ experience in the UK and Malaysia. In the UK he advised a range of clients including the UK Department for Transport, devolved governments, High Speed 2, the Office of Rail & Road, Network Rail, investors and rail operators. He has also led projects in the Middle East, South Africa, South East Asia and Europe.

A self-described integrator and enabler, Stefan played a key role in establishing Arup’s rail planning business in the UK, which is now recognised as one of the leading advisory groups. 

Stefan will work closely with Anna Squire, Arup’s Regional Rail Business Leader and Jonathan Kinghorn, the Advisory, Planning and Design Leader and their teams.

“

Stefan is one of the best in his field. He has extensive global experience in strategy, appraisal and restructuring within the railway business and will be key as we expand our rail advisory capabilities. ”

Jonathan Kinghorn Jonathan Kinghorn Principal | Cities, Planning and Design – Australasia Leader

Stefan holds a BSc (Economics) and an MBA. He has published a number of papers and is a member of the UK Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and the Chartered Management Institute.

Arup’s portfolio of rail projects in the region includes freight, heavy passenger rail, metro and light rail plus asset condition assessment. Over recent years, Arup’s rail teams have worked on projects including the Thomson-East Coast Line 1, Canberra Light Rail, Perth’s METRONET Morley to Ellenbrook investigations, Sydney Light Rail and Gold Coast Light Rail.