Australian debut for UK rail safety experts

Leading UK-based rail safety company Zonegreen has joined forces with an Australian agent to launch its products into the rapidly developing Australian market.

Zonegreen - a world leader in the application of electronic control systems and depot personnel safety - will be working with Andrew Engineering, a long established Australian company based in West Heidelberg, near Melbourne.

With Zonegreen's groundbreaking products and Andrew Engineering's expert knowledge of the Australian rail industry, the two companies will address gaps in the market that have emerged as a result of the industry's rapid expansion and the development of long distance passenger rail links.

The partnership will offer Australian rail operators better access to safety expertise. In particular, products such as Zonegreen's SMART™ Depot Personnel Protection System (DPPS), which has revolutionised safety at numerous UK traincare depots — including a new Eurostar engineering depot in London — as well as depots in Ireland and Dubai.

"Historically there has been limited requirement for systems such as the DPPS so there's nothing comparable in Australia at present," said Zonegreen's Managing Director Tony Hague. "But that is changing fast, and we are looking forward to working with Andrew Engineering to bring Zonegreen products to the Australian market."

Zonegreen attended AusRail Plus 2009 in Adelaide last week, as part of the UK Trade & Investment rail mission. The company's presence attracted widespread interest, and marked Zonegreen's entry into the Australian market.

Technical Director Christian Fletcher, who attended the exhibition, said: "This is an exciting time for the Australian rail industry and there is huge interest in Zonegreen's products. There's significant potential for improved safety and efficiency within Australia's growing number of traincare depots, and we are now well placed to assist in that process."

The exhibition was attended by UK Trade & Investment and rail professionals from across the Southern Hemisphere and beyond.

For further information, go to www.zonegreen.co.uk or contact anna.bathgate@fco.gov.uk