Bridging Legacy and Modern Rail Systems: The Akshaya Malaviya Interview

“Modern railways don’t just run on tracks — they run on safe, integrated systems that think, respond, and evolve.” — Akshaya Malaviya

We're thrilled to feature Akshaya Malaviya, one of Australia’s leading experts in signalling, train control, and rail systems engineering, on the 79th  episode of the Railway Transportation Systems Podcast.

With more than 30 years across Indian Railways, ARTC, Queensland Rail, Metro Trains Melbourne, UGL and Interface Rail Engineering, Akshaya has shaped some of the most complex rail programs in Australia — from high‑capacity digital signalling (CBTC) to multi‑disciplinary systems integration, safety assurance, and major network enhancements.

In this episode, we dive into:

🔹 CBTC, ETCS and the realities of transitioning from legacy systems
 🔹 Managing assurance for mega‑projects like the Melbourne Metro Tunnel
 🔹 What true systems integration looks like across signalling, rolling stock, PSDs and control systems
 🔹 Risk, governance and safety case development — done right
 🔹 Technology selection, business case challenges and the future of digital rail

Whether you’re a signalling engineer, systems specialist, project director or simply passionate about the future of rail transport, this conversation is packed with insights from someone who has led at scale.

If you’re looking to understand where rail systems are headed — and what it takes to deliver them safely and effectively — this is an episode you won’t want to miss.