CARS was requested to participate in a survey conducted by the National Research Council’s: Automotive and Surface Transportation Research Centre. This survey was undertaken by an independent evaluation team from the NRC’s Office of Audit and Evaluation with aim of obtaining information and recommendations to AST senior management. The evaluation included interviews with AST management and staff, industry associations, clients and collaborators. The AST conducts research in areas, inter alia: vehicle lightweighting, digital manufacturing, additive manufacturing, fleet management and heavy duty vehicles, rail technologies. The Canadian railway industry faces ongoing challenges with operating and maintaining a vast rail system, including diverse geography, harsh climatic conditions, competition from American railroads and numerous regulatory requirements imposed by North American agencies. The Rail Vehicle and Track Optimization (RVTO) program focuses on reducing the rail industry's operating and maintenance costs while also improving safety. To help the rail industry remain competitive, the RVTO program aims to improve the operational efficiency and safety of Canadian railways through rail vehicle engineering solutions, vehicle track interaction services and track maintenance planning. It further seeks out new technologies that will improve rail condition monitoring and inspection, minimize costly unplanned maintenance events and extend rail asset life. Based on the survey, this research group and their activities are not well known in the industry, although their work and research could benefit a wide range of firms within the CARS family of organizations. The AST is quite willing to collaborate in their research areas with firms in the industry and to share to mutual benefit the results of their work. Any interested CARS members are encouraged to take advantage of the AST's collaboration offer. For further information contact the CARS office in Ottawa.