Dear Readers
Due to the recent lockdowns in New Zealand, the ARA's New Zealand Rail 2021 will now take place on the 22nd and 23rd November 2021 at the Hilton Auckland.
The economic value of rail to New Zealand was recently calculated to be approximately $1.47b to $1.54b per annum. Building on the Government’s commitment to rail, the ARA’s New Zealand Rail 2021 will drive growth by focusing on the ‘how to’ by bringing together key industry and government stakeholders, customers, researchers and suppliers to network and exchange best practice on the innovation, collaboration, technical expertise and investment needed to advance these planning priorities and future opportunities for rail in New Zealand.
New Zealand Rail 2021 builds on the great energy and enthusiasm of the record attendance of recent conferences which provided updates, outcomes and ambitious plans for the future of rail in New Zealand.
A new policy framework and record investment is building a solid future for rail in New Zealand to be more reliable, resilient and sustainable than ever. The New Zealand government will invest NZ$54 billion in land transport in the next decade.
To register to attend this event, visit: https://www.informa.com.au/event/conference/transport-logistics/new-zealand-rail/
Our Jobs of the Week this week are in the Philippines and Singapore. In Manila, we're looking for a Project Manager and in Singapore, we're looking for a Track Maintenance Engineer.
And don't forget to visit our website www.railpersonnel.com to view all of our current job opportunities!
Regards
Rail Personnel
This Month's Headlines:
3 September 2021. UK. New HS2 project to restore one of the world’s oldest railway buildings
HS2 Ltd begins a major restoration project to refurb one of the world’s longest surviving pieces of monumental railway architecture, the Grade One listed Old Curzon Street Station in Birmingham.
Source: Global Railway Review
31 August 2021. Egypt. Egypt and Siemens finalise details for high-speed line contract
Preliminary works on the 460km line are underway. Egypt’s prime minister, Mr Mostafa Madbouly, has met with the president and CEO of Siemens, Mr Roland Busch, to sign a contract to build a high-speed line across the northern part of the country, as preliminary works on the line are underway.
Source: International Railway Journal
26 August 2021. Guinea. Russian company to export Elephants to Africa
Russian manufacturer Sinara Transport Machines has been awarded a contract to supply six TGM8 ‘Elephant’ shunting locomotives to the Compagnie des Bauxites de Kindia bauxite mining subsidiary of aluminium producer RUSAL.
Source: Railway Gazette International
Jobs of the Week
Project Manager, Manila, Philippines
Job ID#: 13333
Discipline: E&M
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is bidding for work on the North South railway in the Philippines and is looking for a Project Manager to be based in Manila to lead the Project ensuring the project is delivered to time, to the quality specified and to budget.The works involve the construction of elevated structures, 7 stations and a depot
Looking at 79 man months staring in the first half of 2022.
Responsibilities:
- Accountable for delivering the Projects to time, cost and quality
- Provision of professional, first class, consistent and effective Project Leadership to Project Teams including local partner and subcontractors.
- Act as principal contact and ensure regular and effective communication with client/client"s consultant
- Establish and execute Project Management process and procedures on Project
- Ensure that Project fully complies with requirement in the contract.
- Accountability for all commercial and financial matters on all your projects; regularly reviewing and ensuring invoices are raised in accordance with the contract
- Work closely with your Project Teams including local partner and subcontractors to ensure client requirements are properly interpreted and reflected in the deliverables
- Resolve issues/disputes with Project stakes holders including, but not limited to, client/client"s consultant, local partner and subcontractors.
- Ensure regular and effective communication with clients and project teams
- Exhibit a proactive world class safety culture on Project ensuring that all staff follow safe systems of work procedures
- Take necessary actions required in Project including, but not limited to, invoicing, and correction of payment from client
Job Requirements
Specific skills & Knowledge:
- Must be degree qualified and educated to Engineering Master"s level preferred
- Minimum 20 years total experience work
- Minimum 10 years for railway E&M systems works
- Minimum 2 projects as PM or Deputy PM or similar position on railway E&M systems works
- Fluency in English
- Experiences for FIDIC Yellow Book 1999 Edition and/ or equivalent design build contract
- A deep understanding of the application of contracts an excellent commercial acumen
- A track record of collaborative team working and evidence of where you have led others and provided an environment for the team to deliver
- Evidenced managerial capabilities and experience in dealing with a diverse range of people
- Bringing teams together collaborating/coordinating
- Strong Microsoft skill including WORD, EXCEL and Power Point
- Strong skill of project management soft such as Primavera, TILOS, MS Project etc.
Qualifications / Skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skilss
- Proven Problem solver
- Able to chair and influence a progress meeting to understand project progress and better commercial outcome and successful project delivery
- Is able to form excellent collaboration relationships
- Has a 'can do' attitude to work, flexible and agile
- Has drive and enthusiasm whilst being open, honest, flexible and seek support when required
- Proactively and collaboratively interacts with stakes holders
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Track Maintenance Engineer, Singapore
Job ID#: 13328
Discipline: Permanent Way
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is a public transport operator in Singapore operating bus, rail and taxi services.
They are looking for experienced permanent way maintenance engineers. Night work involved. Responsibilities are:
* Plan and execute maintenance of permanent way (i.e., rails, sleepers, all track components, guide ways, viaducts & tunnels) and related maintenance equipments and engineering vehicles
* Ensure compliance to and in accordance with pre-established safety standards and LTA regulations when maintenance work is carried out
* Monitor and review progress of preventive maintenance, repair works and reliability of engineering trains in a timely manner
* Carry out track inspection regime, conduct defects trend analysis, incident investigations, on-site audits to understand persistent issues affecting maintenance work
* Manage, lead, guide, train and supervise in-house Technical Officers, Technicians and external contractors in maintenance work relevant to permanent way
* Develop and implement failure management and emergency response procedures / processes when deemed necessary
* Manage Route Protection Team and ensure adequate support rendered to LTA"s Development and Building Control (DBC) System
* Upkeep department maintenance documents as well as review and validate maintenance contract specifications and contractors" billing accordingly to approved budget allocated
* Execute any other tasks / duties as assigned by superior(s)
Good salary and conditions.
This is a good opportunity to join an exciting and vibrant company
Job Requirements
* Degree in Civil Engineering
* Min 5 years' maintenance experience in Mechanical, Civil engineering or Permanent Way in a railway environment would be advantageous
* Possess positive attitude and enthusiastic about acquiring new knowledge and skills
* Result-oriented team player with good interpersonal and communication skills
* Self-motivated and resourceful individual
* Able to work under pressure and independently
* Receptive towards work arrangements beyond office hours
* Ability to identify colours
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Rail News
3 September 2021. UK. New HS2 project to restore one of the world’s oldest railway buildings
HS2 Ltd begins a major restoration project to refurb one of the world’s longest surviving pieces of monumental railway architecture, the Grade One listed Old Curzon Street Station in Birmingham. Over the next year, a team of local experts will carry out intricate restoration work on the iconic building, which was designed by the notable architect Philip Hardwick and opened in 1838 as the Birmingham terminus for the London and Birmingham Railway Co. (L&BR) line that connected to Euston Station in London. The project will be undertaken by national contractors KN Circet Transport and Infrastructure division, a multinational company with offices in Solihull, who are working for HS2’s enabling works contractor Laing O’Rourke and J. Murphy & Sons (LMJV).
Source: Global Railway Review
31 August 2021. Egypt. Egypt and Siemens finalise details for high-speed line contract
Preliminary works on the 460km line are underway. Egypt’s prime minister, Mr Mostafa Madbouly, has met with the president and CEO of Siemens, Mr Roland Busch, to sign a contract to build a high-speed line across the northern part of the country, as preliminary works on the line are underway. The meeting was also attended by Egypt’s minister of transport, Mr Kamel Al-Wazir, the CEO of Siemens Mobility, Mr Michael Peter, the chairman of Arab Contractors, Mr Sayed Farouk, and Orascom Construction CEO, Mr Osama Bishai.
Source: International Railway Journal
28 August 2021. Singapore. Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 2 inaugurated
An official inauguration ceremony for the 12 km Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 2 was held on August 27, ahead of the start of passenger services the following day. The TEL is intended to enhance connectivity between the northern, central and eastern parts of Singapore, and to strengthen the resilience of the network by providing alternative routes for people who use other lines and reducing reliance on the North-South Line. There are 100 000 households within a 10 min walk of the six TEL2 stations at Springleaf, Lentor, Mayflower, Bright Hill, Upper Thomson and Caldecott. The stations are designed with multiple entrances and incorporate inclusive features such as high colour contrast signs and lift buttons, stair handrail lighting and platform seats with backrest and arm support. Trains will run along TEL1 and TEL2 from Woodlands North to Caldecott every 5 min in the peaks and every 9 min off-peak, with frequencies expected to be increased as ridership grows.
Source: Metro Report International
27 August 2021. New Zealand. Next Auckland passenger contract includes more integrated delivery model
Auckland Transport has selected the Auckland One Rail 50:50 joint venture of ComfortDelGro Transit and UGL Rail for the next contract to operate the city’s passenger rail services. A revised delivery model is designed to reduce interfaces and maximise the benefits of NZ$7bn of ongoing investment including the City Rail Link, Papakura – Pukekohe electrification and the purchase of additional EMUs. The Aka Tangata consortium of Transdev NZ, John Holland NZ and CAF NZ had also bid for the contract. ‘The robust procurement process ensured AT was able to secure a competitive contract, despite the effects of the global pandemic on the international rail sector’, said AT Chair Adrienne Young-Cooper when the winner of the contract was announced on August 27.
Source: Railway Gazette International
26 August 2021. Guinea. Russian company to export Elephants to Africa
Russian manufacturer Sinara Transport Machines has been awarded a contract to supply six TGM8 ‘Elephant’ shunting locomotives to the Compagnie des Bauxites de Kindia bauxite mining subsidiary of aluminium producer RUSAL. The first TGM8 four-axle diesel-hydraulic locos were produced for French company Solmer in 1972, and the design has subsequently been updated for export customers in countries including China, Cuba, North Korea, Pakistan, Vietnam and Yugoslavia. The 882 kW locomotives for RUSAL will be built at STM’s Lyudinovo plant for delivery this year. Custom features of the 1 435 mm gauge shunters will include provision for operating in multiple and tropicalisation to cope with Guinea’s alternating dry and wet seasons.
Source: Railway Gazette International
26 August 2021. UK. Rail emissions down as services reduced during pandemic
The reduction in train services during the coronavirus pandemic unsurprisingly led to a reduction in network-wide diesel and electricity consumption in 2020-21, although the collapse in ridership meant an increase in CO2 equivalent per passenger-km. The Office of Rail & Road has published its latest annual statistics for electricity and diesel consumption of main line passenger and freight operators in Great Britain, and estimates of their associated CO2e emissions. Non-traction emissions are not included. The total estimated CO2e emissions for passenger and freight trains fell to 2 282 kilotonnes in 2020-21, down 21% on 2019-20 and the lowest level since the comparable time series started in 2011-12.
Source: Rail Business UK
23 August 2021. Italy. Italy and Austria test translation tool for cross-border trains
The Translate4Rail project has reached a milestone on the border between Italy and Austria. Last month, drivers and dispatchers from both countries have tested a prototype translation system in a practical trial. According to Translate4Rail, the test was successful because the safe operation of the Language Tool was proven. The driver and traffic controller succeeded in communicating with each other via the system of predefined messages. The tests involved experts from the two infrastructure managers, Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) and ÖBB Infra, and four railway undertakings: DB Cargo, Lokomotion, Rail Cargo Austria and Rail Traction Company. The tests began on the Italian side on 30 June on the Tarvisio-Pontebba/Pontebba-Tarvisio section and continued on the Austrian side on 1 July in Arnoldstein-Villach-Arnoldstein, where various test modules were tested.
Source: RailTech.com
23 August 2021. China. Winter Olympics tram rolled out
CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive has rolled out the first of three light rail vehicles for a tramway which is being built at the Taizicheng winter sports resort which will host skiing events during 2022 Olympic Winter Games. The LRV is 27 m long and 2 650 mm wide, with a capacity of 150 passengers, 48 seats and space for skiing equipment. The 1·6 km tramway is scheduled to open in December. It will have six stops serving sports facilities, shops, an exhibition centre and hotels, and will connect with high speed trains from Beijing at Taizicheng station, terminus of the Chongli branch from the Beijing – Zhangjiakou high speed line.
Source: Metro Report International
21 August 2021. Malaysia. Malaysia-made locomotives on global rail map
Malaysia is now officially an exporter of heavy locomotives to the world with the successful launch of the H10 Series by SMH Rail Sdn Bhd. The feat, now listed in the Malaysia Book of Records as the “First Locally Manufactured Locomotive for Export”, means Malaysia is now on the global rail map with its ability to export diesel electric locomotives used for the bulk of rail cargo transport all across the developed world. The Malaysian-manufactured H10 Series is proof of local capability in putting together a sophisticated product that will serve the demanding requirements of moving heavy cargo across long distances with a high degree of reliability.
Source: The Star
17 August 2021. Canada. Canadian luxury scenic train line debuts its first US route
The United States' railroad system is getting a boost from its northern neighbor. One of Western Canada's most-decorated luxury scenic train lines, the Rocky Mountaineer, launched its first US route on August 15 through its namesake mountain range, running two-day, one-night trips back and forth between Denver, Colorado, and Moab, Utah. The new route, known as Rockies to the Red Rocks, joins the line's three rail offerings in Western Canada (Vancouver to Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper) and takes passengers through several distinct regions of Colorado before cruising into the heart of canyon country in Southern Utah.
Source: CNN Travel
16 August 2021. UK. Major 16-day railway overhaul completed in Manchester as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade
Railway passengers in Greater Manchester move one step closer to faster, more frequent, more reliable trains after major railway upgrades were completed on time between Manchester Victoria, Rochdale and Stalybridge. Work took place from Saturday 31 July until Sunday 15 August to completely reconstruct railway bridges on Dantzic Street and Queens Road and strengthen and waterproof Bromley Street and Oldham Road bridges. Over 3000m of track was upgraded and track remodelled between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge. 17 new signals were also installed.
Source: Rail Professional
14 August 2021. United States. Rail organisations welcome Senate backing for US infrastructure bill
Rail associations have welcomed the passage of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act through the upper house of the US Congress on August 10, marking the latest step in the process to pass a bi-partisan infrastructure bill which could deliver significant funding streams for main line and urban rail enhancements. According to the American Public Transportation Association, the legislation includes funding allocations worth $102bn for main line freight and passenger railways, an increase of 561% on current levels, and $107bn for urban public transport projects.
Source: Railway Gazette International
14 August 2021. Israel. Jerusalem light rail expansion tracklaying begins
Ceremonial first rails for the expansion of Jerusalem’s light rail Red Line were laid in the presence of Mayor Moshe Lion on August 11. The line is being extended north to Neve Ya’akov and south from Mount Hertzel to the Hadassah hospital, adding 11 stops. Opening is scheduled for the first half of 2023. ‘In the next few days we will mark a decade since the Red Line opened, and I am excited to open a second decade of the revolution of public transport in Jerusalem’, said Lion. Minister of Transport & Road Safety Merav Michaeli said expansion of the Red Line was ‘another move in the reordering of metropolitan and national priorities towards a more advanced transport system with reduced use of personal vehicles’.
Source: Railway Gazette International
13 August 2021. Australia. Australia’s Inland Rail project under fire
The Australian federal government and the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) have been criticised by the Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport over their handling of the signature $A 10bn ($US 7.3bn) Inland Rail Project. The committee’s report entitled Inland Rail: Derailed from the Start said the original cost of $A 4.7bn had blown out to $A 10bn while the government had committed more than $A 14.3bn amid predictions that the final bill could be as high as $A 20bn. The committee said the project’s underpinning was based on an out-of-date business case and cast doubt on whether it is still valid given the substantial increase in capital required for its completion.
Source: International Railway Journal
12 August 2021. Indonesia. Tunnelling milestones for Indonesian high speed line
Construction of the $US 6.07bn Jakarta – Bandung high-speed line in Indonesia has passed important milestones in recent days with the completion of two tunnels. Construction of the Number 8 tunnel in the West Bandung Regency’s Cikalong, West Java province was formally completed on August 10, three days after the Number 10 tunnel in West Bandung Regency’s Padalarang West Java province was finished. The Number 8 tunnel is 2190m-long with a 95m depth at its deepest point. Number 10 tunnel is 1230m-long with a 37m depth at its deepest point.
Source: International Railway Journal
11 August 2021. Australia. NSW rail project achieves highest sustainability rating
A NSW rail project has secured an Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) Leading rating for design, the highest standard of sustainability in the industry. The rating recognises a commitment to sustainable outcomes during the design phase of the Parramatta Light Rail infrastructure works package. Transport for NSW Executive Director, Anand Thomas, said, “This achievement reflects the project’s commitment to deliver long-lasting economic, social and environmental outcomes while delivering a major transport infrastructure project to the people of Western Sydney.
Source: Infrastructure Magazine
10 August 2021. Austria. ÖBB orders 20 more night train sets
Austrian Federal Railways has ordered a further 20 seven-car sets of Viaggio Next Level coaches from Siemens Mobility for use on Nightjet overnight services. The order announced on August 10 is the second to be placed under a 2018 framework agreement covering up to 700 vehicles. An initial firm order for 13 Nightjet sets was placed in August 2018, and these are currently being assembled at Siemens Mobility’s Wien plant for use on services from Austria and Germany to Italy from December 2022. The 20 sets in the latest order are to be deployed on the Wien/Innsbruck – Hamburg/ Amsterdam, Wien/Graz – Zürich and Zürich – Hamburg/Amsterdam routes.
Source: Railway Gazette International
7 August 2021. India. Delhi Metro’s missing link opens
A 1·5 km section of the Delhi Metro’s Pink Line between Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 and Trilokpuri Sanjay Lake opened on August 6, connecting what were previously two separate sections of the line to create a single 59 km route from Majlis Park to Shiv Vihar. The two sections of the Pink Line or Line 7 opened in stages from 2018, but the short stretch connecting them was delayed by land acquisition and resettlement issues. Partial access for construction was available from October 2019 and full access in December 2020, but the work was then hampered by the pandemic.
Source: Metro Report International
5 August 2021. UK. Work begins to link South Wales Metro Control Centre to the rail network
Work to link the South Wales Metro Control Centre to the rail network begins next month ready for the arrival of the new £150m fleet of Metro tram-trains. The scheme includes raising the road bridge and creating a new tunnel to join the £100m control centre, maintenance facility and depot in Taff’s Well, Cardiff, to the rail network. Phase 1 will involve work to prepare the site for the new tunnel between 23 August and 10 December 2021. Pending planning approval, Phase 2 will involve the build of the new bridge between 10 December 2021 and Autumn 2022.
Source: Rail UK
5 August 2021. Australia. Metro Tunnel Eastern Entrance finishing touches
Work on the Melbourne Metro Tunnel’s Eastern Entrance, located in South Yarra, is almost finalised with minor works such as the William Street bridge nearly complete, landscaping beginning at Lovers Walk, and the Arthur Street pocket park and cross passages under construction. Cross passages – which allow people and emergency services to move between the two rail tunnels in an emergency – are underway and crews have begun building an underground substation at South Yarra Siding Reserve. The Eastern Entrance is under construction in the South Yarra Siding Reserve and when complete, Cranbourne and Pakenham Line trains will enter the tunnel near William Street and pass under the city-bound Frankston Line and both Sandringham lines.
Source: Infrastructure Magazine
4 August 2021. Thailand. Soft launch for Bangkok’s Red Line suburban services
State Railway of Thailand held a soft launch for Bangkok’s Red Line elevated metre-gauge suburban rail corridor on August 2, offering three months of free travel before the start of full commercial services in November. Services on the Red Line were inaugurated by Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-o-cha in a virtual ceremony, with Minister of Transport Saksayam Chidchob and SRT Governor Nirut Maneephan meeting the first passengers at Bang Sue Grand Station, which is being developed as the capital’s main transport hub.
Source: Railway Gazette International
3 August 2021. South Korea. CBTC to use BlackBerry software
sTraffic is to use BlackBerry’s QNX OS for Safety software in its communications-based train control systems.‘Both BlackBerry and its QNX OS for Safety have an unparalleled reputation and proven safety pedigree’, said sTraffic Project Manager KH Kim. ‘Thanks to the company’s broad portfolio of pre-certified solutions, we’ll be able to cost-effectively and efficiently build systems that fulfil our customers’ needs and meet the target performance. ‘We are planning to use QNX OS for Safety as a foundational platform for the Korail Korea Train Control System – Metro for unmanned train operation.’
Source: Railway Gazette International
2 August 2021. Russia. Sinara develops virtual locomotive testing
A ‘virtual testing ground’ to test the locomotive control system of new trains is Sinara Transport Machines’s latest project. With it, the Russian company wants to speed up the process of developing new locomotives. The testing technology is being developed by Sinara and a team of the mechanical engineers of the Ural Federal University. By virtually testing locomotives, it should optimise the development time of a new vehicle by 30 percent.
Source: Rail Tech
29 July 2021. Australia. Tender open for Melbourne Airport Rail early works package
An Advanced Tender Notice for a Melbourne Airport Rail Early Works Package is now live, inviting contractors to pre-qualify for the next stage in a Managing Contractor procurement model to deliver essential first works. The Early Works Package will primarily comprise of utility relocation and protection works along the Melbourne Airport Rail Link alignment. Work is continuing to finalise the utility works required, but at this stage approximately 250 utilities have been identified as likely needing to be modified/relocated or protected.
Source: Infrastructure Magazine
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