Dear Readers
We are pleased to be supporting the ARA RailNZ 25 Conference which will take place on the 29th May 2025 at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand.
The ARA RailNZ25 Conference is the only industry-led event designed to bring together all aspects of the rail sector in New Zealand. This one-day Conference will provide participants the opportunity to hear directly from both government and industry leaders on the latest developments, initiatives, and issues that will shape the future of the New Zealand rail sector. The event will take place in Auckland, the home of the country's largest transport infrastructure project - the City Rail Link.
For more information and to register to attend, please visit: https://portal.ara.net.au/EventDetail?EventKey=CONNZ29052
Our Job of the Week this week is in Morocco where we are looking for an Electrical Manager (Rolling Stock).
Best Regards
Rail Personnel
Rail News
8 April 2025. Australia. Testing Begins on Sydney Metro’s Southwest Conversion
Train testing is now underway on the newly upgraded Southwest Metro line in Sydney, following major works to convert the 130-year-old T3 Bankstown Line to modern metro standards. The first test run took place at 4 am on 3 April 2025, with train set TS 28 travelling a 6.5-kilometre stretch from Sydenham to Campsie. The journey, completed in around five hours at low speed, marks a significant milestone in the conversion project. Once the line is open to passengers next year, the same trip is expected to take just 11 minutes.
Source: Railway-News
8 April 2025. United Kingdom. Siemens Mobility breaks ground on $126m rail technology facility in UK
Siemens Mobility has commenced construction on a new £100m ($126m) facility in Chippenham, Wiltshire, aimed at advancing rail technology in the UK. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy, local MP Sarah Gibson, Siemens Mobility leadership, former employees with connections to the company, and community members. The new facility is projected to open in 2026 and will accommodate approximately 800 employees.
Source: Railway Technology
4 April 2025. Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia launches Landbridge design tender
Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has issued a tender for the lead design consultancy services contract on its long-planned Saudi Landbridge railway network. Interested companies have until 15 May to bid for the work, which covers the concept design and options for the preliminary and Issued for Construction (IFC) design stages on the 1,000 kilometre (km)-plus network. The estimated $7bn project comprises more than 1,500km of new track. The core component is a 900km new railway between Riyadh and Jeddah, which will provide direct freight access to the capital from King Abdullah Port on the Red Sea.
Source: MEED
4 April 2025. Australia. Rio Tinto announces start of iron ore rail cars production with Gemco
Metals and mining company Rio Tinto has announced the start of production of its first iron ore rail cars built in Western Australia (WA). The company is investing A$150m ($94.8m) to procure 100 rail cars as part of its operations in the Pilbara region. This expansion is expected to create up to 25 jobs in Pilbara. The new cars are being produced collaboration with Gemco Rail and CRRC Qiqihar Rolling Stock, with support from the WA government to establish a local supply chain and support manufacturing in the region.
Source: Railway Technology
4 April 2025. Singapore. Singapore Rail Test Centre completed
The second phase of the Singapore Rail Test Centre been completed, offering facilities for train commissioning and the comprehensive testing of signalling, telecoms, power, control and other systems under realistic local conditions. ‘Expanding and maintaining our rail network requires not just investments into new assets and rail systems, but also the right infrastructure to support testing and innovation’, said Senior Minister of State for Transport Dr Amy Khor on March 28. ‘That is why the opening of SRTC today is a significant milestone.’
Source: Metro Report International
Network Rail has awarded contracts worth up to £1.1 billion to four suppliers of on-track maintenance machines vital in maintaining and renewing Britain’s railway network. The contracts have been awarded to Balfour Beatty Rail Limited, Colas Rail Limited, Swietelsky Babcock Rail (SB Rail) and VolkerRail Specialist Businesses Limited, to provide On Track Machines (OTM) including tampers and ballast regulators. They will also supply operational and support personnel to support routine maintenance, renewals, and upgrade works, ensuring Britain’s 20,000 miles of track is maintained to the highest standards.
Source: Rail UK
31 March 2025. Australia. Perth’s first east-west rail link is opening soon
The Western Australian Government has announced the planned opening date for a new train link in Perth. A major milestone in Perth’s METRONET program will be reached on Monday, June 9, when the long-awaited Thornlie-Cockburn Link officially opens to the public. The $1.3 billion project will deliver Perth’s first east-west rail connection linking the Mandurah and Armadale Lines for the first time and providing direct access to Optus Stadium from the Mandurah Line.
Source: Infrastructure Magazine
31 March 2025. United Kingdom. Arup SYSTRA JV secures prestigious Network Rail contract
Arup and SYSTRA, in a 50/50 joint venture (JV) with strategic delivery partner Skanska, have secured a position on Network Rail’s prestigious Eastern Region Development and Design Partnership Framework (DDPF). The £300 million framework, which spans five years with potential for a three-year extension, will oversee multi-disciplinary design and development services, including the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) portfolio, the Integrated Rail Plan, and other enhancement projects across the Eastern region.
Source: Rail UK
31 March 2025. India. DMRC and Alstom selected for Chennai Metro Phase 2
Metro Rail Corp has been confirmed as the low bidder for a 12-year contract to operate and maintain Phase 2 of the Chennai metro network. The package covers the operation of lines 3, 4, and 5, which together total 116·1 route-km with 119 stations. All three lines are currently being built to 1,435 mm gauge with 25 kV 50 Hz electrification and will be equipped for driverless operation to GoA4. DMRC’s low bid announced on March 11 is valued at Rs 58.7 bn.
Source: Metro Report International
28 March 2025. Europe. SYSTRA Awarded Contract for Stockholm Metro Expansion
SYSTRA has been awarded its first major contract in Stockholm, Sweden, supporting the development of the city’s first automatic metro line. The new Yellow Line will become the sixth line in Stockholm’s metro network. The fully underground route will link Älvsjö in the south to Fridhemsplan in the centre-west, with six new stations. The project is expected to provide improved access to nearly 50,000 residents and accommodate up to 75,000 passengers per day by 2050. Source: Railway News
28 March 2025. United States. Vale orders 50 locomotives
Brazil-Mining company Vale has ordered 50 Wabtec Evolution Series diesel locomotives to modernize operations and lower carbon emissions on its Vitória a Minas and Carajás railways. The order announced on March 26 covers 36 EVOBBW locomotives for EFVM, and 14 ES58ACi locomotives for EFC. They will be able to operate on biodiesel, and Vale and Wabtec plan to conduct tests to assess the possibility of increasing the percentage of biodiesel in the future.
Source: Railway Gazette International
28 March 2025. Morocco. Avelia Horizon high-speed train order confirmed
Morocco-National railway ONCF has formally signed a €781m contract for Alstom to supply 18 Avelia Horizon high-speed trainsets. These additional trainsets will support the extension of the 200 km Tanger – Kénitra high-speed line by 430 km to Casablanca and Marrakech. An initial agreement for the order had been announced during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to King Mohammed VI in October 2024. Confirming on March 28 that the order had now been signed.
Source: Railway Gazette International
27 March 2025. United Kingdom. Coventry City Council's Innovative Light Rail Project
Coventry City Council has selected Colas Rail UK to construct a 220-metre on-road test section for the Coventry Very Light Rail project. This initiative, spearheaded by Colas Rail’s Urban division, involves the installation of tracks using the innovative Coventry Very Light Rail track system technology, which CRUK previously trialled successfully. This project represents the first permanent implementation of this groundbreaking concept. The On Road Test will allow residents and stakeholders to experience the vehicle firsthand and provide valuable feedback.
Source: Rail Technology Magazine
27 March 2025. Hong Kong. Cats and dogs to be permitted on light rail services
MTR Corp is to allow cats and dogs to be carried on Hong Kong light rail services during weekends and public holidays for a two-month trial period starting on May 1. Passengers will be required to purchase a HK$99/month Cat/Dog Carrying Pass and use a pet-specific enclosed carrier or backpack, which must be fully closed throughout the journey until they leave the platform area. Passengers with pets will be expected to board and alight through the last door and to remain at the rear of the LRV throughout their journey.
Source: Railway Gazette International
Job of the Week
Electrical Manager, Rabat, Morocco
Job ID#: 15032
Discipline: Electrical
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is seeking an experienced Electrical Manager (Rolling Stock) to support their activities on their new project for the Morocco Railways (ONCF). This role will be based in Rabat, Morocco.
Duties / Responsibilities:
A. Electrical Manager shall be responsible for implementing and managing all electrical design processes at the train level and its the external electrical interfaces compliance to ensure that RER (TNR/ METROPOLITAN)'s systems and subsystems, when integrated and with ONCF Infrastructures, will be produced to meet the requirements with SMP, CdCF, CdCDA.
B. Electrical Manager shall be responsible for electrical design and integration through the life cycle of the client's projects, such as Conceptual Design Review (CDR), Preliminary Design Review (PDR), Detailed Design Review (DDR), Test and Commissioning phases in coordination with the Project Engineer and Design Engineering Teams.
C. Electrical Manager shall be responsible for managing the electrical design and integration activities of RER (TNR/ METROPOLITAN)'s design, verification, and validation, directly responsible for and fully engaged in the following:
Serving as the primary representative for the client in all discussions with ONCF, Other Contractors, Operator, and Infrastructure Owner regarding the integration of RER (TNR/ METROPOLITAN);
Providing leadership and oversight of the client's integration management processes;
Maintain a clear and regular communication with the Korean Train Design Manager related to design progress, technical integration, and stakeholders' inquiries and issues.
Lead and manage the Electrical Design Engineers to deliver the design on time and submit the train and subsystem design packages to the customer and other stakeholders as per the project design delivery schedule.
Detail check and review of the technical specifications, standards and stakeholder's requirements at each project stage to ensure that the design meets the compliance obligations.
Support system engineering activities for electrical systems and subsystems, including concept definition, requirements analysis and decomposition, interface definition, preparation of specifications and design documents, functional system modelling, traceability records, verification and validation planning.
Review and endorse of electrical systems and subsystems, operational functional, and electrical block diagrams.
Job Requirements:
The Electrical Manager shall have qualifications that are substantially equivalent to the following:
1. Have experience in the design and manufacturing of rolling stocks, including experience with integrating Rolling stocks to Infrastructures.
2. Have experience in interface and integration management, including defining, controlling, and communicating the information needed to enable integration of design elements, using a well-defined, transparent, and systemic approach;
3. Have a detailed understanding of the RER operation and maintenance requirements and processes;
4. Have experience applying system engineering processes on projects for the following electrical system activities:
a. RER's experience and/or minimum 5 years' experience in rolling stock electrical systems design, manufacturing, or maintenance engineering.
b. Tertiary University Qualifications: Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering.
c. Experience in the management of engineering teams to deliver on time and within the budget.
d. Understanding of rolling stock design processes and submission requirements.
e. Familiar with train design and engineering compliance and certification processes.
f. Ability to develop and review training functional and operational diagrams and electrical schematic drawings.
g. Ability to work on project design schedule and produce design progress reports.
h. High level of written and verbal communication skills, being fluent in English.
i. High proficiency level of computer skills in Microsoft Office. Be reasonably able to commit to the Term.
Contact: Jackie Hendry (jackie@railpersonnel.com)
