Dear Readers,
Rail NZ 2019 - Light Vs Heavy Rail: Moving People & Exploring Options will take place in Auckland from 12-13th September 2019. The 2-day International Summit will look at NZ's current developments in urban rail transportation and what the Government is looking at doing in the future to improve accessibility to public transport as well as look at new developments, challenges, issues, opportunities and how other countries are developing integrated and efficient transport networks.
The organizers of the conference will give a 20% discount to anyone registering who say they were referred by Rail Personnel. To register, go to http://www.stratcoms.com/RailNZ2019/.
The panel of government & industry speakers includes:
Leo Mak, Director of Systems, KVMRT Project, MMC-Gamuda, Malaysia
Priyanka Kumar, Architect - Urban Planner, Regional Centre for Urban & Environmental Studies, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Government of India
Andrew Sharp, Policy Adviser, International Air Rail Organisation, UK
Owen Hayward, Partner, Legal, PwC
Bob Lupton, Group Safety Director, Richmond Group of Companies
Tilo Franz, General Manager, Operations & Maintenance, Canberra Metro Operations (Operator of Canberra's Light Rail Stage)
Harriet Shelton, Manager, Regional Travel, Greater Wellington Regional Council
Param Sivalingam former Project Director for MMC-Gamuda on Line 2 of the Kuala Lumpur Metro.
We have four fabulous Jobs of the Week.
Our client is seeking an AGM - Plastic Components Manufacturing Unit to assist with activities and be based at their office in Hyderabad, India.
We are looking for a Principal Advisor Road Rail Interface to influence outcomes and provide expert advice and direction to the rail community and the client. Location is Auckland, New Zealand (but can be in Wellington or Christchurch).
Our client is a premium provider of engineering services, with the expertise and technical capabilities to devise innovative solutions to transport project challenges. They are looking for a highly capable Safety Assurance Manager to support their rapidly growing business. This role is based in Sydney, Australia.
Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, we have a permanent position for an experienced locomotive design engineer date to join the team of a growing company who are the first manufacturer of locomotives in Asia.
For further information and other opportunities worldwide, visit our website at www.railpersonnel.com.
Regards
Ceri Taylor
Editor
ceri@railpersonnel.com
This Week's Headlines:
16 Aug 2019. UK. South Western Railway workers to hold four-day strike
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers has announced a four-day rail strike as part of a long-running dispute over train guards.
Source: BBC
16 Aug 2019. Germany MP sparks row after proposing an end to first-class rail travel
A leading left wing politician has sparked a row in by proposing the rail operator Deutsche Bahn scraps first-class carriages to reduce overcrowding and improve energy efficiency.
Source: The Guardian
16 Aug 2019. Russia. Moscow's busiest airport to get new railway
Sheremetyevo International Airport, which is located 30km from Moscow, is to get a new railway line, Russian Railways has said.
Source: International Airport Review
16 Aug 2019. India. Titagarh Wagons bags Pune Metro rolling stock deal
Indian multinational firm Titagarh Wagons has won an international bid from Pune Metro for the supply of 102 Aluminium bodied Metro Rail coaches.
Source: Metro Rail News
16 Aug 2019. Sri Lanka. ADB approves loan to improve railway sector
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$160m loan to modernise Sri Lanka Railways, by upgrading its infrastructure and technical capacity.
Source: Daily Financial Times
Jobs of the Week:
Job Title: Principal Advisor Road Rail Interface ( #12633 )
Discipline: Safety; Civil
Role: Management
Position Type: Permanent
Country: Auckland, New Zealand
Languages: English
Job Description:
Our client is seeking a Principal Advisor Road Rail Interface to influence outcomes and provide expert advice and direction to the rail community and the client. It connects operational needs with organisational and government strategic outcomes, and champions innovation, taking the lead on controversial issues when necessary.
Location is Auckland, New Zealand (but can be in Wellington or Christchurch).
The role will provide thought and practice leadership in the area of level rail crossing safety.
The purpose of this role is to deliver effective regulatory management and oversight of road rail interface activities. A key function of this role is the management of stakeholders contributing to the continual improvement of rail level crossing safety in New Zealand, and the development and roll out of innovations to improve safety performance at this critical transport interface.
Requirements
- 10+ Years applied experience and knowledge in a relevant industry
- Strong investigative, risk assurance or lead audit experience
- Significant regulatory compliance experience
- Expert level experience and knowledge in a relevant industry
- Strong project or programme management experience
- Stakeholder and relationship management experience, preferably in a central or local government role
- Tertiary qualification or relevant experience in a regulatory compliance or stakeholder management role.
Contact: sarasj@railpersonnel.com
Job Title: Safety Assurance Manager ( #12720 )
Discipline: Safety; Systems Assurance
Role: Management
Position Type: Contract
Country: Sydney, Australia
Languages: English
Job Description:
Our client is looking for a highly capable Safety Assurance Manager to support our rapidly growing business. The client is a premium provider of engineering services, with the expertise and technical capabilities to devise innovative solutions to our clients' transport project challenges:
- Provide specialist safety assurance advice for major transport projects
- Work collaboratively within a diverse and high performing engineering team
- Join a dynamic and agile organisation focussed on engineering solutions to today's transport challenges.
Requirements
- Tertiary qualification in engineering
- At least 5 years' professional experience as a Safety Assurance Engineer
- Demonstrated experience undertaking quantitative and qualitative analyses including as Fault Tree Analysis, Goal Structuring Notation (GSN), Event Tree Analysis and ALARP/SFAIRP demonstration
- Demonstrated experience facilitating or providing safety input to hazard identification / risk workshops
- Familiarity with the Systems Engineering life cycle and appropriate models including the Vee lifecycle
- Demonstrated ability in the application of safety-related standards such as AS/NZS 4801 safety management systems, ISO/IEC 61508 functional safety of EEPE safety related systems, and EN 50126/ 8/9 specification and demonstration of RAMS to the design of systems and tools within an operational or project environment
- Demonstrated understanding of safety responsibilities under Rail Safety National Law and WHS legislation
Contact: davidh@railpersonnel.com
Job Title: AGM - Plastic Components Manufacturing Unit ( #12473 )
Discipline: Mechanical; Manufacturing
Role: Management
Position Type: Permanent
Country: Hyderabad, India
Languages: English; Hindi
Job Description:
Our client is seeking an AGM - Plastic Components Manufacturing Unit to assist with activities and be based at their office in Hyderabad.
Job Description:
- Injection moulding, blow moulding, die casting, quality control of plastic units, rubber components. Have a thorough knowledge of various types of plastics (manufacturing & material)
- Mould making for various types and designs of components
- Knowledge of overall operations, cost.
Management, Production Management
- Candidate who is in plastic industry mainly dealing with plastic, nylon and EVA
- He should be competent in doing detail project costing including operation cost
- He should be identifying machine suppliers and raw material vendors
- He should be commissioning of the plant and able to create an operation team.
Requirements
- Qualification: B.Tech-Mechanical or Plastic / Polymer Technology
- Experience: 15 to 20 Years.
Contact: varun@railpersonnel.com
Job Title: Rolling Stock Design Engineer ( #12715 )
Discipline: Rolling Stock; Design
Role: Design
Position Type: Permanent
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Languages: English
Job Description:
Our client is a rolling stock engineering solution provider based in Malaysia.
They have manufactured AC locomotives for overseas clients and re-manufactured locomotives in Malaysia and a number of African countries to date.
Their rolling stock projects have included:
- Being the main MRO service provider for GE's 26 Class & Dalian 29 Class locomotives
- In consortium with Siemens provided support to supply 58 driverless 4-car train sets for the Kuala Lumpur Metro Line 1
- Worked in Singapore refurbishing rolling stock for the SMRT
- Are working with Hyundai Rotem to assist them with their contract to provide rolling stock for the Kuala Lumpur Metro Line 2
- Undertaking wheel maintenance for all rolling stock for the national railways of Malaysia.
They are looking for an experienced locomotive design engineer to join their team based in Kuala Lumpur to work on the design of locomotives.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing company who are the first manufacturer of locomotives in Asia and to live in Malaysia.
Excellent salary and conditions for the right person.
Requirements
- Experienced rolling stock design engineer mechanical and electrical
- Experience with design of GE locomotives and advantage.
Contact: davidh@railpersonnel.com
More Rail News:
16 Aug 2019. UK. South Western Railway workers to hold four-day strike
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has announced a four-day rail strike as part of a long-running dispute over train guards. South Western Railway (SWR) services will be affected from Friday 30 August to Monday 2 September. The RMT is demanding a guarantee that trains will not run without guards on board. SWR said it was "struggling to comprehend what this endless strike action is really all about". RMT general secretary Mick Cash said SWR was "dragging its heels" over the issue, and "putting profits before passenger safety". SWR has offered to roster a guard on every train but has not guaranteed the presence of guards on all services. The dispute, involving several rail companies, began with RMT strikes on Southern Railway in April 2016. The union has previously reached agreements with Merseyrail and Greater Anglia over the future of guards.
Source: BBC
16 Aug 2019. Germany MP sparks row after proposing an end to first-class rail travel
A leading left wing politician has sparked a row in by proposing the rail operator Deutsche Bahn scraps first-class carriages to reduce overcrowding and improve energy efficiency. Bernd Riexinger, the co-leader of Die Linke party, said having two classes of travel in regional trains in particular made no sense when the emphasis should be on energy efficiency and making rail travel more accessible. But the proposal was dismissed as "indecent nonsense" by Karl-Peter Naumann, head of the German passenger association, Bahn. "There's a demand for first-class travel from commuters as well as those travelling longer distances. If I want to create more space, I simply need longer trains."
Source: The Guardian
16 Aug 2019. Russia. Moscow's busiest airport to get new railway
Sheremetyevo International Airport, which is located 30km from Moscow, is to get a new railway line, Russian Railways has said. The airport has been undergoing extensive modernisation works, with Terminal B re-opening in May 2018 to accommodate passengers during the FIFA World Cup for men, while the new Terminal C is currently under construction. The project is planned to be implemented in two stages. The first stage involves the construction of the Sheremetyevo-1 station in the NTC with three receiving and departure tracks and two platforms, a three-kilometre double-track railway, and a single-track line, which will connect a new station with the existing one - Sheremetyevo-2 located in the Southern Terminal Complex (STC, Terminals D, E, and F). The first stage of the project, the implementation of which is scheduled for 2022, will make it possible to launch shuttle trains from the STC to the NTC with an interval of 15 minutes.
Source: International Airport Review
16 Aug 2019. India. Titagarh Wagons bags Pune Metro rolling stock deal
In a boost to PM Narendra Modi's 'Make In India' initiative, an Indian multinational firm Titagarh Wagons has won an international bid from Pune Metro for the supply of 102 Aluminium bodied Metro Rail coaches. The consortium formed by Titagarh Wagons Limited with its wholly owned subsidiary: Titagarh Firema SPA has emerged as the lowest bidder in the tender issued by Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha-Metro) for 'Design, Manufacture, Supply, Testing, Commissioning Of Passenger Rolling Stock (Electrical Multiple Units) And Training Of Personnel' for Pune Metro Rail Project. Titagarh Wagons Ltd is an Indian multinational company based near Kolkata. As per the contract, the ultra-modern Aluminium coaches will be manufactured for the first time in India.
Source: Metro Rail News
16 Aug 2019. Sri Lanka. ADB approves loan to improve railway sector
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$160m loan to modernise Sri Lanka Railways, by upgrading its infrastructure and technical capacity. This is ADB's first loan in Sri Lanka's railway sector. The Railway Efficiency Improvement Project will finance the modernisation of the country's railway system in several aspects to improve the operations, maintenance, safety, skills development, and technical capacity of Sri Lanka Railways. The project will provide a modern multichannel—paper, mobile, and smart card—ticketing system, and will also install a state-of-the-art telecommunications system, which will replace the original system installed in 1985, and allow for two-way communications with train drivers and reduce train delays. The project will also finance a new operations headquarters and train control centre, provide infrastructure and equipment for the maintenance of track and rolling stock, and improve railway safety. The total cost of the project is US$192m, with the government of Sri Lanka providing US$32m. The expected project completion date is the end of 2024.
Source: Daily Financial Times
16 Aug 2019. Australia. New train drivers sought ahead of Metronet expansion
The Western Australian government has opened the application process for 60 new Transperth train drivers - who will be among the first to drive trains on the Metronet Forrestfield-Airport Link. Recruitment for train drivers is so competitive it is only conducted bi-annually, with four classes of 15 drivers each to be run over the two years. Drivers must successfully complete a 25-week paid training period (including sessions in a custom-built train simulator at Claisebrook), as well as on-the-job training as a trainee train driver, to obtain their Certificate IV in Train Driving. Training includes 11 weeks in the classroom learning all the theory behind driving trains - including electrical safety, customer service, signalling and communications - before completing at least 14 weeks of on-the-job training in the railcar with a driver trainer. Applicants come from all walks of life and do not need a background in rail with training provided by the Public Transport Authority.
Source: Mirage News
15 Aug 2019. UK. New trains from Northern for Liverpool passengers
Northern has announced the introduction of more new trains for Liverpool City Region. All weekday services between Liverpool and Manchester Airport via Warrington Central are now operated by brand new diesel trains. Five state of the art trains now run from Liverpool throughout the day at 16 minutes past the hour. Each of the new trains features free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, at-seat power and customer information/media screens with real-time information. Northern has ordered 101 new trains, a GBP500m investment, and, following the introduction of the first nine new trains across the network on 1 July, the rest will be introduced at monthly intervals through 2019 and into 2020, with more routes benefiting from the new trains over time.
Source: Rail Advent
15 Aug 2019. Saudi Arabia. CRCC delivers 2.4m trips in Mecca for Hajj pilgrims
China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC), operator of the Mecca light rail in the Hajj season in Mecca has completed this year's pilgrimage transport service. During the seven-day operation, the total operation time of Mecca light rail was 156 hours, and more than 2.4 million trips were delivered safely and accurately. Li Chongyang, the vice general manager of CRCC, said that the light rail system originally planned to run 1,718 trains and actually ran 2,214 trains. The CRCC won the bidding of the Mecca light rail project in 2009, and provided service for over 15 million trips in 2010-2014. In 2018, CRCC won the light rail operation contract again, and successfully completed the pilgrimage operation task. This year, the Saudi government gave the operating contract worth US$103m to the CRCC, and signed a memorandum of cooperation for the next five years with the CRC.
Source: Xinhu
14 Aug 2019. USA. Kiewit-Parsons JV wins LA Gold Line design-build contract
The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority Board of Directors have awarded a Joint Venture (JV) of Kiewit-Parsons, the main design-build contract for the next phase of the light rail extension in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. The contract includes an US$805.6m base scope for the first nine miles of the project in LA County, from Glendora to Pomona, with a two-year contract option to complete the full 12.3-mile project to Montclair in San Bernardino County for a total contract amount of US$1,186.9m if additional funds are secured by September 2021. The base scope includes all elements of design and construction for the first nine-mile segment, including relocation of the existing freight track, installation of the light rail track system, four new light rail stations (in Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona), and improvements at 40 grade crossings (nearly half with new or renovated bridges). The contract option would extend the work of the design-build team to complete the full 12.3-mile project to Montclair and add stations in Claremont and Montclair.
Source: ENRCalifornia
14 Aug 2019. UK. FirstGroup replaces Virgin to run West Coast route
FirstGroup is to take over the running of the West Coast mainline train route, connecting London Euston to Glasgow Central, from December. Along with Italian firm Trenitalia, FirstGroup said the route would pave the way for an era of high-speed rail. First Trenitalia replaces Virgin Trains, which was barred from bidding to keep the route. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the partnership was supported by Keith Williams, who has been commissioned to look at changes to the rail franchising system and who has said that government involvement should be limited to overall policy and budget decisions. The new partnership will operate in two phases. The first will run from 8 December to March 2026, when First Trenitalia will operate the existing InterCity West Coast services. The second phase will run from March 2026 to March 2031, when it will operate the HS2 high-speed rail service. FirstGroup, based in Aberdeen, also operates the South Western Railway and TransPennine Express.
Source: BBC
14 Aug 2019. Germany. Work to restart on Rastatt Tunnel
Infrastructure manager DB Networks has announced that construction work to complete the rail tunnels under the town of Rastatt will recommence in 2020. The tunnels are now due to open in 2025, three years later than originally planned. Designed for 250km/h operation, the Rastatt Tunnel is a key part of the long-term plan to quadruple the entire line between Karlsruhe and the Swiss border at Basle. This is one of the busiest sections of railway anywhere in Europe, with lengthy double track sections used by nearly 400 trains per day. Construction of the twin bore tunnels using tunnel boring machines, in places at shallow depths in alluvial sedimentary rocks, began in 2013. However, work was suspended after the newly constructed eastern tunnel bore collapsed un August 2017 which not only disrupted construction but severed the existing main line on the surface. The cost of the seven week closure and disruption to rail users and wider industry have been estimated at up to E2bn. DB has now agreed its plans to complete the Rastatt Tunnel, especially the final southern sections, where the new line will join the existing Rastatt - Baden-Baden line.
Source: International Railway Journal
12 Aug 2019. Czech Republic. RegioJet to launch new long distance service
Open access operator RegioJet has announced plans to launch a long-distance passenger service on the Praha - Wien - Budapest route from June 2020. There would be two trains each way per day, operated as extensions of the Praha - Brno - Wien services which have been running since December 2017. This would be the first time that a private operator would directly compete with Hungarian national operator MAV-Start. It would also provide passengers with an alternative route between Budapest and Praha, as the current direct service runs via Bratislava. RegioJet currently operates 14 daily services to and from Budapest, offering connections to Praha, Wien, Brno and Bratislava. RegioJet is to work with local operators Westbahn in Austria and Continental Railway Solution in Hungary, which will provide drivers and conductors and be responsible for operations. This follows an agreement for Westbahn to take over from Graz-Köflacher Bahn as the operator and provider of drivers and conductors for RegioJet's services within Austria from the 15 December 2019 timetable change.
Source: Railway Gazette
12 Aug 2019. Australia. Loram to acquire Aurizon's rail grinding business
Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc's. wholly owned Australian subsidiary, Loram Pty Ltd, has executed a binding agreement to acquire all the assets of the rail grinding business of Aurizon Operations Ltd. Upon completion, Loram will increase the number of Australian customers to which it provides rail grinding services by four, including all mainline and turnout rail grinding for Aurizon Network Pty Ltd. Loram is the original equipment manufacturer of Aurizon's entire fleet of rail. Notably, the acquisition includes Loram's newly built 120-stone RG419 which will be the most productive rail grinder in the Southern Hemisphere when it arrives later in 2019. In addition to rail grinding, Loram delivers solutions for ballast maintenance, material handling, friction management, and automated track inspection.
Source: Loram
12 Aug 2019. UK. First of Northern's Pacer trains retires
Th first of Northern's much-maligned Pacer trains to retire has made its final journey after travelling more than three million miles in 32 years of service. The train - unit 142005 - entered service on 20 February, 1987 and bowed out after completing its final day of operation by carrying Northern customers between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge. According to Northern, all Pacers are scheduled to be gone by the end of this year. Northern is introducing 101 new trains, a GBP500m investment in improving customers' experience - 15 new trains are already in service. An additional GBP80m investment is also being made to refurbish and improve the quality of Northern's remaining fleet. As the new trains come into service, Pacers will start to be retired from the Northern network on a phased basis over the coming months. The new trains are being introduced on longer-distance routes, allowing existing trains on those routes to be redeployed and replace the retiring Pacers.
Source: Champion Media Group
12 Aug. New Zealand. KiwiRail launch train 'near misses' campaign
In a bid to encourage road user and pedestrian safety, NZTA, Police, TrackSAFE NZ, and KiwiRail have launched a campaign based on near misses with trains. The campaign features 'memorials' for people who've had close calls with trains and feature a scannable QR code that links to video footage of the incident. It's part of the annual Rail Safety Week which aims to raise awareness and encourage safe behaviour around trains, railway tracks, and crossings. KiwiRail chief executive Greg Miller says close calls happen on a daily basis and take a huge toll on locomotive engineers. "Although no one gets physically hurt in a near miss, the driver, other rail staff, witnesses and of course the pedestrian or motorist all experience a level of trauma."
Source: RNZ
