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Rail News

7 October 2019. Volume 10, Issue 1

over 4 years ago by Rail Personnel

Dear Readers,

In a move to provide life-saving treatment to customers suffering a heart attack, defibrillators are to be installed at TransPennine Express (TPE) railway stations and in new trains across the north of England and Scotland. Most stations will have one machine but some of the bigger stations, including Manchester Airport and Huddersfield will have two.

Network Rail and Transport for Greater Manchester collaborated to provide funding for the life-saving devices to be installed in all 19 TPE managed stations. The new measures will also see defibrillators installed on board all 44 of their brand-new Nova fleets of trains.

The defibrillators require a key coded access available from the local ambulance services, but individual audio guide will talk members of staff or rail customers through the process until the emergency services arrive. (Source: RTM)

Job of the Week is based in Auckland, New Zealand - regarded as one of the world's most liveable cities.

We are seeking a Design Lead for Structures to work in an in-house design engineering group at a major rail operator. Reporting to the Engineering Manager, the successful candidate will be responsible for leading a team of engineers performing structural design and calculations for rail projects across New Zealand.

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

3 Oct 2019. Poland.  PKP awards contracts to upgrade Węglówka line

Infrastructure manager PKP PLK has awarded two contracts to improve passenger operations and significantly increase capacity on the Węglówka line.

Source:  International Railway Journal

2 Oct 2019. Australia. Rail Infrastructure Alliance selected for Sunbury line upgrade

The Rail Infrastructure Alliance has landed a contract worth AU$534m (£292m) for the second stage of the Sunbury Line Upgrade.

Source:  The Construction Index

2 Oct 2019.  Australia.  ARA appoints new CEO

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has appointed Caroline Wilkie to take on CEO responsibilities in mid-February. .

Source:  Australasian Transport News

1 Oct 2019.  UK.  ORR to charge £26m per annum for HS1 train operations

The Office of Rail and Road has announced plans to charge train operators £26m annually for use of the High Speed 1 (HS1) track in order to help maintain the
rail assets.

Source:  Railway Technology

1 Oct 2019.  UK.  3D printed parts trialled on passenger trains

Angel Trains, Stratasys, DB ESG and Chiltern Railways have partnered together to trial the first 3D printed parts deployed within an in-service passenger train in the United Kingdom. 

Source:  Mass Transit

Job of the Week

Job Title: Design Lead - Structures ( #12748 )

Discipline: Structural; Civil

Role: Structural Engineer; Design

Position Type: Permanent

Country: Auckland, New Zealand

Languages: English

Job Description:

Whether it's cross-country freight, luxury scenic journeys, or metro-rail networks, New Zealand is making major investments into its transport infrastructure sector. We currently have many exciting opportunities available for engineers looking to emigrate to this rugby-loving archipelago.

Currently, we are seeking a Design Lead for Structures to be based in Auckland (which is regularly voted one of the world's best cities to live in).

The role: Working in an in-house design engineering group at a major rail operator and reporting to the Engineering Manager, you will be responsible for leading a team of engineers performing structural design and calculations for rail projects across New Zealand.

Visa sponsorship as needed.

Requirements

- A degree-qualified Structural Engineer

- Circa 10+ years' experience working in design-engineering environment for transport infrastructure related projects

- Experience of leading structural design teams. Experience should be focused on super-structural engineering design and calculations for (i.e. buildings, bridges, viaducts)

- Experience of working on sub-structures (i.e. tunnels) also an advantage.

Contact: jon@railpersonnel.com

Rail News

3 Oct 2019. Poland.  PKP awards contracts to upgrade Węglówka line

Infrastructure manager PKP PLK has awarded two contracts worth Zlotys 1.8bn ($US 453.7m) to improve passenger operations and significantly increase capacity on the Węglówka line, which connects the Silesia region with the Tri-City ports in Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot.  Nearly 170km of track will be replaced on the Kalina – Rusiec Łódzki – Zduńska Wola Karsznice section, along with the replacement of 238 switches and reconstruction of more than 200km of catenary.  Safety standards at 53 level crossings will be improved, and 77 structures, including 13 bridges and 15 viaducts, will be strengthened to cope with heavier 22.5-tonne axle loads.  The investment is
co-financed by the European Union. The Porr-Lider consortium has been awarded a Zlotys 1.2bn, 44-month contract, while Zue has been awarded a Zlotys 582.7m, 41-month contract.

Source:  International Railway Journal

2 Oct 2019. Australia. Rail Infrastructure Alliance selected for Sunbury line upgrade

The Rail Infrastructure Alliance, a joint venture of John Holland and Hochtief subsidiary CPB Contractors has landed a contract worth AU$534m (£292m) for the
second stage of the Sunbury Line Upgrade. It is part of a AU$2.1bn project to unlock the capacity of Melbourne’s rail network to support high capacity metro
trains (HCMTs) travelling through the future Metro Tunnel. The alliance also includes Aecom as the design partner, as well as project owner Rail Projects
Victoria and rail franchisee Metro Trains Melbourne. Upgrades on existing lines include overhead electrification works between Sunbury and South
Kensington and at South Yarra. The project also includes signalling power upgrades and additional infrastructure at Calder Park sidings.  Work will start this year and is scheduled to be completed in 2023.

Source:  The Construction Index

2 Oct 2019.Australia.  ARA appoints new CEO

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has appointed Caroline Wilkie to take on CEO responsibilities in mid-February.  Ms Wilkie will join the ARA from the Australian Airports Association (AAA), where she has been the CEO since 2010. The ARA observes that she brings "extensive policy experience to the role, with a strong understanding of the nation-building impact of infrastructure investment and how critical transport networks are to connecting urban and regional communities". "Whether you catch a passenger train, tram or light rail in our cities or work for a business that relies upon the rail freight network, the rail industry touches the lives of so many in our communities in both Australia and New Zealand," Ms Wilkie says. Outgoing ARA CEO Danny Broad remains at the association, taking up the
position of chairman.  He replaces current chairman Bob Herbert, who is to will step down from the board at the end of this year.

Source:  Australasian Transport News

1 Oct 2019.  UK.  ORR to charge £26m per annum for HS1 train operations

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has announced plans to charge train operators £26m annually for use of the High Speed 1 (HS1) track in order to help maintain
the rail assets. ORR expects future costs to increase as the HS1 gets older.  The £26m per annum charge is said to be £9m less than the proposed figure by HS1, which operates 67 miles of high-speed track that connects London with the Channel Tunnel. ORR expects the lower costs to ensure a lower rise in operator charges.  The draft determination will be open to public consultation until 11 November. The bill’s final determination for the next five years will be unveiled in January. ORR stated that it accepted most of HS1’s proposals while making recommendations about asset management. The recommendations include reviewing its approach to asset life, looking for efficiencies in its supply chain and enhancing its approach to research and development.

Source:  Railway Technology

1 Oct 2019.  UK.  3D printed parts trialled on passenger trains

Angel Trains, Stratasys, DB ESG and Chiltern Railways have partnered together to trial the first 3D printed parts deployed within an in-service passenger train in the United Kingdom.  These parts include four passenger armrests and seven grab handles, which have been installed on Chiltern Railways´ trains. The cross-industry collaboration aims to leverage 3D printing to help overcome issues around the replacement of obsolete parts across the rail industry.  DB ESG conducted comprehensive testing on a range of industrial-grade 3D printing materials to ensure the first-ever compliance to UK rail industry standard EN45545-2 by 3D printed parts. With positive responses received from train operators, the three-way consortium is now set to commence its next trial with Great Western Railway, which plans to integrate 3D printed parts within a selection of trains over the next few months.

Source:  Mass Transit

1 Oct 2019.  Germany.  Stadler wins Stadtwerke Augsburg light rail contract

Stadtwerke Augsburg has awarded Stadler the contract to supply eleven Tramlink trams along with the maintenance contract of the vehicles over a period of 16 years. This is the first maintenance contract in the light rail segment for Stadler in Germany. The order is worth €57ms. The contract also contains an option for the
delivery of another 16 trams.   According to contract the seven-part unidirectional trains will enter service on the lines of Bavaria’s second largest tram system from 2022 onwards. The fully low-floor accessible and barrier-free vehicles are 42 meters long and can accommodate 231 passengers of which 86 can be seated.

Source:  Stadler Rail

1 Oct 2019.  Germany.  Rolling stock cyber-security certified for Siemens Mobility

The rolling stock business unit at Siemens Mobility has been certified by Germany’s TÜV SÜD for meeting the international IT security standard IEC 62443. The
certification proves that the train control and IT systems in the company’s high-speed trains, regional trains, metros, trams, locomotives, components, and rail solutions are adequately protected against cyberattacks. For the past five years, the development of rolling stock at Siemens Mobility has been subject to a stringent risk-based approach to IT security in which individual risks are identified for each project, and adequate, tailored security measures are taken. Various control and guidance systems as well as public and in-house information technologies are included, such as train control systems with safety-critical and non-safety-critical IT systems, train operator systems, passenger information systems, passenger internet, and cloud-based interfaces between trains and the Network Operation Center. This rigorous IT security process has already been used by the company in over one hundred projects.

Source:  Siemens Mobility

1 Oct 2019. The Netherlands. Rotterdam metro reaches Hoek van Holland

Revenue service has commenced on the Schiedam Niewland – Hoek van Holland line following conversion of the former railway line to metro operation. The line
reopened for free rides over the weekend of 28-29 September, two years later than expected. Conversion of the 24 km line to metro standards allows RET metro
services to be extended beyond Schiedam. The final stage of the project, which will see the short spur to Hoek van Holland Strand extended closer to the
beach, taking its length to 1200m, is not now expected to be completed until mid-2022.  All of the track has been refurbished, the stations have been modernised and a new stop has been built at Steendijkpolder.  To operate the converted line, RET has purchased 22 Bombardier Swift HSG3. three-car trainsets. These are 41.7m long with all axles driven and can take 750V DC from both third rail and overhead line.

Source:  Railway Gazette

1 Oct 2019.  China.  Work on 1,000km maglev railway to start in 2020

Work on building a 1,000km-long, super-fast magnetic levitation (maglev) railway in China between Guangzhou and Wuhan is expected to start next year, according to
local media. Trains would travel at between 600km/h and a theoretical maximum of 1,000 km/h, cutting the travel time between the two cities from about 10 hours to two. The line will be built by the Wuhan-based China Railway Siyuan Survey and Design Group, a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation.  Work will start in Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the capital. Last week a set of technical standards for maglev rail was released by the National Railway Administration, with a view to
implementation at the beginning of next year. The standards unify basic technical requirements including track gauge and clarified main specifications of maglev trains.

Source:  Global Construction Review

1 Oct 2019. Malaysia. Rail link deadline: Singapore agrees to KL request

Singapore has agreed to Malaysia's request for an additional one-month suspension of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) project in the spirit of bilateral cooperation, and
also to waive additional costs incurred during the period, said a Ministry of Transport (MOT) spokesman.  But Singapore reserves the right to claim additional costs incurred beyond 30 September, should Malaysia request any further extensions to the suspension period, which now ends on 31 October.  Both governments signed an agreement last year to build the 4km cross-border MRT link from Woodlands in Singapore to Bukit Chagar in Johor to help alleviate congestion on the Causeway. In March, Malaysia requested a six-month extension to respond to Singapore on issues relating to the RM4 bn (S$1.3bn) project.

Source:  Straits Times

30 Sep 2019.  UK.  Azuma to transform travel to Scotland

London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has announced that Azuma trains will be introduced into passenger services to and from Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness for the
first time.  Azuma trains will begin operating the LNER service between Glasgow Central and London King’s Cross service in each direction, replacing the current Class 91 electric train serving the route.  LNER MD David Horne said the new Azumas will officially go into service on the London King’s Cross - Aberdeen route on the 25 November, with the trains introduced onto the London King’s Cross – Inverness route on the 9 December.  LNER customers will experience a much more comfortable journey with more seats and an increased amount of legroom in Standard class. The trains also feature the latest in train technology meaning that they are more resilient and better for the environment.

Source:  LNER

30 Sep 2019. Belgium. EU to invest in sustainable transport

The European Union (EU) has announced that it will be investing over €117m in 39 key transport projects to help build missing connections across Europe, while
focusing on sustainable transport modes. Eight of the planned projects contribute to reducing rail freight noise in the EU by upgrading rail wagon braking systems. Almost 75,000 freight railway wagons will be upgraded as part of these projects. The investment also supports rail infrastructure projects aiming at upgrading existing railway lines, such as the ‘electrification’ of the line from Austria to the Hungarian border (€2.9m for the studies) or the cross-border section of the line between Bremen (Germany) and Groeningen (the Netherlands) worth €12.7m EU support. Lastly, a large group of projects involves upgrading infrastructure within EU ports to foster multimodality and lower emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases.

Source:  Global Railway Review

29 Sep 2019. Saudi Arabia. Fire engulfs new high-speed rail station in Jeddah

A massive fire has ripped through a new high-speed train station leaving at least five people injured in the coastal city of Jeddah.  There was no immediate known cause of the fire. The €6.7bn (US$7.3bn) Haramain Railway was inaugurated last September to connect the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina with Jeddah with electric
trains traveling up to 300 kmph. Officials described the 450-km line as one of the most important transportation expansion projects in the kingdom's rail network and the biggest electric speed train project in the Middle East.

Source:  Reuters

27 Sep 2019.  Australia.  NSW to replace ageing regional rail fleet

The New South Wales (NSW) Government is replacing the ageing NSW regional rail fleet of XPT, XPLORER and Endeavour trains. A new train maintenance facility
will be built in Dubbo to stimulate the regional economy and help create sustainable job opportunities and skills. The NSW Government awarded the contract to deliver the Regional Rail Fleet Project to Momentum Trains in February this year.  Momentum Trains is an international consortium comprising CAF, UGL Rail Services, Pacific Partnerships, CAF Investment Projects and DIF Infrastructure V Coöperatief. The contract includes project financing, designing, building and maintaining the new regional rail fleet as well as designing, building, maintaining and operating the Dubbo plant.  Planning and detailed design work has also commenced for the new fleet of 29 new trains, including 117 new carriages forming 10 regional intercity, 9 short regional and 10 long regional trains.  The first new trains are expected to be running from 2023, with the full fleet coming into service progressively.

Source:  Transport for NSW