Dear Readers,
When you are strap hanging on the Tube or being crammed into a carriage for your daily journey to work, you may wish you were on Japan's Seibu Railway commuter train.
Designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect Kazuyo Sejima, the Seibu 001 series, known as "Laview," is a stunning creation.
The train, which went into service in Tokyo in March, travels from Ikebukuro in northwest Tokyo to the mountains of Seibu Chichibu. Its huge, curved windows provide passengers with stunning panoramic views along the way.
Inside, Laview is kitted out with soft yellow chairs with an adjustable headrest and armrest table to "provide a relaxing living room-like feel." The soft lighting, which adjusts throughout the day, has been devised to generate a calming atmosphere for commuters.
Almost every detail of Laview, which has eight cars and 422 seats, has been carefully thought out to allow commuters to feel at ease as the train hits speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour.
Seibu Railway plans to replace all trains on the line with Laview trains by the end of the year. (Source: CNN Travel)
Roles for experienced engineers are featured in our three Jobs of the Week.
Our client is based in Malaysia and is a well-established railway systems integrator. They are involved in both refurbishing existing rolling stock as well as the assembly of new vehicles and are looking for an Engineering Manager.
One of India's leading infrastructure services companies is seeking a Resident Engineer/Electrical with at least 10 years of experience in the execution/supervision of a railway electrification project.
Our client is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager to assist with activities as part of the Design and Construction Project for all E&M System in Vietnam.
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:
12 Sep 2019. Canada. Metrolinx orders 36 additional rail cars from Bombardier
Metrolinx has announced it will purchase 36 additional bilevel rail cars from Bombardier for GO Transit.
Source: Progressive Railroading
12 Sep 2019. UK. Midlands Connect launches GBP3.5bn rail scheme
A GBP3.5bn plan to revolutionise the region's rail network has been launched at Bombardier’s plant in Derby.
Source: The Business Desk
11 Sep 2019. USA. Go-ahead for extra tracks between D.C. and Richmond
The federal government has signed off on Virginia's plans to expand the number of railway tracks between Washington D.C. and Richmond.
Source: WAMU
11 Sep 2019. Italy. Bombardier and STA launch South Tyrol region mobility plan
Senior representatives from the Autonomous Province of Bolzano-Bozen, Strutture Trasporto Alto Adige (STA) and Bombardier have launched a long-term sustainable mobility plan for the South Tyrol region.
Source: Global Newswire
11 Sep 2019. Czech Republic. Leo Express's new Chinese trains arrive in Europe
Private Czech train operator Leo Express is set to deploy new trains, manufactured by Chinese company CRRC.
Source: Radio Prague
Jobs of the Week:
Job Title: Engineering Manager ( #12743 )
Discipline: Rolling Stock
Role: Management
Position Type: Contract
Country: Selangor, Malaysia
Languages: English
Job Description:
Our client is based in Malaysia and is a well-established railway systems integrator. They are involved in the building and maintaining of rolling stock and strive to position themselves at the forefront of new technologies introduced to respond to the growing demand for safer and more efficient railways.
They are involved in both refurbishing existing rolling stock as well as the assembly of new vehicles and they are looking for an Engineering Manager that has the following experience:
- Can lead a small team of engineers and develop their skill sets
- Review technical submission and provide assessment of these for application of tenders
- Maintain the QA system
- Project manage within budgets and timelines
- Budget reviews
- Can review tenders and submit .
Requirements
- Experienced rolling stock engineer with more than 10 years' experience
- Experience review technical submission and providing assessment of these for application of tenders
- Experience maintaining QA systems
- Experience managing projects within budgets and timelines.
Contact: davidh@railpersonnel.com
Job Title: Resident Engineer (Electrical) ( #12654 )
Discipline: Resident Engineer; Electrical
Role:
Position Type: Contract
Country: Haryana, India
Languages: English; Hindi
Job Description:
Our client is one of India's leading infrastructure services company, and they are seeking a Resident Engineer/Electrical (OHE/TSS/SCADA/GS).
Two locations: Solapur / Ranchi.
Requirements
- Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering from a recognized College and Diploma in Electrical Engineering is also considered
- Total professional experience of 17 years
- At least 10 years of experience of execution/supervision of a railway electrification project or a specific section of railway electrification project with project management consultant or
- Have at least 8 years of experience in gazetted cadre of the electrical engineering department of railway and/or as manager and above in electrical engineering department in RITES/IRCON/RVNL or
- Equivalent grade in Konkan Railway/MRVC/DFCCIL/ any Metro Rail Corporation either individually or combined
- The person should also meet the hurdle criteria of having experience of at least three years in maintenance/construction of OHE, in any grade
Contact: varun@railpersonnel.com
Job Title: Quality Assurance Manager ( #12766 )
Discipline: Quality; Management
Role: Management
Position Type: Contract
Country: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Languages: English
Job Description:
Our client is seeking a Quality Assurance Manager to assist with activities as part of the Design and Construction Project for all E&M System (Rolling Stock, Signaling, Telecommunication, Power Supply, OCS, Track work, PSD, AFC, Depot & Workshop Equipment, F-SCADA, Signage & Graphics) for New MRT Line-1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Job Details;
- Interact and negotiation with the Employer, Consultant and any third parties
- Accountable for the definition and planning of all need activities in our Contract Agreement and ISO9001 (and/or other applicable international and local Standards) for Quality Management.
Requirements
- Total Year of Experience ; 15 years
- Experience as Quality Assurance Staff for Railway Project ; 12 years
- Experience as Quality Assurance Manager for Railway Project ; 5 years
- Certificate of Graduation (Bachelor’s degree or more over)
- Certificate of English (such as TOIEC) more than 800 points if mother language is not English
- Strong skill for speaking & writing in English in interpretation and translation work
- Excellent knowledge and capabilities of quality assurance and control
- Several experiences to complete project as QA manager.
Contact: sarasj@railpersonnel.com
More Rail News:
12 Sep 2019. Canada. Metrolinx orders 36 additional rail cars from Bombardier
Metrolinx has announced it will purchase 36 additional bilevel rail cars from Bombardier Transportation for GO Transit. Metrolinx will add 31 standard and five accessible cars to an existing 125-car order it placed in 2016. The new cars include Bombardier's Orbita system that will allow Metrolinx staff to obtain real-time performance data and pinpoint issues relating to doors, HVAC systems, electrical equipment and other components. "More bilevel cars allow us to add seat capacity as we continue to rapidly expand GO train service," said Phil Verster, president and CEO of Metrolinx. "In addition, trains with improved on-board diagnostic tools allows us to improve customer experience and generate savings on maintenance, which will keep more trains performing at peak service levels for our customers." The cars will be manufactured at a Bombardier facility in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Source: Progressive Railroading
12 Sep 2019. UK. Midlands Connect launches GBP3.5bn rail scheme
A GBP3.5bn plan to revolutionise the region’s rail network has been launched at Bombardier's plant in Derby. Called Midlands Engine Rail, the new strategy aims to benefit towns and cities in the Midlands region, as well as across the country. Comprised of seven projects spanning the East and West Midlands, Midlands Engine Rail will include and build upon the flagship Midlands Rail Hub scheme that was submitted to government in June 2019. Midlands Engine Rail will be delivered in stages from 2022 to the completion of HS2 Phase Two. It is fully integrated with HS2 and includes plans for two new conventional-compatible services that will directly link Nottingham and Leicester city centres to the new high-speed network. Civic and business leaders are now calling on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to back the scheme, fund the next stage of its development (GBP45.5m over the next three years).
Source: The Business Desk
11 Sep 2019. USA. Go-ahead for extra tracks between D.C. and Richmond
The federal government has signed off on Virginia's plans to expand the number of railway tracks between Washington D.C. and Richmond, which will mean more passenger train capacity, increased reliability and a slight uptick in train speeds in the future. The DC2RVA high speed rail project would add a third track along the stretch between the two cities, and a fourth track from Alexandria to Long Bridge, which connects Virginia and D.C. over the Potomac River. That project is fully funded and could mean a few more Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express slots for passengers. It will also bring "higher-speed" rail — up to 90mph. Most trains average about 50mph, but they currently can’t go above 79mph.
Source: WAMU
11 Sep 2019. Italy. Bombardier and STA launch South Tyrol region mobility plan
Senior representatives from the Autonomous Province of Bolzano-Bozen, Strutture Trasporto Alto Adige (STA) and Bombardier Transportation have launched a long-term sustainable mobility plan for the South Tyrol region. To help support this plan, Bombardier is providing seven Bombardier Talent 3 regional trains from a 2019 framework agreement, already in place with STA, for up to 32 new trains and up to 30 years of fleet maintenance services. The trains will operate across South Tyrol and provide cross-border services between Italy and Austria. This is the first time Bombardier will provide regional trains to Italy.
Source: Global Newswire
11 Sep 2019. Czech Republic. Leo Express's new Chinese trains arrive in Europe
Private Czech train operator Leo Express is set to deploy new trains, manufactured by Chinese company CRRC. The new Sirius train units should start operating next year. The total value of the investment, which includes the delivery of three units and an option for 30 more, exceeds five billion crowns. The first three trains, provided CRRC, have arrived in Europe. They will be transported to the Czech Republic to undergo a certification process at the Railway Research Institute's testing circuit in Velim. The new trains will operate on domestic and international routes in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. In the future, Leo Express plans to expand their operation to other European countries. Several Czech design studios took part in designing the new trains, with almost 20 per cent of components coming from domestic contractors. The company currently operates five Intercity FLIRT units by Sadler on the line from Prague to Ostrava and Kosice.
Source: Radio Prague
11 Sep 2019. Hong Kong. MTR to cancel night trains during festival
Hong Kong's embattled rail operator will cancel overnight services during the Mid-Autumn Festival for the first time ever, citing safety concerns amid escalating protest violence targeting its metro stations. The MTR Corporation management and government officials met on Wednesday afternoon to discuss providing alternative transport for commuters. Sources said the MTR would offer to boost the frequency of trains beyond peak hours, also extending service hours instead of keeping them running throughout Friday night. The unprecedented move, backed by the MTR's staff union, is aimed at heading off large gatherings at stations by people carrying metallic balloons which could short-circuit power lines and traditional candlelit lanterns which could pose a fire hazard, given the risk of chaotic protest action.
Source: South China Morning Post
10 Sep 2019. Finland. New companies to manage major rail projects
The Ministerial Economic Affairs Committee has given the Ministry of Transport and Communications approval to establish new companies to manage the implementation of two major rail projects. The ministry says it is now launching negotiations with municipalities and other publicly-owned entities as part of preparations to establish the Turku One Hour Train Project Company, which will oversee the Helsinki - Turku high-speed project, and the Suomirata Project Company, which will manage development of the new Riihimaki - Tampere line. The project companies will be responsible for planning and financing. Participation in this phase will not bind parties to the construction or financing of the projects. The Ministry of Transport and Communications says the project companies will be open to public sector or publicly owned bodies that are likely to benefit from the two projects. Companies with private sector shareholders will also be allowed to participate, provided that they are majority publicly owned entities.
Source: International Railway Journal
10 Sep 2019. India. Official trial run for Navi Mumbai Metro
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has officially flagged off the trial test run of the Navi Mumbai Met from Taloja Depot. The three-car trains run on 2-km long distance from Pendhar Metro terminal yard at Taloja to Pendhar station. The section is part of 11.1 km long Belapur-Pendhar corridor (Line 1). Navi Mumbai Metro Line 1 (Belapur-Pendhar corridor) consists of a total of 11 stations and is expected to be operational by mid-2020. A total of three-coach 8 trains will be run between Belapur and Pendhar stretch. In March 2019, CIDCO received two three-car trains for the Navi Mumbai for Navi Mumbai Metro from Chinese rolling stock manufacturer China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC).
Source: Urban Transport News
10 Sep 2019. Australia. Green light for Gold Coast light rail stage 3A
Infrastructure Australia has approved the business cases for Gold Coast light rail stage 3A, which will link Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads. Infrastructure Australia CEO Romilly Madew said the expanded light rail line on the southern part of the Gold Coast would help tackle congestion. The Queensland government estimated the cost of congestion between Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads was A$38m last year, which would increase to A$145m by 2041. The service will operate every 7.5 minutes on weekdays between 7am and 7pm, and every 10 minutes on weekends. Gold Coast light rail stage 3A is due to be completed by 2023.
Source: Brisbane Times
9 Sep 2019. USA. Network Rail Consulting wins MBTA contract
Network Rail Consulting (NRC) have been awarded a US$15m contract by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to: assist the agency in managing its assets in accordance with best practice principles, support the upgrade of several rail lines to higher levels of performance, and secure a specific set of outcomes desired by the Board and staff. The NRC team will work alongside the MBTA's engineering, operations and capital delivery staff in an effort to "achieve targets of more effective management, creating efficiencies in maintenance through improvements in productivity, delivering more work in shorter periods, and with the goal of reducing the time to achieve a State of Good Repair." NRC will work with MBTA professionals collaboratively to move from "find-and-fix" maintenance to the principles of "predict and prevent".
Source: Railway Age
9 Sep 2019. UK. Rail industry is reaching key political junction
Britain's historic rail industry is destined for the biggest shakeup in decades that could end in renationalisation and significant investment to vastly improve services amid costly fares and delays. Full state-control of the industry is a distinct possibility should a looming general election triggered by Brexit turmoil result in victory for the main opposition Labour party. At the same time, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is awaiting the conclusions of a passenger-focused review of the UK's entire rail sector.
Source: Business Times
7 Sep 2019. UK. Anger over union leader's pay hike
Bosses at the trade union whose strike action has caused years of rail commuter misery are enjoying a pay bonanza, with inflation-busting increases to six-figure salaries. According to The Sunday Telegraph. RMT general secretary Mick Cash climbed the rankings as one of the best paid union boss, taking home GBP162,004 last year - this despite the comparatively small size of the organisation that has held thousands of rail users to ransom. The as-yet unpublished draft figures for 2018, were branded "absolutely obscene" and "hypocritical" by MPs and economic think-tanks. Last month the RMT attacked the owners of trains and carriages as "rail fat cats" for paying out GBP1.2bn to shareholders.
Source: The Sunday Telegraph
7 Sep 2019. Australia. Deputy PM stripped of Cross River Rail portfolio
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is removing her deputy Jackie Trad from all dealings with Brisbane's Cross River Rail project in the wake of her investment house saga. The move comes after the state's corruption watchdog revealed it would not launch an official investigation into Ms Trad's handling of an undeclared investment house in Woolloongabba. Ms Palaszczuk announced that Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones would be appointed as a permanent replacement to run Cross River Rail.
Source: ABC
7 Sep 2019. Australia. Design consultants sought for Canberra's LR stage two
Design works for light rail stage two are ramping up, as discussions with sub-contractors begin. John Holland and CPB Contractors, part of the Canberra Metro consortium which delivered light rail stage one, have been selecting consultants to work with them to design the city to Woden project. According to expression of interest documents, Major Projects Canberra requested John Holland and CPB joint venture undertake a selection process with some selected established consultants. They would provide services for specific design packages for the whole, or part of, the project. The project would include a definition design to allow the joint venture to price and agree a delivery with Major Projects Canberra. The government hopes to start construction on the Civic to Commonwealth Park part of the line next year.
Source: Canberra Times
6 Sep 2019. USA. FTA approves Honolulu Rapid Rail Plan
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has approved a rail recovery plan submitted by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. The recovery plan was submitted by the city transportation authority to demonstrate Honolulu has a workable proposal for completing the 20-mile (32-km rail line. The line was originally estimated at US$5.2bn and was supposed to be completed next year, but the transit administration now projects completion in 2026 at a cost of US$9.2bn. The decision clears the way for the agency to release US$744m that is part of the city's funding grant agreement with the federal government. City officials expect the federal government to release additional rail funding early next year after a public-private contract is awarded to complete the last four miles (6 kms) of rail line.
Source: Associated Press
