Dear Readers
Gong hei fat choy! This week (25 January) marks the start of the 2020 Lunar New Year, welcoming the Year of the Rat.
Known as the world's largest annual mass movement of people, the peak travel period known as chunyun in China typically sees hundreds of millions of Chinese people return to their hometowns to reunite with relatives.
At the Hangzhou East Railway Station, passengers who lose their identification cards can get temporary IDs within 30 seconds with the help of facial recognition. There will also be a security robot powered by fifth-generation mobile network (5G) technology, which will help staff at the railway station to detect suspicious people and behaviour
China State Railway Group estimated earlier this month that an average of 11 million train trips will be taken per day, for a total of 440 million rail journeys during the five-week period between 10 January 10 to 18 February. This represents an 8 per cent increase from last year's figure of around 410 million. (Source: South China Morning Post).
This week, we have 5 exciting Jobs of the Week. In Singapore, our clients are seeking a Head of Bids & Tenders, Modification Technicians, Warranty Engineer (FRACAS & Oil Management) and a Vehicle Software Engineer. In Abu Dhabi, our client is looking for a Head of Research and Development.
Regards
Ceri Taylor
Editor
This Week’s Headlines
17 Jan 2020. UK. Bombardier’s London Overground maintenance contract extended
Bombardier Transportation is to continue to maintain the London Overground Class 710 Aventra electric multiple-unit fleet until July 2035.
Source4: Railway Gazette
17 Jan 2020. China. More trains added on Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed rail
Three more pairs of trains have been added to the high-speed railway line connecting Beijing and Zhangjiakou, the co-host city of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
Source: Xinhua
16 Jan 2020. USA. Metrolink completes Van Nuys station upgrade
Metrolink officials and community members have celebrated the completion of the modernisation of the Los Angeles Van Nuys train station.
Source: MyNewsLA.com
16 Jan 2020. UK. New suburban trains finally arrive on Greater Anglia network
The first new Bombardier Aventra train, has arrived at Greater Anglia's Ilford depot in east for testing.
Source: East Anglian Daily Times
16 Jan 2020. UK. HS2 supporters fear PM plans to scrap part of project
Supporters of the HS2 rail project are growing increasingly anxious that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is prepared to scrap part of the high-speed railway project or overhaul it in a bid to redirect the money towards other transport in the north of England.
Source: The Guardian
Jobs of the Week:
Head of Bids & Tenders (Rolling Stock & Railway Systems) Singapore
Job ID#: 12831
Discipline: Rolling Stock
Job Description
Our client has been a leader in transport solutions for more than 160 years and is constantly innovating its portfolio in its core areas of rolling stock, rail automation and electrification, turnkey systems, intelligent traffic systems as well as related services.
They are looking for a Head of Bids & Tenders to be based in their Singapore office, focused on delivering bids for work in Singapore.
As Head of Bids & Tenders, your will manage a team of Bid Managers and Bid Engineers and report into a Head of Sales, whilst also liaising closely with other project managers and senior management in the company (including the railways technologies CEO). This is a fast-paced role which requires the ability to go the extra mile to deliver bids on time and on budget.
Job Requirements
* Have at least 10 years" experience in proposals management roles or project management roles with high value within major companies in either in the rail industry or similar environment, in particular large multidisciplinary projects
* Tertiary qualifications in a related discipline, industry qualifications and/or significant work experience.
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Modification Technician Singapore,
Job ID#: 12888
Discipline: Installation
Position Type: Contract
Positions Available: 2
Job Description
Our client has a contract to deliver the rolling stock on the BP LRT project and are looking for a number of people to work on the project. This includes 2 Modification Technicians.
The Modification Technicians are responsible to implement the on-board installation and modification works including both Pre and Post installation/modification/manufacturing activity to the NCX1 and NCX2 APM vehicle (covering onshore and offshore testing when required)
In the context of the C801B BPLRT AR project, Modification technician is defined as vehicle-related installation, modification and test assistance activities.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Recording all installation/modification results, perform pre- Post Installation Check Out (PICO) and assisting the Modification engineer on compilation of all documentation for inclusion in the vehicle history book.
2. To perform the installation/modification and ensuring the workmanship is in line with the corresponding design specification.
3. Ensuring that safe installation/modification being carried out as per the product requirement within the project timeline.
Job Requirements
Qualifications & Functional Knowledge:
- Technician certification or equivalent in relevant domain.
Relevant experience required:
- Typically, minimum 3 - 5 years relevant experience, preferably with Rolling Stock system installation/modification background.
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Warranty Engineer (FRACAS & OIL Management) Singapore,
Job ID#: 12889
Discipline: Quality
Position Type: Contract
Positions Available: 2
Job Description
Our client has a contract to deliver the rolling stock on the BP LRT project and are looking for a number of people to work on the project.
One of the roles they are looking to fill is that of Warranty Engineer (FRACAS & OIL Management)
You must be able to administer and maintain the overall Open-Items Database for the entire fleet in Singapore by:
- Managing the close-out of these open items through regular meetings with all related functions.
- Prioritizing the open items and to take decisive actions and decisions on the close-out of these issues.
- Reporting all faults for FRACAS analysis and to create reports to show the reliability & availability figures of the fleet.
Job Requirements
* Must possess a University degree in any relevant field of Engineering or equivalent technical qualification (for example, technicians/champions) in system-related sectors.
* Experienced in administrative & business processes including enterprise resource management.
* Must be fluent in English, both written and spoken. A 2nd and 3rd language (Chinese) would be an advantage
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Vehicle Software Engineer Singapore
Job ID#: 12890
Discipline: Software Engineer
Position Type: Contract
Positions Available: 2
Job Description
Our client has a contract to deliver the rolling stock on the BP LRT project and are looking for a number of people to work on the project.
One of the roles they are looking to fill is that of Vehicle Software Engineer to lead software integration activities on the project.
Responsibilities
- Design software architecture for complex interfaces. Provide solutions or alternatives on current ongoing and delivered projects.
- Review Customer ITT on software interfaces and develop appropriate solutions to meet ITT requirements on BPLRT enhancement project.
- Represent BT in external interface meetings in regard to the Signalling, Communications, MMS and ISCS interfaces.
- Software system integration and type testing of controls on BPLRT enhancement project.
Job Requirements
- Software integration and testing.
- Testing in lab environment, building test racks representing projects software architecture and interfaces . Integrated testing and commissioning work on ongoing and awarded projects.
- Embedded software development,
- competency in C/C++, Linux, device drivers, firmware. Knowledge of Train's subsytem software interfaces to Signalling, Communication, MMS & ISCS. Scripting test procedures, FVDS, FVDR, SRS, SyRTR & SyRTS
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Head of Research & Development Abu Dhabi, UAE
Job ID#: 12891
Discipline: Administration
Position Type: Contract
Job Description
National strategic transport infrastructure investment are important assets that contributes significantly to the economic and social well-being of people across UAE. The role of R&D function is to proactively engage and appraise the client's leadership, management and staff on latest developments in the safety, transport technology and mobility fronts with the aim of nurturing a Learning Organization culture that is proactive and forward-looking.
Operational (Core):
- Organize and conduct workshops, retreats and any other tasks as may be assigned.
- Responsible for conducting environmental assessments and benchmarking performance pertaining to the global transportation and logistics landscape.
- Responsible for researching and identifying high-impact structural, policy & cross-cutting issues affecting performance & productivity of freight & passenger transportation systems.
Operational (General):
- Multi-and-inter disciplinary advancements in railway technologies, such as permanent way, rolling stock, power system, signal & communications, building facility, data-, environment- and asset- management towards preventive maintenance - all rail-based technical areas that directly impact overall performance of the company's core businesses.
Job Requirements
Relevant skills and experience are required for this role.
Contact: Jackie Hendry (jackie@railpersonnel.com)
Rail News
17 Jan 2020. UK. Bombardier’s London Overground maintenance contract extended
Bombardier Transportation is to continue to maintain the London Overground Class 710 Aventra electric multiple-unit fleet until July 2035, under an agreement with Transport for London which has moved the break point in the manufacturer’s servicing contract from July 2025 to July 2035. Bombardier said the change agreed in December is worth approximately £185m.Maintenance of the fleet of 54 Aventra EMUs will continue to take place at Bombardier’s Willesden depot in north London.
Source4: Railway Gazette
17 Jan 2020. China. More trains added on Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed rail
Three more pairs of trains have been added to the high-speed railway line connecting Beijing and Zhangjiakou, the co-host city of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, to meet increasing demand, according to China Railway Beijing Group Co Ltd. The railway line has received more than 800,000 passengers since it was put into service on 30 December. With 5G signals, wireless charging and intelligent lighting, the high-speed line is a showcase of China's latest achievements in railway development from equipment manufacturing and new materials to new artificial intelligence technology. The train service, with a maximum design speed of 350kph, reduces the travel time between Beijing and Zhangjiakou from over three hours to 47 minutes.
Source: Xinhua
16 Jan 2020. USA. Metrolink completes Van Nuys station upgrade
Metrolink officials and community members have celebrated the completion of the modernisation of the Los Angeles Van Nuys train station, which moved and rebuilt the train platform to serve both Metrolink and Amtrak services. The US$32m project moved the platform to the center of the double-tracked station to improve operational efficiency, maintain on-time performance and enable more future train service Train service continued at the station throughout the reconstruction with the use of a temporary platform. Caltrans provided funding for the reconstruction project from a Proposition 1B grant of $31.1m. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority contributed $1m, with $800,000 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and $200,000 in Measure R funds.
Source: MyNewsLA.com
16 Jan 2020. UK. New suburban trains finally arrive on Greater Anglia network
The first new Bombardier Aventra train, has arrived at Greater Anglia's Ilford depot in east for testing. However, it has not yet been cleared to start testing on the tracks in the region and it could be several months before the first passengers are carried on its services. The Aventra trains are due to take over all electric suburban services. They will form the trains from Liverpool Street to Colchester, Clacton, Harwich and Braintree. Some will also reach Ipswich on suburban trains. The trains are being built at Derby and the first was due to arrive in East Anglia early last year, but there have been problems with getting identical trains to work properly on London rail services. Bombardier has now built around a third of the carriages, which will make up 111 new electric trains. The new trains are all longer, with more seats, plug and USB sockets, air conditioning, better passenger information screens and improved accessibility features.
Source: East Anglian Daily Times
16 Jan 2020. UK. HS2 supporters fear PM plans to scrap part of project
Supporters of the HS2 rail project are growing increasingly anxious that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is prepared to scrap part of the high-speed railway project or overhaul it in a bid to redirect the money towards other transport in the north of England. The parts most under threat are thought to be the first leg between London and Birmingham or even the eastern leg from Birmingham to Leeds, with billions potentially redirected towards other transport links in the north and Midlands such as the proposed Northern Powerhouse rail project. This is a plan for a fast rail route Lobbying efforts on both sides of the debate have significantly stepped up in recent weeks. Council leaders, mayors, a group of Birmingham MPs and the former chancellor George Osborne have all publicly urged the prime minister to go ahead.
Source: The Guardian
16 Jan 2019. Australia. North East upgrade to go ahead, despite cost warnings
The A$198.3m project to fix the troubled North East rail line will not be included as a priority for Infrastructure Australia, which has warned that costs could blow out even further, just as works are due to begin. But the warning will not stop the project going ahead, with Infrastructure Minister Michael McCormack saying it is still a government priority In a damning report, the federal government organisation concluded the Australian Rail Track Corporation's business case showed costs would be higher than the benefits to the community, which were "materially overestimated". Infrastructure Australia chief executive Romilly Madew said the conclusion was reached by an independent advisor after a rigorous assessment process.
Source: Canberra Times
15 Jan 2020. India. 20 injured as 8 coaches of Lokmanya Tilak Express derail
Eight coaches of Mumbai-Bhubaneswar Lokmanya Tilak Express were derailed near Cuttack in Odisha after the train hit a goods train, railway officials said. At least 20 people were injured in the accident, six of them critically. While the cause of the accident is not yet known, there was heavy fog in the area at the time. In the wake of derailment of the Mumbai-Bhubaneswar Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) Express, the Central Railway has set up helplines at five stations to provide updates about the accident to relatives of the train passengers, an official said.
Source: India Today
15 Jan 2020. Australia. Metronet Midland station site confirmed
Metronet will build the new Midland train station between Helena and Cale streets in Perth’s eastern suburbs to bring it closer to the heart of Midland, Midland Health Campus and the Workshops precinct. Midland’s current 51-year-old station will be replaced with a new facility as part of the government’s election commitment. It will include three platforms, a new bus interchange, car park, bicycle facilities and a new shared path. To make way for the new station, the old Helena Street level crossing will be closed and another crossing created at Cale Street which will connect through to Centennial Place. Planning will now focus on the finer details of the project, such as station layout and design in preparation for procurement and construction. The business case for the project has been submitted to Infrastructure Australia and the project definition plan will be completed in mid-2020.
Source: Infrastructure
14 Jan 2020. Germany. Government signs off on investment in rail network
The German government has signed off on a landmark €86bn deal which establishes Deutsche Bahn (DB) as central to Berlin’s ambitious plans to fight Besides the €62bn from the, DB will also invest an additional €24bn into the renewal programme. The government’s plan is to vastly increase the number of customers using DB’s long-distance trains from 148m in 2018 to 260m by 2030. The money will go towards modernising 2,000km of rail track and 2,000 switches a year. Some 2,000 bridges will be refurbished by 2030, while €7bn alone will be invested in signal boxes. The plan foresees a 54 per cent increase in spending compared with the previous funding round. But the main railway trade union, EVG, has criticised the figure of €86bn as inadequate. Last year ministers moved to make rail travel cheaper by reducing value added tax on long-distance train tickets.
Source: Financial Times
14 Jan 2020. Australia. ARTC shortlists bidders for Botany Rail duplication
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has revealed which firms have been shortlisted to design and construct the Botany Rail Duplication and Cabramatta Loop projects. Three contractors have been shortlisted to bid for the Botany Rail Duplication Project including CPB Contractors, Laing O'Rourke and John Holland. Downer EDI, Fulton Hogan, and John Holland have been shortlisted to bid for the Cabramatta Loop Project. The Australian government has committed A$400i to meeting this future freight demand with these projects identified as key to enable more freight to be transported by rail from Sydney. The formal tender process for both projects is to be undertaken later this year.
Source: Australian Transport News
13 Jan 2020. USA. LA considering PPPs for Metro expansion
The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is considering various financing options, including public-private partnerships (PPPs), in an effort to close major funding gaps as the city looks to expand its rail transit network ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games. Metro plans to complete at least five new projects during the decade, including the Westside subway, the Regional Connector subway and a line in the San Fernando Valley. There are also calls for four more major projects to be completed before 2028, including a transit line through the Sepulveda Pass, a rail line to Artesia, an Eastside extension of the Gold Line and a Green Line extension to Torrance. Accelerating construction of these lines would require US$3.3bn more for construction, interest on an additional $10bn in debt financing, and $1.2bn to operate the lines over a decade, assuming project costs don’t rise. While Metro is looking to finance these projects through traditional streams such as tax revenue, bonds and grants from federal and state agencies, it is also looking to PPPs as an alternative to cover the funding gaps.
Source: Railway Age
13 Jan 2020. UK. Competition launched to support railway innovation
The Department for Transport (DfT) and Innovate UK have launched a competition which is searching for “this century’s Brunel” who can develop technology to make rail travel faster, cleaner and greener. The First of a Kind 2020 (FOAK) competition is offering up a share of a £9.4m grant to individuals or companies leading projects that “demonstrate innovations to stakeholders and railway customers”. The listing notes four themes for innovation -: environmental sustainability, customer experience, optimising railway operations and cost-effective maintenance. There are several mandatory criteria for designers looking to apply for a share of the grant money. Projects must involve an owner of railway assets, such as station or infrastructure owners, an experienced railway organisation and a railway organisation that has the potential to become a customer. The listing notes these could all be the same organisation. Additionally, ideas must include a potential integration partner and be able to prove interest from a potential customer organisation by way of a supporting letter, before the competition closes on 11 March.
Source: Design Week
13 Jan 2020. UAE. Dubai to trial drones for metro tunnel inspections
The Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai (RTA) plans to trial using drones to inspect the Dubai Metro tunnels on the Red and Green Lines. The tunnels on both the lines span a length of over 14km. It expects drone use cut down inspection time, improve the accessibility of difficult spots and offer highly accurate reports regarding the tunnels’ condition. RTA Board of Executive Directors chairman and director-general Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer said: “This initiative, which is in line with Smart Dubai Strategy 2021, uses custom-made drones fitted with multiple cameras enabling pictorial monitoring of tunnels via high-definition lenses. He added, “The process is linked with RTA’s Maintenance Department, and provides a paperless digital inspection platform that curbs potential human errors.”
Source: Railway Technology
13 Jan 2020. India. Mumbai-Ahmedabad Tejas Express starts service
The Tejas Express train between Mumbai-Ahmedabad will make its inaugural run on 17 January with commercial operations commencing from 19 January. The new Tejas Express train, that will run between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, will be the second private train to be operated by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). The new train will run six days a week, except Thursday and only make six stops along the route at Nadiad, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Vapi and Borivali stations.
Source: LiveMint
13 Jan 2020. Australia. Siemens approves rail signal system for Adani
Siemens will build a rail signalling system for a controversial Adani coal mine in central Queensland despite protests in both Australia and Germany. The project will go ahead, Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser said that, having reviewed the process, Siemens had decided to fulfil a contract signed on 10 December, Kaeser also pointed out that for the first time in its history, Siemens will "establish a Sustainability Committee with external members to give environmental concerns even more priority and attention in the future". The digital to be provided by Siemens system is designed to keep the trains running safely and efficiently and create 50 local jobs.
Source: AAP
