Dear Readers
A newly-wed couple have taken stupidity to a new level, using a railway track as a backdrop for their wedding photographs.
The young couple were caught on CCTV posing on a level crossing - with the photographer also standing on the line a few feet away. A bridesmaid in a turquoise gown held up the train of the mystery bride’s dress for the shots - taken near Whitby in North Yorkshire, England.
The shocking image was released by Network Rail to raise public awareness about a craze sweeping the country since lockdown was eased.
Trespass is a cause of serious concern. Figures show there were 5,100 trespass incidents between June and September. Last month saw 1,239 - the worst in five years.
“Wedding photos or selfies on the track are just plain stupidity,” said Allan Spence, head of passenger and public safety at Network Rail.
"These numbers show just how much work still needs to be done to educate people about rail safety.”
Network Rail and British Transport Police created the You vs Train campaign two years ago to warn teenagers of the dangers of trespassing on tracks.
The campaign has been really successful getting the message out to young people according to Mr Spence, “but adults still aren't taking heed”, he said.
(Source: Yahoo)
We have 5x exciting Jobs of the Week this week. In the United States, we are looking for ATC T&C Technicians to work in Honolulu. In India, we are looking for a Team Leader Civil and in Malaysia, we are looking for a Head of Safety, Security, Health and Environment. In Abu Dhabi, we're looking for a Safety & Technical Assurance Expert and in Vietnam, we're looking for a Quality Assurance Manager.
Regards
Ceri Taylor
Editor
This Week’s Headlines
24 Oct 2020. Portugal. High-speed rail project back on track
The 20-year saga of Portugal’s high-speed rail connection to Madrid, Porto and Vigo is back on track after being shelved through lack of funds.
Source: Portugal Resident
24 Oct 2020. Pakistan. Eight more trains to be privatised
Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad has announced that eight more trains would be privatised from 12 November, while the rail car service between Lahore and Rawalpindi would be revived from 30 November.
Source: Pakistan Today
23 Oct 2020. UK. Transport for Wales rail services to be nationalised
The Transport for Wales rail service is to be brought under Welsh Government control from next February.
Source: BBC
23 Oct 2020. India. Indian Railways launches app for luggage delivery
Indian Railways has launched a new ‘App-Based Bags on Wheels’ service for passengers for luggage deliveries.
Source: Railway Technology
23 Oct 2020. China. Multi-gauge high-speed train prototype launched
China has unveiled a prototype of a high-speed locomotive that can run on any gauge of track, potentially speeding up rail travel across international rail systems.
Source: ECNS
Jobs of the Week:
ATC T&C Technicians & Comms T&C Personnel, Honolulu, United States
Job ID#: 13085
Discipline: Telecommunications
Position Type: Contract
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is looking for two experienced ATC Testing and Commissioning technicians and 2x Communications Testing and Commissioning personnel for the Honolulu Project.
Accountabilities:
* Ensure the execution of electrical and functional tests (e.g. electrical rigidity, track circuits receivers calibration)
* Ensure the on time issue the tests reports of the performed tests and non compliance reports
* Support the execution of Commissioning Engineering activities (e.g. organizing testing sessions with the customer)
* Contribute to review documents to issue the as-built documentations
* Contribute to define and write the tests procedures of a test phase (Signaling room tests, trackside tests, on-board equipment, integration Signaling room/trackside/on-board equipment)
* Ensure the effective application of HSE plans on site during test commissioning phase
Job Requirements
*Knowledge of testing tools, including multimeters, oscilloscopes, and function generators
*Ability to perform testing independently
*Good verbal and written communication skills
*Competent in Microsoft Office products
*Experience in commissioning activities within the railway field
*Ability to read and interpret wiring diagrams
*Ability to read and interpret wiring diagrams
The assignments are for initially 8 months but could turn permanent for the right people.
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Team Leader Civil, Chennai, India
Job ID#: 13095
Discipline: Civil
Position Type: Permanent
Language: English
Job Description: Our client is bidding for the General Consultancy for Chennai Metro project and are looking for a Team Leader of foreign national origin and also Indian nationals and Indian Experts
Major Tasks & Duties:
1) Responsible for overall management, coordination, ensuring compliance with the contract and liaison with senior management of CMRL.
2) Lead the detailed design task team. Ensure all deliverables are prepared in accordance with quality and time constraints.
3) As the representative of the Consultant, communicate with Employer and report to JV member firms.
4) Review the previous and on-going related studies and data collected.
5) Identify appropriate design codes and standards in collaboration with the Design Standards for Chennai Metro Rail Project - Phase-I and Chennai Metro Rail
Project - Phase-I Extension.
6) Review of detailed Design for Civil/Architectural works.
Job Requirements
Qualification: BE Civil with Masters compulsory and mandatory
Experience:
Overall Experience:
a) Minimum 20 years or 20 plus years experience and not less than 20 years
b) Including 5 years with international projects
Relevant Experience:
a) At least 10 years with Underground Metro projects
b) At least 1 underground metro project at similar or higher capacity for 5 years duration
c) At least 1 year experience in India
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Head, Safety, Security, Health and Environment, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Job ID#: 13089
Discipline: Health & Safety
Language: English, Malay
Job Description:
Our client is looking for a Malaysian candidate to take on the management of safety, security, health and environment, traffic, CLQ matters for the design,construction, testing and commissioning of a LRT3 system in Malaysia.
Duties and responsibilities are
- In conjunction with the advisory task to Project Director, develop and implement the overall objectives and strategies for traffic, security, safety, health and environmental on the LRT3 project in compliance to the general, technical and operational requirements and standards of the Contract.
- Develop and implement the relevant Management Plans, Standard Operating Procedures, Permits, Programmes and High-Risk Control Documents for all internal and external parties to ensure that all activities can be accomplished in a timely, safely and cost-effective manner throughout the project life cycle.
- Organize and manage all relevant activities involving Client, Stakeholders, PDCs, DDCs and sub-contractors and ensure the SSHE requirements are clearly defined and fully incorporated into the designs and fulfilled during construction in compliance to the Contract.
Job Requirements
1. Degree in Safety, OSHA or equivalent with minimum 20 years practical experience on safety and have successfully delivered a railway project/large infra project in the last 10 years.
2. A very senior and experienced candidate - someone who has strong leadership and drive to ensure that the Safety initiatives for the LRT3 project is implemented and enforced without fear or favors
3. Ability to demonstrate his technical knowledge and effectiveness in leading Safety initiatives with outstanding results
4. Strong Stakeholder Management skills as the role will require him to interact with all Stakeholder including Client, Contractors, Authorities and public
5. Experienced in leading a big group of Safety personnel (Senior Manager, Manager, Safety & Health Officer, Safety Site Supervisors)
6. Must have Malaysian passport
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Safety and Technical Assurance Expert, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Job ID#: 13096
Discipline: Safety
Position Type: Contract
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is seeking a Safety and Technical Assurance Expert to assist in the development and application of the occupational health, safety and environmental (HSE) standards and procedures required for the planning, design, construction, testing and commissioning of the Etihad Rail project.
Accountability Areas:
- Develop the project integrated "Health, Safety, and Environment Plan" (HSE) for all stages of design, construction, testing and commissioning, and operation of the rail project
- Inform and direct the project teams, suppliers and the PMC in all aspects of safety and technical assurance to ensure that all safety justifications produced are thorough and completed in a timely manner to support the project lifecycle and assurance submissions to the SARB at key stage gates
- Support and guide the SARB in assessing projects and O&M submissions and proposals (e.g. emergency procedures, incident management arrangements etc)
- Ensure that federal and local requirements for the development, submission and approval of necessary operational safety certificates / authorizations and supporting submissions (e.g. Operational Safety Cases, Engineering Safety Cases etc) are clearly understood, communicated and implemented amongst the project team, suppliers and the PMC
- Liaise with the rail operator on all aspects of system assurance, sharing best practice and ensuring that the operational safety case is fully aligned with the engineering safety case
- Compile monthly, quarterly and annual summaries and metrics on Safety Performance. This will include all reportable accidents/incidents and near misses
- Review HSE Plans, and carrying out site inspections and audits of contractors construction activities
- Review contract HSE specifications and deliverables to ensure they meet project and regulatory requirements
Job Requirements
Mandatory: Bachelors' degree in relevant field
Preferable: Post graduate degree
Preferable: CSP, NEBOSH or IOSH qualified, ideally with knowledge of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act) requirements
The following qualifications to be considered;
- Manages safety assurance processes and ensuring that safety requirements are met.
- Ensures the latest approaches to systems safety assurance are applied to projects on behalf of the business.
- Work closely with project stakeholders to ensure that positive safety outcomes are achieved and the required level of systems safety assurance is delivered.
- Strong technical acumen, with experience in leading project teams.
- High level problem solving capabilities, including the ability to plan, be proactive and deliver value in a dynamic business environment.
- The ability to influence at all levels of seniority both internally and externally and with exceptional written/verbal communication skills.
- Bachelor's degree in relevant field (mandatory)
- 5+ years Safety & Technical Assurance expertise gained within the rail sector (desirable)
- CSP, NEBOSH or IOSH qualified, ideally with knowledge of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act) requirements (preferably)
Contact: Jackie Hendry (jackie@railpersonnel.com)
Quality Assurance Manager, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Job ID#: 12766
Discipline: Quality
Position Type: Contract
Language: 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;
a) Interact and negotiation with the Employer, Consultant and any third parties
b) 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
c) Accountable for the definition and planning of all needed activities as defined in IEC62278, IEC62279 and IEC62425 (and/or other applicable international and local Standards) for to RAM and safety management.
d) Accountable for the definition and planning of needed activities as defined in IEC62278, IEC62279 and IEC62425 (and/or other applicable international and local Standards) for the V&V and Testing at Integrated System Level.
e) Preparation and maintain of all the quality and system assurance related documents to be required by the Employer and Consultant
Job Requirements
- Years of Experience
a) Total Year of Experience ; 15 years
b) Experience as Quality Assurance Staff for Railway Project ; 12 years
c) 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: Jackie Hendry (jackie@railpersonnel.com)
Rail News
24 Oct 2020. Portugal. High-speed rail project back on track
The 20-year saga of Portugal’s high-speed rail connection to Madrid, Porto and Vigo is back on track after being shelved through lack of funds. On 6 June 1999 national newspapers trumpeted the rail innovation that promised to link Lisbon and Porto in a journey taking 1 hour and 15 minutes. Last week, more than 20 years after the project was unveiled, the project has once again been taken off the shelf and dusted down. The Portuguese Government is to now advance with the project, which will cost €4.5nn and which, in the first phase will be in Iberian gauge in an adaptable form so that later it will be easy to switch to European gauge. It will enable trains to travel at 300km/h so that the time to get from Lisbon to Porto will be slashed to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Portugal now plans to invest over €10bn in 16 rail projects to 2030 from the North to the south of the country. The National Investments Plan highlights the creation of nine new metro and train lines, the modernisation of existing lines and the purchase of new rolling stock.
Source: Portugal Resident
24 Oct 2020. Pakistan. Eight more trains to be privatised
Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad has announced that eight more trains would be privatised from 12 November, while the rail car service between Lahore and Rawalpindi would be revived from 30 November. Addressing a press conference at the Pakistan Railways headquarters, he said: “I want private parties to come forward and run their freight trains using railway’s infrastructure and properties.” He further said that online booking of freight trains had been started to stop irregularities in this regard. Sheikh Rashid said that railways had given four freight trains to private parties under public-private partnership.
Source: Pakistan Today
23 Oct 2020. UK. Transport for Wales rail services to be nationalised
The Transport for Wales rail service is to be brought under Welsh Government control from next February. Ministers have confirmed the takeover from KeolisAmey, with day-to-day services to be run by a publicly-owned company. It follows significant falls in passenger numbers during the pandemic. KeolisAmey was awarded the franchise in 2018, taking over from Arriva Trains Wales. It covers most of Wales' trains - including key commuter services such as the Valley Lines. From February next year KeolisAmey staff working on rail services will be transferred over to a publicly owned company, currently called Transport for Wales Rail Ltd. Officials say the time gap between now and the start of the new operator will allow the Welsh Government to prepare the new operator for service. A part of the original agreement is staying - Amey Keolis Infrastructure Ltd will continue to be responsible for infrastructure on the Core Valley Lines, where the South Wales Metro upgrade is taking place.
Source: BBC
23 Oct 2020. India. Indian Railways launches app for luggage delivery
Indian Railways has launched a new ‘App-Based Bags on Wheels’ service for passengers for luggage deliveries. Announced by Northern Railways’ Delhi Division, the new service can be used by passengers to carry their luggage from home to train coach and vice-versa upon their arrival in trains. It is said to be the first service of its kind to be available to passengers in India. The BOW APP will initially be available for Android and iPhone users travelling from Delhi, Ghaziabad and Gurugram. These services have been priced nominally, and the charges would depend on the weight and quantity of the luggage as well as the distance to be travelled by the passenger. Passengers will be provided door-to-door service, luggage would be picked from the passenger’s address to the railway coach and vice-versa.
Source: Railway Technology
23 Oct 2020. China. Multi-gauge high-speed train prototype launched
China has unveiled a prototype of a high-speed locomotive that can run on any gauge of track, potentially speeding up rail travel across international rail systems. The 400km/h engine has “gauge-changing bogies” that could eliminate the present need for trains to stop at a break of gauge or wait while new bogies are fitted. The new train is more environmentally friendly, reducing average energy consumption per kilometre by 10% as well as cutting noise levels by two decibels. Equipped with intelligent sensors and big data and operational monitoring technologies, the train can conduct intelligent evaluations, diagnose problems and provide early warnings to ensure safety. The train was developed by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, a division of state-owned CRRC Corporation, and was supported by a US$5.2bn research grant from the Chinese government. The company said its product could operate in temperatures between –50 and 50°C, can use a number of power sources and meet the railway standards of different countries. With the launch of the prototype, CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles is open for orders.
Source: ECNS
23 Oct 2020. Australia. New plan unveiled Murray Basin freight project
The government of Victoria, Australia, has released a new business plan to rescue the troubled Murray Basin project, which stalled last year after its entire $A440m ($US314.64m) budget was spent before completion. The original project, jointly funded by the federal and state governments, was intended to convert the 1600mm-gauge freight network in state’s northwest to 1435mm-gauge, and increase axle loads from 19 to 21 tonnes. The new plan scraps gauge standardisation of the Sea Lake and Manangatang lines, which will remain 1600mm gauge. Conversion of the Maryborough – Ararat, Murrayville and Yelta lines has already been completed. Under the revised plan, the Victorian government will contribute $A 48m of additional funding and will ask the federal government to chip in a further $A 195.2m. The revised business case also proposes re-railing, adding new passing loops and installing new sleepers on various sections of the line.
Source: International Railway Journal
22 Oct 2020. Italy. FS and Snam partner to explore use of hydrogen trains
Rail operator Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) and Europe’s biggest natural gas transport group Snam have partnered to study using hydrogen for FS’ transport network. The agreement is the first of its kind in Europe between a national railway company and an energy group as hydrogen emerges as a possible solution to help meet climate targets. FS and Snam will set up a working group to assess pilot projects to replace fossil fuels on the national railways. Germany rolled out the world’s first hydrogen-powered Coradia iLint trains, built by French TGV-maker Alstom, in September 2018, in Lower Saxony. The first two trains completed their 18-month test phase in February. They can run for around 600 miles on a single tank of hydrogen. The region is expected to add 14 more of these trains from 2021.
Source: Reuters
22 Oct 2020. New Zealand. TBM delivered for Auckland City Link Rail project
An earth pressure balance tunnel-boring machine (TBM) destined for Auckland’s City Rail Link project has been delivered. Due for completion in 2024, the NZ$2.8bn project has struggled with a major cost hike and bankruptcy of a leading contractor. The Herrenknecht 7.18m diameter TBM from Guangzhou, China, will be assembled at Auckland’s existing Mount Eden station and drive 3.2km of twin tunnels. The 3.45km of railway will connect the existing Britomart and Mount Eden stations. The tunnels and three new underground stations form part of a NZ$1.1bn contract between City Rail Link Ltd. and Link Alliance, which includes Vinci Construction Grands Projects SAS., Downer NZ Ltd., Soletanche Bachy International NZ Ltd., WSP Opus (NZ) Ltd., AECOM New Zealand Ltd. and Tonkin + Taylor Ltd.
Source: Engineering News Record
21 Oct 2020. UK. Transport for London funding package extended
The government has agreed to extend Transport for London’s (TFL) emergency funding package for a further two weeks, ensuring public transport services can continue to run until 31 October. Under normal circumstances TfL revives no direct government funding for its day-to-day operating costs, unlike most of its counterparts in major cities around the world. This means that it is heavily dependent on fare revenue, which has collapsed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. In May the government agreed to provide a grant of £1·095bn and a loan of £505m to support continuity of operations through to 17 October, while a new funding package was negotiated. Higher than anticipated ridership meant TfL’s actual shortfall was less than £1·6bn, so the two parties agreed that the existing package would be sufficient for the next two weeks. ‘We continue to discuss our funding requirements with the government and hope these discussions can be concluded successfully soon, so we can help London through the next phase of the pandemic’, said a TfL spokesperson.
Source: Railway Gazette
21 Oct 2020. UK. New green targets set by HS1
High speed infrastructure business HS1 Ltd has pledged to become fully carbon-neutral ‘at the very latest’ by 2030. The target covers both traction energy and all other energy use, for example in stations and other buildings. Further targets include working with train operators Eurostar and South-eastern High Speed to reduce the carbon footprint of every passenger by 25% and cutting energy per train journey by 10%. HS1 Ltd is now procuring renewable energy from its supplier npower Business Solutions, obtaining Renewable Electricity Guarantee of Origin certificates, which confirm that it can report zero carbon emissions for the electricity used to power trains and stations. CEO Dyan Crowther said that HS1 Ltd had identified six priority areas for action to achieve its targets. These were climate change, energy use, resource use and waste impacts, social impacts, biodiversity and transparency. HS1 Ltd is working with Network Rail and Kent Wildlife Trust to achieve a ‘net biodiversity gain’ by 2030. The company also plans to have 90% of all waste recycled by 2023.
Source: Railway Gazette
21 Oct 2020. France. Alstom achieves full certification for latest ETCS
Alstom has become the first company in the world to be fully certified for the latest onboard and trackside European Train Control System (ETCS)] standards. The certifications were issued by the independent railway certification and testing organisation Belgorail. The newest software evolution ensures interoperability with Baseline 3 Maintenance Release 2 for the complete railway system. “We are proud to have yet again set a new standard in rail. We are on track to gradually replacing all the existing incompatible systems throughout Europe and to optimising and boosting the international freight and passenger transport,” says Jean Francois-Beaudoin, SVP Alstom Digital Mobility. The first projects include the first one to apply the new standards on a conventional line in Monza-Chiasso, Italy, with revenue service planned for summer 2021, and the very high speed line Paris-Lyon, France, with revenue service planned for 2024.
Source: Alstom
20 Oct 2020. USA. FS Italian Railways joins USHSR
FS Italian Railways USA Inc. has joined the U.S. High Speed Rail Association (USHSR) to support bringing high-speed rail to America. FS will be participating in tenders announced in this market to be executed in cooperation with FS International, for promoting distinctive integrated offers based on the expertise and multidisciplinary products and services portfolio of the FS Group. The new relationship with USHSR proves the strong interest of FS USA for the North American mobility market, particularly in regard to the Californian high-speed programme, in the belief that America deserves a state-of-the-art rail network.
Source: Global Railway Review
20 Oct 2020. Iraq. Alstom and Hyundai sign LoI for Baghdad Elevated Train project
An Alstom-led consortium and its partner Hyundai Engineering & Construction have signed a letter of intent (LoI) with the Iraqi Ministry of Transport for a framework for all the required steps to expedite the execution of the Baghdad Elevated Train (BET). A 20km elevated metro, the light rail system project will feature 14 stations and include the supply of rolling stock, electromechanical systems, tracks, besides related civil works. The project will connect AlEtafia, Al-Khadumia, Alsarafia bridge Al-Mustansirya, Wazyria and AlShab over 16km, besides AlEtafia AlMuthana airport to Al-Alawi over 4km. Alstom Africa, Middle-East and Central Asia senior vice-president Müslüm Yakisan said: ““We believe that with this important project together with the Iraqi government we will implement our latest innovative technologies to improve the mobility environment in Baghdad and reduce the current traffic congestion.”
Source: Zawya
19 Oct 2020. UK. Bombardier renews TSA with Arriva CrossCountry
Bombardier Transportation has signed a three-year extension to its Train Services Agreement (TSA) with Arriva CrossCountry, with the option of a further extension of up to one year. Under the new agreement, which lasts from today until 14 October, 2023, Bombardier will continue to maintain, overhaul, service and clean a fleet of 34 class 220 Voyagers and 24 class 221 Super Voyagers, owned by Beacon Rail at Bombardier’s Central Rivers depot in Staffordshire and at outstations across the CrossCountry network which stretches from Aberdeen in Scotland to Penzance in Cornwall, UK. The three-year contract extension is valued at £248m (US$320m). Under the TSA, maintenance, overhaul and cleaning of the class 220 and class 221 fleet will take place at Central Rivers depot, with heavy component maintenance taking place at Bombardier Crewe.
Source: Bombardier Transportation
19 Oct 2020. Australia.
The Metronet Morley-Ellenbrook Line has reached it’s most significant milestone with the A$700m main construction contract awarded to the MELconnx Consortium (Laing O’Rourke Australia Construction). The contract includes construction of the rail line as well as building five new stations at Morley, Noranda, Malaga, Whiteman Park and Ellenbrook, with a future station to be developed at Bennett Springs East. The project will link the fast-growing north-eastern suburbs directly with the wider Perth passenger rail network for the first time. The 21km line is the biggest Metronet project to get underway, and is the most significant expansion of the rail network since the Mandurah Line was built in 2007. More than 6500 local WA jobs are being created as a result of the Morley-Ellenbrook Line, providing a significant boost to the WA economy, as part of the WA Recovery Plan. By 2031, it is estimated the rail line will take more than 10,000 car trips off roads in the north-eastern suburbs each day. It’s expected all main construction work will be completed in 2023-24.
Source: Mirage News
