Dear Readers
Recently our Business Head in India, Ms Rajni Tewani, attended the Rail India Conference & Expo which took place in New Delhi from 11-12 March 2021. Organised by Messe Frankfurt, the two days Conference covered many technical and financial aspects besides Government's initiatives in Rail Sector.
Ms Rajni said in regards to the event "Besides, many restriction due to Covid, the event was best organized and well attended by dignitaries from Government as well as private players in Rail Sector".
Our Job of the Week this week is in Malaysia where we are looking for a HSE General Manager to work on the East Coast Rail Link. Preference will be given to those candidates who are fluent in Mandarin and English.
Regards
Rail Personnel
This Week’s Headlines
17 Mar 2021. Germany. Hamburg to expand S-Bahn fleet
The Hamburg city Senate has announced plans to order a further series of Class 490 EMUs to support expansion of the city’s S-Bahn network.
Source: Metro Report International
16 Mar 2021. UK. HS2 begins work on UK’s longest rail viaduct
A team of ground engineers working for HS2 consortium Align have begun work on the foundations of the landmark Colne Valley Viaduct. They will sink almost 300 piles that will form the foundations of the 3.4km long viaduct, which will be the longest railway bridge in the UK once finished.
Source: Construction Enquirer
16 Mar 2021. Australia. Melbourne doubling tracking and stations contract awarded
An alliance of Acciona, Coleman Rail, and WSP has been awarded a contract for infrastructure works as part of the A$530m Hurstbridge Line Duplication project on the Metro Trains Melbourne network.
Source: Railway Gazette
15 Mar 2021. India. NHSRCL & JRTC sign MoU for high-speed rail track work design
The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) and Japan Railway Track Consultant (JRTC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the high-speed rail (HSR) track work’s designs for the T2 package of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor Project.
Source: Railway Technology
Job of the Week:
HSE General Manager, Kuantan, Malaysia
Job ID#: 13201
Discipline: Health & Safety
Language: Mandarin, English
Job Description:
Our client is looking for a Health and Safety Manager to work on the East Coast Rail Link who is well versed in the process of developing, deploying, and implementing Health, Safety and Environmental policies standards. to:
* Coordinate with Section HSE Head on implementation and compliance pertaining to HSE for the ECRL Project.
* Be the Custodian of the OH&S Management System and Environmental Management System for ECRL Project.
* Ensure an appropriate organizational infrastructure is established and sufficient resources are available to comply with the Company's HSE management system and standards.
* Liaise with the Head of Project Management regarding Integrated Management System compliance and external audits.
* Be responsible for the day-to-day management of HSE tasks and effectiveness of the ECRL IMS system.
* Manage and monitor the closure of all identified corrective and preventive measures associated with non-conformance reports arising from OH&S and Environmental Management system audits.
* Develop strategies for HSE management.
* Review and approve the Work Execution Plan of the HSE Department.
* Provides leadership and administration of the overall HSE program.
* Support leadership in resolving and closing out corrective and preventive. actions for continual improvement of HSE compliance and performance.
* Interface with the Client and Enforcing Authorities regarding Health, Safety and Environmental issues.
* Advise in any incident investigations and manage the ECRL incident notification, investigation, and reporting requirements.
* Evaluate the technical performance of all HSE staff.
* Attend Client Monthly Progress meetings, Monthly CCC Management meetings, Head of Construction Integration meetings, etc.
If possible, the person is to be based in Kuantan because the work site is on the east coast, and therefore it is easier for the person to travel to Kelantan, Terengganu & Pahang. However, most of the time, the person is required to travel between HQ & Kuantan.
Job Requirements
- The person should have more than 25 years of experience in construction preferably those in railway, road & bridge.
- Proficient knowledge of OSHA 1994, FMA 1967 and EQA 1974 regulations and requirements
- Priority will be given to those who can communicate in Mandarin, else other candidates will be considered.
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Rail News
17 Mar 2021. Germany. Hamburg to expand S-Bahn fleet
The Hamburg city Senate has announced plans to order a further series of Class 490 EMUs to support expansion of the city’s S-Bahn network. Citing projects such as the S4 extension to Bad Oldesloe, the S21 extension to Kaltenkirchen and the proposed S32 western branch to Osdorfer Born, as well as three-tracking of the Harburg line and increased frequencies to support the Hamburg-Takt regular interval timetable, the Senate has recommended the procurement of a further 64 three-car EMUs over 10 years at an estimated cost of €400m.The units would be ordered as an option on the contracts placed with Bombardier Transportation from 2013 for initial builds of 60 and 22 Class 490s, the last of which entered traffic with DB Regio subsidiary S-Bahn Hamburg GmbH in February. Unlike the earlier build which included some third rail-only sets, all of the additional EMUs would be equipped for dual voltage operation.
Source: Metro Report International
16 Mar 2021. Mongolia. New locos ordered for Tavantolgoi-Gashuunsukhait railway
Engineering, procurement and construction contractor Bodi International has entered into an agreement with Progress Rail, a Caterpillar Company, to purchase 16 EMD® SD70Ace/LW locomotives for Mongolia’s Tavantolgoi-Gashuunsukhait Railway project. Construction on the 155-mile Tavantolgoi-Gashuunsukhait Railway, which will be operated by Mongolian-government-owned Tavan Tolgoi Railway Co., is expected to finish in 2022. The new locomotives are designed for the 1,520 mm (4 feet, 9.84 inch) broad gauge right-of-way and will be powered by 16-cyclinder EMD® 710 Series prime-movers rated at 4,500 BHP (3,355 kW). The units are compliant with International Union of Railways and EU Stage IIIA emissions standards. Progress Rail anticipates locomotive deliveries to begin in 2022.
Source: Railway Age
16 Mar 2021. USA. Amtrak files petition to restart rail service along Gulf coast
After more than five years of data-driven and federally-led studies, Amtrak has filed a petition before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board to require CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway to allow the operation of two daily Amtrak trains between New Orleans and Mobile starting in January 2022. Under STB procedures, CSX and Norfolk Southern will be required to provide Amtrak access to their railroads for this service or prove to the public why they cannot successfully host these trains in accordance with the law. In the filing, Amtrak asks for expedited consideration and an order allowing twice daily round trips. These trains would operate for the Southern Rail Commission (SRC), a federally created entity representing Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Mississippi Coast leaders have supported the concept of a revived Amtrak line since it was first proposed in 2015. However, in the background, there has been a conflict between freight and passenger rail operators over the project as the two interests would have to share the same rail line
Source: WLOX
16 Mar 2021. UK. HS2 begins work on UK’s longest rail viaduct
A team of ground engineers working for HS2 consortium Align have begun work on the foundations of the landmark Colne Valley Viaduct. They will sink almost 300 piles that will form the foundations of the 3.4km long viaduct, which will be the longest railway bridge in the UK once finished. The viaduct designed by architect Grimshaw will be almost a kilometre longer than the Forth Rail Bridge and will carry the new high-speed rail line at 10m height across a series of lakes and waterways on the north west outskirts of London.
On top of each group of piles, some bored 55m into the ground, a concrete pile cap will support the bridge’s pier. The low set structure will be supported by 56 of these piers, with the widest spans reaching up to 80m.These in turn will support the full 6,000 tonne weight of the bridge structure above. The Align team of Bouygues, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick will build sections of the main deck at a temporary factory nearby before being assembled from north to south.
Source: Construction Enquirer
16 Mar 2021. Australia. Melbourne doubling tracking and stations contract awarded
An alliance of Acciona, Coleman Rail, and WSP has been awarded a contract for infrastructure works as part of the A$530m Hurstbridge Line Duplication project on the Metro Trains Melbourne network. This includes signalling, power and infrastructure upgrading works, the construction of stations in Greensborough and Montmorency, and doubling around 3 km of track between the sites and 1∙5 km between Diamond Creek and Wattle Glen. Completion is planned for 2022. The works will enable an increase in services to reduce crowding on peak trains and provide better connections to public transport in northeast Melbourne, and form part of the Victoria state’s government’s Level Crossing Removal Project to eliminate 75 level crossings.
Source: Railway Gazette
16 Mar 2021. Australia. Tasmania’s Heritage rail back on track
The 150th anniversary of rail in Tasmania has been celebrated with the official handover by TasRail of the 2118/ZA6 heritage locomotive to the Tasmanian Transport Museum. Delivered into operation in 1976, the ZA6 was the last English Electric Corporation locomotive built in Australia, the last new locomotive built for Tasmania, the last diesel locomotive built by the company in the world and is now part of the museum’s permanent collection. The section of the rail corridor between Glenorchy and Berriedale greatly increases the visitor experiences the museum can offer and is a significant upgrade from the 450 metre siding their operations were formerly restricted to.
Source: Mirage News
15 Mar 2021. Mexico. New Toluca rail project added to 2021 agenda
Mexico state is looking to launch this year an estimated 2.3bn-peso (US$115m) tender for the design, construction and operation of a new passenger rail line in state capital Toluca. The publication of the tender call is scheduled for this quarter. Mexico state authorities envision an 8.5km tram-type mass transit system, with 11 stations, two of them intermodal, and a workshop. The 12 undefined units will have capacity to transport 408 passengers each and travel at a top speed of 70km/h. It will require investment from both the public and private sectors, with the builder and operator being awarded a 20-year concession. The tender will be restricted to Mexican groups.
Source: BNAmericas
15 Mar 2021. UK. Babcock Rail takes £5m loss as business shrinks
Babcock Rail suffered a £4.9m pre-tax loss in its last financial year – as it cut 140 jobs.
A fall in revenue, which dropped from £151.6m to £104.7m, combined with a change in the regional split of work led the company to restructure in the period largely prior to the onset of the global pandemic. Newly released financial results show that around 140 jobs were cut during the 12 months to 31 March 2020 and the total restructuring programme resulted in a £9.4m one-off cost. Babcock Rail highlighted a number of significant long-term contracts that currently sit in its order book. Chief among these is its position on the North Alliance train track and systems framework, alongside Arcadis, which could be worth £1bn over 10 years to 2029. The company has also been appointed to Network Rail’s signalling and telecoms framework, running until 2024, which will be worth around £150m to the company.
Source: Construction News
15 Mar 2021. India. NHSRCL & JRTC sign MoU for high-speed rail track work design
The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) and Japan Railway Track Consultant (JRTC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the high-speed rail (HSR) track work’s designs for the T2 package of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor Project. JRTC will be responsible for supplying the comprehensive design and drawing of key HSR track elements such as track slab arrangement, RC track bed, continuous welded rail (CWR) forces and more. The T2 package covers a 237km length from Vadodara to Vapi in Gujarat. Japanese Ambassador Minister to India Shinzo Miyamoto said: “This MoU will strengthen the ties between India and Japan partnership and also give a boost to ‘Make in India’ initiative. This will also ensure the transfer of technology from the Japanese high-speed rail system to India.”
Source: Railway Technology
15 Mar 2021. Australia. UGL wins $1.5bn country rail contract with TfNSW
Engineering company UGL has scored a A$1.5bn contract with Transport NSW (TfNSW) to operate and maintain the Country Regional Network (CRN) for the next ten years. ULG, which won the contract via a competitive tender process, takes over from John Holland Rail which holds the current contract that expires at the end of the year.The new contract takes effect from 2022 after a 12 month mobilisation period. The CRN consists of almost 2,400km of freight and passenger rail lines and more than 3,000km of non-operational lines, more than 1,300 level crossings, more than 900 bridges and 1,200 property assets including stations, of which 356 are heritage listed. Almost 1,000 km of the network is dedicated to moving grain to local markets and ports.
Source: Government News
15 Mar 2021. Australia. Work gets rolling on Murray Basin Rail Network
Major sleeper replacement works have started on a critical grain line to help improve the Murray Basin Rail Network as the A$440m, nation-building project ramps back up. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said almost 70,000 new sleepers were being installed between Korong Vale and Sea Lake after the Federal Government announced an additional A$200m for the Murray Basin Freight Rail Network late last year. The State Government last year undertook a review of the original Murray Basin Rail Project business case, prepared in 2015. It was backed by farmers and freight operators, who wanted to see the upgrade works start as soon as possible.
Souce: Sunraysia
12 Mar 2021. Czech Republic. Renfe to acquire fifty per cent stake in Leo Express
Renfe, the Spanish national rail operator, has announced that it intends to acquire a 50 per cent stake in Czech train operator, Leo Express. Renfe is currently finalising the necessary processes including the authorisation of the Ministry of Finance. The entry of Renfe as the main partner in the Leo Express shareholding has a direct benefit; giving them activity in three more European countries and having the resources and licenses to access the market German. Furthermore, Renfe would also be better positioned to access the high-speed projects planned in the region.
Source: Global Railway Review
12 Mar 2021. UK. Consultants given new incentive package on Crossrail
A joint venture (JV) between Aecom, Jacobs and Nichols Group has been handed a new incentive package for its role on Crossrail. The JV, known collectively as Transcend Partners, acts as Crossrail’s programme partner. The new incentive scheme was pushed through in February by Elizabeth line committee chair Heidi Alexander under powers granted for “situation[s] of urgency”, papers released ahead of next week’s Transport for London Elizabeth line committee meeting reveal. The papers add that “the decision was critical to ensure that a new incentive scheme better supports the delivery and close-out of the Crossrail project. The make-up of the incentive package has not been made public. The PP contract was awarded to Transcend Partners in April 2009 obliging the JV to provide services against a scope, an annual service delivery plan and a schedule of deliverables.
Source: New Civil Engineer
12 Mar 2021. UK. HS2 pilot project to use wind turbine blades to reinforce concrete
Worn-out wind turbine blades destined for the incinerator will instead be used to create carbon-friendly reinforced concrete on Britain’s new high speed rail network. The innovative project will swap steel rebar, traditionally used to reinforce concrete, with sections of glass fibre reinforced polymer turbine blades that have reached the end of their operational lives generating low carbon electricity. The project is being taken forward under HS2 Ltd’s innovation programme by Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture, and the UK’s world-leading National Composites Centre, part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. Work on the proof of concept pilot is due to start in Spring 2021 and, if successful, could be followed by a full roll out across Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture’s route, consisting of HS2’s London tunnels between the M25 motorway and Euston station.
Source: HS2
11 Mar 2021. Australia. Early finish For Metro Tunnel’s Eastern Entrance
Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel Project’s eastern entrance at South Yarra has been completed more than five months ahead of schedule with work now underway to connect the new structure with the project’s twin tunnels. Crews have spent the past two years building the tunnel entrance – which will save commuters up to 50 minutes a day on their journeys when up to 48 trains enter and exit the tunnel each hour. The work included widening the existing rail corridor, excavating more than 31,000 cubic metres of rock and soil, and building a base slab, internal walls and roof slab using more than 7,700 cubic metres of concrete and almost 8,000 tonnes of reinforced steel. When Melbourne Airport Rail is complete, trains will run from Pakenham and Cranbourne through this tunnel entrance directly to the airport
Other construction taking place during 2021 includes an underground substation at the South Yarra Siding Reserve and rail systems equipment rooms at Chambers Street.
Source: Mirage News
