Dear Readers
We are proud to be supporting the upcoming Rail Digi Expo, Global Rail Conclave taking place from 12-17 July 2021.
Rail Digi Expo 2021, is a virtual exhibition focusing on the global rail industry and its advancements and enhancing trade and investments in the global rail sector. This virtual exhibition is organized by Crescendo Worldwide. Crescendo Worldwide is an international trade and investment generating organization, having presence in 50+ countries globally. With a team of 150+ highly skilled people Crescendo Worldwide is able to support companies for global expansion, supporting joint venture and technical venture collaboration. Crescendo also support government organizations, ministries, trade bodies, chambers, etc. and have been working with many such organizations as their partner from almost a decade.
For more details and to register to attend this event, please visit https://www.raildigiexpo.com/
Our Jobs of the Week this week are in India where we are looking for a suitably experienced and qualified Chief Architect and a Chief HSE Expert.
Regards
Rail Personnel
This Month's Headlines
1 July 2021. UK. Momentum builds as HS2 launches second giant tunnelling machine
HS2 this week launched ‘Cecilia’ – the second of two enormous 2,000 tonne tunnelling machines that will excavate the ten mile long tunnels beneath the Chiltern hills just outside London.
Source: Rail UK
30 June 2021. China. Lhasa – Nyingchi line inaugurated
The first electrified railway in Tibet was inaugurated on June 25, with ceremonies in Lhasa to mark the start of operations on the Lhasa – Nyingchi section of the Sichuan - Tibet railway.
Source: Railway Gazette International
29 June 2021. Hong Kong. Hong Kong completes its longest metro line
Revenue services began operating on the Kai Tak – Hung Hom section of Hong Kong’s Tuen Ma Line through east Kowloon on June 27, completing the east-west corridor across the New Territories
Source: Metro Report International
25 June 2021. Spain. New Avlo train now runs from Madrid-Barcelona
Avlo, Renfe’s new high-speed service, was launched last week with four daily circulations between Madrid and Barcelona in each direction. It is a lower-priced alternative to the Ave high-speed trains, with prices starting at 7 euros each way.
Source: RailTech
Jobs of the Week:
Chief Architect, Chennai, India
Job ID#: 13231
Discipline: Architecture
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is looking for someone for the role of Chief Architect for their project in Chennai where they have been appointed as the General Consultant. This role includes assisting Chennai Metro Rail Limited in design, supervision, quality control, safety and contract management for the 52.01 km priority section of Chennai Metro"s 118.9 km Phase 2 project.
The 52.01 km prioritized section comprises of 57 stations and will first see the development of Line-3 between Madhavaram - Sholinganallur and Line-5 between Madhavaram - CMBT. T
The general consultant will look into everything from calling for tenders for various work to build these two stretches, to monitoring how they are executed by the contractors. All aspects of the project will be looked into by them, ensuring that the contractor doesn"t compromise on quality of work or safety. They will also provide expertise in several issues of the project.
Job Requirements
- The person needs to be Indian having international experience.
- Bachelor degree in Architecture or science in engineering in relevant field
- Overall 15 years plus professional experience as Architect
- 10 years relevant work experience in Metro /LRT/Rail
- 5 years experience for substantial time in single project Metro/LRT /Rail as Chief Architect or equivalent position.
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Chief Health Safety Environmental Expert, New Delhi, India
Job ID#: 13251
Discipline: Safety
Position Type: Permanent
Language: English
Job Description:
Our Client is bidding for the General Consultancy for the Delhi Guragram SNB Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Corridor and are looking for a Chief Health, Safety and Environmental Expert to be nominated in their bid.
Work is expected to start in Q2/Q3 2021 . Contract duration 60 months
Job Requirements
- Graduate in Engineering with working Knowledge of reading, writing and Speaking in English
- Minimum 20 Years post minimum qualification experience in Infrastructure sub sector related to Transport & Logistics
- 5 years" experience of Preparation, Implementation and monitoring of safety Management system and emergency procedures regarding construction safety, Health & Environment for elevated or underground in Infrastructure sub sector related to Transport & Logistics as Chief Safety, Health and Environmental Expert or equivalent position.
-Must have Experience of one "Eligible assignment" as Chief Safety, Health and Environmental Expert or equivalent position or one level below to the proposed position or one level below to the proposed position for a full-time continuous deployment period not less than 2 years
- Minimum 3 years" experience on Similar Works for experience related to Civil construction shall be either Elevated (Viaduct) or Underground (Stations and Tunnels)
- Candidates must be under 62
Experts with HSR /Rapid Transport system/ Metro experience will be preferred.
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Rail News
1 July 2021. UK. Momentum builds as HS2 launches second giant tunnelling machine
HS2 this week launched ‘Cecilia’ – the second of two enormous 2,000 tonne tunnelling machines that will excavate the ten mile long tunnels beneath the Chiltern hills just outside London. The first machine – ‘Florence’ – was launched just over a month ago. Despite starting second, Cecila will run slightly faster, aided by geological data fed back from Florence, meaning that both machines are due to break through at around the same time. In total there will be ten tunnel boring machines (TBMs) working to create 64 miles of tunnel between London and the West Midlands for the high speed rail project which is already securing jobs and helping the UK to build back better from the pandemic. More than 16,000 jobs and over 500 apprenticeships are already being supported by HS2, which is set to transform transport links between Britain’s major cities, free up space on the rail network for more freight and local services and support the UK’s transition to net zero carbon emissions.
Source: Rail UK
30 June 2021. China. Lhasa – Nyingchi line inaugurated
The first electrified railway in Tibet was inaugurated on June 25, with ceremonies in Lhasa to mark the start of operations on the Lhasa – Nyingchi section of the Sichuan - Tibet railway. Diverging at Xierong from the Lhasa – Xigatse line opened in August 2014, the new line runs for 404·8 km to Nyingchi, also known as Linzhi, around 15 km from the border between the Tibet Autonomous Region and India. Branded as the Lalin line, the single-track route initially serves nine stations: Gongga, Zhanang, Shannan, Sangri, Gacha, Lang, Milin, Gangga and Nyingchi. There are also eight intermediate passing loops, and the plans envisage the construction of a further 17 stations. The route broadly follows the Yarlung Tsangpo, the upper reaches of the River Brahmaputra.
Source: Railway Gazette International
29 June 2021. Hong Kong. Hong Kong completes its longest metro line
Revenue services began operating on the Kai Tak – Hung Hom section of Hong Kong’s Tuen Ma Line through east Kowloon on June 27, completing the east-west corridor across the New Territories. The Tuen Ma Line is now the longest within Hong Kong, running for 56 km from Tuen Mun in the west to Ma On Shan and Wu Kai Sha in the east. It serves 27 stations, including six interchanges to other lines. Built as part of the chequered Shatin – Central Link project, the east-west connection linking the Ma On Shan Line at Tai Wai with the West Rail corridor at Hung Hom has been completed in two stages. The first phase from Tai Wai to Kai Tak was inaugurated on February 14 2020, but the second phase was delayed by faulty construction at Hung Hom and subsidence problems at the station sites. MTR said last year that it hoped to complete the route before the end of 2021.
Source: Metro Report International
25 June 2021. Spain. New Avlo train now runs from Madrid-Barcelona
Avlo, Renfe’s new high-speed service, was launched last week with four daily circulations between Madrid and Barcelona in each direction. It is a lower-priced alternative to the Ave high-speed trains, with prices starting at 7 euros each way. The first Avlo train departed on June 23 from the Figueres-Vilafant station at 5:35 hours to Madrid – Puerta de Atocha. The launch was initially scheduled for April 6, 2020 , but had to be postponed due to the coronavirus. In the opposite direction, the first train departed at 6:20 am from Madrid-Puerta de Atocha bound for Barcelona-Sants.
Source: RailTech
24 June 2021. The Netherlands. CRRC to provide Rotterdam with zero-emission locomotives
The first zero-emission, fully electric shunting locomotives for the port of Rotterdam are in the production line. By 2024, the Dutch harbour wants to replace diesel shunting locomotives and make its rail operations fully carbon neutral. The project is a joint initiative of the Rail Innovators Group and the Chinese equipment manufacturer CRRC. The two parties started discussions and reached their first agreement on the project back in 2018. The deal is now complete, and the production of eco-friendly locomotives can begin.
Source: RailTech
22 June 2021. Germany. CAF Signs Two New Contracts in Germany
The CAF Group has secured two contracts in Germany, further attesting to its commitment to the country, where the group is currently supplying electric units to operator Schönbuchbahn. Together the new contracts value almost 200m euros (237.06m USD). The first contract is to supply 51 LRV units, along with all relevant spare parts, to Ruhrbahn GmbH between 2024 and 2026. The second contract is with VAG Freiburg, the organisation responsible for the operation of the Freiburg tram system. CAF will supply eight trams – this is in addition to the 17 Urbos trams it previously supplied, and which are currently in service.
Source: Railway-News
22 June 2021. Denmark. Alstom Wins Denmark’s Largest Ever Railway Contract
Alstom has won the largest train tender in Danish rail history. The newly announced landmark framework agreement with Danish State Railways (DSB) is valued at a total of 2.6bn euros (3.09bn USD). The first firm order of 100 Coradia Stream regional trains and a 15-year full-service maintenance agreement is valued at 1.4bn euros (1.66bn USD). The framework agreement includes an additional 15 years of maintenance services and the possibility of additional trainset orders.
Source: Railway-News
16 June 2021. United States. Wabtec and GM to co-operate on battery and hydrogen locos
Wabtec and General Motors have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to collaborate to develop and commercialise GM’s battery and hydrogen technology for Wabtec locomotives. Wabtec will bring expertise in energy management and systems optimisation, and GM its Ultium battery technology developed through its Ultium Cells joint venture with LG Energy Solutions. GM will also contribute Hydrotec compact fuel cells assembled under its Fuel Cell Systems Manufacturing joint venture with Honda.
Source: Railway Gazette International
15 June 2021. UK. Rail Industry welcomes agreement on Australia-UK Free Trade Deal
The Railway Industry Association, and a number of its members, have welcomed the signing today of an Agreement in Principle between the Australian and UK Governments, paving the way for a Free Trade Agreement. Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), commented: “The UK has long had a close relationship with the Australian railway sector, and it remains as a top priority market for rail suppliers. “Many UK rail businesses are already winning work in Australia and a free trade agreement between the UK and Australia offers even greater opportunities. It should mean more access to government contracts and mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and also allow UK professionals to work in Australia more easily.”
Source: Rail UK
15 June 2021. Brazil. Severino Sombra University launches MBA in Railway Engineering
Severino Sombra University is offering a 20-month railway engineering course leading to a Master of Business Administration qualification. Launched to meet demand for specialist technical knowledge as Brazil strives to revive its railway sector, the course is intended to train professionals in operations and maintenance as well as in project implementation. Both main line and urban rail topics are covered, and students will be given a strategic overview of current and future projects. The course is aimed at graduates in engineering, law, architecture, administration, economics, geotechnology, logistics and other professions who are involved in or have had contact with the railway business.
Source: Railway Gazette International
15 June 2021. Australia. Melbourne Airport Rail Link seeks contractors for first works package
Melbourne Airport Rail Link’s first package to deliver works in Sunshine and Albion is now out to market, with the Expressions of Interest (EOI) process seeking contractors for the much anticipated project. This approach has been informed by feedback from industry and aims to share the workload, providing more opportunities to different contractors and suppliers. Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said these works are the first of several work packages to go out to market through a robust, multi-staged procurement process.
Source: Infrastructure Magazine
11 June 2021. Russia. Design of Moscow’s next tram unveiled.
Sinara has revealed the appearance of the 90 Type 71-628M fully low-floor, four-axle trams which it has designed for Moscow and which will be produced by subcontractor UKVZ. The contract includes 30 years of maintenance. The first five cars are scheduled to arrive this month, with deliveries running until the end of 2022. The trams are designed for running at 62 km/h at maximum load and under normal operating conditions. They will be equipped with supercapacitors to recover braking energy for use when starting, and lithium ion batteries capable of providing emergency traction over a distance of 1 km. The trams have a capacity of 110 passengers, including 40 seated. Interior features include a ‘thermal curtain’ to maintain a comfortable temperature, information screens and USB ports. The cab is designed to offer good visibility and intuitive operation.
Source: Metro Report International
11 June 2021. Australia. SA Government’s $111 million railway commitment
The SA Government has committed $111 million (over 10 years) in its 2021-22 State Budget to give metropolitan Adelaide railway stations much-needed renovations. Fifteen stations along the Gawler Line, as well as other stations across the network, will be upgraded, providing a more enjoyable and safer journey for Adelaide train commuters and supporting 110 full time jobs at construction peak. SA Premier, Steven Marshall, said the funding will help to encourage more people to leave their cars at home and catch public transport.
Source: Infrastructure Magazine
11 June 2021. Australia. Perth Metro marks National Reconciliation Week
A shared painting exercise titled the ‘Sea of Hands’ to represent the Aboriginal Flag for National Reconciliation Week was featured by Perth train operator METRONET. METRONET recently marked National Reconciliation Week by hosting a number of events across their agencies and project sites. This year’s theme focused on ‘More than a word. Reconciliation takes action’. Celebrations took place across the projects – with the Claremont Station team facilitating story sharing by Robyn Collard and dancing over a morning tea, while in Bayswater the project team held an early morning toolbox where Lance Morich spoke to the team.
Source: Rail Express
11 June 2021. Network Rail completes London King’s Cross upgrade
A multi-million pound upgrade designed to future proof London’s King’s Cross station was completed last week by Network Rail. The ‘once-in-a-generation’ improvement scheme should radically improve services for passengers. The scheme – dubbed ‘King’s Uncrossed’ – involved a wholesale replacement of the over 40-year-old tracks and track layout on the 1.5-mile approach into the station as part of the 1.2 billion pound (1.4 billion euros) East Coast Upgrade. It also saw the reopening of a disused tunnel after 44 years to add two additional lines into the station from the north. The complex and challenging programme has seen the replacement of over 6 kilometres of new track, over 30 new sets of points, more than 50 new signals and over 20 kilometres of new overhead wires.
Source: RailTech
10 June 2021. Mexico. Contract for jaguar inspired Tren Maya fleet signed
The 36·6bn pesos contract to supply 42 diesel and electro-diesel trainsets for the Tren Maya project was signed in the presence of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on June 9. National tourism promotion fund Fonatur announced on May 26 that it had chosen a consortium led by Alstom’s Bombardier Transportation México subsidiary as builder of the 160 km/h fleet. This followed endorsement of the group’s operational, technical, and economic proposals by its technical committee. The consortium comprises Bombardier Transportation México, Alstom Transport México, Gami Ingeniería e Instalaciones, Construcciones Urales and Construcciones Urales Procesos Industriales.
Source: Railway Gazette International
9 June 2021. Mozambique. Mozambique – Malawi railway reinstatement gets underway
President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi has laid a foundation stone to launch work to reinstate the 44 km section of the Sena line between Mutarara and Vila Nova da Fronteira on the border with Malawi. This section of the 1 067 mm gauge Sena Line diverges from the previously restored route to Moatize at Mutararam immediately north of the Dona Ana bridge that carries the railway over the River Zambezi. The line had been wrecked by fighting in September 1986, but Nyusi and his Malawian counterpart Lazarus Chakwera agreed last October to restore the connection, providing southern Malawi with rail access to the Mozambican port of Beira.
Source: Railway Gazette International
8 June 2021. Russia. Russian Railways signs deal for hydrogen locomotives
Russian Railways (RZD), Rusnano and Sinara Group have signed a cooperation agreement for the development of mainline hydrogen locomotives. A power plant based on electrochemical hydrogen fuel cells together with lithium-ion batteries will be used for this purpose. From 2025, the Russian Railways will only purchase electric locomotives or locomotives running on alternative green energy. Russian Railways is the potential customer of the locomotives, while Sinara Transport Machines Holding of Sinara Group will be the general contractor. Rusnano will be represented by subsidiaries and partners and act as a co-contractor in terms of hydrogen fuel cells, energy storage systems based on lithium-ion storage batteries and other innovative technological solutions.
Source: RailTech
7 June 2021. Australia. Sydney Metro appoints airport line delivery partners
Sydney Metro has appointed a consortium led by SNC-Lavalin in partnership with HKA and Infrastructure Nation to act as Integration & Delivery Partner for the A$11bn Western Sydney Airport line. Under the terms of the six-year contract, SNC-Lavalin and its local partners will support Sydney Metro’s in-house teams to undertake project integration and delivery of multiple mandates for the driverless metro line to serve the airport, which is now under construction for opening in 2026. The 23 km first phase of the fully automated Sydney Metro West line will connect the new airport with St Mary’s station on Sydney Trains’ T1 Western Line.
Source: Metro Report International
7 June 2021. UK Network Rail completes once-in-a-generation scheme at King’s Cross
A multi-million pound, once-in-a-generation improvement scheme designed to future proof King’s Cross station and radically improve services for passengers completed today (Monday 7 June). The scheme – dubbed ‘King’s Uncrossed’ – involved a wholesale replacement of the over 40-year-old tracks and track layout on the 1.5-mile approach into the station as part of the £1.2 billion East Coast Upgrade. It also saw the reopening of a disused tunnel after 44 years to add two additional lines into the station from the north. The complex and challenging programme has seen the replacement of over 6km of new track, over 30 new sets of points, over 50 new signals and over 20km of new overhead wires.
Source: Rail UK
3 June 2021. Japan. Tokyo Metro’s Hanzomon Line trains unveiled
The first of 19 Series 18000 trainsets to operate Tokyo Metro’s Hanzomon Line was unveiled at Saginuma depot in Kawasaki city on June 2. The 10-car trains are being built by Hitachi to replace the Series 8000 sets which currently operate the 1 067 mm gauge metro line. Two units were delivered for testing and commissioning at the end of 2020, and the first is expected to enter service in August. Deliveries are due to be completed by 2025. The Series 18000 trains were ordered in 2019 under Tokyo Metro’s Plan 21 investment strategy, along with the similar Series 17000 sets which entered service on the Fukutoshin Line last year.
Source: Metro Report International (Railway Gazette)
3 June 2021. France. Talgo Avril Exceeds 360km/h in Testing
A Talgo Avril has reached a key milestone in the very high-speed train’s homologation process by exceeding 363 kilometres per hour. The landmark was achieved by one of the 30 units whose manufacture and maintenance were awarded to Talgo by Renfe for circulation in Spain and France over the next 30 years. The top speed was reached on a section of the new Madrid-Burgos railway line between the town of Venta de Baños in Palencia and the city of Burgos. This infrastructure is still being tested and closed to passenger traffic and the test took place with a reduced team made up of Talgo driving staff and commissioning technicians on board.
Source: Railway-News
1 June 2021. UK. TfW says goodbye to last Pacer trains
Transport for Wales has said goodbye to the last Pacer trains after more than 30 years of service, marking the end of an era for Britain’s railways. The final Class 143 trains – 143601 and 143609 – ran their last services on the South Wales valleys network on Saturday 29 May, having operated the equivalent of over five trips to the Moon and back during their working lives. The Pacers have now been replaced by larger, more modern trains with better accessibility. TfW is also pressing ahead with building brand new trains for the Wales and Borders network and the South Wales Metro, which will begin to enter service in 2022.
Source: Rail UK
