Dear Readers
We’d like to take this opportunity to wish all of our Readers a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and also a very safe and happy holiday season.
Also, we’d like to thank you all for your readership and support over the past year and may the New Year bring success and positive tidings to you all.
And it's a bumper week for Job of the Week this week! We're looking for Electrical Fitters to work in Lithgow, NSW, and an Engineering Manager to work in Los Angeles, California. Also, we're looking for a Chief Designer (Industrial Design) to work in South Korea and a Senior Manager Infrastructure to work in Saudi Arabia.
Regards
Rail Personnel
This Week's Headlines
2 December 2021. UK. Hitachi to acquire Bombardier Transportation’s contribution to the V300 ZEFIRO very high-speed train from Alstom
Hitachi announced today that it has agreed to acquire business activities related to Bombardier Transportation’s contribution to the V300 ZEFIRO very high-speed train from Alstom. The transaction is part of Alstom’s commitments to the European Commission in relation to Alstom’s acquisition of Bombardier Transportation with reference to the V300 ZEFIRO.
Source: Rail UK
1 December 2021. Germany. Groundbreaking launches work on German side of Fehmarn Belt tunnel
Construction of the German side of the 18 km Fehmarn Belt immersed tube road and rail tunnel between Germany and Denmark was officially launched with a sod-turning ceremony on Puttgarden on November 29.
Source: Railway Gazette International
30 November 2021. China. First private Chinese high-speed line starts trials
Trial operations started on the Hangzhou-Taizhou railway, China’s first privately funded high-speed line. The new railway line is expected to be ready for operation before the end of the year. The Hangzhou-Shaoxing-Taizhou Railway is among the first rail projects funded by a public-private partnership (PPP) in China and the country’s first privately funded high-speed railway project.
Source: Railtech.com
Jobs of the Week
Electrical Fitter, Lithgow, New South Wales
Job ID#: 13330
Discipline: Rolling Stock
Language: English
Positions Available: 2
Job Description:
Our client based in Lithgow provides maintenance support to the locomotives and wagons operated by SSR and other rail industry operators, together with external work including call-outs to equipment breakdowns, wagon and locomotive maintenance and repairs. With over 40 employees. In addition to routine servicing, provisioning and wagon periodic maintenance, core business also includes repairing locomotive faults, changing out core components such as traction motors, power assemblies, engines, compressors, alternators, main generators, wheel sets and installing new ICE radio equipment
They are looking for 2 Electrical Fitters to join their team based at our Lithgow workshop but there is some call out work to repair broken down trains all round the state. Regular call out locations are Bathurst, Wallerawang and Sydenham. Other not so regular call out locations are Cootamundra, Forbes, Parkes, Dubbo, Werris Creek, but we can be asked to attend anywhere around the state. Company motor vehicles are supplied for call out work.
You would be working a 38 hour week paying above award rates, Manufacturing award.
- Work hours, 0730 - 1600, Mon - Fri, 10 minute smoko and 30 minute lunch breaks.
- Regular overtime is available.
- Higher qualifications in supervision, engineering and/or management would be an advantage to applicants
who aspire to be promoted to these higher positions.
Job Requirements
- Previous locomotive experience with EMD and Alco preferred.
- If no previous locomotive experience, heavy industrial plant, diesel genset and PLC experience essential.
- Trade qualification in electrical fitting or industrial electrician essential.
- Driver's licence and own motor vehicle essential.
- Current Cat 3 railway medical and RISI/Safely Access Rail Corridor preferred.
- Electricians with only domestic experience need not apply.
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Engineering Manager, Los Angeles, California
Job ID#: 13380
Discipline: Rolling Stock
Position Type: Contract
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is a leading manufacturer of light rail vehicles in the U.S. The company's mission is to supply high quality rolling stock to transit agencies on time and under budget. Our vehicles can be seen successfully transporting commuters in major cities across the U.S. including LA, Seattle, Phoenix, Santa Clara, Dallas, Jersey City and Boston.
They currently have a contract to perform midlife overhauls on the P2250 fleet of light rail vehicles running along the Gold Line. The 50 LRVs were manufactured by AnsaldoBreda from 2008 through 2012. The scope of work for the overhaul program includes the following systems and safety components: vehicle door systems, propulsion system controllers, friction brake system controllers, trucks, automatic train control (ATC)/automatic train operation (ATO) system controllers, heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, and communication system controllers.The work will be performed at the client's facility in Palmdale, California and is estimated to take four and a half years. The Palmdale facility is also completing work on Metro's order for 235 P3010 LRVs, the first 21 of which entered Gold Line revenue service on March 5, 2016.
They are looking for a talented and motivated Engineering Manager to lead the engineering team in subsystem integration, vehicle control design, vehicle network design, communications design, and technical program management. Specific duties include, but are not limited to:
* Managing the engineering team, including overseeing scheduling and project management
* Attending meetings with customers and suppliers as the key representative of the engineering team
* Leading the team to solve complex problems through thought leadership and robust analyses
* Setting realistic goals for the team, prioritizing issues, monitoring progress and ensuring goals are met
* Designing/developing/deploying the vehicle electrical system including embedded hardware and software, circuits, wiring and associated mechanical interfaces
* Designing/developing/deploying the vehicle communication system and CCTV system
* Performance testing and troubleshooting LRV electrical and mechanical systems and documenting results
Location of Employment: El Segundo, CA
Anticipated Travel Requirements: Predominantly locally within LA area (incl. Palmdale, CA) with occasional trips domestically and internationally
Job Requirements
Desirable Skills / Qualifications:
* 10+ years of experience in electrical, mechanical and systems engineering for rolling stock industries.
* 5+ years of experience leading an engineering team
* Experience with communication protocols such as RS232, RS485, Ethernet & Internet protocols
* Extensive knowledge of computer hardware and software
* Ability to read hardware schematics
* Ability to troubleshoot using Oscilloscopes, Logic Analyzers, etc.
* Solid experience with version control
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills
* Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or
equivalent
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Senior Manager Infrastructure, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
Job ID#: 13379
Discipline: Project Managers
Position Type: Contract
Language: English
Job Description:
This exciting project is seeking a Senior Infrastructure Manager to oversee and direct all infrastructure programmes involving the full life cycle of the implementation phase.
Liase with the design teams to review the development based on the project schedule, and cost estimates.
Oversee the infrastructure construction management teams to ensure delivery is achieved.
Job Requirements
Bachelor degree in Civil or Structural Engineering;
Applicants must have minimum 12 years of infrastructure construction experience.
Ideally worked in the Gulf Countries
Minimum of 3 years in a major construction company or have lead a major consultants site supervision
Track record of either delivery or supervision of infrastructure construction involving earthworks, structures, cut and cover and utilities
Excellent report writing skills
Contact: Jackie Hendry (jackie@railpersonnel.com)
Chief Designer (Industrial design), Uiwang-city, South Korea
Job ID#: 13141
Discipline: Rolling Stock
Position Type: Permanent
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is a global heavy industry company covering a wide range of business sectors, from railway through to defense, plant, machinery and the environment. Their Railway Division supplies various types of vehicles including EMUs, high speed trains, LRVs, DMUs, locomotives, passenger coaches and freight trains, not only domestically but also to 35 countries across the world. Their Railway R&D Center plans to establish an in-house design team to create a unique brand and innovative designs for all our rail vehicle business and are looking for an experienced chief designer (industrial design) a to join the team in Uiwang-city, South Korea.
Roles & Responsibilities :
- Lead entire industrial design development from bid to implementation design via suppliers (service agencies).
- Co-ordination of both internal engineers and external clients to achieve final design confirmation.
- Communicates (Reporting) with senior management, Creation and presentation of proposals to clients.
- Develop value propositions and identify opportunities with a strategy for rail vehicle design.
- Planning and communicating the vision of the company.
- Fostering the capabilities of the team members to an international level.
- Mentoring of Junior designers and Assistant Designers on assigned tasks.
- Brand generation and application.
Job Requirements
Qualifications :
- Bachelor's degree minimum and/ or high level experience in the field of industrial design within the railway industry or automotive industry. (Minimum 15 years rail vehicle design experience with evidence of exceptional ability, preferred)
- Ability to engage and build positive relationships with customer, employees and suppliers (service agencies).
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, problem solving and solution building skills.
- Experience of cross-functional knowledge with regards to vehicle integration and material selection for Manufacture & Assembly.
- Sensitivity to CMF and future trends in design and aesthetic preferences across different market segments.
Contact: Jackie Hendry (jackie@railpersonnel.com)
Rail News
2 December 2021. UK. Hitachi to acquire Bombardier Transportation’s contribution to the V300 ZEFIRO very high-speed train from Alstom
Hitachi announced today that it has agreed to acquire business activities related to Bombardier Transportation’s contribution to the V300 ZEFIRO very high-speed train from Alstom. The transaction is part of Alstom’s commitments to the European Commission in relation to Alstom’s acquisition of Bombardier Transportation with reference to the V300 ZEFIRO. For Hitachi Rail, the transaction consolidates the company’s commitment to the very high-speed rail market, especially Italy’s Frecciarossa 1000, and reinforces the strength of the company’s Service and Maintenance capabilities.
Source: Rail UK
1 December 2021. Germany. Groundbreaking launches work on German side of Fehmarn Belt tunnel
Construction of the German side of the 18 km Fehmarn Belt immersed tube road and rail tunnel between Germany and Denmark was officially launched with a sod-turning ceremony on Puttgarden on November 29. Attendees included Enak Ferlemann, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport & Digital Infrastructure, the Land of Schleswig-Holstein’s Minister of Transport Bernd Buchholz and Denmark’s Minister of Transport Benny Engelbrecht.
Source: Railway Gazette International
30 November 2021. China. First private Chinese high-speed line starts trials
Trial operations started on the Hangzhou-Taizhou railway, China’s first privately funded high-speed line. The new railway line is expected to be ready for operation before the end of the year. The Hangzhou-Shaoxing-Taizhou Railway is among the first rail projects funded by a public-private partnership (PPP) in China and the country’s first privately funded high-speed railway project. On November 26, trial operations started on the line. A consortium led by Shanghai-based conglomerate Fosun International has a 51 percent stake in the undertaking. State-owned China Railway holds 15 percent of the equity, and local governments have the remaining stakes.
Source: Railtech.com
30 November 2021. Greece. Greece to spend 4 billion on railway projects
The allegedly biggest infrastructure project that Greece has ever seen was announced by the Greek ministry of infrastructure and transportation. A plan worth 4 billion euros foresees the start of six projects, including the application of ETCS, the electrification of existing tracks and the construction of new ones. “For the first time in Greek history, railways get what they deserve since the country needs them. We are setting in motion the largest railway project ever, which upon completion will change the transport map and boost Greece’s international position”, said Kostas Karamanlis, Greek minister of infrastructure and transportation.
Source: Railtech.com
30 November 2021. France. TSO-Eiffage consortium wins Paris track and electrification contract
Project promoter Société du Grand Paris has awarded the main rail infrastructure contract for Grand Paris Express automated metro Line 16 to a consortium of TSO, TSO Caténaires and Eiffage Rail. Running entirely underground, the 27·5 km Line 16 is due to be completed by 2030. The Lot 2-3 contract valued at €111m covers the supply and installation of trackwork and rigid overhead line equipment on a 16·5 km section between Aulnay and Noisy-Champs, along with other elements such as footbridges and cable trays. Work is expected to begin in mid-2023 and be finished in the first half of 2024.
Source: Metro Report International
27 November 2021. India. Delhi Metro’s Pink Line goes automatic
Automated operation of Delhi Metro’s 59 km Pink Line between Majlis Park and Shiv Vihar was launched on November 25. A train operator will initially be retained onboard ‘to instil a sense of confidence and assistance’, Delhi Metro Rail Corp said. Delhi’s first driverless line was the 37 km Magenta Line which opened in 2017-18 and switched to driverless operation in 2020. DMRC said the two lines totalling 97 km mean it now has the fourth largest automated metro network in the world, as well as the only one in India.
Source: Metro Report International
25 November 2021. Australia. Road and rail intermodal terminal to bring jobs to Darling Downs
The Queensland Government has announced a new road and rail intermodal terminal near Toowoomba, which is expected to create jobs in the Darling Downs. The project, which is supported by the Queensland Government with $12.6 million in loan funding, will be built at InterLinkSQ in Charlton. Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Steven Miles, said the project will support 36 construction jobs. “This $16.1million terminal will provide better facilities for firms to transfer freight between trucks and trains using highly efficient multi-modal connectivity,” Mr Miles said.
Source: Infrastructure Magazine
25 November 2021. UK. HS2 pioneers UK-first ‘box-slide’ bridge over the M42 in North Warwickshire
HS2 Ltd is set to start construction of the first HS2 railway bridge over a motorway in the Midlands this month, using innovative technology to dramatically reduce traffic disruption. The 10,000 tonne bridge ‘box’ structure has a base, three walls and top slab and will be built on land next to the motorway. Once built, a hi-tech raft will then glide it into position. Whilst this technology is used on railways, this will be the first box slide of its kind over a motorway in the UK. The bridge was originally designed as a traditional structure, which would have meant significant traffic disruption for motorway users, with around two years of reduced lane widths, 50mph speed limits and weekend and night closures. This unique construction method will see the whole structure built on land next to the motorway and then moved into place in one movement, meaning only two one-week closures of the motorway over a 12-month period. This method also dramatically improves the health and safety of the workforce, who won’t need to work in close proximity to a live carriageway.
Source: Rail UK
23 November 2021. United Arab Emirates. Etihad Rail tunnelling completed
All of the tunnels required for Stage 2 of the national rail network have now been holed through, project promoter Etihad Rail announced on November 21. The nine tunnels totalling 6·9 km are all located in the northern emirates of Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah, and form part of Package D. The rock tunnels have been excavated using conventional blasting techniques, but Etihad Rail implemented various precautionary measures to limit noise and vibration, deploying ‘innovative machinery and equipment’ to minimise any impact on nearby communities.
Source: Railway Gazette International
23 November 2021. United States. San Diego opens Mid-Coast light rail extension
The Mid-Coast Extension of San Diego’s light rail network was opened for revenue service on November 21, when the San Diego Association of Governments hosted celebrations at the University of California San Diego Central Campus in La Jolla. The 17·7 km extension adds a further nine stops to the network, running north from a junction with the Green Line at Old Town. After bridging the San Diego River, it parallels the existing railway used by Amtrak and Coaster commuter rail services and the San Diego Freeway as far as the University campus before turning east to reach UTC Transit Center.
The route is operated by San Diego MTS as an extension of its north-south Blue Line from San Ysidro, which previously terminated in Downtown San Diego. Free travel was provided on the opening day, when services began with the 05.03 departure from UTC Transit Center.
Source: Metro Report International
19 November 2021. Australia. Bowen Rail in motion for Bravus coal export
Bowen Rail Company’s state-of-the-art locomotives are now being tested and commissioned to begin exporting first coal for the mine and rail project with Bravus Mining and Resources’ Carmichael coal mine in central Queensland. Once testing and commissioning is complete, the trains will regularly haul coal along the new 200-kilometre Carmichael rail network and then join the existing Aurizon network for the final leg to Abbot Point, where coal will be unloaded at the North Queensland Export Terminal for shipping to customers overseas.
Source: Australian Mining
18 November 2021. UK. Government announces £96 billion Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands
The government has today announced its Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands – a £96 billion plan that outlines how major rail projects will be delivered. The plan brings together the HS2, Northern Powerhouse, and Midlands Rail Hub projects, in an effort to accelerate improvements to the rail network by up to 10 years. Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps MP, told the House of Commons that the money is five times that invested in Crossrail and 10 times the cost of the Olympics. “We are about to embark on one of the biggest single acts of levelling up of any government in history,” he said.
Source: Rail UK
17 November 2021. Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Railways rolls out Hytera radio network
Hytera Communications Corp is deploying an island-wide radio communications system covering 1 561 km of the Sri Lanka Railways network under a US$7∙39m contract. The Chinese company has supplied 20 dispatching controllers, three system management devices, three voice recording devices, 1 239 SD1000 IP telephones with MCPTT features for indoor use, 275 CZT902 train cab radios, and 1 951 PNC550 PTT handheld mobile phones.
Source: Railway Gazette International
17 November 2021. Taiwan. Kaohsiung Red Line Extension E&M contract awarded
Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit Bureau has awarded a consortium of South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem and Singapore’s ST Engineering a 207·8bn won seven-year contract to provide metro trains and electrical systems for a 9·3 km northern extension of the Red Line with six elevated stations. The trains to be supplied by Hyundai Rotem will be compatible with the existing fleet supplied by Siemens. They will have a maximum speed of 80 km/h, with features including air-conditioning which adapts to passenger loadings by measuring CO2 levels, enhanced emergency braking and an automated monitoring system to assist with optimising operating efficiency and maintenance costs.
Source: Metro Report International
15 November 2021. Australia. VIC Gov delivering high-capacity signalling
Victoria’s Cranbourne and Pakenham train lines will soon use high-capacity signalling (HCS) to increase the number and frequency of trains. Crews will begin installing the new HCS equipment along the lines from mid-December 2021, which will be one of the final pieces of the puzzle to deliver a true ‘turn up and go’ network when the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025. HCS is a new signalling system that enables trains to safely run closer together, meaning they can travel more frequently. The project will install 55km of signalling, which will allow trains to run every two to three minutes, and has been designed to replace the current system, which uses coloured signals to indicate when it is safe for a train to proceed.
Source: Infrastructure Magazine
12 November 2021. UK. Alstom and Eversholt’s Rail join forces for UK hydrogen fleet
Alstom and Everholt’s Rail made plans to deliver 10 new hydrogen trains for the UK. The companies announced a Memorandum of Understanding to deliver the UK’s first brand-new hydrogen train fleet. The intention is that final contracts for the fleet will be signed in early 2022. Alstom will design, build, commission and support a fleet of ten three-car hydrogen multiple units (HMUs) for operations in Great Britain. The train builder from France will work together with British train owner and financier Eversholt’s Rail, and share technical and commercial information necessary for the development of the trains.
Source: Railtech.com
10 November 2021. Egypt. Alstom signs Egypt’s largest contract for its oldest metro
Alstom has been awarded an 876 million euro contract for the upgrade of the Cairo Metro Line 1 by the National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) . The contract consists of 55 Metropolis trains and an 8 year-maintenance contract, and is financed by the French Government. The agreement was signed last Monday 08 November during the fourth edition of Smart Transport, Logistics and Traffic Fair and Forum for the MEA region (TransMEA 2021) that started on Sunday. This contract is one of several cooperation agreements between France and Egypt for the financing of several development projects in Egypt worth 4 billion euros . This was announced last June by the French Minister of Economy, Bruno Le Maire.
Source: Railtech.com
5th November 2021. China. Driverless monorail makes debut in China
A fully automated, driverless monorail opened in Wuhu in Eastern China, a first in the country. It is equipped with Automatic Train Operation (ATO) GoA 4, and is developed by a joint venture of Alstom and CRRC. A fleet of 28 six-car Innovia monorail trains entered commercial service this week on Rail Transit’s Line 1 in Wuhu, a city around 450 kilometres west of Shanghai. A second line is expected to open by the end of 2021. Construction of this monorail started in 2017, with a total project investment of more than 8 billion yuan (just over 1 billion euros), according to local authorities.
Source: RailTech.com
