Dear Readers
Regarded by many as the best railway show in Asia, Rail Solutions Asia will take place this month from the 22-24 June 2022 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur.
A wide-ranging exhibition with a comprehensive conference programme combined with The Annual Congress of the Asian Railway Operators Association, Rail Solutions Asia provides a one-stop solution for all your product and information needs.
For details and to register, visit: https://www.tdhrail.co.uk/rsa/
Simon Lane has enjoyed a lifelong career in Operations and Maintenance Management and he has written a book 'Without Delay' which documents most of his lessons and reflections throughout his 40 year Rail career. For further details and to buy a copy, visit:
Bookseller Page: https://booksonlineaustralia.com.au/shop/without-delay/
Author Page: https://booksonlineaustralia.com.au/team/simon-lane/
And for insights into current Staffing Trends, Sylvia Dalhby, Business Development Manager for Smartsearch, wrote an interesting blog 'Is this the golden age of opportunity?' and you can view the details here.
Jobs of the Week this week include:
* Procurement Specialist, Manila, Philippines
* Assistant BIM Manager, Malaysia
* Mobility Development Expert, United Arab Emirates
* Geotechnical and Tunnel Senior Engineer, United Arab Emirates
* QS Manager, Taiwan
* Train Maintenance Technicians, New Zealand (local candidates only)
Best Regards
Rail Personnel
This Week's Headlines
30 May 2022. United Kingdom. Elizabeth line clocks more than one million passenger journeys in first week
More than one million passengers have used the new Elizabeth line between Paddington and Abbey since it opened on Tuesday 24 May. Across the whole line, which stretches from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, more than two million journeys have been made.
Source: Rail UK
26 May 2022. United States. Californian high-speed rail authority applies for 1.3 billion dollars of federal funding
The California High-Speed Rail Authority has submitted two applications for federal grant funding totaling nearly 1.3 billion dollars. The applications are the first major push for a continued federal partnership under the newly enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by President Biden in November 2021.
Source: RailTech.com
24 May 2022. China. Tibet railway electrification announced
Plans to electrify the 1 136 km Golmud – Lhasa section of the Qinghai – Tibet railway have been announced by the autonomous region’s Development & Reform Commission. Work is scheduled to start in June 2022 and take three years.
Source: Railway Gazette International
Jobs of the Week
Procurement Specialist, Manila, Philippines
Job ID#: 13497
Discipline: Project Management
Position Type: Contract
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is seeking an International Procurement Specialist to assist with project preparation support and capacity building for the proposed Manila Metro Rail Transit Line 4 in the Philippines.
The Procurement Specialist will be responsible to (i) support/assist the DOTr with the procurement of the project's Advanced Early Works (utility relocation), Early Works (site clearance), the Civil Works package(s), and the Systems/Rolling Stock package(s), in line with the client's procurement policies, the Procurement Regulations for the client's Borrowers, and National/Government Procurement regulations; (ii) support DOTr in formulizing the projects procurement strategy, preparation and implementation of the project"s procurement plan; (iii) assist DOTr in preparing the financial and contractual bid documentation, bid eligibility criteria, bid advertisement, response to bidders' queries, financial bid evaluation, and Bid Evaluation Reports, recommendation for first -ranked bidders, and during contract negotiations; train DOTr staff on the client's procurement requirements, procedures, contract management, and e-procurement system solutions.
This is an intermittent contract with 66 Work Days from 31st July 2022 until 30th November 2023.
Closing Date: 8th June 2022
Job Requirements:
Minimum Qualifications Requirements:
Relevant Bachelors' degree with preferably 10 or more years' work experience in international bidding and procurement of large-scale and complex contracts; preferably FIDIC contract conditions, preferably railway project experience, familiar with clients or multilateral development bank (MDB) procurement regulations, excellent analytical skills and working experience in client developing member countries; prior experience of client projects in the Philippines is a preference. Excellent written and verbal communications skills in English are essential.
Minimum General Experience: 10 years
Minimum Relevant Experience (Relevant to Assignments): 10 years
Regional Country Experience: Required
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Assistant BIM Manager, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Job ID#: 13482
Discipline: BIM Management
Position Type: Permanent
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is an international consultant offering services from concept and design and they are seeking an Assistant BIM Manager to join their team in Malaysia.
Candidates will have:
* Proven experience of delivering BIM on railway projects or similar multi trade complex projects.
* Capable of leading and managing a team and providing technical direction in relation to the development and management of BIM models
* Experience of putting a governance structure in place to manage clash detection and resolution of same
Job Summary
* Manages BIM implementation on small-to medium-size projects
* Practice-line and Digital/BIM team training
* Authoring of project BIM & GIS execution plans, project reports and any other BIM-related project documentation required
* Working with project delivery team members to resolve technical model problems and ensure their understanding of project, office and/or client BIM standards
* Performs model QA/QC checks on projects
* Contributes to the development of processes, procedures, templates, and model content.
* Chair design coordination and clash detection sessions
* Preparing Project Template models
* Ensure teams are working on CDE according to the company's BIM Standards
* Technical Support on BIM Modelling and Coordination
* Delivering multiple BIM Uses for multidisciplinary projects
* Proficient in Civil3D, Revit, Navisworks, BIM 360, ProjectWise, and Dynamo
* Infraworks is Optional
This Job is open to local candidates only.
Job Requirements:
Minimum Requirements
Fully capable of managing BIM and Digital on Civil Infrastructure projects
* Provides training and technical support to design staff on the Building Information Modeling system, which provides 3D models using project specifications and content.
* Direct project support and management to assigned projects to meet the job requirements as per client and internal BIM Standards
* Proficient in BIM process and ISO19650 Standard
* Proficient in Civil Infrastructure BIM Software
* GIS and Data Analytics capability is a plus
* 4 - 8 years experience 3 of which are in civil BIM
Preferred Qualifications
* A diploma or trade certificate in engineering discipline is required.
Contact: Bernard Dason (bernard@railpersonnel.com)
Mobility Development Expert, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Job ID#: 13352
Discipline: Operations
Position Type: Contract
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is looking for a Mobility Development Expert to lead, plan, deliver and manage the integrated Customer Experience Solutions strategy to ensure a World-class end-to-end Customer satisfaction from start to end of the journey, in alignment with the company's Strategic Plan and Objectives.
Accountability Areas:
* Define and implement the detailed business and functional requirements/standards of the client's manned passengers' services solutions delivered in station, onboard the train, and on the omnichannel contact centre, to exceed passengers" needs from the start to the end of the journey (including first and last mile) and across all touchpoints.
* Define the Customer Services strategy and oversee its implementation, liaising with other Depts. (Services Design, Project Delivery Team, Procurement, IT, Product Development Team etc.) to ensure that the highest possible standards of Customer service are delivered and maintained.
* Develop, plan, deliver and manage the mobility solutions portfolio on board the trains and in station.
* Define the omnichannel CRM (Customer Relationship Management) & Contact Centre strategy, develop the functional requirements of CRM and other related IT systems and oversee the implementation. Oversee the technical evaluation and the vendor selection, in liaison with Procurement, Systems, IT and other relevant Dept.
* Provide expert industry advices and inputs with regards to Service Delivery and Customer Operations.
* Oversee the Testing and Commissioning phases within the area of responsibility.
* Interface with relevant external key stakeholders (Authorities, vendore, providers, etc.) to ensure the implementation of the Customer Experience solutions.
Job Requirements
* Degree in Economics, Engineering or other related subjects.
* A minimum of 10 years of Railway/Transportation Relevant Experience.
Preferable:
* Personal Track Safety (PTS)
* Professional Railway Certifications or/and affiliations
Contact: Renee Wade (renee@railpersonnel.com)
Geotechnical and Tunnel Senior Engineer, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Job ID#: 13477
Discipline: Geotechnical
Position Type: Permanent
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is seeking a Geotechnical & Tunnel Senior Engineer to be responsible for investigating and evaluating soil, rock, groundwater, and man-made materials and their interaction with earth retention systems, structure foundations, and other civil engineering works.
Accountability Areas:
* Planning, estimating, and conducting subsurface investigation and laboratory testing programs in soil and rock.
* Interacting with regulatory agencies, subcontractors, drillers, and clients in a confident and professional manner.
* Performing geotechnical analyses and design of tunnels, shallow and deep foundations, embankments/cuts, pavements, and earth retaining systems for transit, transportation, buildings, and water projects.
* Preparing geotechnical memoranda, data and design reports.
* Preparing design drawings and specifications.
* Providing geotechnical support during construction.
* Performing nonlinear site response analysis using both conventional software and finite element software.
* Performing 2D and 3D, static and seismic geotechnical finite element analyses that feature: advanced constitutive models, consolidation stages, and fluid flow.
* Performing seismic soil-structure interaction analysis for foundations, basements, tunnels, shafts and other below-grade infrastructure in finite element software.
Job Requirements
* Degree in Geotechnical Engineering or any related field.
* A minimum of 5 years of Relevant Experience.
Contact: Renee Wade (renee@railpersonnel.com)
Job ID#: 13473
Discipline: Civil
Position Type: Contract
Language: Mandarin, English
Job Description:
Our client is looking for a QS Manager to be responsible for a project to ensure our project cost remain within budget. They provide cost and material estimates, draw up projected budgets, and work alongside a team, noting any design changes and their effect on cost.
In particular,
1) Conducting feasibility studies to estimate materials, time, and labour costs.
2) Preparing, negotiating, and analyzing costs for main contract.
3) Preparing, negotiating, and analyzing costs for subcontract and/ or suppliers costs and contracts.
4) Coordination of work effort liaising with Engineer dept. and Construction dept.
5) Dealing with a range of legal and contractual issues.
6) Valuing completed work and arranging for payments.
7) Main contract is English and subcontract is mandarin so that both language skill are required for duties.
Job Requirements:
-Candidate must possess at least Diploma in Quantity Surveyor or Civil Engineering or equivalent
-Experience in Civil or related field
-Minimum 6 years working experience in the related field
Contact: Patricia Hsiao (patricia@railpersonnel.com)
Train Maintenance Technicians, Auckland, New Zealand
Job ID#: 13498
Discipline: Rolling Stock
Position Type: Permanent
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is an international market leader in the design, manufacture, maintenance and supply of equipment and components for railway systems. In Auckland, they have delivered and are now maintaining the Auckland electric trains (referred to as the Electric Multiple Units (EMU)) on the Auckland passenger network. They are seeking high calibre candidates for their Maintenance team who possess knowledge and experience to ensure Auckland's trains are running safely and smoothly.
They have an exciting opportunity based in our Wiri Depot for a Warranty and Maintenance Technician to join our team. In this role you will be carrying out preventative and corrective maintenance on all of the trains' systems - Mechanical, Pneumatic, Electrical and Electronic.
Some key responsibilities include:
- Preventative inspections on all aspects of the EMU
- Corrective repairs on all aspects of the EMU to rectify defects
- Fault finding investigations and rectification, using mechanical and electrical schematics/drawings
- Carrying out regular checks on equipment to ensure fit for purpose (such as fleet checks)
Please note: this job is not open to overseas candidates
Job Requirements:
Please note that we are looking for local New Zealand based candidates only.
What you'll need to bring to the role:
- Ability to work in a team and at times unsupervised
- Previous experience with heavy vehicle/machinery maintenance
- Strong computer skills ideally using diagnostic tools
- Excellent communication
- Ability to work on a 24/7 shift work roster - the pattern is 4 day shifts (6am-6pm), 4 days off, 4 night shifts (6pm-6am), 4 days off
- Rolling stock electrical experience is preferred but not essential
Their remuneration package includes laundered uniforms, health insurance, and long service leave as well as access to discounted banking offers and local fitness providers. You"ll also have access to industry expertise and ongoing training and development.
In accordance with company policy/rail standards, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a pre-employment medical examination and drug test which is paid for by the client.
Contact: Renee Wade (renee@railpersonnel.com)
Rail News
More than one million passengers have used the new Elizabeth line between Paddington and Abbey since it opened on Tuesday 24 May. Across the whole line, which stretches from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, more than two million journeys have been made. Businesses across the line have welcomed the arrival of the Elizabeth line, which connects areas including world-leading financial centres in the Square Mile, and Canary Wharf, to key business and events hubs in the east including the Royal Docks.
Source: Rail UK
26 May 2022. Australia. Aurizon bulk freight locos enter service
Aurizon has taken delivery of the first four of 10 diesel locomotives which UGL’s Newcastle factory is supplying for hauling copper, lead, zinc and grain trains in New South Wales and Western Australia. The first four locos are being used to haul minerals at Cobar in western NSW. The remaining six locomotives will be commissioned in the coming months. Aurizon said the 10 locomotives represent an investment of more than A$50m in additional haulage capacity for its Bulk business, which has secured a number of new contracts in NSW.
Source: Railway Gazette International
The California High-Speed Rail Authority has submitted two applications for federal grant funding totaling nearly 1.3 billion dollars. The applications are the first major push for a continued federal partnership under the newly enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by President Biden in November 2021. “With the state’s continued commitment and the Biden Administration’s leadership and support, we are confident we will deliver a project the country will be proud of,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom in his support letter for the grants. “California is the home of innovation, and we are committed to advancing this very innovative project to improve our economy, advance clean mobility, and expand economic opportunity for all.”
Source: RailTech.com
24 May 2022. China. Tibet railway electrification announced
Plans to electrify the 1 136 km Golmud – Lhasa section of the Qinghai – Tibet railway have been announced by the autonomous region’s Development & Reform Commission. Work is scheduled to start in June 2022 and take three years. The cost is estimated at 14.84bn yuan, including 7.2bn yuan for the 535 km long section in Tibet. The stations are also to be expanded. The single track railway from Nanshankou near Golmud to Lhasa opened on July 1 2006. Trains are hauled by diesel locomotives specially built for the high altitude environment, with freight services using CSR Qishuyan DF8B-9000 locos and passenger trains using NJ2 locos built by GE Transportation with coaches from Bombardier Sifang Power.
Source: Railway Gazette International
24 May 2022. Germany. Bonn light rail vehicle contract awarded
CAF has signed a contract to supply 12 high-floor light rail vehicles to Bonn operator SWB Bus & Bahn, and 10 to the SSB joint venture between SWB and the Rhein-Sieg district. SWB said the value of the framework contract signed on May 20 was ‘in the high double-digit million’ euro range. This includes spare parts, and there is an option for a further 10 vehicles. The LRVs are scheduled to be delivered from 2024 and enter service by the end of 2026, enabling an increase in services to provide more capacity on the network including the inter-urban route to Köln.
Source: Metro Report International
24 May 2022. United Kingdom. All aboard the Elizabeth line
The transformational Elizabeth line opened today (Tuesday 24 May) attracting hundreds customers eager to make their first fast and seamless journeys through the heart of London. Excited passengers were welcomed by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and London’s Transport Commissioner, Andy Byford. The new railway will provide new journey options and support wider regeneration and recovery from the pandemic – creating jobs, business opportunities and a huge economic boost for the country. It will also connect London’s major employment centres and increase central London’s rail capacity by 10%, the largest single increase in the capital’s transport capacity in more than 70 years.
Source: Rail UK
24 May 2022. United Arab Emirates. Etihad Rail announces MoU’s on knowledge exchange with Renfe, HS1
Renfe and the United Arab Emirates’ Etihad Rail concluded last week’s 16th Annual Middle East Rail event with several Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) on knowledge transfers. Etihad Rail inked a similar deal with the UK’s HS1 and GB Railfreight. Through the MoU’s with Renfe and HS1, the operator of the UK’s first high-speed railway, Etihad Rail wants to expand its knowledge and expertise in the field of high-speed railways, as well as keep abreast of best practices in the field. The same applies to its MoU with GB Railfreight for the transportation of goods. Etihad Rail intends to deepen its knowledge, as there are a lot of major rail projects afoot in the UAE. In addition to expanding the Etihad Rail freight network to 1,200 kilometres, the company is also working on a passenger service and a future light rail network.
Source: RailTech.com
Radical structural reform, open access operations, the development of a standard gauge network of high speed lines and measures to address security problems are included in a White Paper on National Rail Policy which sets out the Department of Transport’s ambitions to make rail the backbone of the transport network by 2050. Improvements to reliability, operating speeds and the condition of the network would help to increase rail’s share of the freight and urban, suburban and long-distance passenger markets. The rail freight market would be opened to competition, with third-party operators in addition to incumbent Transnet.
Source: Railway Gazette International
19 May 2022. Israel. Alstom to design and build Israeli light rail system
Israel’s Metropolitan Mass Transit System (NTA) has awarded Alstom and its partners the contract for the design, construction and maintenance of the Tel Aviv Metropolitan LRT Green Line. Alstom’s contract scope, announced on Tuesday and valued at 858 million euros, also includes engineering work, the supply of the railway system including tracks and electrification, as well as signalling and communication. The company will also be supplying 98 two-car Citadis XO5 trams. The so-called Green Line is one of two new light rail lines planned for Tel Aviv. It will have a length of more than 39 kilometres and will run partially underground. Of the 62 stations, four will be underground as well.
Source: RailTech.com
18 May 2022. New Zealand. Auckland light rail design contract tending gets underway
Tenders have been called for detailed planning and design of the light rail line which is proposed as spine of a rapid transit network covering Auckland. The NZ$14·6bn project envisages a 24 km, 18-stop light rail line running in tunnel from Wynyard Quarter to Mt Roskill and then surfacing to run alongside the SH20 motorway to the airport. Longer term plans could see expansion to the North Shore and northwest. The winners of the Urban, Engineering & Planning Alliance Professional Services contract are scheduled to be contracted by October, and will be tasked with developing a Corridor Business Case and designing the route to progress the project by mid-2024.
Source: Metro Report International
17 May 2022. Austria. CRRC trainset for Westbahn arrives at test track
One of four double-deck electric multiple-units which CRRC Zhuzhou is to lease to Austrian open access passenger operator Westbahn has arrived at the Velim test centre in Czech Republic. Testing and certification of the Chinese-built EMUs is scheduled to be completed by mid-2023. In 2019 CRRC Zhuzhou bid to supply a complete fleet of trains to Westbahn, which was replacing its original fleet 17 of Stadler Kiss trainsets that had been sold to DB Fernverkehr. Westbahn selected Stadler to supply 15 six-car Kiss 3 double-deck EMUs, but subsequently decided to lease a further four double-deck trainsets from the Chinese manufacturer.
Source: Railway Gazette International
17 May 2022. United Kingdom. Surprise as Queen attends Elizabeth line opening
The Queen has made a surprise visit to the opening ceremony of the Elizabeth line at Paddington Station. She was joined by her youngest son, Prince Edward. The longest reigning head of state was unable to attend last week’s Queen’s Speech due to mobility problems. “In a happy development, Her Majesty The Queen is attending today’s event to mark the completion of the Elizabeth line,” said a Buckingham Palace spokesperson. “Her Majesty was aware of the engagement and the organisers were informed of the possibility she may attend.” The Queen and Prince Edward were welcomed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) commissioner Andy Byford.
Source: Rail UK
17 May 2022. Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s East Rail Line cross-harbour extension opens
Services on the cross-harbour extension of Hong Kong’s East Rail Line began on May 15 after an inauguration ceremony the previous day. The extension enables passengers from the Northeast New Territories and Central Kowloon to travel directly under Victoria Harbour to the core business district on Hong Kong Island without changing trains. The extension is the fourth cross-harbour line, and runs 4·6 km from the former terminus at Hung Hom to Exhibition Centre and Admiralty with a journey time of 7 min. The opening takes the full East Rail Line to 46 km and 16 stations.
Source: Metro Report International
