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Rail News

6th October 2022. Volume 10, Issue 1

over 1 year ago by Rail Personnel

​Dear Readers

The ARA Rail Freight Conference will take place from 19-21 October at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Bringing together senior executives from the rail freight and intermodal sectors, the conference will be an important opportunity to hear the latest on major issues impacting the industry. This is a unique opportunity to hear from the leaders in rail freight whilst networking with those facing similar challenges across the rail industry.

For details and to register, visit: https://ara.net.au/events/ara-rail-freight-conference/

And the ARA New Zealand Rail Conference gets underway next week. Held at the Hilton in Auckland from 10-11th October, this event will bring together key industry and government stakeholders, customers, researchers and suppliers to network and exchange best practice on the innovation, collaboration, technical expertise and investment needed to advance these planning priorities and future opportunities for rail in New Zealand.

For details and to register, visit: https://www.informa.com.au/event/conference/transport-logistics/new-zealand-rail/

Our Jobs of the Week this week are in Taiwan where we are looking for an EHS Manager and a Project Engineer.

Best Regards

Rail Personnel

Jobs of the Week

Taiwan EHS Manager, Taipei, Taiwan

Job ID#: 13580

Discipline: Project Management

Language: Mandarin, English

Job Description:

-Develop and implement strategies taking into account of customer, regulation and corporate requirement for -managing and continually improving the company safety standards

-Ensure relevant EHS requirements of Alstom procedure (AZDP) are effectively applied on the project

-Assist in the development and reviewing ESH aspects of the following documents: Construction, Phase Plans, Work Package plans, Task Briefing Sheets, Environmental Management Plans, Quality Management Plan and Site Waste Management Plans

-Carry out training sessions/briefing on EHS topics as necessary to project team

-Undertake and report on formal EHS audits in line with Alstom's and the client's requirements

-Assistance with accident/incident, near miss/close call investigations in line with Alstom's accident/incident investigation process

-Support and maintain internal safety reporting systems

Job Requirements

-Master Degree in Occupational Health or equivalent with Bachelor degree

-Certified of Category B EHS certificate

-At least 8 years of metro or railways construction EHS experieneces

-Good knowledge and undersyanding of ISO14001, OHSAS 18001, ISO45001

-Fluent in both English and Chinese

Contact: Patricia Hsiao (patricia@railpersonnel.com)

Project Engineer, Taichung, Taiwan

Job ID#: 13581

Discipline: Project Managers

Language: English

Job Description:

- Participate in the day-to-day Project QC Team activities and co-ordinate with relevant parties to ensure that the Project QC inspections activities are executed on schedule, in a safe & environmentally friendly manner and in accordance to Project & Client requirements, in accordance to the approved Quality and Inspection Test Plans (ITPs)

- Review, respond and participate in Engineering Observations (EORs), Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs), Change Control, Punchlist and Walkdown schedules

- Review, verify and endorse Contractor Quality Records/Reports, Engineering Drawings, Change Notices/Design Modifications etc.

- Review, participate in and respond to Contractor daily site Inspection Requests (IRs)

- Review and comment on Contractors Turn-over documents, including red-lined drawings

- Participate in Contractor/Vendor off-site visits (as required)

- Participate in audits (as required)

Document control and admin.

Provide overall document control support to project team, able to tracking/ publishing in and outgoing documents and lead stakeholder meetings.

Able to communicate in English.

* Coordination of technical tasks within the discipline (including sub-contractor and clients).

* Assist in document standardization and check to ensure compliance of the Client standard with relevant regulation and codes.

Job Requirements

English -- Listening/Medium, Speaking/Medium, Reading/Medium, Writing/Medium

Contact: Patricia Hsiao (patricia@railpersonnel.com)

Rail News

4 October 2022. United Arab Emirates. Dubai advertises contracts to extend metro lines by more than 20km

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority has issued procurement notices to contractors to look at significantly extending the city's metro network. The work would involve more than 20 kilometres of tracks being built and a dozen new stations created, if the project goes ahead. The Green Line extension would be the most significant of the two lines, with 20.6km of new track and 11 new stations, according to a notice published online. The plan appears to match a scheme outlined almost a decade ago, which was designed to unlock parts of the city with few transport links.

Source: The National News

1October 2022. India. India overtakes Japan in length of metrorail projects: Union minister

With the inauguration of Ahmedabad metro, length of metro projects in India has reached 810 km, overtaking Japan, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri said Friday. Puri was speaking at the inauguration of Phase-1 of Ahmedabad Metro where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present. “After the inauguration of Ahmedabad metro, the coverage of metrorail in India reaches 810 kilometers. It is a matter of pride, that India is among leading countries with respect to total length of metrorail”, the union minister said adding that India has not only overtaken Japan, but also has 982 kilometers of Metro rail under construction. “Once this (982 kilometers of metro rail) finishes, India will overtake South Korea and United States and will reach the second position in the world. I am expecting this to happen within next 1-2 years,” he added.

Source: The Indian Express

 

30 September 2022. Philippines. Infrastructure South Commuter Railway construction contracts awarded

The Department of Transportation has awarded Hyundai Engineering & Construction the lots 4, 5 and 6 contracts for the South Commuter Railway project to build a 56 km electrified double-track line running south from Solis station in Manila to Calamba with 18 stations. The three lots totalling US$1·2bn cover the construction of 32 km of viaduct and nine stations over 57 months. Dong-Ah Geological Engineering is to undertake foundation works valued at US$134m. The line forms the southern part of the 147 km North–South Commuter Railway which will link New Clark City with Calamba.

Source: Metro Report International

 

30 September 2022. New Zealand. Auckland light rail development contract awards

Contracts are being awarded for further planning and development of the proposed Auckland light rail project. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Auckland Transport and Auckland Council have selected an alliance of Aurecon and Arup as preferred bidder for the next phase of planning and design. This will include producing proposals for the final route and locations of up to 18 stops, along with development of the final corridor business base, building on the indicative business case developed by the Auckland Light Rail Establishment Unit. The companies will also consider how the line should be built and prepare the consents needed.

Source: Metro Report International

28 September 2022. Australia. Consortium chosen to construct Melbourne Airport Rail

The Victorian Government’s Melbourne Airport Rail Project will be led by an eight-member consortium, comprising peak-bodies within the transport and infrastructure industries. The Sunshine Systems Alliance includes; John Holland, CPB Contractors, AECOM, KBR, Alstom, Metro Trains Melbourne, V/Line and Rail Projects Victoria. The consortium will begin detailed planning and design for the airport rail project, along with early works on site, in the Sunshine and Albion areas. The project will establish Sunshine Station as a transport superhub, connecting airport trains with the metro and regional rail networks. The Sunshine Systems Alliance will also deliver a corridor-wide rail system and signalling upgrades to allow High Capacity Metro Trains to travel to the new Airport station.

Source: Infrastructure Magazine

 

28 September 2022. United Arab Emirates. UAE, Oman sign $3bn cross-border railway deal

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman have signed a $3 billion deal to link each other's borders through a cross-border rail project, in a major expansion of rail infrastructure in the Gulf. During a two-day state visit by the UAE's president, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Oman, in which he met with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in the capital, Muscat, the two leaders signed the deal to connect Abu Dhabi with Sohar, to the north of Muscat, by rail. Under the agreement, Etihad Rail – the developer and operator of the UAE National Rail Network – and Oman Rail will jointly establish an equally-owned company named the Oman-Etihad Rail Company.

Source: Middle East Monitor

 

27 September 2022. Japan. Isolated Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen extends Japan’s high speed network to Nagasaki

JR Kyushu has started revenue service on the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen between Takeo Onsen and Nagasaki in the far southwest of the country. This is the first section of high speed line to open since the 148 km of the Hokkaido Shinkansen between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto which opened in March 2016 and the Nagano – Kanazawa section of the Hokuriku Shinkansen completed in March 2015. At just 66 km the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen is one of the shortest stretches of high speed line in the world, and at present it is completely isolated from the rest of Japan’s 1 435 mm gauge network.

Source; Railway Gazette International

26 September 2022. Australia. Project milestone for QLD’s Cross River Rail

Queensland’s Cross River Rail project has achieved a significant milestone, connecting Gabba and the Brisbane CBD via newly-laid underground tracks. Queensland’s Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey, said more than 3km of train tracks, in each direction, now connect the future Albert Street and Woolloongabba stations. “Cross River Rail now has rail crossing under the river,” Mr Bailey said. “This is a huge milestone for the project and for South East Queensland as we continue to make progress on Queensland’s biggest rail project. “What we’re seeing here today is the track that will move our growing population, footy fans and future games goers once Cross River Rail is operational.

Source: Infrastructure Magazine

23 September 2022. United Arab Emirates. Thales and Etihad Rail sign MoU to support Middle Eastern sustainable rail projects

Thales and Etihad Rail have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will see the two companies develop a significant collaboration on rail control, smart stations and ticketing technologies to contribute to the growth of the rail industry in the UAE and the Middle East. The signing took place during InnoTrans exhibition in Berlin and was signed by officials from both sides. Through this association, the two parties will collaborate in various areas, which include: new generation rail control; European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 3; driver advisory system; intelligent traffic operation; asset management; real time passenger flow; data driven operation control centre; video analytics; connectivity and passenger entertainment system; booking and ticketing system, and mobility and integration solutions between various modes of transport.

Source: Rail UK

 

21 September 2022. Germany. DB to invest record amount in new trains and locomotives

Deutsche Bahn (DB) has earmarked a record sum of more than 19 billion euros for investment in new trains and locomotives in the current decade. According to DB, it marks the largest fleet modernisation programme in the company’s history. “With the record sum of more than 19 billion euros, we are building the capacity for even higher demand. Modern vehicles not only make the railways more climate-friendly, but also more reliable and customer-friendly”, DB CEO Richard Lutz said at the announcement at InnoTrans 2022 in Berlin.

Source: RailTech.com

 

21 September 2022. Saudi Arabia. Alstom and the Saudi Railway Company explore hydrogen solutions for Saudi Arabia

Alstom and Saudi Railway Company (SAR) have inked a memorandum of understanding for the possible rollout of hydrogen trains and associated infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia wants to reduce its (economic) dependency on hydrocarbons and fossil fuels. The Kingdom is working towards this goal under the Saudi Vision 2030 programme. For SAR, this means that it too is exploring new ways to align its activities with the Vision 2030. As such, Alstom and SAR will study how to adapt hydrogen train solution for Saudi Arabia.

Source: RailTech.com