Dear Readers,
We are pleased to be supporting the Heavy Haul Rail Conference which will take place from 13th to 14th March 2024 at the Crown Perth, Western Australia.
The Australian heavy-haul rail industry, boasting some of the heaviest and longest trains, continues to lead the world in operations and innovation. Bringing together key decision makers, the agenda will showcase the best in local and international project expertise, giving attendees an understanding of the strategic directions of major players together with critical industry and market updates to ensure efficient, safe, and reliable operations.
For more information, visit: https://www.informa.com.au/event/conference/transport-logistics/heavy-haul-rail/
We have 3x exciting Jobs of the Week this week. In Brisbane, Australia we are looking for a Network Specialist, and in Los Angeles, California we are looking for a Lead Engineer, a Systems Engineer, and an Engineering Manager.
Best regards,
Rail Personnel
Rail News
7 December 2023. Thailand. Bangkok’s MRT Pink Line Commences Passenger Service
Bangkok’s MRT Pink Line has commenced trail operations, transporting passengers on an automated Innovia monorail system supplied by Alstom. The Pink Line spans 34.5 kilometers and serves 30 stations, connecting the heavily congested Khae Rai to Min Buri. This service reduces the travel time between these destinations by 50%, with the journey now taking under an hour. In addition, the Pink Line connects to five other rail lines in the city. By 2025, it will also serve an additional two stations to further improve the connectivity between Bangkok and Nonthaburi.
Source: Railway-News
A $12bn high-speed rail project between Las Vegas and southern California in the US is set to receive $3bn in funding from the Department of Transportation through the Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The news of investment into the construction of the Nevada to California line was revealed by Nevada Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen who praised the funding and highlighted the 35,000 jobs it was expected to create and the 3 million cars it is projected to remove from the congested I-15 highway.
Source: Railway Technology
6 December 2023. Poland. CPK signs agreement with Spanish high-speed rail expert ADIF
Central Transport Hub (CPK), building an integrated transport hub with new high-speed railway lines in Poland, has signed an agreement with Spanish railway infrastructure manager ADIF. The objective is to enhance strategic collaboration between the two entities in advancing the high-speed rail network in Poland. Under the terms of the agreement, CPK and ADIF will collaborate on various initiatives.
Source: RailTech.com
5 December 2023. The Philippines. CAF to Deliver 7 EMU Express Trains to the Philippines
Mitsubishi Corporation has outsourced the design and supply of 7 Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) to CAF as part of its contract with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) of the Government of the Philippines. Under this outsourcing agreement, CAF will manufacture seven express trains for service in the Philippines. Each vehicle will consist of eight cars, for which CAF will also supply the spare parts.
Source: Railway-News
5 December 2023. United States. Patriot Rail acquires Hydra following 10-year partnership.
S-based rail transport firm Patriot Rail Company has announced the acquisition of Hydra Distribution & Rail Services and Hydra Transport to expand its operations. The acquisition follows a 10-year partnership between the two companies on logistic solutions at Patriots Sacramento Valley Railroad in McClellan Park, California. Due to the integration of Hydra’s services, Patriot Rail will now offer customers nationwide a “first-rate suite” of freight transportation services.
Source: Railway Technology
5 December 2023. Morocco. Morocco to acquire 168 trains in preparation for World Cup
Morocco’s National Office of Railways (ONCF) has announced a tender for the acquisition of 168 trains, marking a major step in the country’s preparation for the 2030 World Cup. The deal, worth approximately AED16bn ($1.59bn), includes 150 trains between Intercity, Rapid Shuttle, and Mass Transit Services, and 18 trains to extend the use of existing high-speed lines.
Source: Railway Technology
5 December 2023. United Kingdom. £3.9bn confirmed for next phase of Transpennine Route Upgrade
New ground has been broken today on the Transpennine Route Upgrade, as the Minister for Rail announced a £3.9bn funding boost to the North’s most transformative rail project. This increase takes the total funding of the project to £6.9bn and will allow for works taking place across the route between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, and York to progress further, as the journey to deliver more frequent, faster trains running on a cleaner, greener and more reliable railway continues.
Source: Rail UK
4 December 2023. Germany. Vossloh to provide Deutsche Bahn with 600 switches.
Vossloh’s Customized Modules division and Deutsche Bahn signed a four-year framework agreement for at least 600 switches, on 30 November 2023. Vossloh signed their first four-year framework agreement for complete switches with firmly committed delivery quantities with Deutsche Bahn. Over the next four years, Vossloh’s Customized Modules Division will supply at least 600 switches to the German rail giant. In parallel, Vossloh will continue to supply DB with switch components.
Source: RailTech.com
4 December 2023. Australia. Sydney Rail Repair Plan hits milestone
The $97 million Sydney Trains Rail Repair Plan is halfway complete and ahead of schedule, with 80 percent of the 1,900 high-priority defects fixed. The program was announced in June to improve the reliability and resilience of the rail network. Rail Repair trackwork on this line has culminated in the installation of a new backup airline hose across the bridge – for the first time in history – meaning trains can keep running while critical signaling repairs are made.
Source: Infrastructure Magazine
Job of the Week
Senior Network Engineer, Brisbane, Australia
Job ID#: 14813
Discipline: Telecommunications
Position Type: Permanent
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is seeking an enthusiastic self-motivated Senior Network Engineer who thrives in a fast-paced environment. The successful candidate is comfortable performing a wide range of tasks from administrative to strategic. The position is based in Brisbane, Australia.
You will work on the design and implementation of communications projects that incorporate radio sites, microwave links, IP nodes, solutions for voice and data communications, Fiber Optic and copper-based transmission systems, power supply systems, and related ancillary systems.
As part of the engineering design and delivery team, you will work directly within the communications engineering team and will be primarily responsible for design, testing, and integration activities related to IP networks.
Accountabilities:
* Develop high-level & detailed design documentation for various projects.
* Hands-on configuration and integration on multiple routing and switching equipment.
* Participate in factory and site testing and commissioning activities.
* Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
* Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve network issues.
Primarily responsible for design, testing, and integration activities related to IP networks as Senior Network Engineer.
Job Requirements
* CCNP-qualified Network Engineer with a minimum 10+ years' of experience
* Bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent.
* Extensive experience in Cisco routing and switching technologies.
* Strong understanding of the following technologies: IP/MPLS, BGP4 and OSPF
* Strong project experience with an ability to manage priorities and multitask.
* Demonstrated experience in engineering report writing.
* Experience working in the Rail sector.
Contact: Renee Wade (renee@railpersonnel.com)
Lead Engineer, Systems Engineer IV, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Job ID#: 14827
Discipline: Rolling Stock
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is seeking a Lead Engineer, Systems Engineer IV to provide technical leadership to the electrical team. As an early people leader, Lead Engineer can hire and develop talent, and provide informal guidance to junior engineers.
Primary Responsibilities:
* Lead the team to solve complex problems through thought leadership and robust analyses.
* Leverage internal and external resources to develop, advance, and retain talent.
* Lead the Rolling Stock subsystem vendors to deliver the products acceptable for the client and the customers on time by giving the right input information at the right timings.
* Attend meetings with customers and suppliers as the key representative of the engineering team.
* Design/develop/deploy the vehicle's electrical system and integration including embedded hardware and software, circuits, wiring, and associated mechanical interfaces.
* Performance testing and troubleshooting LRV electrical and mechanical systems and evaluating and documenting results.
* Create and review engineering-relevant documents, reports, and technical proposals.
* Help with special projects as assigned by the Sr. Engineering Manager.
Job Requirements
* Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Mechanical or related field required, master's degree a plus.
* 3+ years of experience in electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering; experience working in Rolling Stock required.
* 2+ years of experience in supplier management of railway vehicle subsystems with the US or European suppliers.
* 2+ years of experience in requirement management of the (sub) systems of Rolling Stock.
* Experience in troubleshooting Rolling Stock subsystems using hardware and mechanical drawings and circuit and schematics and various tools such as PTU, etc.
* Experience with supervising Railway RAMS engineering including Verification and Validation (V&V).
* Experience as a team leader with a strong determination to complete projects that span several years.
* Ability to teach others and must be able to assist teams with abstract technology concepts.
* Ability to travel to various domestic and international destinations.
Contact: Renee Wade (renee@railpersonnel.com)
Engineering Manager, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Job ID#: 13695
Discipline: Rolling Stock
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is a leading manufacturer of railroad vehicles, and they are looking for an Engineering Manager to join their team in Los Angeles, California.
Purpose: The Engineering Manager will supervise, plan, direct, or coordinate activities in the Engineering department to align and ensure a high-performance culture that emphasizes quality and productivity standards. This position is also responsible for ensuring ongoing manufacturing strategies that include quality staffing.
Primary Responsibilities:
* Manage engineering team, including coaching and mentoring staff, allocating workloads, and overseeing engineering activities.
* Set realistic goals for the team, prioritize issues, and monitor and follow up on progress to ensure goals are met.
* Lead the team to solve complex problems through thought leadership and robust analyses.
* Leverage internal and external resources to develop, advance, and retain talent.
* Attend meetings with customers and suppliers as the key representative of the engineering team.
* Design/develop/deploy the vehicle's electrical system and integration including embedded hardware and software, circuits, wiring, and associated mechanical interfaces.
* Design/develop/deploy the vehicle mechanical and structure systems including FEA, strength calculations, car body, and truck facilities.
* Design/develop/deploy the core vehicle systems such as Propulsion, Braking, APS, HVAC, Doors, Communication system, and TCMS system.
* Performance testing and troubleshooting LRV electrical and mechanical systems and evaluating and documenting results.
* Create and review engineering-relevant documents, reports, and technical proposals.
* Help with special projects as assigned by the Vice President of Engineering.
Job Requirements
* Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Mechanical or related field required, master's degree a plus.
* 7+ years of experience in electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering; experience working in Rolling Stock strongly preferred.
* 2-3 years of supervisory experience.
* Experience with communication protocols such as RS232, RS485, MVB, Ethernet & Internet protocols.
* Extensive knowledge of computer hardware and software.
* Ability to troubleshoot using Oscilloscopes, Logic Analyzers, etc.
* Solid experience with version control.
* A team leader with a strong determination to complete projects which may span several years.
* Excellent schedule and task management skills, and proven ability to meet deadlines.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
* Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, CAD, or related engineering software.
* Ability to travel to various domestic and international destinations.
Contact: Renee Wade (renee@railpersonnel.com)
