Dear Readers
We are pleased to announce 3x new starters with Rail Personnel.
Henry Cheung has joined as a Director based in Hong Kong and he will be responsible for developing our business activities in Hong Kong and in Asia.
Henry has extensive experience in the railway engineering industry, serving in various capacities and has delivered railway systems around the world. Most notably is his contribution to the Hong Kong mainline and metro when he was the manager in charge of the signal and telecommunication systems. He has over 27 years’ experience as an engineer; he is renowned in the local engineering community and global railway industry. He has served in various positions in many professional institutions and has lectured in post-graduate level railway engineering courses.
Henry can be reached at henryc@railpersonnel.com.
Peter Jay has joined as a Director based in Sydney, Australia and he will be responsible for developing our business activities in Australia as well as with his many contacts in Asia and the Middle East.
Peter is a highly skilled PMO Executive with 39 years of experience, principally in project and programming management. He has strong experience in engineering designs, construction practices, economic principles and is well-versed in the international codes, standards, procedures and specifications.
Peter can be reached at peterj@railpersonnel.com.
Makoto Yamasaki has joined as a Director based in Japan and he will be responsible for developing our business activities with our Japanese clients.
Makoto has a Railway overall Engineering & Technical background (incl. Civil, Building, System, Rollingstock, Depot, Operation & Maintenance, Planning, Interface Management, Contract Management, Resource Management, On-site management) through large scale railway turnkey project tendering and project implementation (both onsite and offsite as general manager) as project manager/director and representative in Asia & Middle East with coordinating with international firms (Korea, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, UAE, for Project Management).
Makoto can be reached at yamasaki@railpersonnel.com.
And we have 3x exciting Jobs of the Week this week. In Taiwan, we are looking for a Rolling Stock Engineer (must be fluent in Mandarin). And our client is bidding for work on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai HSR project and they are looking for candidates for the positions of Construction Director and Project Controls Director.
Best Regards
Rail Personnel
Rail News
17 June 2025. United Arab Emirates. Dubai Metro Blue Line construction officially launched
Construction of Dubai’s Metro Blue Line was officially launched on June 9 with the laying of a foundation stone in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai and Vice-President & Prime Minister of the UAE. The line is to be built by a Turkish Chinese consortium of civil works contractors, Mapa and Limak, with railway systems supplier CRRC. The Y-shaped line will have two routes totaling 15·5 km of underground and 14·5 km of elevated alignment, including a 1·3 km bridge across the Dubai Creek.
Source: Metro Report International
16 June 2025. France. SYSTRA to Support New High-Speed Rail Line in South-West France
SYSTRA France has been appointed by SNCF Réseau to provide general and technical project management assistance for the New South-West Line (Ligne Nouvelle Sud-Ouest, LNSO), a major high-speed rail development linking Bordeaux with Toulouse and Dax. Awarded by the GPSO Agency, the nine-year contract will see SYSTRA involved in all phases of the project until 2034. Around 100 staff, mainly in Bordeaux and Toulouse, will support work on technical planning, environmental and financial oversight, and implementation of innovative, sustainable solutions.
Source: Railway News
16 June 2025. Australia. 4Tel to deploy TMACS technology on Tarcoola to Kalgoorlie line in Australia
The company will extend the use of the TMACS across a 1,276km stretch of track. 4Tel, a turnkey control and information management solutions provider, is set to modernise train control functionality on the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s (ARTC) Tarcoola to Kalgoorlie line by deploying Train Management and Control System (TMACS). TMACS, a computer-based electronic authority system, will be implemented across a 1,276km stretch of track by late 2026.
The system is already operational on more than 5,000km of track in New South Wales (NSW).
Source: Railway Technology
An iconic railway viaduct, which is crucial to the Peak District quarrying industry, is getting a multi-million-pound upgrade this summer. Network Rail is investing £7.5m to improve one of Chapel Milton’s twin Victorian viaducts between now and the autumn. The 160-year-old 15-arch structure is a mainstay of the success of the country’s freight network, allowing services to transport stone, cement and limestone from four major Derbyshire quarries to destinations across Great Britain.
Source: Rail Technology Magazine
Woojin Industrial Systems has delivered the first of nine two-car rubber-tyred automated guideway transit vehicles that it is supplying for the Yangsan Line in Busan. The vehicles are being built under a 34.2bn won contract signed in August 2022. The technology was developed jointly by the Korea Railroad Research Institute and Woojin Industrial Systems. The vehicle is now scheduled to undergo test runs; the remaining eight trainsets are due to be delivered by August.
Source: Metro Report International
12 June 2025. United States. San Francisco Advances Muni Metro Train Control Upgrade
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has launched the next phase of its Train Control Upgrade Project (TCUP), aimed at overhauling the train signalling and control systems across the Muni Metro network. The project will introduce a communications-based train control (CBTC) system, which uses continuous, real-time data exchange between trains and a central control centre. This technology, provided by Hitachi Rail, will allow for more accurate train spacing and operational flexibility across both underground and surface segments of the 71-mile network.
Source: Railway News
13 June 2025. United Arab Emirates. Dubai Metro introduces AI-driven robotic inspection system
The ARIIS platform is equipped with LiDAR sensors, lasers, and 3D cameras, enabling autonomous inspection of rail tracks and critical infrastructure. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in partnership with Keolis MHI and Future Maintenance Technologies (FMT), has launched an advanced AI-driven robotic inspection system known as the Automated Rail Infrastructure Inspection System (ARIIS) for Dubai Metro. This system represents an advancement in operational maintenance for Dubai Metro, supporting Dubai’s ambition to lead in AI and sustainable infrastructure.
Source: Railway Technology
Job of the Week
Rolling Stock Engineer, Taipei, Taiwan
Job ID#: 15109
Discipline: Rolling Stock
Language: Taiwanese, English
Job Description:
Our client is seeking a Rolling Stock Engineer to be based in Taipei and assist with their activities on the Taichung Metro Project.
Candidates must be proficient in both spoken and written English and Chinese.
Responsibilities and Duties:
- Oversee and coordinate all general tasks related to RST project execution.
- Develop and manage the overall project schedule, including design, interface, manufacturing, delivery, site testing, and commissioning.
- Facilitate effective communication and build strong working relationships with internal teams, consortium members, and external stakeholders, including clients, subsystems, and civil contractors.
- Coordinate with clients (Maintain good customer relations and ensure all customer feedback is recorded in the meeting).
- Serve as a communication bridge between the company's engineers/managers in Korea and the local team to ensure smooth project coordination.
- Collaborate closely with all related subsystem teams (e.g., signaling, communication, power, PSD, track,
Civil) to ensure interface and schedule alignment.
- Monitor and manage activities conducted by the OPM team, including configuration management, risk control, verification and validation (V&V), system assurance, quality assurance, safety compliance, and Building Information Modeling (BIM).
- Prepare and distribute accurate and timely meeting minutes (including Consortium meetings and client meetings) to all relevant stakeholders.
- Manage regular reports (ex., monthly report, weekly report, daily report, etc.)
Job Requirements:
- Candidates MUST be proficient in both spoken and written English and Chinese
- Strong command of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
- Previous hands-on experience in RST or railway system projects is highly preferred.
- Holders of relevant certifications will be given preference:
- TOEIC certificate (preferential treatment)
- QA/QC certificate (preferential treatment)
- Safety certificate (preferential treatment)
- Excellent organizational and multitasking abilities with a high level of attention to detail.
- Strong interpersonal skills, teamwork, and the ability to work independently under tight deadlines
Contact: Jackie Hendry (jackie@railpersonnel.com)
Construction Director, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Job ID#: 15122
Discipline: Civil
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is bidding for work on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai HSR and they are looking for suitably qualified and experienced candidates for the role of Construction Director.
Job Summary:
The Construction Director will lead the execution and delivery of large-scale railway infrastructure projects with a focus on high-speed rail (HSR) systems operating above 250 km/h. This senior leadership role is responsible for the end-to-end construction management and systems integration of critical rail subsystems including track, 25 kV AC power supply, signaling, telecoms, and associated civil works. The candidate must have demonstrable implementation and delivery experience on at least one HSR project in a similar leadership capacity, with over 5 years of total experience in HSR.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the construction and systems delivery for major rail projects, with focus on HSR (>250 km/h).
- Manage multidisciplinary rail systems including track, signaling, electrification (25 kV AC), and telecoms.
- Oversee construction execution plans, contractor performance, and system integration activities.
- Direct interface management between civil works and systems installation teams.
- Ensure all construction activities align with program schedule, quality, and safety requirements.
- Identify and mitigate delivery risks across systems and infrastructure components.
- Coordinate with design, procurement, and testing & commissioning teams to ensure seamless handovers.
- Ensure compliance with technical specifications, regulatory standards, and safety frameworks.
- Provide regular reporting to executive leadership on progress, risks, and mitigation actions.
- Champion a strong culture of HSE, quality assurance, and operational discipline on site.
Job Requirements:
A Director shall have a construction / engineering related university degree (preferably a Master's degree or have Chartered Engineer Status), with not less than 20 years' experience in the leadership and management of similar railway systems and construction works projects (preferably HSR), with demonstrable experience in railway system delivery (signaling, 25 kV AC power, track etc.), construction, and system integration. For Director level positions it is mandatory to have implementation and delivery experience on at least 1 HSR Project in a similar capacity / role and total HSR experience (defined as above 250 km/h) shall exceed 5-years minimum.
Contact: Rajni Tewani (rajni@railpersonnel.com)
Project Controls Director, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Job ID#: 15123
Discipline: Project Control
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is bidding for work on the Abu Dhabi -Dubai HSR Project and they are looking for suitably qualified and experienced candidates for the role of Project Controls Director.
Job Summary:
The Project Director – Controls is responsible for the leadership, implementation, and oversight of all project control functions for complex railway infrastructure projects, with a strong focus on high-speed rail systems (>250 km/h). This includes schedule management, cost control, risk management, change control, reporting, and systems integration support. The candidate must have proven experience in the successful delivery of at least one high-speed rail project in a similar leadership role and possess more than five years of dedicated HSR experience.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the full suite of project control functions across planning, cost, schedule, risk, and change management.
- Oversee integrated project schedules and ensure alignment between civil, systems, and rolling stock delivery.
- Manage budget control processes including forecasting, earned value management (EVM), and performance analysis.
- Establish and monitor KPIs to measure project health, progress, and productivity.
- Direct the development and implementation of project controls systems, tools, and dashboards.
- Coordinate with construction, engineering, procurement, and systems integration teams to maintain alignment on scope and interfaces.
- Support executive reporting, performance reviews, and client presentations with accurate, timely data.
- Lead risk identification and mitigation planning across all project phases.
- Implement robust change management protocols and ensure change impacts are properly assessed and communicated.
- Ensure project control practices are compliant with contractual, regulatory, and governance requirements.
Job Requirements
A Director shall have a construction / engineering related university degree (preferably a Master's degree or have Chartered Engineer Status), with not less than 20 years' experience in the leadership and management of similar railway systems and construction works projects (preferably HSR), with demonstrable experience in railway system delivery (signaling, 25 kV AC power, track etc.), construction, and system integration. For Director level positions it is mandatory to have implementation and delivery experience on at least 1 HSR Project in a similar capacity / role and total HSR experience (defined as above 250 km/h) shall exceed 5-years minimum.
Contact: Rajni Tewani (rajni@railpersonnel.com)
