Dear Readers
We are pleased to be supporting the 5th ASEAN Rail Summit 2026 which will take place from 29th to 30th January 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The summit will bring together over 300 delegates from government agencies, international organizations, leading enterprises, academia, and core sectors such as equipment manufacturing, engineering construction, operations management, technological innovation, and investment services across the global rail transit value chain. Under the theme "Vision for Pan-Asia, Intelligent Connectivity," participants will engage in discussions on technological breakthroughs, financing models, and market opportunities, providing a strategic blueprint and collaborative platform for high-quality rail transit development in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
For more information and to register to attend, visit: https://en.shine-consultant.com/prod_view.aspx?TypeId=11&Id=381&FId=t3:11:3
We have 5x exciting Jobs of the Week this week.
In Manila, Philippines, we are looking for a Telecoms/ICSS Expert. In Singapore, we are looking for a Head of Engineering for Signalling System Design (ASEAN), a Telecommunications Engineer, and a Signalling Hardware Design Lead Engineer. Also, in Perth, Western Australia, we are looking for a Rail Design Engineer.
Best Regards
Rail Personnel
Rail News
6 January 2026. United Kingdom.£7 million upgrade boosts Scotland’s rail freight network
Network Rail has delivered £7 million worth of rail improvements in North Lanarkshire, strengthening one of the most critical freight corridors in Scotland. Mossend is a vital hub for moving goods across the country. It’s home to three major freight depots and last year handled more than 80% of the country’s rail freight, making it a key part of the national supply chain. During a planned nine-day closure over the festive period, multiple upgrades were delivered aimed at improving reliability and performance for freight as well as passenger services.
Source: Rail UK
6 January 2026. South Korea. 370 km/h high speed trainset development programme completed
The development of the technologies required for a high speed trainset with a commercial speed of 370 km/h has been completed as part of a 22·5bn won national research and development programme. The project to develop the vehicle branded EMU-370 started in April 2022 and its completion was announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on December 22. The programme was led by Korea Railroad Research Institute. Six more state-owned and private companies participated including Hyundai Rotem, train vehicle control system specialist Intercon Systems, and national operator Korail.
Source: Railway Gazette
5 January 2026. Philippine. 28 Japanese Firms Bid to Build Philippines’ Mega Railway Project
Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Tokyo Metro, Sumitomo, and Alstom are among 28 Japanese transport giants that want a part of the biggest railway project in Philippine history. These massive companies are now officially looking at the ₱874-billion North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR). Because of this interest, the future of commuting in Manila and nearby provinces could soon feature the same high-quality trains seen in Japan. At 147 kilometres long with 35 stations, the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) is not just any ordinary train project. It is actually set to be the longest commuter railway the country has ever seen.
Source: TripZilla Philippines
5 January 2026. Australia. Four Major Contracts Awarded to Progress Sydney Metro West Project
Sydney Metro has awarded a set of four large contracts to companies aiding in the development of the city’s Sydney Metro West project. The four contracts concern the delivery of track, installation of rail systems, construction of maintenance facilities, design, rolling stock and more. Firstly, the Linewide Package, which involves the delivery of 60kms of track, installation of rail systems and construction of a new, expansive, 38-hectare stabling and maintenance facility in Clyde; has been awarded to John Holland, with next year set to see roughly 1,000 workers begin work in metro tunnels up to 37 metres beneath the city to fit tracks, power, ventilation and communications systems.
Source: Railway-News
Arriva Nederland has awarded Stadler a contract to supply five Stadler Flirt electric multiple units to enhance capacity and comfort on Vechtdal Lines services. In 2025, the provinces of Overijssel and Drenthe selected current operator Arriva for the next contract to operate passenger services on the 76 km Zwolle – Emmen and 19 km Almelo – Mariënberg – Hardenberg routes for 15 years from December 2028.
Source: Railway Gazette International
5 January 2026. China. GoA4 Automated Metro Lines Enter Service in Chengdu
Two new smart metro lines have entered passenger service in Chengdu, with the introduction of GoA4 fully automated trains on Chengdu Metro Line 13 Phase I and Line 30 Phase I. The trains have been developed by CRRC. Their deployment represents a further step in the adoption of automated metro operations within the city’s rail network. The trains operate using a GoA4 (Grade of Automation 4) system, enabling fully unattended operation. Under this system, trains automatically power up, carry out self-diagnostic checks prior to service, depart according to the operating timetable, and return to the depot after service hours. These processes are completed without on-board staff involvement.
Source: Railway News
5 January 2026. Sweden. Investment group EQT to acquire Arlanda Express airport train operator
Private equity investment group EQT is to acquire A-Train, the operator of the Arlanda Express passenger train service connecting central Stockholm with Sweden’s largest airport in 18 min.
A-Train operates under a public-private partnership concession with the Swedish state which has granted long-term rights to operate the shuttle service until 2050.A-Train is owned by Portare 1 AB, which is itself owned by Australian pension funds State Super (STC Pooled Fund State Super).
Source: Railway Gazette International
2 January 2026. Uzbekistan. Talgo Secures Maintenance Contract for High-Speed Trains in Uzbekistan
Talgo has signed a ten-year comprehensive maintenance contract with Uzbekistan’s public railway operator, Uzbekiston Temir Yollari (UTY), covering the country’s fleet of six Talgo 250 high-speed trains. The agreement is valued at approximately 80 million EUR. Under the contract, Talgo will be responsible for the long-term maintenance of the trains currently operating on Uzbekistan’s high-speed network. The Talgo 250 units run at a commercial speed of up to 230 km/h and are designed for a maximum speed of 275 km/h.
Source: Railway News
The Philippines is drawing strong interest from local and global firms for the operations and maintenance contract of its biggest railway project, the Department of Transportation said.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval of the public-private partnership for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) underscores the administration’s push to modernize mass transit under its Build Better More program.
Source: Bilyonaryo
Job of the Week
Telecoms/ICSS Expert, Manila, Philippines
Job ID#: 15293
Discipline: Telecommunications
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is seeking a Telecoms/ICSS Expert with FSCADA expertise.
You would be working as a General Consultant (GC) expert for telecommunications system works, including the Maintenance Management System (MMS) and Integrated Control & Supervision System/Facility SCADA (ICSS/F-SCADA) in terms of technical aspects, and support for the Project Manager (E&M System & Rolling Stock). on the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) - Phase 1 Package CP106 - E&M Systems and Track Works Package CP107 - Rolling Stock Work.
This involves reviewing the detailed engineering design and the employer's requirements for the Telecommunication System to ensure they apply to the project. Assist the Department of Transportation (DoTr) of the Republic of the Philippines in providing engineering consultancy services, i.e., preparing tender bid documents, reference designs, integration, and overseeing the work of contractors in design review, construction, and integration works. Regular updates to the clients on the project progress and quality.
Job Requirements:
Telecoms/ICSS Expert, with FSCADA expertise being essential.
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Signalling Hardware Design Lead Engineer, Singapore
Job ID#: 15290
Discipline: Signalling
Position Type: Permanent
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is seeking a Signalling Hardware Design Lead Engineer to work in Singapore.
Technical Leadership & Design Expertise:
* Serve as the technical expert in hardware design for CBTC GoA 4 projects, actively participating in design work and complex problem-solving.
* Lead by example through the creation and review of key deliverables including:
- Book wirings (detailed interconnection and schematic diagrams)
- Bonding Plans (track circuit design allocation and interface with trackwork and traction)
- Cable Core Plans
- Power Distribution Panel (PDP) Single Line Diagrams
- Equipment Technical Specifications
* Perform and validate system power consumption and load calculations.
* Support project design reviews, audits, and customer technical workshops.
Team & Resource Management:
* Supervise, mentor, and guide a team of Hardware Design Engineers.
* Ensure effective resource planning and allocation across multiple projects in collaboration with the Engineering Manager and Trackside Lead Engineers.
* Maintain oversight of task execution to ensure deliverables are completed on time and to the required standard.
Project & Process Oversight:
* Monitor and coordinate all hardware-related activities throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring compliance with relevant standards (e.g., EN 50126/50128/50129, IEC 61375, IEC 60204).
* Promote the use of standardized solutions, templates, and best practices to ensure consistency and efficiency across projects.
* Contribute to risk management by identifying and mitigating hardware-related risks early in the design phase.
Competency Development & Team Growth:
* Evaluate team skill sets and define training and development plans to maintain and enhance technical competencies.
* Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture focused on quality, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Stakeholder & Customer Engagement:
* Represent the hardware function in internal coordination meetings and with external stakeholders.
* Participate in customer-facing technical discussions, providing leadership and clarity on design decisions, compliance, and implementation strategies.
* Act as a senior escalation point for complex technical issues and provide support during installation, integration, and commissioning phases.
Job Requirements:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering or a related field.
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in railway hardware design or a similar safety-critical environment. International experience or exposure to complex multi-site projects is preferred.
- At least 2-3 years in a technical leadership or team lead role, with a proven track record of successful project delivery.
- Strong proficiency in hardware documentation (wiring diagrams, PDPs, bonding plans, cable core plan).
- Experience in CBTC systems, preferably with GoA 4 architecture. Familiarity with system safety, EMC, and functional verification principles is a plus.
- Ability to perform detailed electrical load and power consumption calculations.
- Deep understanding of relevant standards and best practices in railway signaling and electrical systems.
- Strong organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Fluent in English (written and verbal); other languages are a plus.
- Experience with design automation tools and document control systems is advantageous.
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Telecommunications Engineer, Singapore
Job ID#:15289
Discipline: Telecommunications
Language: English
Our client is seeking a Telecommunications Lead Engineer to work in Singapore.
The Telecommunications Lead Engineer is the subsystem lead technical authority and keeps customer intimacy to identify needs, requirements and opportunities to drive the technical engineering execution of the project in the right direction, applying lessons learned from existing projects.
- Perform the role of Telecommunications Lead Engineer for the Projects in Singapore
- Lead the local team of Engineers involved in the different projects to ensure compliance of the design with the customer requirements for both fixed and radio network solutions.
- Ensuring the design is technically correct and compliant and meets the Contract scope, and stakeholder business requirements.
- Interface customer in Technical Working Groups to adequately capture user/customer requirements,
- Managing and coordinating solution design between client's units.
- Support Technical Director, PMs and Contract Management in Claim Management.
- Ensuring Liaison within On Shore - Off Shore Engineering Teams.
- As part of the continuous improvement, identification of problems, their analysis and distribution of the lessons learnt to the members of the team.
- Lead the local team of Engineers ensuring development of the local competencies
Job Requirements:
- You hold a Bachelor's / Master's degree in telecommunications engineering.
- +10 years of experience in international engineering projects.
- +5 years experience as Telecommunications Lead Engineer or equivalent.
- Experience in dealing with Customer at least at technical boards/forums.
- You have longtime professional experience in project management of telecommunication projects involving many different communication technologies (fibre optic networks, radio system, WiFi, CCTV, etc.).
- It would be an advantage if you have an industry background & extensive experience in railway engineering.
- You are comfortable working in international project environments
- Experience in interface management.
- Desirable experience and knowledge in T&C activities.
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Head of Engineering for Signalling System Design (ASEAN), Singapore
Job ID#: 15127
Discipline: Signalling
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client supplies the global markets of rail and road-bound transport with innovative products and solutions for Rail Automation, Rail Electrification and in the area of intermodal mobility, apps and backend systems.
They are looking for an experienced signalling engineer to take on the role of Head of Engineering for Signalling System Design (ASEAN) in Singapore.
Responsibilities
* Taking the lead as Technical Authority for ATC(Automatic Train Control), ATS(Automatic Train Supervision), Radio, IXL(Interlocking), Signalling Trackside Units including GoA4 applications internally and towards customer.
* Ensuring with your team successful implementation and operation for on-going projects in Singapore and ASEAN region by taking hands on actions on site when necessary.
* Taking the lead for necessary Engineering Statements required by projects.
* Managing and Developing Engineering resources and staffing to support on-going projects and new opportunities aiming a self-functioning Engineering Center.
* Establishing and maintaining expertise in all Signalling areas, ensuring proper development process is in place.
* Establishing an ownership culture to have a sustainable department.
* Drive continuous improvement by identifying challenges, analyzing root causes, and distributing lessons learnt to the members of the team.
* Creating the Key Performance Targets of the Engineering Department with close collaboration with other department leaders.
* Actively advocate the client's technology and solutions in the market to improve chances of winning tendered work.
Job Requirements:
To qualify for this role you need
* Bachelor Degree in Electrical / Mechanical / Electronics or equivalent fields
* Minimum 15 years of professional experience in signalling rail domain, with deep expertise in signalling technical design and solutions
* Proven track record in managing and developing engineering teams, with experience leading teams disciplinary and functionally
* Proven ability to work with cross-functional teams and manage staff and contractor requirements professionally.
* Experience working with customers and colleagues from diverse cultural environments
* Experience of software development methodologies and structured approaches to system development
* Ability to clarify complicated technical concerns to non-technical individuals
* Expertise in software, hardware, systems engineering and IT security aspects
The role reports directly to the Head of Operations. You will oversee a team of approximately 30 engineers, covering signalling disciplines including ATC, ATS, IXL, Radio, and Trackside Systems.
Contact: David Hyland (davidh@railpersonnel.com)
Rail Design Engineer, Perth, Western Australia
Job ID#: 15300
Discipline: Permanent Way
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client in Perth is seeking a Rail Design Engineer to contribute to the development of concepts and ideas for major improvements, primarily for the suburban rail system in Perth and for passenger rail systems beyond the metropolitan area, principally in relation to railway permanent way design and planning.
Core duties and responsibilities
* Provides high level technical input in the development of concepts and ideas for major improvements, primarily for the suburban rail system in Perth and for passenger rail systems beyond the metropolitan area as required.
* Prepares permanent way designs including earthworks and drainage.
* Prepares alignment and profile designs for railway routes.
* Reviews and updates permanent way design, standards and codes of practice.
* Develops contract documentation (including procurement planning, tender documentation and evaluation, contract formation) and contract management plans in consultation and negotiates with stakeholders.
* Responsible for the effective management and leadership of project teams which may include managing multiple work groups and fostering positive team values and a cooperative team.
* Develops, monitors and ensures compliance with required regulations, standards, codes, corporate policies and procedures, including Railway Safety Management and standards.
* Prepares scope of work and technical criteria documentation for contract purposes.
Job Requirements
* Possession of Degree in Civil Engineering that is acceptable for membership of Engineers Australia.
* Relevant engineering experience in a railway environment, including sound experience in permanent way design.
* Sound understanding of permanent way design and experience applying Australian design standards and codes in producing the permanent way designs.
* Relevant project management experience, including the ability to prepare reliable estimates and project schedules, and to scope, plan and implement successful projects.
Contact: Renee Wade (renee@railpersonnel.com)
