Dear Readers
We are exhibiting at this year at CORE 2026, which will take place in Adelaide, South Australia, at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
CORE 2026 returns to Adelaide from 17–19 August, bringing together the best minds across the rail sector for Australasia’s premier technical rail conference. Proudly presented by the RTSA, CORE continues its long-standing tradition of showcasing high-quality, peer-reviewed technical content alongside practical insights that shape the future of rail.
Our Stand is Number 12 so if you are in attendance, please drop by and say hello!
And for more information and to register to attend, visit: https://www.rtsa.com.au/
Our Jobs of the Week this week are in Dubai and India. In Dubai, we are looking for a Program Manager and a Chief Engineer, Rail Rolling Stock Maintenance, and in India, we are looking for a Chief Track Construction Manager.
Best Regards
Rail Personnel
Rail News
The Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr) has reaffirmed that partial operations of Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 7 and the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) are scheduled to begin in 2027. MRT Line 7 is expected to commence partial services during the second quarter of 2027, while the NSCR is targeted to begin partial operations in the third or fourth quarter of the year.
Source: Southeast Asia Infrastructure
28 July 2026. United Kingdom. Prime Minister visits Alstom’s Litchurch Lane factory in Derby
Alstom, the UK’s leading supplier of new and refurbished trains, and a major provider of signalling and rail infrastructure, hosted Prime Minister Andy Burnham in his second week in office at its Litchurch Lane Works factory in Derby, where he announced the launch of new technical education routes. During the visit, the Prime Minister met around 100 current and former apprentices and graduates from Alstom and its supply chain partners, including Derby-born Chloe Turnbull.
Source: Rail UK
27 July 2026. Philippines. Metro Manila Subway project remains on track for 2028 demonstration run
The Philippine government has confirmed that a demonstration run of the 33-km Metro Manila Subway Project remains targeted for 2028, while full commercial operations are expected by 2032. The flagship rail project is progressing under the government’s Build Better More infrastructure program, with construction advancing on multiple sections. The metro line will connect Valenzuela City and Parañaque City, with a branch serving Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
Source: Southeast Asia Infrastructure
28 July 2026.Algeria. African Development Bank financing agreed for Algerian railway project
The African Development Bank has approved US$878m of financing for the second phase of the ongoing 495 km Laghouat – Ghardaïa – El Meniaa railway project. The second phase covers construction of the 230 km section from Ghardaïa to El Meniaa, along with support for institutional development and targeted training for young people and women in occupations related to railways, logistics, tourism and handicrafts.
Source: Railway Gazette
28 July 2026. Canada. SYSTRA Canada to Study Capacity Upgrades for Hudson Bay Railway
SYSTRA Canada has been appointed by Hudson Bay Railway and Arctic Gateway Group to carry out a strategic study into increasing capacity along the Hudson Bay Railway corridor. The study will examine improvements required to bring the railway up to modern industrial weight standards, enabling it to better integrate with Canada’s Class 1 freight rail network. Work has already begun on the first phase, which focuses on the 140-kilometre Flin Flon Subdivision between Flin Flon and The Pas in Manitoba.
Source: Railway News
28 July 2026. Taiwan. ST Engineering to Deliver Turnkey Rail Services for Taoyuan MRT Brown Line
ST Engineering has announced that its Urban Solutions business has secured a new 840 million USD turnkey rail services contract for the Taoyuan MRT Brown Line in Taiwan. Awarded by the Taoyuan City Government in July 2026 as part of a consortium with Hyundai Rotem, the project will see ST Engineering’s role in the Taiwan rail network expand beyond its work over the past three decades. The contract will involve ST Engineering leading overall project management and systems integration for the project.
Source: Railway News
Rail infrastructure specialist Vossloh has strengthened its position in the Nordic market after securing a new framework agreement with Trafikverket, the operator of Sweden’s national rail network, for the supply of pre-assembled turnouts. The agreement, which will come into effect in 2027, has an initial duration of five years and includes an option for a further three-year extension. Based on anticipated order volumes, the contract is estimated to be worth around €70 million.
Source: Rail Technology Magazine
23 July 2026. United Arab Emirates. AtkinsRéalis Awarded Key Riyadh Metro Contracts
AtkinsRéalis has been awarded a set of engineering services and supervision contracts for the development of the Riyadh metro. The contracts form part of a wider infrastructure investment programme that will also cover the development of a range of infrastructure across the city.
Signed during the Saudi-Canadian Investment Forum on 9 July; the contracts awarded by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), will see AtkinsRéalis support both the ongoing operation and expansion of the Riyadh Metro, which first began a phased introduction in December 2024.
Source: Railway News
The national High Speed Rail Authority has appointed a Keolis-led partnership as its Business, Operations & Maintenance Adviser for the development phase of the Newcastle to Sydney high speed rail project. The partnership comprises Paris-headquartered global public transport operator Keolis, its majority shareholder the French national railway SNCF, and safety, assurance and certification specialist Certifer.
Source: Railway Gazette
Job of the Week
Program Manager, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Job ID#: 15447
Discipline: Civil
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is seeking a Program Manager.
To oversee the planning, execution, and control of a Metro portfolio, ensuring alignment with company strategies. Ensure the project is executed with high quality from start to finish. Provide strategic advice, monitor performance, and coordinate with partners to maintain compliant, efficient, and results-driven delivery. Ensure program management components align with the company's strategic objectives, governance frameworks, quality standards, approved budgets, and operational excellence standards.
Roles & Responsibilities:
* Ensure Gold Line Metro rail design projects' objectives are aligned with the company's strategy, Dubai Strategic Plan, and Rail Network Plan 2032, with a focus on design standards, asset lifecycle, and infrastructure integration.
* Ensure consistency between program objectives and Dubai's wider urban development frameworks and approved transport and infrastructure masterplan.
* Ensure Gold Line Metro projects comply with the governance framework and corporate and technical standards.
* Lead strategic committees for Gold Line Metro projects and coordinate corporate partnerships, memberships, and participation in external forums/agreements; follow up on outputs and performance commitments.
Operations
* Review and track design submissions, contractor mobilization, and work design progress to support delivery milestones.
* Conduct review and provide preliminary approvals on vendor and contractor deliverables to ensure alignment with program requirements, rail design standards and agreed specifications.
* Monitor lifecycle and performance including milestones, budgets, resource utilization, risk/challenge analysis and deliverables; prepare progress and completion reports and highlight deviations and recovery actions to the CEO.
* Provide oversight of value engineering reviews at key stages, reviewing comprehensive reports with recommendations for cost reduction, service improvement, and operational resilience.
* Oversee and align multidisciplinary rail design, review, and approval process covering architectural, structural, civil, MEP, accessibility, and signage elements including amendments and updates to ensure compliance.
Process Improvement
Champion digital transformation and predictive project control by integrating advanced tools (e.g., BIM, GIS, AI-enabled project tracking) into design and commercial governance.
* Review performance reports and statistical data to identify challenges and propose actionable solutions.
* Assist in dissemination of pioneering practices and lessons learned from projects in rail.
* Guide the benchmarking of rail design performance against global best practices and lead continuous-improvement initiatives.
* Provide recommendations on AI initiatives (including Proof of Concepts and use-case
validation); ensure compliance with corporate documents.
* Promote a culture of innovation and motivate departments to adopt cutting-edge solutions.
* Support capacity-building sessions and awareness initiatives to strengthen program and
project delivery capabilities.
Job Requirements:
Preferred:
* Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, or Project Management; Master's degree in Construction Management or Infrastructure Planning
* 12+ years of experience in related functional area with at least 5 years of experience in program management in related functional area and 5 years of experience with government agencies
* Professional Certificates Recognized in Agile Project management
Contact: Jackie Hendry (jackie@railpersonnel.com)
Chief Engineer, Rail Rolling Stock Maintenance, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Job ID#: 15425
Discipline: Rolling Stock
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is seeking a Chief Engineer, Rail Rolling Stock Maintenance to lead planning, oversight, and compliance of Dubai Metro rolling stock maintenance and delivery programs. Ensure safety, performance, and integration with the client's standards. Govern contractor execution, testing, and lifecycle optimization to sustain reliable service.
Roles and Responsibilities:
* Develop rolling stock maintenance strategies with KPIs and optimization initiatives aligned to operational and strategic objectives.
* Support the preparation of functional requirements and technical specifications for rolling stock and associated procurements.
* Provide technical expertise in tender evaluations, apply value engineering principles, and oversee contractor performance on projects.
* Supervise all technical systems related to rolling stock and mass transit maintenance, ensuring system sustainability and integration with internal and external platforms.
* Maintain risk register, oversee hazard mitigation measures, verify safety cases, and manage variations/claims related to rolling stock and associated systems.
Operations
* Monitor rolling stock maintenance contracts to ensure quality, compliance, and timely execution of preventive and corrective maintenance programmes.
* Review and evaluate contractor submissions related to design, installation, and maintenance of subsystems including HVAC, propulsion, brakes, TCMS, and doors.
* Coordinate cross-functional interfaces involving signalling, SCADA, power, depot, and communications to ensure seamless implementation and serviceability.
* Lead and supervise Factory and Site Acceptance Testing activities; oversee commissioning, technical inspections, and quality assurance for assets.
Job Requirements
Education:
- Bachelor's degree/master's degree in engineering (Required)
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or rail systems engineering; master's degree in transportation Engineering or maintenance management (Preferred)
Experience:
- 3+ years in case of master's degree (5+ years in case of bachelor's degree) (Required)
- 6-8 years of experience (Preferred)
Contact: Jackie Hendry (jackie@railpersonnel.com)
Chief Track Construction Manager, Surat, India
Job ID#: 15459
Discipline: Permanent Way
Language: English, Japanese
Job Description:
Our client is seeking a Chief Track Construction Manager for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project. The track structure primarily involves the J-Slab track system, used in Japan and Taiwan.
They are preferably seeking a Japanese Track Expert for this role.
Project: Project Management Consultancy Services for Track, Rolling Stock, Depot, Inspection & Maintenance cars and Training Simulator Packages for Mumbai Ahmadabad High Speed Rail Project (PMC-TRS)
Position: Chief Track Construction Manager
Duration: August 2026 - April 2029
Work Location: Surat Head Office, India
Overview of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Railway:
India's first bullet train project, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad
High-Speed Rail Railway, will span 508 km, connecting Maharashtra and Gujarat with a speed of 320 km/h. Starting from Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai, the train will stop at 10 cities, including Surat, Vadodara, and Ahmedabad, completing the journey in just 2 hours 7 minutes with limited stops.
The project employs the J-Slab ballastless track system based on Japanese Shinkansen technology, marking its first use in India. Mechanized construction uses advanced machinery designed to Japanese standards, such as Rail Feeder Cars and Flash Butt Welding Machines. JICC as General Consultant has provided the detailed design and drawing of major HSR track components like RC Track Bed, Track slab arrangement etc. for the contract.
Work on track construction has already commenced in Gujarat under package T-2 & T-3. Both the track works contracts in Gujarat are awarded to Indian companies. Technical bids for T-1 are scheduled to be opened on 03rd February 2025.
Key Responsibilities:
- Oversee project management consultancy for track construction.
- Review and approve construction or design documents and drawings submitted by the contractor.
- Provide the Engineer's response to construction plans and programs and issue notices to the contractor as needed.
- Participate in and verify factory acceptance tests, first article inspections, and installation tests, providing instructions to the contractor based on findings.
- Ensure consistency in track construction across the track packages.
Job Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree holder in Engineering, Science, Technology, or Agriculture, or Diploma of Technical College/Institute
- Total experience of 13 years or more
- Minimum 2 years of experience with Shinkansen/High-Speed Rail in the relevant field (experience with Japanese or Taiwanese Shinkansen is preferable)
Contact: Rajni Tewani (rajni@railpersonnel.com)
