Dear Readers
AusRAIL 2026 has overhauled its conference program from the ground up, giving delegates more interaction, more choice and more opportunities to shape their experience.
The Australasian Railway Association’s national conference and exhibition returns to Brisbane from 23–25 November at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Day one brings the industry together around the big questions facing rail. Fast-paced executive briefings, live polling, audience-led discussions and live debate will give delegates an active role.
In Rail reality check, delegates will share their views through live polling, with responses from the stage in real time. In Ask industry leaders, there are no formal presentations or prepared speeches: delegates’ questions set the agenda.
Day two puts delegates in control, with four concurrent streams allowing them to build a program around their role, interests and priorities, exploring their discipline in depth or moving between sessions.
Beyond the sessions, a redesigned Women in Rail Forum and new Conference Delegate Lounge create further opportunities to exchange perspectives and continue discussions.
Explore the program and register today.
Our Job of the Week this week is in Tasmania, Australia, where we are looking for a Rail Operations Manager.
Best Regards
Rail Personnel
Rail News
Hitachi Rail has been awarded a landmark €1.3 billion nationwide framework contract by ÖBB to deliver the next generation of digital interlocking technology across Austria’s rail network over the next 30 years. Selected as one of two strategic technology partners, Hitachi Rail will be responsible for developing safety-critical software, deploying new signalling systems across the network and providing long-term lifecycle support. The agreement was formally unveiled at InnoTrans by Johann Pluy, Member of the ÖBB-Infrastruktur Executive Board, in the presence of Austrian Federal Minister Peter Hanke. Representing Hitachi Rail was Hannes Boyer, Vice President North Central & Eastern Europe.
Source: Rail Technology Magazine
Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) and Hitachi Rail have announced the signing of a new contract that will see a full revamp of the Al Mashaaer Al Muqaddassah Metro Project (MMMP). The contract, which was signed during InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin, marks a key milestone in the ongoing modernisation of railway infrastructure serving the Holy Sites in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and will be formally officiated by Carlo Piacenza, Signalling and Rail Solutions SRS Vice President Middle East and Africa at Hitachi Rail, and Dr. Bashar Al Malik, Chief Executive Officer of SAR.
Source: Railway-News
23 September 2026. United Kingdom. Consultation opens on proposed new London Overground route
Londoners are being invited to have their say on plans for a proposed new London Overground service linking Hendon and Hounslow. Transport for London (TfL) is running an eight-week consultation from Wednesday 23 September until Wednesday 18 November 2026, which invites feedback for the first time on proposals to create an 18.5km passenger route on rail lines currently only used for freight across west and northwest London. The consultation gives residents, businesses and stakeholders the opportunity to learn more about the proposals and help shape the development of the scheme.
Source: Rail UK
22 September 2026. Vietnam. Siemens Signs €1 Billion Vietnam High-Speed Rail Contract at InnoTrans
Siemens Mobility and Vietnam’s VinSpeed have signed a turnkey contract worth up to 1 billion EUR for two high-speed rail projects, announced at InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin. The agreement covers the 121km Hanoi–Quang Ninh and 54km Ben Thanh–Can Gio lines. Siemens will supply 10 Velaro Novo trainsets, as well as signalling, electrification and communications systems. VinSpeed will handle project development, track and civil works.
Source: Railway-News
22 September 2026. Australia. Melbourne’s busiest train line now level crossing-free
A new road underpass has opened in Dandenong, marking the removal of the final level crossing on Melbourne’s Pakenham, Cranbourne and Sunbury rail lines. The 450-metre underpass near Webster Street opened to traffic today, linking Princes Highway-Lonsdale Street with Cheltenham and Hammond roads and providing a level crossing-free route through the area. The project also delivers a new intersection at Princes Highway-Lonsdale Street, designed to ease congestion for the more than 10,000 vehicles that use the route each day.
Source: Infrastructure Magazine
Taoyuan city council has awarded a consortium of Hyundai Rotem and ST Engineering’s Urban Solutions arm the GEM01 contract to supply rolling stock and electromechanical systems for the MRT Green Line Extension project. The 7.2 km long, five-station extension west from Bade to Zhongli railway station with one elevated and five underground stations is intended to improve access to residential, commercial and transport hubs and enable connections with the wider rail network.
Source: Railway Gazette
Wabtec has announced its largest services contract in Africa, a long-term agreement worth more than US$700m to support Compagnie du TransGuinéen’s fleet of ES43AC Evolution Series diesel locomotives.This follows on from the locomotive orders placed in 2024, taking the total value to more than US$1.2bn. Wabtec said the locos built at its Marhowra factory in India.
Source: Railway Gazette
The governments of the USA, the Philippines and Japan held the Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum in Manila on September 10–11, aiming to seek private sector involvement in major main line and urban railway projects on the island of Luzon.The main element of the event, sponsored by the US Trade & Development Agency, was the presentation to investors of a project to build a 212 km cross-island freight railway. This would link the ports of Subic Bay, Manila and Batangas.
Source: Railway Gazette
Job of the Week
Rail Operations Manager, Tasmania, Australia
Job ID#: 15491
Discipline: Operations
Language: English
Job Description:
Our client is seeking a Rail Operations Manager for a full-time role in Queenstown, Tasmania.
Job Function: Contributing to the safe, reliable and commercially successful operation of the company by leading all rail operations and rolling stock maintenance activities, and by ensuring the company meets its obligations as an accredited rail transport operator under the Rail Safety National Law. Providing operational and technical leadership to the Operations Supervisor, Workshop Supervisor, train crew and workshop teams so that train services are delivered safely, on time and to the standard our visitors expect, and so that the railway's rolling stock fleet remains available, reliable and compliant.
Primary Tasks & Focus:
1. Communication, Working Relationships & Professionalism
The Rail Operations Manager is responsible for building and maintaining the collaborative working relationships required to effectively carry out the role by:
* Report to the Rail Division Manager and oversee all aspects of rail and workshop operations, ensuring efficient and safe service delivery.
* Provide the Management Team with clear, concise, and timely operational and safety information, promptly escalating any significant risks, incidents, or issues.
2. Rail Safety, Regulatory Compliance, Work Health, Safety & Environment
The Rail Operations Manager is responsible for delivering safe, compliant, and environmentally responsible rail operations and workshop activities by:
* Leading the safe and compliant operation of the client's rail operations and workshop activities, ensuring risks are identified, assessed, and controlled so far as is reasonably practicable in accordance with legislative, accreditation, and company requirements.
* Maintaining current knowledge of rail safety, work health and safety, and environmental requirements to effectively support a safe working environment and informed operational decision-making.
3. Train Operations & Service Delivery
The Rail Operations Manager is responsible for the safe and reliable delivery of train services by:
* Provide operational and technical leadership to the rail operations team, ensuring the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of rolling stock while meeting commercial and service delivery requirements.
* Plan, coordinate, and resource train operations to ensure optimal operational performance and effective workforce utilisation.
4. Train Crew and Workshop Management, Rostering, Competency & Leadership
The Rail Operations Manager is responsible for leading and supporting a competent, engaged, and appropriately resourced rail operations and workshop workforce to safely deliver operational requirements by:
* Providing leadership, direction, and support to the Operations Supervisor, Workshop Supervisor, and train crew workforce to achieve operational, safety, and service delivery objectives.
* Establishing clear performance expectations and accountability standards, conducting performance discussions, recognising high performance, and managing performance issues in accordance with company policies and procedures.
5. Rolling Stock & Asset Management
The Rail Operations Manager is responsible for the availability, reliability and compliance of the company's rolling stock fleet by:
* Providing operational and technical leadership to support the safe, reliable, and effective operation and maintenance of rolling stock assets.
* Working with the Workshop Supervisor to ensure rolling stock maintenance activities are planned and delivered in accordance with approved maintenance requirements and operational priorities.
6. Financial & Resource Management
The Rail Operations Manager is responsible for the effective use of operational resources to support safe, efficient, and reliable rail operations by:
* Supporting the development and monitoring of operational budgets and resource requirements within their area of responsibility.
* Managing operational resources in accordance with approved budgets, delegated authorities, and business priorities.
7. Incident Management, Investigation & Reporting
The Rail Operations Manager is responsible for ensuring operational incidents and performance issues are appropriately managed and addressed by:
* Leading or supporting the response to operational and rail safety incidents within their area of responsibility, ensuring appropriate actions are taken to maintain safety and operational continuity.
* Participating in or overseeing incident investigations, identifying contributing factors, implementing corrective actions, and monitoring their effectiveness.
Job Requirements
Essential: Experience and capability
* A minimum of 10 years demonstrated experience in the rail industry, gained through either a rail operations pathway (train driving, network control, safe working or operations management) or a rolling stock maintenance and engineering pathway.
* A minimum of 5 years' experience demonstrated in an operations supervisory or management role in the rail industry.
* Demonstrated working knowledge of the Rail Safety National Law and the practical operation of a Safety Management System at an accredited rail transport operator.
* Demonstrated ability to manage safety and implement best practice processes and procedures.
* Demonstrated leadership skills with a proven ability to lead and influence diverse and multi-disciplinary teams, consultants and contractors to achieve railway objectives.
* Highly developed analytical and problem-solving skills to preempt and mitigate operational risks.
* Excellent interpersonal skills, including a demonstrated ability to build effective relationships and work productively with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders, provide professional guidance within a multi-disciplinary team, and be an effective team player.
* Highly developed communication skills, with familiarity with computer systems and common software programs.
* Highly developed organisational skills, flexibility and the ability to balance priorities.
Essential clearances and licenses
* Ability to obtain and maintain a rail industry health assessment Category 3 as a minimum, and Category 2 where the incumbent undertakes, or works towards, train driving duties.
* Current Australian driver's licence (C class).
* A current National Police Check and Working with Vulnerable People (Working with Children) Check, to be provided within 6 weeks of commencement.
Contact: Jackie Hendry (jackie@railpersonnel.com)
