Rail Express July 2022

I S S U E 6 | J U LY 2022

W W W. R A I L E X P R E S S . C O M . A U

Boosting the Victorian rail sector Apart from providing a modern and energy-efficient fleet, Alstom’s contract for new trams in Melbourne also ensures long-term stability for the local railway industry and supply chains. PAGE 32

Siemens leading the ATO drive

RATP Dev aims to make impact

Hybrid polymer solutions for rail

PAGE 28

PAGE 34

PAGE 38

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Contents Issue 6 - July 2022

10

4

From the Editor

6

Industry News

WORKFORCE PROFILES

24

Looking through the safety lens

25

Indigenous priority for METRONET

SIGNALLING SOLUTIONS

27

27

Aldridge technology drives export sales

28

Siemens leading ATO movement

M O B I L I TY S Y S T E M S

32

Flexity boost for Victorian rail sector

34

RATP Dev fast-tracking growth in Australia

O P E R AT I O N S A N D M A I N T E N A N C E 37

37

Manco innovations draw the crowds

RO L L I N G S TO C K A N D M A N U F ACT U R I N G

38

KLP hybrid polymer solutions for rail

I N D U S T R Y A S S O C I AT I O N S

I S S U E 6 | J U LY 2022

40

W W W. R A I L E X P R E S S . C O M . A U

Boosting the Victorian rail sector Apart from providing a modern and energy-efficient fleet, Alstom’s contract for new trams in Melbourne also ensures long-term stability for the local railway industry and supply chains. PAGE 32

COVER STORY

Siemens leading the ATO drive

RATP Dev aims to make impact

Hybrid polymer solutions for rail

PAGE 28

PAGE 34

PAGE 38

SUPPORTED BY:

Apart from providing a modern and energy-efficient fleet, Alstom’s contract for new trams in Melbourne also ensures long-term stability for the local railway industry and supply chains.

See page 32.

ARA: Transport must lead journey to net-zero

43 ALC: Resilience the key in logistics and supply reset 44

RTAA: Field days showcase latest equipment

45 RISSB: Safety conference spotlights climate change CO N T RACT S, T E N D E R S, E O I S

46

The latest rail projects and opportunities WWW.RAILEXPRESS.COM.AU | 3

From the Editor Issue 6 - July 2022

Published by:

Ray Chan Editor - Rail Express

11-15 Buckhurst St South Melbourne VIC 3205 T: 03 9690 8766 www.primecreativemedia.com.au

Publisher Christine Clancy E: christine.clancy@primecreative.com.au Chief Operating Officer Zelda Tupicoff E: zelda.tupicoff@primecreative.com.au Group Managing Editor (Southern) Sarah Baker E: sarah.baker@primecreative.com.au Editor Ray Chan E: ray.chan@primecreative.com.au Business Development Manager Alex Cowdery M: 0422 657 148 E: alex.cowdery@primecreative.com.au Client Success Manager Janine Clements E: janine.clements@primecreative.com.au Design Production Manager Michelle Weston E: michelle.weston@primecreative.com.au Art Director Blake Storey E: blake.storey@primecreative.com.au Design Kerry Pert, Aisling McComiskey Subscriptions subscriptions@primecreative.com.au

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4 | ISSUE 6 - JULY 2022 | RAIL EXPRESS

Welcome to the July issue of Rail Express

B

y the time you read this magazine, the new Federal Government will have been at the helm for little over a month.

The baptism of fire has begun for new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his entourage, and already the pressure is on for Labor to deliver on its promises.

How fast the ball gets rolling on the preelection carrots will prove to be an immediate test of the Government’s mettle.

For the transport industry, hackles have been raised at the Government’s commitment to examine major infrastructure projects, and what impact – positive or negative – this could have on existing and future programs.

Albanese was instrumental in establishing Infrastructure Australia and developing key national transport strategies that provided solid foundations upon which successive governments have built. His experience as former federal minister responsible for infrastructure, transport and regional development means he will surely have a firm understanding of the industry’s infrastructure needs.

At a time when a record pipeline of transport infrastructure projects is being delivered across the nation, his guiding hand will be crucial in ensuring decision-makers are placed in the new government with a robust knowledge of the challenges the sector faces.

Part of this boom is of course the rail industry, which is leading a significant program of work to meet the country’s future infrastructure needs and ensure sustainable development.

Policies which support a strong Australian rail manufacturing sector will ultimately lead to better deals for governments and create more jobs in the process. This approach will also drive innovation, build workforce capability and deliver improved outcomes for the economy.

Another priority is to improve the resilience of supply chains in Australia to ensure freight is kept moving to feed the nation. In a competitive marketplace, Australian businesses can ill afford to have major railways shut down for periods of time due to sub-standard track infrastructure.

There also needs to be a strategic approach that places freight intermodal hubs in locations which will drive the shift from road to rail.

With regards to the Inland Rail project,

Labor has promised to pore over it with a finetoothed comb.

The party supports Inland Rail and recognises the benefits the nation-building project will bring to producers, businesses and communities along the route, and newlyminted Transport Minister Catherine King has made it a priority to address budget issues and other challenges associated with a project of this magnitude.

Eyes will also be on Albanese’s platform of introducing high-speed rail in Australia.

Indeed, a report into high-speed rail commissioned by Albanese when he was former Infrastructure Minister identified Sydney to Newcastle as forming the first component of an eventual line to Brisbane.

Away from politics, this issue of Rail Express takes a look at the importance of high-quality, reliable public transport.

And it’s not just the calibre of the rolling stock.

As mobility giant Alstom states inside, while it was pleasing to recently be awarded a contract for the Melbourne tram network, one of the most important side effects is the long-term stability the deal provides to the local railway industry and supply chains in Victoria.

The security will prove to be a fillip for families and small businesses who have been part of the railway industry.

They will be assured of opportunities for people to work, and budding graduates will also be enticed into working for a sector where these exist.

Indeed, the rail boom is so strong in Australia that global urban transport operator RATP Dev has recently established a representative office in the country to implement and manage tenders.

Read about how one of the world’s largest multimodal transportation networks, and a pioneer of the automated metro, aims to usher in a golden age for public transport in the Australian market.

You can also find out more about how signals specialist Aldridge Railways is expanding its expertise and business into foreign countries while continuing to expand at home; explore the latest contracts and projects; and digest the wealth of contributions from our industry partners. ray.chan@primecreative.com.au

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News

National

Rail sector banks on Labor Government support Implementing policies which support a strong Australian rail manufacturing sector. Improving the efficiency of supply chains to ensure freight is kept moving to feed the nation. Building greater resilience in the interstate rail network. Placing intermodal hubs where road transport can be shifted to rail.

And keeping the promise to hasten the introduction high speed rail in this country.

These are the priorities the rail industry wants to see from the new Labor Federal Government, and in particular Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and new Transport Minister Catherine King, as they settle in to their first months in office.

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) said the rail industry looked forward to working with Minister King to support a strong national focus for the rail industry.

ARA chief executive officer Caroline Wilkie said the group would also collaborate with Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Carol Brown, Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic MP and Assistant Minister for Manufacturing Hon Tim Ayres on advancing the government’s rail policies.

She said the delivery of the National Rail Manufacturing Plan, reinstating of the Rail Supplier Advocate and establishment of a Rail Innovation Council would help create more jobs in cities and regions across Australia.

“The Australian rail industry is currently experiencing an unprecedented level of infrastructure investment, which represents a huge opportunity to build capability across the rail supply chain,” she said.

“The Government needs to advance the National Rail Manufacturing Plan to support a strong and sustainable industry for the long term.”

Wilkie said the Labor Government’s commitment to establish a national infrastructure agenda and framework would also maximise the benefits of rail investment, and build on the recommendations of the recent report from the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities.

“There is a huge opportunity to improve outcomes for both industry and government by better planning and coordinating the national infrastructure pipeline and achieving greater standardisation across the country,” she said.

“This will encourage more industry representatives to bid for and deliver the projects that will shape our infrastructure network in years to come.”

Pacific National chief executive officer Paul Scurrah said importance needed to be placed in relation to future intermodal terminals, which

6 | ISSUE 6 - JULY 2022 | RAIL EXPRESS

Dan Andrews (left), Anthony Albanese, and Victorian Transport Minister Jacinta Allan at the announcement of the Suburban Rail Loop partnership.

must be positioned in a location to secure a shift of freight from road to rail to deliver reduced emissions, traffic congestion and road accidents.

“Shoring up investment confidence in the freight and logistics sector, particularly at a time when the national supply chain is under intense cost pressures and capacity constraints, is also imperative,” he said.

“Under an Albanese Government, Pacific National would like to see Infrastructure Australia – first established by Labor – play a greater role in helping to enhance the safety and productivity of the national supply chain, including track upgrades to build greater resilience in the interstate rail network.

“In a competitive global marketplace, Australian import and export businesses can ill afford to have major railways shutdown for extended periods of time due to sub-standard track infrastructure.

“Having spent six years as the federal minister responsible for infrastructure, transport and regional development, the new Prime Minister will bring experience and a deep of understanding of rail infrastructure needs.”

Albanese was instrumental in establishing Infrastructure Australia and developing key national transport strategies that provided solid foundations upon which successive governments have built.

There’s also pressure on Albanese to keep his promise to invest an initial $2.2 billion in Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop Project over the next five years.

The partnership with Victorian Premier Dan Andrews was made on the election trail, with Albanese claiming the money “wouldn’t go to planning, but actual SRL East construction”.

Meanwhile, uncertainty looms over Government plans for the Inland Rail project, which Labor has promised to scrutinise and review.

While the party supports Inland Rail and recognises the benefits the nation-building project will bring to producers, businesses and communities along the route, it has also criticised the previous Government for mishandling the project.

In her term as Shadow Transport Minister, King had previously stated that the project had literally “gone off the rails”, with billion-dollar cost blowouts and continued uncertainty regarding the route – including port linkages – causing considerable concern within some communities.

“An Albanese Labor Government will do the hard work of getting this project back on track, closely guided by the recommendations of the senate inquiry into the project,” she promised.

“This will include listening to farmers and communities concerned by the project’s potential impacts.”

Wilkie said the continued development of the Inland Rail project was vital to ensure the critical national building project meets Australia’s rail freight needs to help move freight on rail and meet future demand.

“It is important that we realise this once-ina-generation opportunity and ensure Inland Rail is used to its full benefit, with continued investment by Commonwealth and state governments,” she said.

Wilkie said the ARA would also work with the Government in making faster rail a reality, with the establishment of the High Speed Rail Authority and the prioritisation of a fast rail connection between Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle, as promised by Albanese.

“There is a significant opportunity for faster rail to unlock new opportunities for regional development, making centres like Newcastle just a one to two hour train journey from Sydney,” she said.

National approach to tackle rail skills shortage A new initiative is underway to tackle the shortage of rail workers by taking a more national approach to coordinate and accelerate training and attract more people into rail.

A National Rail Skills Hub, approved by all Australian governments and being delivered in partnership with the National Transport Commission (NTC), is connecting and coordinating industry and government efforts to meet growing demand for rail skills.

NTC’s Executive Lead for Facilitated Reform, Sandra McKay, said the Hub would help people find a clear way into a sustainable rail career, whether they were just starting out or are looking for a mid-career change.

“Governments and industry share a vision for rail to play a larger role in transporting people and freight through a modern, integrated transport system,” she said.

“And that means we need to attract and develop a diverse workforce with nationally recognised advanced skills that are portable and highly valued.”

With a $155 billion pipeline of rail projects driving up job demand over the next decade, the NTC is working with all jurisdictions, the rail industry and the transport and education sectors so that rail skills can be accelerated and recognised across borders.

The aim is to build a national network to support reciprocal recognition of core skills that are common to all railways: using bridging courses and micro-credentials to fill in local or domain knowledge gaps.

“The work of the future should mean training can be done from more places and people’s skills won’t stop at borders,” McKay said.

Modelling by Infrastructure Australia suggests there will be a 48 per cent shortage by 2023 in rail construction jobs alone, but every jurisdiction also needs more designers, signallers, operators, maintenance staff, plus new digital and cyber security skills.

The Australasian Railway Association has confirmed an expected workforce gap of up to 70,000 skilled workers by 2023, with some areas of specialisation already experiencing shortages.

ARA chief executive officer Caroline Wilkie, who has supported the development of the Hub, said attracting and retaining the right people was one of the most critical issues facing the industry.

“The rail industry is in the midst of a wave of new investment that will transform

The Hub helps people find a clear way into a sustainable rail career.

our cities and towns to deliver sustainable, resilient infrastructure for decades to come,” Wilkie said.

“But there is a critical need to attract, train and develop outstanding talent in our industry to support its long-term growth.”

The Hub joins government and industry efforts to support existing workers in rail to have the skills of the future, and to attract more young people, more women, and a diversity of people with other experience through clearer pathways into rail.

“Instead of taking up to 16 years to become an experienced signalling engineer whose skills are only recognised on one railway, we’re collaborating on what a more accelerated and national approach to training and recognising skills could look like,” McKay said.

The Skills Hub website, to be launched later this year, will be a showcase for the diversity of jobs available in the industry and a portal to the efforts across the country, both in industry and government, to support a network of broader skills recognition and job portability.

“The website will help people find out what’s going on in rail, so they can see themselves working in the industry, as well as provide a knowledge hub to governments and industry on what is working well to address the rail skills gap,” McKay said.

“We need to double or triple the number of people working in rail by making sure that roles don’t stop at borders and people are aware of where to go to get entry into the industry.”

The National Rail Skills Hub will: · Connect various rail training academies and industry initiatives to maximise the opportunities for quality training and improve portability · Support knowledge exchange where skills and training impact at a national level · Promote the rail industry and support the development of career and training pathways,

by identifying entry points for people to start careers in rail and linking them to where there are jobs · Collaborate on national strategic workforce solutions to critical skills and portability barriers that are industry-led and locally relevant · Collaborate with industry and skills departments to inform and support reforms underway to the national training system from a rail perspective The Hub is a key component of the National Rail Action Plan (NRAP), endorsed by Australia’s transport ministers.

A skills and labour committee established as part of NRAP, and co-chaired by Wilkie, advised that a hub and spoke approach was needed to react locally to industry needs while remaining connected to national skills reform and the emerging needs for the national network.

Attracting the right people is a critical issue facing the industry.

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News

Western Australia

METRONET forges ahead with $6 billion boost The Western Australian Government’s METRONET program is continuing to transform Perth, as a number of job-creating projects reach peak construction, with $6 billion allocated over the next four years in the 2022-23 State Budget.

New METRONET projects funded in this Budget include the Morrison Road Level Crossing Removal in Midland and the Canning Bridge Bus Interchange.

Following the opening of the Bellevue Railcar Manufacturing and Assembly Facility in June 2021, another two METRONET projects have recently been completed – with the Mandurah Station Multi-Storey Car Park now open and all road and civic upgrade works completed as part of the Denny Avenue Level Crossing Removal project.

The boom gates have also gone down for the final time at the Caledonian Avenue level crossing on the Midland Line, ahead of passenger services starting on the ForrestfieldAirport Link later this year, with the associated pedestrian, cycling and road improvements in the area now underway.

The contracts for the Byford Rail Extension and Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal projects are soon to be awarded, with many of the remaining projects nearing peak construction.

Key milestones for METRONET in 2022-23 have included: • about 20,000 passenger trips per day when the Forrestfield-Airport Link is completed,

providing quick and easy access to Perth Airport and the eastern suburbs • the first C-series train rolling out of the Bellevue Railcar Manufacturing and Assembly Facility for testing on the network • Lakelands Station is on track for entry into passenger service in mid-2023 • peak construction activities across a number of METRONET projects (Morley-Ellenbrook Line, Thornlie-Cockburn Link, Yanchep Rail Extension and Bayswater Station) • beginning major construction on the Midland Station, Byford Rail Extension, Victoria ParkCanning Level Crossing Removal, Greenwood Station Multi-Storey Car Park and the Public Transport Operations Control Centre • awarding the contract for the Train Control and Signalling project • commencement of detailed planning for the Morrison Road Level Crossing Removal The 2022-23 Budget includes $1 billion in additional State and Commonwealth funding for METRONET projects, including: • further investment in the Train Control and Signalling project, which forms part of the High Capacity Signalling program works and is currently out to tender. This work will increase the rail network’s capacity, improve safety and allow trains to operate more efficiently • relocating the Canning Bridge Bus Interchange from Canning Highway to an elevated platform above the freeway and train station to improve safety for

The first C-series train at the Bellevue Railcar Manufacturing and Assembly Facility.

commuters and reduce traffic congestion and travel times • planning for the Morrison Road Level Crossing Removal on the Midland Line, to improve safety and traffic congestion in the area • further investment in the Thornlie-Cockburn Link and Yanchep Rail Extension projects to address the impacts of cost escalation and supply chain constraints impacting the construction market.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said since METRONET began five years ago, two level crossings in Kelmscott and Maylands have been closed, three projects were completed, rail manufacturing was brought back to Midland and the first new rail line will open this year with the Forrestfield-Airport Link.

Upgrades and improvements for Australind line The Western Australian Government has allocated $3 million to upgrade and improve safety at 11 railway crossings along the regional Australind Line.

Over the next three years, 11 railway crossings along the line will be upgraded in the Peel and South-West regions, including: • Leslie Street, Serpentine – flashing lights to be replaced with a boom gate • Waterloo Road, Picton – flashing lights to be replaced with a boom gate • Lakes Road, North Dandalup – flashing lights to be replaced with a boom gate • Forrest Avenue, Bunbury – renewal of pedestrian crossing • Station Street, Yarloop – flashing lights to be replaced with a boom gate

• Clifton Road, Yarloop – flashing lights to be replaced with a boom gate • Johnston Road, Yarloop – flashing lights control renewal • Watkins Road, Mundijong – renewal of pedestrian crossing • Uduc Road, Harvey (North) – automatic gate pedestrian crossing upgrade • Peterson Road, Warawarrup – flashing lights control renewal.

Active railway crossings, which feature warning bells, flashing lights and automatically operated boom gates, can significantly improve safety for road users by helping prevent accidental collisions and near misses where regional roads cross railway tracks.

Pedestrian safety will also be improved

with several existing pedestrian crossings to be replaced with disability compliant crossing facilities.

The works include the upgrade of existing pedestrian paths and the installation of new mazes, signage and pavement markings.

The 181-kilometre Australind Train Line, which operates four daily services between Perth and Bunbury, has been running since 1947 with approximately 1500 passengers making the return journey each week.

The upgrades will be staged over three years, with work commencing on the first three projects before the end of 2022.

In early 2023, the Armadale Line will close for up to 18 months and services on the Australind Line will also be impacted.

WWW.RAILEXPRESS.COM.AU | 9

News

Victoria

Top 10 finish in European tram competition Melbourne’s Yarra Trams has placed 10th out of 25 teams participating in the European Tram Driver’s Championships.

The world’s most skilled tram drivers came together in May to test their skills and vie to take home the title of world’s best tram driver at the event.

Australia was represented by experienced Yarra Trams drivers Amanda Paul and Frendy Lim, who have each been driving trams in Melbourne for more than five years.

With Melbourne’s trams ranging from the historic W-class trams to the modern, Melbourne-built E-classes, Yarra Trams’ drivers are highly experienced across multiple styles and generations of trams.

This diversity of tram experience placed the team in good stead to place well in the competition, where they drove trams that operate on Leipzig’s 150 year-old network, the third largest in Germany.

Paul took 15th in the individual competition, while Lim finished in the top half with a strong 24th place slot.

They were assisted by Malvern Depot team manager Wayne Speers, who served as the ‘team coach’ for the event.

The team of drivers from Hannover battled through to take the title with consistently strong performances on each challenge. Teams from the Ukrainian cities of Lviv and Kyiv came in 5th and 6th respectively.

Each of the 25 teams from 19 nations consisted of one male driver, one female driver, and a team coach.

After the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 competitions due to COVID restrictions, the competition was back for its 10th year, with teams gathering in Leipzig, Germany to compete in a series of safety and precisiondriving based challenges.

One of the best-loved challenges from

Wayne Speers (left), Amanda Paul and Frendy Lim.

10 | ISSUE 6 - JULY 2022 | RAIL EXPRESS

Yarra Trams drivers Amanda Paul and Frendy Lim inside familiar surroundings.

The team practises its tram bowling skills.

previous years, tram bowling, returned, as well as the debut of ‘tram billiards’ which proved challenging for drivers.

Ahead of their departure for Europe, Paul and Lim had completed a training day at New Preston Tram Depot where they practiced safety-critical skills including precision stopping, speed estimation and smooth driving.

They also had the opportunity to practice tram bowling with a massive 1.5m inflatable bowling ball.

In addition to the 2019 championship’s winner Brussels and host city Leipzig, teams from Barcelona, Basel, Berlin, Brno, Budapest, Dublin, Florence, Frankfurt, Hanover, Kyiv, Košice, Krakow, Luxembourg, Lviv, Lyon, Oradea,

Porto, Sofia, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Vienna, and Zaragossa competed to win the title as world’s best tram drivers.

Operated by Keolis Downer, Yarra Trams is the world’s largest tram network, with 1400 drivers operating approximately 500 trams across more than 250km of double track through Melbourne’s streets.

Yarra Trams chief executive officer Julien Dehornoy said the organisation was proud of the participants for their hard work preparing for the Championships, as well as securing a top-10 result in the debut showing.

“I was on the edge of my seat watching on Saturday night and the team did us all proud, representing Yarra Trams and Melbourne on the world stage,” he said.

Metro Trains develops driver trauma guide Metro Trains had developed an enhanced Peer Support Program and Trauma Recovery Guidebook, which recognises the unique pressures train drivers face, and provides additional layers of support for those involved in traumatic railway incidents.

Trespassing can have serious impacts on the wellbeing of train drivers, and these improved programs aim to strengthen the help available.

Metro’s Train Services Peer Support team of 36 people completed four days of intensive training in specialised trauma and mental health practices for the book.

This training extended beyond mental health support to also focus on assisting traumatised drivers safely and considerately back to work.

Team members are experts in their relevant fields and have been drawn from Metro’s highly skilled train drivers, on-the-job trainers, and principal drivers, as well as staff from training and management backgrounds.

Metro’s new driver support initiatives will work alongside its existing Employee Assistance Program and partnerships with organisations such as Lifeline and TrackSAFE. Metro driver training specialist Llewellyn Dixon-Mason said out on the job, Metro drivers faced potential traumatic incidents every day.

“We have extensive training in how to react and avoid them, but sometimes it’s inevitable that we’re faced with trespassers on train tracks,” he said.

“Afterwards, the drivers who are trained as peer support staff implement the tools in our programs alongside professional support services to ensure drivers can get back to work as soon as they are ready.”

Metro Trains chief executive officer Raymond O’Flaherty said illegal trespassing caused serious challenges for colleagues who worked hard every day to make sure Melburnians had a safe and reliable train service.

“Rail RUOK Day is an excellent opportunity

The book covers the unique pressures train drivers face.

for us to reflect on how we are coping with work and life in general,” he said.

“Our new trauma guide and improved peer support program provide us with industryleading strategies that ensure our staff have all the tools and support they need to get through these types of incidents.”

Enhancements improve Shepparton level crossing Shepparton passengers are another step closer to better services, with the completion of level crossing upgrades delivering immediate benefits for the region.

The first six level crossings upgraded as part of Stage 2 of the Shepparton Line

The upgrades have ensured the crossings are compatible with VLocity trains.

Upgrade were completed, tested and commissioned during a 17-day construction blitz on the line. The crossings in Mangalore and Tabilk all now have better train detection technology, with every crossing now featuring boom gates, bells and flashing lights.

The level crossing upgrades – part of Stage 2 of the Shepparton Line Upgrade – have improved safety for train passengers and road users, and ensured they are compatible with VLocity trains.

Almost 500 staff worked more than 20,000 hours at different locations along the line during the construction blitz, progressing station upgrades at Mooroopna, Murchison East and Nagambie stations to accommodate the longer VLocity trains, including platform extensions, asphalting and fencing works.

Track and signalling works continued at the new stabling facility north of Shepparton Station, along with the construction, fitout and service installation for the driver amenity building.

Track alignment works were also carried out on the Murchison East crossing loop.

Stage 2 of the Shepparton Line Upgrade is delivering the infrastructure required to enable modern, accessible VLocity trains to travel to and from Shepparton for the first time – including upgrades to 59 level crossings between Donnybrook and Shepparton.

The work is targeted for completion in late 2022.

WWW.RAILEXPRESS.COM.AU | 11

News

Victoria

Keeping Melbourne’s freight on the move Altona is one of three key projects being delivered to create the Port Rail Shuttle Network. Works to link the Salta Properties terminal in Dandenong South to the Port of Melbourne are underway, while works at the Austrak terminal at Somerton will commence later this year.

Once complete, the network will reduce the need for trucks to visit the Port. Instead, allowing them to deliver or pick up goods at the terminals, reducing fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions, cutting freight transport costs by up to 10 per cent, and slashing truck movements on suburban roads by up to 175,000 trips each year.

By 2050, the Port Rail Shuttle Network is expected to move 30 per cent of Melbourne’s containers by rail, avoiding millions of truck trips on roads each year.

The State Government remains focused on increasing the amount of freight transported by rail across the state with the 2022/23 Victorian Budget delivering $181 million for critical maintenance works to improve

rail freight competitiveness and support the growing freight task that is vital to regional economies and supply chains.

A further $3.5 million has been allocated to extend the Mode Shift Incentive Scheme (MSIS), supporting more than 170 freight industry jobs at interstate terminals in regional Victoria and removing the equivalent of 28,000 truck trips from the state’s roads every year. $6.1 million for planning was also assigned to the Western Interstate Freight Terminal, located on the doorstep of nearly 50 per cent of existing interstate freight rail customers, providing rail access to the hundreds of warehousing and logistics businesses in Melbourne’s outer west.

Delivering a big boost for Victoria’s economy, more than 4,000 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) are expected to be moved by rail in the first 12 months following the project’s completion. This is forecast to rise substantially to more than 20,000 TEUs per annum after five years in operation.

Funding support for heritage and tourist rail sector A total of $400,000 in funding is being made available for eligible groups within Victoria’s tourist and heritage rail sector to continue carrying out projects to preserve or improve state-owned assets.

Tourist and heritage rail operators perform an important role in preserving Victoria’s rail history, driving economic activity and jobs in regional areas, and building social capital by providing opportunities for volunteering.

Ranging from small operators to the iconic Puffing Billy Railway, there are also a number of tram and train museums that manage rolling stock or assets across the state.

This State Government funding will help 16 of these tourist and heritage railway organisations continue to do their important work, with projects including repairing, restoring, or refurbishing state-owned assets, delivering approved projects on buildings or rolling stock, and various works in the rail corridor such as weed control or vegetation management.

Applications for the funding will be managed by VicTrack and the Department of Transport. Eligible groups within the sector

are encouraged to apply by nominating their projects that would benefit from the funding.

It follows the release last year of Preserving our rail history – a blueprint for the future, which provides a strategy to help ensure that the tourist and heritage tram and railway sector has a sustainable future.

The blueprint includes actions the government is taking over the coming years to support organisations with expanding their volunteer bases, increasing visitors, improving coordination between groups, and gaining access to equipment, resources and rolling stock.

A voice for the businesses, the Sector Coordinating Board, is already helping organisations share information and support each other through the changes occurring in the system.

On top of the $400,000 being offered to the sector and the $1 million allocated by the Victorian Government last year to help the sector recover from the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions, a further $1.2 million has also been provided to support the implementation of the blueprint.

© Getty Images © RATP - Bruno MARGUERITE

Major works are under way to move more freight by rail from Melbourne’s west to the Port of Melbourne.

Once complete, the SCT Logistics Interstate Freight Facility in Altona will form a critical piece of Victoria’s Port Rail Shuttle Network, providing a direct rail connection to the Port, cutting transport costs for businesses, and taking thousands of trucks off suburban roads.

As Australia’s largest port, handling around 36 per cent of the nation’s container trade, this project will enhance the efficiency of transporting goods each day. It is also expected to create 40 new jobs and will underpin an existing workforce of more than 300 Victorians.

The project is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments with a $9.2 million investment and will be operational by the end of 2022. SCT Logistics will also invest more than $16 million into the facility with new cross-dock facilities, an expanded container hard-stand area and railsiding extensions.

The Puffing Billy rolls through the Dandenong Ranges.

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02/06/2022 11:36

News

New South Wales

New freight transport advisory body Fifteen members have been appointed to the new NSW Freight Transport Advisory Council (FTAC), to be chaired by Duncan Gay. The new body will not only be tasked with discussing freight and supply chain issues, but also providing input into government strategies, policies and projects.

Regional Transport and Roads Minister Sam Farraway congratulated the inaugural members and the incoming chair on their recent appointment.

“Appointing Duncan Gay as Chair to the new body will give the group a wealth of experience when interacting with Government and understanding policy,” he said.

“The new appointees come from a wide cross-section of the industry, which includes road and rail bodies, intermodal operators, port representatives, couriers, retailers and producers.

“The wealth of industry leadership and experience on the council will mean better outcomes for the freight sector, which is expected to increase by 28 per cent to see 618 million tonnes moving across our state by 2036.”

The new council replaces the Freight and Logistics Advisory Council and the Road Freight Industry Council to represent the entire freight chain across different transport modes as a single council.

“I am honoured to be appointed as inaugural chair and look forward to giving the entire

The group will provide input into government strategies, policies and projects.

freight industry a united voice that will help inform NSW Government policy as freight demand continues to rise,” Gay said.

The new appointees are: • Chair – Duncan Gay • Port of Newcastle – Craig Carmody • National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) – Warren Clark • Ron Crouch Transport – Geoffrey Crouch • Woolworth Group – Rick Dani • Qube – Paul Digney • Ports Australia – Michael Gallacher • Freight on Rail Group – Andrew Harding

• Namoi Cotton – Allan Neil Johns • DHL – Leslie Logue • Livestock Bulk and Rural Carriers Association (LBRCA) – Paul Pulver • Monidale VGL – Scott Walker • Australasian Railway Association – Caroline Wilkie • Australian Logistics Council – Brad Williams • Road Freight NSW – Austin Vella The new Council will meet four times a year, with the first meeting to be held in June.

New appointees will remain on the Council for a term of two years.

Sydenham Station nearer to completion Sydenham Station in Sydney’s Inner West is one step closer to being ready for metro services, with a new station entrance and a new pedestrian concourse opening to the public as part of the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project.

The station has been fully upgraded with lifts and level access between the platforms.

Sydenham Station platforms one and two have been upgraded to Sydney Metro standards, including the installation of platform screen doors. Existing platforms three, four, five and six will continue to be used by trains operating on the Sydney Trains network.

The station will also have new pedestrian crossings, fully accessible bus stops, new pedestrian plazas and new crossover facilities

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for metro trains, as it shapes up to serve new driverless trains.

Progress has also been made on the installation of the new platform screen doors at the station, ready for metro services.

The new screen doors will make platforms safer for customers and improve travel efficiency by allowing trains to get in and out of the station much faster. These are due to be completed next month.

Commuters will be able to easily interchange from metro services on platforms one and two at Sydenham with Sydney Trains services on other platforms. Customers will also be able to turn up and go, with metro services available every four minutes during peak times.

Lifts have been installed at the station as part of the metro project, and work is underway on electricity upgrades to power them.

A 500-tonne crane was used to install the five massive roof canopies for the concourse, which were built during a road closure on Burrows Avenue in 2020 as they were too large to be transported by truck.

John Holland and Laing O’Rourke Australia Construction have been awarded the contract for major rail work at Sydenham as well as works associated with the Southwest Metro upgrade of the Bankstown Line.

More than 6500 workers have been inducted onto site with more than 2.5 million total hours worked at Sydenham since the project started.

Comfort and convenience for NSW regional rail The NSW Government is replacing the ageing NSW regional rail fleet of XPTs, XPLORERs and Endeavours with 29 safer, comfortable and more accessible trains for customers travelling across NSW and between Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane.

As part of the Regional Rail project, a new purpose-built maintenance facility named Mindyarra will be built in Dubbo.

The first new trains are expected to be running from 2023, with the full fleet coming into service progressively.

The 117 new carriages include: • 10 regional intercity trains replacing the current Endeavour fleet • 9 short regional trains replacing the current XPLORER services • 10 long regional trains replacing the current XPT services • The new trains will have: • Comfortable directional seating with aeroplane-style overhead luggage storage and seat pockets • Charging ports for mobile devices and tray tables suitable for laptops • Improved accessibility including accessible toilets on every train, wider doors, singledeck carriages, priority seating and accessible help points

An artist’s impression of the first new trains expected to be running from 2023.

• Improved customer information through digital information screens and announcements, and CCTV throughout the train • Modern buffet car in the long and short regional trains • Automatic selective door operation for stations with short platforms The new fleet will operate with an Australian first – bi-mode technology – providing a more environmentally-friendly rail service.

Bi-mode is a diesel-electric hybrid which will allow the fleet to run on overhead power

when operating on electrified sections of the train network.

It will significantly reduce carbon emissions and diesel particulates, compared to the current regional fleet.

In February 2019, the NSW Government awarded a contract to Momentum Trains, an international consortium, to deliver the Regional Rail Project, which includes the design, build, and maintenance of the new Regional Rail fleet and also the design, build, maintenance and operation of Mindyarra.

NSW TrainLink will operate the new Regional Rail fleet.

Top industry award for Sydney Metro tunnel project The Sydney Metro City & Southwest Tunnel and Station Excavation (TSE) Works by John Holland, CPB Contractors and Ghella Joint Venture has been announced winner of the 2022 Australian Construction Achievement Award (ACAA) at a major industry event in Sydney.

The project was delivered in the heart of the busy Sydney CBD and included a whopping 15.5 kilometre twin rail tunnel, dive structures and six complex underground stations between Chatswood and Sydenham, including the first rail tunnels under Sydney Harbour.

The project, which achieved the highest ever ISC Infrastructure Sustainability rating, saw a team of 11,000 people work in challenging geotechnical conditions alongside heritage and live transport infrastructure.

The works were further complicated by the numerous existing infrastructure assets under the Harbour, mining under heritage buildings and the design and construction of massive bespoke formwork.

Australian Constructors Association CEO Jon Davies said despite many challenges, the industry continues to rise to the challenge.

“This year’s winner delivered several Australian firsts that would not have been possible without the one team culture established from the outset.

All finalists have demonstrated that our industry is at its best when it works together,” he said.

Engineers Australia CEO Bronwyn Evans congratulated the winning team for delivering a masterpiece of engineering innovation.

“John Holland, CPB Contractors and Ghella Joint Venture have given a masterclass in using innovative engineering solutions and teamwork to overcome the most complex environmental and logistical challenges imaginable. In doing so, they have delivered an iconic addition to Sydney’s DNA that will provide enormous benefit to everyone in the community,” she said.

The ACAA, now in its 25th year, is hosted by the Australian Constructors Association and Engineers Australia and is the peak annual award

for the major players in Australia’s construction industry. It has again been partnered by some of the nation’s major businesses, including Adbri, Caterpillar, Cbus, InEight and InfraBuild.

Other ACAA finalists included: • Additional Works Package 1 – Cheltenham and Mentone Level Crossing Removal Project, Victoria by Southern Program Alliance: Acciona, Coleman Rail, WSP, Metro Trains Melbourne and the Level Crossing Removal Project.

• Mordialloc Freeway, Victoria by McConnell Dowell, Decmil Group and Major Road Projects Victoria • Quay Quarter Tower, Circular Quay, New South Wales by Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd • The Regency Road to Pym Street Project, South Australia by R2P Alliance – Department for Infrastructure and Transport, McConnell Dowell, Arup and Mott MacDonald • Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway Upgrade, New South Wales by Pacific Complete – Laing O’Rourke and WSP.

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News

Queensland

The machines bringing Cross River Rail to life As South East Queensland’s population keeps growing, the current rail network is fast approaching capacity.

To make matters worse, it is constrained by a single river crossing and just four inner-city stations, causing the bottleneck that limits the ability to run more trains.

The Cross River Rail project unlocks this bottleneck by delivering a second river crossing and will enable a turn-up-and-go public transport system across the entire region.

Here are some of the major pieces of equipment that have been putting in the work across the megaproject to make Brisbane’s new underground a reality.

Tunnel Boring Machines Tunnelling as deep as 42 metres beneath the surface of the Brisbane River was no small feat, Cross River Rail’s pair of iconic Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) were specifically designed for the task.

One of the iconic TBMs.

The ‘pineapples’ look like something out of a sci-fi movie.

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These cranes helped lower the TBMs into the station boxes.

Excavating twin 3.8-kilometre tunnels between Woolloongabba and Bowen Hills, these 165-metre-long, 7.2-metre-tall, 1350-tonne underground factories churned below Brisbane at a rate of about 30 metres a day, excavating about 310,000 cubic metres of rock during their underground journey.

Size doesn’t matter, with the powerful micro TBMs.

47 African elephants – the 40-metre-high freestanding towers are being used to lift a range of materials required to build the new Boggo Road underground station, such as 20-metrelong beams for the station’s floor and roof, precast concrete, and escalators and lifts.

Roadheaders While the TBMs completed the bulk of Cross River Rail’s tunnelling, roadheaders were used to excavate the 900-metre section of tunnel between Boggo Road and Woolloongabba, as well as the four new underground stations.

Weighing in at 115-tonnes, the 22-metrelong machines use their rotating excavating head with metal picks, known as a ‘pineapple’, to dig around 60 tonnes of rock an hour.

Gantry crane The 280-tonne gantry crane played a key role at both ends of Cross River Rail’s year of tunnelling, being used to lower the TBMs into the Woolloongabba station box as tunnelling commenced, and then lifting them out of the Northern Portal once their journey had finished.

The gantry cranes finished their work in midApril, after the last TBM pieces were extracted from the portal.

Luffing cranes Specifically, the name is the M2480D heavy lifting luffing crane.

Cross River Rail’s Boggo Road site is home to two of the strongest tower cranes in the world – named Jane the Crane and Cliff Hanger by students at nearby Dutton Park State School.

Capable of lifting 330 tonnes – equivalent to

Micro TBMs The small micro tunnel boring machines also had functions to perform.

With a diameter of 2.1 metres, the micro TBMs are under a third of the height of their bigger siblings, and were used to build new sewer and stormwater tunnels around the project’s Southern Area.

The 40-metre-high towers are some of the largest cranes in the world.

Upgrades make Mt Isa line more resilient A $25 million investment in the Mount Isa line has resulted in two years’ worth of important track upgrades completed in just 20 days.

Queensland Rail regional head Jim Benstead said for the first time in its history, Queensland Rail closed the Mount Isa line for two 10-day periods to allow for 24 kilometres of track upgrades valued at $25 million, creating a more resilient path on the freight and passenger network, while providing a boost to the economy of North West Queensland communities.

“As part of this $25 million investment, 24 kilometres of track stretching from Cloncurry to Mount Isa were replaced with new concrete sleepers and ballast as well as 10 kilometres of new rail to bolster safety and reliability on the line ahead of the busy dry season,” he said.

“This is a fantastic example of industry

working together. Through consultation with freight partners and end-customers, we’ve aligned rail works with major maintenance and train-free periods at the mine sites, which will deliver the best, most efficient outcome while minimising impacts to supply chains.”

Benstead said an influx of Queensland Rail staff and contractors to North West Queensland took place to complete the works with all accommodation and hire cars booked out during the closures.

“A taskforce of more than 200 Queensland Rail employees and contractors stayed and spent in Mount Isa and Cloncurry, which was a great support to the many local businesses still bouncing back from the impacts of COVID.” The Mount Isa line runs along some of the world’s largest deposits of copper, lead, zinc, silver and phosphate rock. The Queensland

Government is committed to supporting supply chains and investing in the line to ensure continued safety, reliability, and uptake in rail freight.

More than 200 network maintenance staff and contractors were enlisted from across the state to complete the works including Queensland Rail’s infrastructure renewals, track resurfacing, network structures planning, signalling systems and track maintenance planning teams.

Other critical workgroups include contracted civil plant machinery and operators, contracted ballast undercutting resources and specialised on track vehicles for mechanised sleeper renewals to bolster the Queensland Rail work force.

About 96,000 tonnes of ballast, 35,000 concrete sleepers and 10 kilometres of rail will be replaced.

Weather-proofing the West Moreton network More than $24 million in track upgrades are pushing ahead to bolster the reliability of Queensland’s West Moreton rail system, making it more durable and resilient to weather impacts, while supporting more than 220 local jobs.

Transport and Roads Minister Mark Bailey said work had begun to stabilise slopes on the Toowoomba Range and renew ageing timber rail bridges between Dalby and Chinchilla for better durability and drainage.

“Western rail systems were hit hard by the record-rain event, including 30 landslips on the Toowoomba Range and significant washouts, sinkholes, and damage from water inundation,” he said.

“This $24 million investment will help the network better withstand the impacts of heavy rainfall, by stabilising slopes on the range and improving drainage, while making rail bridges more durable.

“Investigations have commenced on Stage 2 of the Toowoomba Range Slope Stabilisation project to reduce the risk of landslides on the Range, thereby increasing safety and reducing disruption to the line.

“These investigations and monitoring at seven high-risk sites along the range will determine priority areas for drainage improvements and slope stabilisation.

Work has begun on making the western rail line more resistant to weather impacts.

“Bore drilling is underway at these sites to determine ground conditions, while engineering teams continue to monitor for any ground movement to improve safety and reliability of the line into the future.

“A tender for remediation works on a separate embankment, deemed high-risk, will be offered later this year as part of Stage 2.

“It builds on Stage 1, completed last year, which saw $37 million invested to improve drainage and stabilise slopes near Spring Bluff.”

Bailey said in another boost for the western rail system, VEC Civil Engineering had been awarded the contract to replace piers on 11 ageing timber rail bridges, while Queensland

Rail would complete total bridge replacements at a further three locations.

“This upgrade will see ageing timber structures replaced with concrete and steel to increase their strength and durability and reduce ongoing maintenance requirements,” he said.

Future plans for the Western Downs include the Toowoomba to Brisbane Passenger Rail, business case in planning, and the Gowrie to Grandchester Rail Corridor Study, also in planning.

The design process for the timber bridge renewal project is currently underway, with major construction expected to begin in September.

WWW.RAILEXPRESS.COM.AU | 17

News

Queensland

Government buys Rockhampton railyards The Queensland Government has completed the purchase of the Rockhampton railyards from Aurizon in a major step towards creating more rail supply chain manufacturing jobs in Central Queensland.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said planning had begun to determine the best use of the railyards for the Rockhampton community, industry and Queensland Rail.

“The Rockhampton railyards are an icon,” she said.

“Rail supply chain manufacturing is part of the history of this city. We want to bring it back.

“That’s why we’ve bought this site – to create more rail supply chain manufacturing jobs here in Rockhampton to support train manufacturing in Maryborough.

“The railyards have been relatively unused for years. It’s time to get the area back in action, and back to generating blue collar jobs for Queenslanders.”

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the final uses of the site would be determined after consultation with industry.

“We’re already looking at some exciting possibilities for the site, including as a centre of research into hydrogen-powered rail locos and as a major rail supply chain hub,” he said.

“The research into hydrogen-powered trains is particularly exciting. Hydrogen is a clean, green power source and it makes sense to look at it as a potential fuel for our future train fleets.

“TMR is working with partners in the tertiary sector to potentially locate a hydrogen research initiative at the railyards.

The Rockhampton railyards are considered an icon.

“The precinct will also be a major rail supply chain hub for Australia, with an Expression of Interest to launch in the coming weeks, inviting businesses with a unique opportunity to establish themselves at the railyards.

“In addition to the commercial use, later this year we will talk to the local community about how they’d like the site to be activated.

“Any revitalisation work done in the precinct will be done with full respect to the history of this area – including the Heritage Listed sections.”

Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke was a strong advocate for the government’s purchase of the railyards.

“We’re working hard to create good, honest rail jobs here in Rockhampton,” he said.

“Rail supply chain manufacturing is part of our history. It’s in our DNA in Rocky.

“By investing in this facility, we’re not just creating jobs, we’re creating opportunities for local businesses in the supply chain.

“The railyards will be a supply chain source for the government’s Queensland Train Manufacturing Program.

“This program is a $7.1 billion investment in Queensland rail manufacturing and Queensland jobs.

“It’s going to create hundreds of jobs all over the state of Queensland – but particularly here in Rocky.”

Far North near misses spark safety reminder An alarming increase in near miss incidents at Far North Queensland railway crossings has sparked a serious safety reminder from Queensland Rail.

The organisation’s regional head, Jim Benstead, said near misses between trains and motorists at Far North Queensland level crossings had almost tripled in 2021 compared to 2020.

“Queensland Rail is urging everyone to keep safety front of mind and take extra care near railway crossings following a steep increase in near miss incidents reported,” he said.

“In 2021, Queensland Rail reported 31 near misses with cars at railway crossings across Far

North Queensland – all of which could have been avoided. This is up from just eight near miss incidents reported in 2020, marking an almost 300 per cent increase.

“Trains on the regional network can travel at speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour and can’t stop quickly or swerve. It can take only a matter of seconds for a near miss to turn into a tragedy.

“Collision incidents can have a lasting physical and emotional impact on all involved, including the road users and train driver, but also loved ones, witnesses and first responders.

“While Queensland Rail continues to invest

in engineering solutions and technology, community education, and working with police on enforcement, we really need motorists to play their part and heed the warnings in place for their safety.

“Ignoring the warnings is not only extremely dangerous, but also illegal and motorists caught ignoring railway crossing protection and damaging or obstructing level crossing infrastructure can be fined up to $1,102 and four demerit points.”

The Aumuller Street and Thompson Road railway crossings in Cairns will have CCTV cameras upgraded this month.

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News

New Zealand

Reidy ready for return as KiwiRail chief Former KiwiRail Chief Executive Peter Reidy has returned to the role to take the company forward after nearly four years as chief executive officer at Fletcher Construction.

KiwiRail Chairman David McLean said the KiwiRail Board was impressed by the number and calibre of applicants for the CEO vacancy.

“Peter stands out for his strong, demonstrated leadership ability, including at KiwiRail itself where he was a highly respected CEO from 2014 until he left in 2018 and took up the opportunity to lead New Zealand’s biggest infrastructure group. I’m delighted that he will be returning to KiwiRail where his mana, experience and commercial acumen will be invaluable in leading KiwiRail’s transition to financial sustainability,” he said.

“KiwiRail is busy delivering a vital program of $8 billion of Government investment, redressing years of decline. Alongside a Government commitment to invest in the national rail network on an on-going basis, the company is pursuing a strategy which will see it run its ‘above rail’ freight and passenger operations and Interislander ferries in a commercially successful way.

“We require a leader who can hit the ground running for the benefit of our customers, our people and the New Zealand

Peter Reidy, KiwiRail.

public, and the Board is confident that Peter Reidy is that leader.”

Reidy said he was excited to be returning to KiwiRail and his focus was on looking forward, not back.

“Much has changed since I was last at the company, especially with the level of Government investment which is enabling the purchase of two new state-of-the-art Interislander ferries, new locomotives for the

South Island and infrastructure projects that are enhancing the network across the country and especially in Auckland,” he said.

“I am sure that what has not changed is the commitment of a dedicated KiwiRail team who want to deliver on the potential rail has to help New Zealand achieve greenhouse gas emission targets and take pressure off roads by shifting more freight and people on to rail.

“The enormous infrastructure program happening right now is exciting and my task will be to lead a diverse and inclusive KiwiRail team in delivering these projects, while meeting the needs of customers and seeking an enhanced financial performance for shareholders and all New Zealanders.

“KiwiRail’s strong presence in many communities and in many generations of New Zealand families is a great foundation to build on for the future and I feel privileged to have a second opportunity to lead this unique company.”

McLean thanked KiwiRail’s Acting Chief Executive David Gordon and Acting Deputy Chief Executive Helen Rogers for their stable, dedicated and purposeful leadership over the past few months, which has included many milestones being achieved on a number of projects.

CRL station names reflect past and future New Zealand’s City Rail Link, in partnership with Auckland Transport (AT), has announced details of the proposed te reo Māori names for CRL stations.

The station names are Maungawhau (Mt Eden), Karanga a Hape (Karangahape), Te Wai Horotiu (Aotea) and Waitematā (Britomart).

The render for Karanga a Hape station.

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Details of the names coincides with the release by CRL of the striking final design renders for the Maungawhau, Karanga a Hape and Te Wai Horotiu Stations. The names and renders together celebrate the project’s strong links to mana whenua history and storytelling and more accurately reflect the stations’ geographic locations.

CRL chief executive Sean Sweeney said the names and the designs were important developments for the city and acknowledged the unique cultural and historic heritage of Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland.

The names were gifted by CRL’s Mana Whenua Forum and honour the long-standing partnership the Forum’s eight iwi have had with CRL since day one of the project in 2012.

“We are honoured to have been gifted these ngā ingoa tuku iho (traditional names) by our Mana Whenua Forum along with invaluable mātauranga (knowledge) Māori throughout the project,” Sweeney said.

“CRL’s eyes are set firmly on building a world class railway for Auckland’s future, but the names anchor us to the past and the history of the people first to call the land the stations occupy their home.”

AT’s Chief Executive, Shane Ellison, said te reo Māori in public spaces is essential for a thriving Māori identity in Tāmaki Makaurau.

“In the last few years, we’ve seen the presence of te reo Māori on Auckland’s public transport network increase substantially – from onboard announcements on trains and buses to the new signage that is being installed across the city,” he said.

“The gifted station names continue AT’s commitment to ensuring te reo Māori is seen, heard, spoken and learned across our network and we’re thrilled to be part of that journey.”

The renders illustrate designs that are different for each station, reflecting their geographic location and their ties to mana whenua history and story-telling.

News

International

Door deal done for Wabtec in Brazil Wabtec Corporation has won a major contract to supply on-board doors for passenger trains in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city.

This high-profile contract is Wabtec’s largest order in South America for on-board doors.

The company will provide a total of 2304 doors to Alstom, which is building 36 eight-car Metropolis trains for São Paulo Metropolitan Train System lines 8 and 9, managed by ViaMobilidade.

The order builds upon Wabtec’s installed base of doors on legacy Line 8-9 trains, representing more than 70 percent of the transit authority’s fleet.

Wabtec President and Regional Leader, Latin America, Danilo Miyasato, said the company was delighted to participate in the prestigious and strategically crucial project for Sao Paulo and to play a central role in serving the needs of Brazil’s largest city.

“Our manufacturing capabilities and team in Brazil make Wabtec the best choice to deliver cost-efficient doors on a tight schedule, while prioritizing product safety and quality,” he said.

A key part of the deal was Wabtec’s ability to centralise production and partners at the Contagem site in Minas Gerais. Wabtec began delivering the doors in June.

Sao Paulo’s 8-Diamond and 9-Emerald train lines transport more than a million passengers per day.

Line 8 is more than 40 kilometres long and is comprised of 22 stations linking Júlio Prestes and Amador Bueno. Line 9 is over 30km long, and its 18 stations connect Osasco and Grajaú.

Both lines are strategically important for transporting the passengers of Sao Paulo, a city of over 12 million, which is among the world’s fastest growing economies for the past 20

years. These new trains are part of a package of improvements and obligations settled in an April 2021 contract to operate and maintain both lines for 30 years.

The stainless-steel trains are the same model as the 9000-series fleet currently in use on Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos lines 12-Sapphire and 13-JadE. The new trains can carry 2600 passengers and are expected to have a service life of more than 40 years.

The doors rolled off the plant last month.

Thales helps transform Egyptian rail network As part of the ambitious plan to transform Egypt’s railway infrastructure driven by the country’s Ministry of Transport, Thales has delivered on its commitment by delivering the new key stations, Tanta, Sedfa and Al Ousayrat.

The latter two are located on the line linking the towns of Asyut and Nagh Hammadi. Tanta is on the Cairo-Alexandria line. All these stations are part of the rail corridor from Alexandria to Aswan via Cairo.

The delivery of Tanta station, one of the largest stations in Egypt, means the entry into operation of a continuous section of about 195 kilometres, with only the ends of the line remaining to be delivered: Alexandria station in the north (on the Quesna-Alexandria section), and Farz Waborat and Cairo North in the south (on the Cairo-Benha section), the total length of the line being 207 kilometres.

This entry into service will have a major impact on the country’s rail transport

network: Thales has equipped Tanta with one main technical building and one secondary technical building (to cover the 18 kilometres controlled by this station), 132 signals, 124 switch motors, 267 track circuits and eight level crossings.

In the specific case of Al Ousayrat, in addition to the signalling and telecommunications systems, the delivery includes a new technical building, three level crossings and 10 km of track in addition to the 63 kilometres of track already in operation on the line to date.

The Sedfa station, on the other hand, involves the commissioning of 11 additional kilometres, a technical building, 44 signals, 74 track circuits and two level crossings, among others.

Thales Spain Transport Director Fernando Ortega said the deliver of the stations was a source of pride for the entire Thales team

who had been working for years on the modernisation of this line.

“The aim of this ambitious project, of which Thales is part, is to modernise the signalling and telecommunications systems of the Egyptian National Railways (ENR), the second largest railway operator in Africa,” he said.

“The existing mechanical signalling systems are being replaced by Thales’ electronic interlocking system on three of the most important lines of the Egyptian railway network, the second oldest in the world after the British.”

This will result in a significant increase in passenger and freight reliability, as well as an increase in speed and track capacity of up to 40 per cent.

Specifically, the speed of trains will increase from 140 to 160 kilometres per hour. Similarly, reduced maintenance costs will have an impact on the life-cycle cost of the systems.

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Commodities and Cargo

Aurizon locomotive investment services for Tronox, transporting mineral sands product some 2900 kilometres westward from Broken Hill to Kwinana, south of Perth for processing.

Aurizon’s growing grain-haulage business throughout Australia now moves more than nine million tonnes per annum to ports in Queensland, NSW and WA. The NSW business services approximately 30 grain receival and handling facilities feeding into the Port of Newcastle.

In WA, Aurizon has a long-term contract with Australia’s largest grain co-operative CBH and is ramping up rail capacity for a record harvest.

In 2021, Aurizon acquired APS which includes an export terminal and ship loading facility for bulk commodities, adjacent to rail infrastructure at the Port of Newcastle.

Aurizon’s Bulk business group executive Clay McDonald said the APS acquisition has been the catalyst for securing a strategic foothold in the NSW bulk market, where it can offer direct rail access to the port for regions that boast rich mineral and agricultural wealth.

“By extending our transport and logistics capability, Aurizon can support the growth and success of customers and the regional economies in which we operate. No better

One of the new locomotives.

example is the extraordinary growth we are seeing in the Cobar minerals province,” he said.

“Our $50 million investment in these new locos is a big vote of confidence in the continuing growth in the region, and the capability of our Aurizon team in delivering growth tonnages, safely and reliably, for our customers.

“New locomotive fleet also gives us the extra capacity and flexibility in a market like Western Australia where there is continuing strong growth in the resources and agricultural sector.

Our bulk business has been working hard with CBH to increase rail capacity and fleet efficiency in meeting the record grain harvest produced by WA growers.”

$200m agricultural funding Arc Infrastructure has welcomed the Western Australian Government allocation of $200 million of Federal and State funding towards the WA Agricultural Supply Chain Improvement (ASCI) program, which will help achieve the common goal of moving more grain on rail.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the package includes funding for new rail siding upgrades, an upgrade to the Midland Railway and investment into the southern Wheatbelt region.

The $60 million investment in the Midland Railway will see the line upgraded from 16 Tonne Axle Loading (TAL) to 19 TAL between Carnamah and Mingenew.

Arc has committed to self-deliver the Midland Railway upgrade works and will support CBH with the delivery of the rail sidings.

The works will be delivered by our regional teams, which will ensure efficient and costeffective project delivery.

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Transport Minister Rita Saffioti (right) and Arc Infrastructure CEO Murray Cook.

Arc Infrastructure chief executive officer Murray Cook said the Government’s ASCI funding would complement Arc’s ongoing investment in the grain rail network.

“Arc Infrastructure is well progressed through a $100m+ investment program in the grain network, with a specific focus on the Midland Railway and Miling lines,” he said.

“This Government funding will increase Tonne Axle Load capacity to help us move more grain freight from trucks to trains, generate freight cost savings for growers, and build an improved sustainable network for the future.

“We look forward to continuing our work with CBH and Government on these ASCI Package 1 projects to develop a freight railway that supports the ongoing international competitiveness of WA grain growers, and deliver long-term benefits to the economy and State.”

Arc Infrastructure and CBH have worked collaboratively with the State Government to develop business cases seeking investment in priority rail projects identified in the Revitalising Agricultural Region Freight (RARF) Strategy.

© Alstom / RailGallery

Ten new heavy-haul locomotives are hitting the tracks in New South Wales and Western Australia as the nation’s largest rail freight business Aurizon meets customer growth in high-demand Australian commodities such as copper, lead, zinc and grain.

Four locomotives have already rolled out of manufacturer UGL’s Newcastle’s facility in recent weeks and have been deployed immediately to support the growth of resource companies in the minerals-rich province of Cobar in western NSW. The remaining six locomotives will be commissioned in coming months, meaning that Aurizon is well positioned for new customers seeking transport solutions for their products, as well as supporting the continued growth and success of its existing customer base in NSW and WA. The 10 locomotives represent a $50 million+ investment in additional haulage capacity for Aurizon’s Bulk business.

Aurizon has secured a number of new contracts in NSW, with trucking, terminal and rail services available to our growing customer base.

The trucking fleet carries mining inputs and mining outputs to a regional logistics terminal for railing to and from Aurizon Port Services (APS) at the Port of Newcastle.

In February, Aurizon also commenced rail

© Alstom / RailGallery

www.alstom.com

LEADING THE WAY TO GREENER AND SMARTER MOBILITY IN AUSTRALIA

Workforce Profiles

Looking through the health and safety lens Amanda Benson’s curiosity about nature and people turned into a fulfilling career in health and safety with Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop project.

From blasting the ground at petrochemical sites to a near-death encounter, Amanda’s unique experience shows how a health and safety mindset can help anyone achieve anything if they take the time to understand the science.

Amanda fell into health and safety by chance – and yet it saved her life.

Several years ago, the health and safety manager was feeling unwell at work. Her team noticed something wasn’t right, and when she collapsed, they took swift action.

“No one could believe our operations manager could slide like James Bond over the boardroom table to get to me quickly and respond. What a champion,” she said.

“The team around me were from finance and logistics – not construction workers on site – but everyone knew health and safety inside out.

“They had the confidence to know what to do and worked together to save my life. I’ll be forever grateful and very proud of them.”

Amanda was later told she experienced an epileptic seizure for the first time.

Her inspiring journey and career path has encouraged her to share her story to motivate others to prioritise personal health and workplace safety.

“Health and safety is much more than hi-vis and PPE – it’s critical to everything,” she said.

As a child, Amanda spent holidays on a wheat farm and by the ocean, marvelling at the immense power of nature and how people build their lives around it.

Amanda’s curiosity led her to study environmental science, and one of her first jobs was cleaning up soil and groundwater contamination at old gas worksites and petrochemical plants.

“Science absolutely underpins everything I do – it helps me to take emotion out of a situation and understand it,” she said.

“But I love the human side too, the connections and conversations, because health and safety is about helping people to apply the science to run a successful and fulfilling career and life.”

In her spare time, Amanda volunteers as a Surf Lifesaving Patroller at Portsea surf beach.

“When I’m patrolling and coaching young kids, I’m educating people of the hazards and risk so they can enjoy themselves in an

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Amanda Benson believes in building a positive culture with high regard to health and safety.

unpredictable natural environment. Seeing people enjoy the rough surf safely is priceless,” she said.

In her career, Amanda appreciates the mentors who encouraged her to reach bigger goals. And it shows: Amanda has led teams who received the 2019 Excellence in Construction Award, as well as the APPEA Contractor Safety Innovation Award.

“I do what I do because I love making work in high-risk settings possible,” she said.

The 90 kilometre SRL line will link every major rail line from the Frankston Line to the Werribee Line via Melbourne Airport.

“In health and safety, we’re the enablers, we don’t want to stop something,” she said.

“So when I heard about Victoria’s biggest ever rail project, I thought “let’s do it” and find a way to do it safely.”

Building a positive culture with the highest regard to health and safety is one of the most important concepts in high-risk settings.

As well as leading health and safety programs at the Suburban Rail Loop Authority, Amanda is also a post-graduate sessional lecturer at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, and shares her expertise to help shape the next generation of health and safety professionals.

“I love the generations coming through because the world’s changing. My opportunity is to impart my knowledge, while I also get to learn about them and their view of the world and workforce,” she said.

“I would like to see health and safety embedded into all decision-making – planning, design, contracts, program milestones, training, communications – all of it.”

As a once-in-a-generation project, the Suburban Rail Loop will bring in 24,000 new jobs and the next generation of big thinkers who will help build bigger and greater connections across Melbourne.

Indigenous engagement priority for METRONET Western Australia’s transport system has a long-term commitment to embed genuine engagement with the Aboriginal community across its program of works.

Mandjoogoordap – ‘meeting place of the heart’; and Karnup – ‘place of the Milkmaid flowers’.

These are just two of the 14 Noongar Place Names and meanings recently identified in Stage 1 of Western Australia’s METRONET Noongar Place Names Initiative.

Noongar is the official language of the Aboriginal people of the south-west of WA and means ‘a person of the south-west of Western Australia’. There are 14 different dialects in the Noongar language.

The Initiative is part of the METRONET Gnarla Biddi (Our Pathways) Strategy and helps to acknowledge the traditional and ongoing connection of Noongar people to Country, as well as celebrate Noongar language across the METRONET Program.

Each Noongar place name will be incorporated into new stations across METRONET projects through opportunities in public art, architecture, landscaping, structural design, materials and finishes and interpretative signage.

As Gnarla Biddi Strategy Lead Brenton Turner explains, the names provide education to community about the spiritual significance, cultural practices, native animals and endemic plant species to each local area.

“By acknowledging Noongar place names across our projects and looking at opportunities to integrate them into each new station, we are recognising and celebrating the special relationships between the people, country and language,” he said.

Noongar consultants were engaged to help identify the appropriate place names and their meanings by reviewing existing information and consulting with Elders on the METRONET Noongar Reference Group. Where appropriate, these place names were then confirmed with local community groups.

The Lakelands Station Project is one example where Aboriginal engagement plays a key role, with a focus on building relationships that leave a legacy for years to come.

The station site is nestled beside Black Swan Lake Reserve and the team have been identifying ways to integrate this natural habitat into the station design to recognise the identity and cultural significance of the local area.

Championing this work is Aboriginal Engagement Lead Annette Panaia, who works with project teams and stakeholders to engage with the local and greater Aboriginal community.

Annette Panaia works to engage project teams with the Aboriginal community.

“My role is to guide the project team on Aboriginal inclusion, employment and procurement, cultural recognition, site management, public art and place-making, but my job is more than just ticking these boxes,” she said.

“For me, it signifies and complements my life’s passion working for, and on behalf of, my Aboriginal people. I am first and foremost a strong community-minded person and this drives me to role model my ‘mob’ and build their capacity and confidence to achieve their goals.

“I enjoy meeting people from all walks of life, getting to know their stories and educating non-Aboriginal people and people from other culturally diverse backgrounds about the first nations people.”

To date, eight Aboriginal companies have been engaged in construction across the project and Aboriginal artwork will be incorporated into the station design, with artists to be appointed soon. The project is committed to the inclusion of the local Aboriginal Bindjareb community throughout the lifecycle of the project and works with Winjan Aboriginal Corporation to help facilitate open communication and relationship-building.

Meanwhile, Noongar man Daniel Dzubiel is right on track to achieve his career goals after joining the METRONET Yanchep Rail Extension Project as an Environmental Undergraduate through the CareerTrackers internship program.

Daniel, who is finishing a double major in Environmental Science, Environmental Management and Sustainability at Murdoch University, joined the project in November

The Gnarla Biddi Strategy is helping students like Noongar man Daniel Dzubiel achieve his academic goals.

last year to gain first-hand experience in environmental management on a major infrastructure project.

Having developed a passion for science and biology at a young age, Daniel always knew he wanted a job working with animals and ecosystems. His passion continued through high school and he set his sights on environmental science at university.

“Working on the Yanchep Rail Extension project gives me the chance to experience the day-to-day activities involved in a construction job, which range from heading out to site for inspections, recording dust monitoring data, compiling environment plans and documentation, or water monitoring at the various catchments on site,” Daniel said.

“When I graduate, I can definitely see myself working in construction and getting out on site every day, as helping manage environmental impacts is something I really enjoy.”

Through the Gnarla Biddi Aboriginal Engagement Strategy, METRONET is committed to providing training and career opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students like Daniel.

The Gnarla Biddi Strategy is supported by a framework of five engagement streams, which allow for cultural, business, job and land access outcomes for the Aboriginal community. The streams are: • Noongar cultural recognition • Noongar cultural input into place making • Aboriginal procurement • Aboriginal employment • Land access and sites management.

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Signalling Solutions

Aldridge signalling technology drives export sales While Aldridge has pioneered many local projects, it has also enjoyed much success overseas.

Aldridge is well-known for pioneering many local projects – starting with the first LED signals on the Sydney City Circle up to supplying the latest Smart Signals for the North-West and Southern Sydney Metro system – but it’s perhaps lesser known in Australia for its export sales success.

Aldridge has already supplied about 8000 Australian-made signals and components internationally, for projects such as: MNDT Malaysian North Double Track (Ipoh to Padang Besar), which is 329 kilometres of double track; SDT Southern Double Track Malaysia (Gemas to Johor Bahru), which is a further 200 kilometres of double track; Sri Lanka; North Eastern (Metro) Line Singapore; Circle Line Singapore; Thompson Line Singapore; Taichung Green Line Taiwan; High speed rail test track in Singapore; Stage 1 of the Wanda–Zhonghe–Shulin line in Taiwan; double track in Thailand; Purple Line Bangkok; Red Line Bangkok; Jakarta Metro; and not to mention numerous projects in Indonesia, New Zealand and the USA. And in June 22-24, Aldridge Railway Signals exhibited at the Rail Solutions Asia conference helad at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

This was the first time in two years the exhibition has been held due to COVID, with more than 60 exhibitors present and over 2000 visitors from Malaysia, Singapore, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Japan.

ALDRIDGE KEEPS ON DELIVERING Being an Australian-owned, indigenous company and certified with Supply Nation, Aldridge has been supplying signals to the Australian market since the early 1990s.

One of its most significant projects occurred in 2019, when Aldridge Railway Signals custom-designed and supplied 153 signals, which included 55 smart-running, 26 smartshunting and 72 buffer stop signals, for the first stage of the North West section of the new Sydney Metro.

This metro runs trains from Chatswood to Cudgeong, which is the terminating marshalling area that’s 40 kilometres from Chatswood.

The smart running signals are based on a European design which includes a white Points Position Indicator (PPI), indicating directions to

Aldridge Railway Signals custom-designed and supplied 153 signals for the North West section of the Sydney Metro.

proceed left, straight ahead or right, plus a red horizontal bar for Stop.

The smart shunting signals also display the Main Route Indicator (MRI) dual digit number/ letter immediately above the PPI, with the upper MRI and lower PPI being totally separate and electrically isolated signals.

The two-digit route number/letter displayed on the upper is a descriptive number which informs the train driver which destination the points arrangement will take him to.

This can be programmed to display any two-digit (alphanumeric) combination and can be programmed from the rail operator’s control centre.

The above arrangement is specific to the Sydney Metro but is also available as other variants for other rail operators, with an example being yellow LEDs instead of white ones.

This year, Aldridge also supplied a further 140 signals for the Sydney Metro South project, which extends the existing North West Metro a further 23 kilometres, from Chatswood to Bankstown.

INNOVATION CONTINUES In 2019, Aldridge Intelligent Transport Systems unveiled the first fully operational wireless level crossing. Installed at a remote ARTC location in the upper Hunter Valley, it is still operational.

Since then, it has installed another three crossings, two in Central Queensland and

another west of Wollongong, NSW, with other orders pending.

The Wireless Level Crossing offers a low cost alternative to conventional crossings because it runs on low voltage, uses solar power with battery back-up and avoids the high costs associated with cable trenching.

COMPLETE SIGNALLING SOLUTIONS Aldridge Intelligent Transport Systems, which is a technology innovator, and Aldridge Rail Signals, a signal manufacturer, combine with the sister company Aldridge Signal Infrastructure (signals installation) to provide complete signalling solutions.

Between the three companies they employ more than 100 Australians in this high technology sector.

For further information contact David Aldridge on +61 2 9807 7777 or sales@railsignal.com

Rail Solutions Asia attracted more than 2000 visitors in 2019.

WWW.RAILEXPRESS.COM.AU | 27

Signalling Solutions

ATO has already been integrated into many countries’ rollout strategies.

ATO key to greater efficiency, capacity and sustainability Global transport leader Siemens Mobility has been one of the biggest driving forces in promoting autonomous train operation as the key technology in the digitalisation of railways.

Increasing traffic volumes in both passenger and freight transport are presenting a huge challenge to many carriers.

Passenger traffic in the high-speed segment is forecast to double by 2030, and rail freight traffic will grow by 50 per cent. At the same time, a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is also necessary.

Rail transport is the only mode of transport in which it is possible for the term “climateneutral transport” to become a reality in the next few years. It already accounts for less than one per cent of the transport sector’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

Autonomous or automatic train operation (ATO) is the answer to the environmental

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challenges: this makes it possible to achieve a higher level of capacity and availability, as well as sustainability in rail infrastructure, while at the same time reducing energy consumption.

Global transport leader Siemens Mobility has been one of the biggest driving forces in promoting ATO as the key technology in the digitalisation of the railways.

The innovations of recent years have driven the spread of digital technologies in society to an unprecedented scale, a trend accelerated by the pandemic. And nowadays, digitalisation also means transforming rail transport.

Siemens Mobility ATO global head Ireneus Suwalski and Trains Systems Manager Henry Wünsche recently presented a report on

how highly and fully automated driving technologies are the key elements shaping this transformation, and how they offer an opportunity for greater efficiency and high added value in return for comparatively low levels of investment.

“In close cooperation with its customers and partners, Siemens Mobility is developing the products and digital solutions required to make rail transport more flexible and adaptable,” they said.

“ATO offers the option of flexible capacity optimisation and bottleneck elimination at traffic nodes or on heavily used routes.

“This will make it possible to achieve the necessary capacity increases and more

trouble-free operations without any costly infrastructure upgrades, by shortening the headway times and to achieve greater reliability by reducing any variance in running behaviour.

“It also facilitates efficient conflict resolution in conjunction with the TMS (Traffic Management System). Additional benefits include improved punctuality, increased stopping accuracy, reduced wear and tear on rolling stock and more efficient energy use leading to a reduction in the carbon footprint, while at the same time cutting costs.”

LEVELS OF AUTOMATION A total of four different levels of automation, referred to as Grades of Automation (GoA), have been defined for the application of automated train operations.

The individual grades differ in the degree of automation of the functions that are performed either manually by humans or automatically by the technical system.

• GoA 1 is defined as operations monitored by ATP (Automatic Train Protection) to safeguard the train movements. The train driver drives the train manually.

• At GoA 2, the train control (i.e. acceleration and braking control) is automated.

At this grade, the train driver’s main tasks are principally limited to obstruction detection, train dispatching and initiating ATO operations.

• In GoA 3 operations (“accompanied driverless operation”), there is no longer a train driver on board, but there is a train attendant, who can intervene in cases of emergency or non-conformance.

However, the normal operations are all automated.

• The highest level of automation is GoA 4 (“unaccompanied driverless operations”). In this case, there is no railway personnel on the train and all the functions are handled by the technical systems or are operationally controlled.

calculated along with the track data on board the vehicles based on the current timetable and route information, which are then transmitted to the ATO-OB unit via a public mobile radio network.

“The ATO-OB uses this information and the train’s characteristics to calculate the optimum driving profile and the acceleration/braking values required for its execution.

“As an ATO system is fundamentally a non-safety-related system, the interface between the ATO-OB and train control system ensures that the ATO always controls the train and does so as closely as possible in line with the braking curve specified for the safety requirements.

“As such, the introduction of an ATO system has no negative impact on the safety of railway operations.”

An important step towards a fully automated rail infrastructure involves the introduction of driverless and unaccompanied driving (GoA 3/ GoA 4) in long-distance services.

Due to the significant technical challenges (obstacle detection, platform safety, operational fallback scenarios) and the necessary adjustments to the normative, legal and operational framework conditions, this step must be evaluated against the cost / benefit criteria.

The high costs are offset by the following further advantages: • increased flexibility for demand-oriented train services

• improved operating costs through increased effectiveness of personnel and • reduced resource bottlenecks (the demographic trend in the next decade).

CASE STUDIES Across Europe, the interfaces and functions necessary for the inter-operable use of an ATO GoA 2 with the European Train Control System (“AoE”, or ATO over ETCS) have been specified under the European Shift2Rail public-private partnership.

AoE has already been integrated into many countries’ rollout strategies: the DSD program in Germany, including the VDB’s plan for equipping and refitting rail vehicles, and the high-speed rail program in Great Britain, for example.

The introduction of highly automated driving (GoA 2) represents a quickly achievable step towards OPEX (operational expenditure) reduction.

• United Kingdom The world’s first commercial AoE application was commissioned in a long-distance service as far back as 2018. The capacity for London’s north-south link in the Thameslink program was increased from 18 to 22 trains per hour when the timetable changes came into effect in December 2020, and up to 24 trains per hour will ultimately be possible in the final stage of the upgrade.

A total of 115 Siemens Class 700 vehicles have already been equipped with fully

Testing automated driving operations for rail freight transport.

ON-BOARD EQUIPMENT The main benefits with regard to the particular conditions of long-distance rail transport are currently offered by highly automated driving (GoA 2).

For this, Suwalski and Wünsche said the necessary on-board technical equipment (ATOOB) and trackside infrastructure (ATO-TS) must be seen as an integrated system.

“The online connection to the trackside Traffic Management System (TMS) means that the current timetable situation is continuously available,” they said.

“Optimal dynamic driving specifications are

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Signalling Solutions

Siemens Mobility has demonstrated that ATO technology is ready for global deployment, particularly in suburban and regional services.

integrated ETCS and ATO, and commissioned in this project.

• Germany A further example involves the Digital S-Bahn Hamburg partnership established in July 2018 by the City of Hamburg, Deutsche Bahn AG and Siemens Mobility. The aim of the pilot project under the rail sector’s Digital Rail for Germany initiative is to introduce highly automated driving in German rail transport based on the new European AoE standard, as well as fully automated, driverless shunting, for the first time.

Suwalski and Wünsche said a 23-kilometrelong section of Hamburg’s suburban train line, including four vehicles, is being fitted with the necessary technology for this purpose.

“This is an innovative initiative that has been selected as a development cooperation project between the project partners,” they said.

“The project partners are working very closely together in the joint project organisation and demonstrated the project on the pilot track at the ITS World Congress in October 2021.

“In June last year, this project won the German Mobility Award in the “Best Practice” category as an outstanding example of an efficient and sustainable mobility solution.”

• Switzerland In September 2019, ATO was successfully implemented in long distance services in Switzerland in an innovative project conducted jointly with Swiss Federal Railways.

The AoE for GoA 2 reference architecture was used as the technical basis for implementation of the pilot.

Suwalski and Wünsche said all the prerequisites for the successful implementation of ATO are now in place in Switzerland, as there is already a high-performance dispatching

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system and large numbers of vehicles have been equipped with ETCS. A large part of the vehicle fleet has been fitted with ETCS Baseline 2.3.0.d as part of the Bahn 2000 project and the new Lötschberg and Gotthard transalpine routes.

The UNISIG standards for ATO require an ETCS version with Baseline 3.6.0. In order for this Subset 130-compliant interface to function with an ETCS on-board unit with version 2.3.0.d, an ATO gate has been developed which converts the existing information from the ETCS-OBU into the information expected by the ATO-OB. This ATO gate enables the lean migration of existing vehicles with Siemens ETCS 2.3.0.d to ATO operations.

The SBB dispatching system, which has been enhanced with an ATO-TS component, knows the operating situation in the controlled area, as well as the exact position of the vehicles.

A conflict-free travel order is generated based on the timetable and the current operating situation and is then passed on to the ATO-TS. SBB selected the ETCS-equipped suburban train line between Lausanne and Villeneuve and a standard suburban train configuration for the GoA 2 test runs, taking place on a 30-kmThe Digital S-Bahn Hamburg partnership aims to introduce highly automated driving in German rail transport based on the new European AoE standard.

long section with 13 stops. During the tests, attention was focused on controlling the ATO OB. An examination was carried out into how precisely the specified driving profile and time specifications could be followed.

Stopping accuracy, potential energy savings, ride comfort and operating benefits were also investigated in addition to the driving behaviour and punctuality.

There was particular interest in the behaviour of the automatic door control via ATO, as a lot of time can be lost during door opening and closing operations in suburban train operations.

Suwalski and Wünsche said temporary restrictions based on speed restriction sections and the handling of request stops, a function that enables the train driver to deliberately skip a specified stop, were also successfully tested.

It was possible to meet customer expectations in terms of punctual driving, precise stopping and energy savings without making any changes to the ETCS infrastructure.

“The introduction of ATO at traffic nodes is just as important in rail freight transport as in passenger transport,” Suwalski and Wünsche said.

“Policymakers are especially pushing for the deployment of ATO in freight transport in order to make it more sustainable.

“The newly created flexibility and reduced transit times should persuade customers to shift their transport to rail.

“The challenges, such as differing train lengths or loading conditions, as well as long distances across borders, call for common standards and ATO interoperability.”

THE OUTLOOK FOR GOA 3/4 The initial extensive experience with ATO GoA 2 has confirmed the maturity of this technology for commercial use.

However, Suwalski and Wünsche said the journey was far from over; in order to be able to run driverless (GoA 3) or unaccompanied (GoA 4) in open railway systems, further technical solutions, such as sensor- and AI-based

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(Artificial Intelligence – AI) route monitoring/ obstruction detection and novel solutions for fault handling in vehicles, are needed.

These have to be designed, developed, tested and above all approved.

“We are still in the early stages, especially as far as the standardised requirements for an overall GoA 3/4 system and its approval or proof of safety are concerned,” Suwalski and Wünsche said.

DIGITAL S-BAHN HAMBURG PROJECT The Digital S-Bahn Hamburg project has already implemented fully automated driverless train reversal operations as well as highly automated train movements.

The solution has adopted the approach of using technical systems to automate as many of the train driver’s operating actions as possible.

It soon became apparent that it was necessary to integrate a new safetyrelated component into the vehicle which independently performs critical steps such

as unlocking the driver’s cab, releasing the parking brake or periodically operating the vigilance device.

As a result, the safe execution of driverless train movements has been made possible based on ETCS and ATO in accordance with standardised procedures.

A further element for GoA 3/4 involves precise vehicle location and environment sensing. In the Sensors4Rail project in conjunction with its partners, Deutsche Bahn is testing precise localisation based on landmarks in the project.

Siemens Mobility is responsible for the system integration in this project and has contributed a cutting-edge odometry unit for locating the position of the front of the train that integrates the global navigation satellite system, vehicle odometry and landmark positions.

In the important area of regulatory requirements, the criteria for the approval of fully automated railways for regional and long distance transport are currently defined.

Siemens Mobility and its prestigious partners have won two ground-breaking research projects for the safety of automatic train operations from the German Centre for Rail Traffic Research (DZSF).

The ATO Risk project is answering the question of how safe automatic train operation functions need to be.

Risk acceptance criteria have been defined at the functional level as part of this. The ATO Sense project focuses on analysing the train driver’s performance in order to form a possible reference for an automated system.

The results of these projects have suggested approaches for the approval of automated systems on standard-gauge main-line railways.

This is a further step in the direction of fully automatic train operations which goes above and beyond mere technical testing, Suwalski and Wünsche said.

“Siemens Mobility has demonstrated that ATO GoA 2 technology is ready for global deployment, particularly in suburban and regional services,” they said.

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Mobility Systems

Shot in the arm for Victorian rail manufacturing sector Alstom’s recent tram contract in Melbourne has provided a boost for the local rail industry.

When global smart and sustainable mobility leader Alstom was recently tasked by the Department of Transport Victoria to provide new energy-efficient trams for its network, it formed the biggest such project in the Southern hemisphere.

As a part of the wider $1.85 billion (€1.24b) Next Generation Trams (NGT) project, the contract awarded to Alstom - to design, build, and construct 100 light rail vehicles and provide maintenance over a 15 year period - is valued at about $1.04b (€700m).

But apart from its size, there is much more added value to the deal than first meets the eye. Chief among this is the long-term stability it provides to the local railway industry and supply chains in Victoria.

The contract stipulates 65 per cent local content in the trams’ build, with the NGTs being manufactured at Alstom’s Dandenong facility.

Additionally, the maintenance obligations include 85 per cent local content.

Alstom rolling stock director for Australia and New Zealand, Pascal Dupond, said the project enabled Alstom to bring the latest light rail technology to Victoria, and with a focus on accessibility and inclusiveness.

“The Victorian Department of Transport is to be commended on the scope of the project, which affords certainty for our employees and our suppliers who have been very committed over a long time,” he said.

“There are a lot of families and small businesses who have been part of the railway industry. We’re delighted that this project is a very big positive injection to the Victorian industry in particular.

“Fundamentally, manufacturing rolling stock is very manual. There are no robots.

“The agreement increases opportunity for people to work. We maintain the jobs and develop the skills and our people love that.”

Responsible for all of the projects that involve the delivery of rolling stock, Dupond has a portfolio that encompasses light rail,

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Introduction of the NGT fleet will enable gradual retirement of the existing highfloor trams from the Melbourne network.

regional trains, the newer Metro networks, as well as oversight of the Dandenong, Ballarat and Perth rolling stock manufacturing facilities.

Dupond said the Dandenong site was a shining example of how Alstom has localised its expertise in Australia.

“It’s in the DNA of the Alstom group to localise in various countries. We have done that around the world,” he said.

“We know how to transfer technology into skills in any country. Obviously we have done that for decades in Australia and in Victoria in particular, and that’s something we will continue to invest in.

“The award of the NGTs will enable us reinforce our presence, confirming us as a very local company in Australia.”

So while the new trams are based on Alstom’s models and platforms originating from the company’s French operations, all the hard yakka for the NGTs is done in the country.

“Everything is localised except of course the key designs,” Dupond said.

“All the industrial aspects, the testing, the manufacturing and all the supply chain are local. We get our steel, we get our glass, we get our rubber locally.

“Alstom has more than 1000 suppliers in Australia and more than 50 per cent of them are in Victoria. We have significant experience in achieving 50 per cent or more local content, we just need to go a little bit further to achieve that 65 per cent.”

Dupond said all this meant Alstom was the only end-to-end manufacturer in Australia’s

rail industry, able to deliver projects from start to finish: from the design and engineering to the manufacturing, testing and commissioning, delivery and maintenance.

“Our customers don’t have to deal with an interface risk between different parts of the process; we’re responsible from the initial blank piece of paper right through to delivery of the actual rolling stock,” he said “This gives us stability and ability to retain the competencies and people we have, and of course also bring new talent into the industry and support them develop new competencies.”

This fillip for the workforce is another advantage of the NGT contract.

“It makes people, from young graduates to experienced workers, to want to go into the rail industry,” Dupond said.

“There’s at least 10 years’ worth of manufacturing here, and I don’t know how many other jobs or industries there are where you can get that level of visibility and certainty.

“So we certainly have to praise the Victorian Government for its vision in providing that long term visibility and security not only to Alstom, but to the industry and supply chain.

“It means they have the confidence of knowing they can invest in their plant and equipment, and their technologies, because this isn’t just, say, five trains, but for a much bigger quantity.”

Dupond said there were also agreements with the state for more Indigenous participation, as well working with universities to bring on young graduates in the industry.

Alstom rolling stock director for Australia and New Zealand, Pascal Dupond.

LEADERS IN LIGHT RAIL As a market leader in the LRV segment, Alstom offers modern mobility solutions for the modern-day city.

Its global leadership in the light rail sector is built on innovative technologies that have been tried and tested in numerous applications, resulting in bestin-class reliability.

It offers unique modular concepts, providing public transport authorities and operators with the opportunity to customise the tram to meet their specific requirements, from current infrastructure to rolling stock – as Melbourne has done.

Dupond said Alstom’s light-rail solutions have also been designed to delight the passenger.

“Tall windows offer a wide view of the city, while the ergonomic seats, pleasing materials, climate control and real-time passenger information displays ensure a comfortable and convenient ride,” he said.

“We have in addition a single door at each end of the tram (behind the driver car) that allows for passenger flow and ease of egress, and the low floor throughout the vehicle enables both accessibility and easy movement within the vehicle.”

The NGTs are based on the Flexity range, a family of modern trams and LRVs originally manufactured by Bombardier Transportation, which Alstom acquired in 2021.

With a track record of over 30 years, more than 8000 Alstom trams have been ordered or are already in successful revenue service in 70 cities around the globe.

Flexity trams were the first in the industry to combine 100 per cent low-floor technology with conventional bogies. The modular

concept paired with proven subsystems make Flexity trams a perfect fit for various customer needs, from tropical to winter climates as well as for smaller to higher capacities.

The low-floor design with multi-purpose areas allows easy access to the vehicles for wheelchair users.

In this contract, the Flexity vehicle has been adapted to meet the Melbourne Tram Network’s specifications, allowing for seamless integration into the vast network without the need for expensive infrastructure, traction power upgrades or new signalling.

One of the tram’s unique characteristics is its on-board energy storage system (OESS).

The new tram delivers better performance than current high floor vehicles currently on the network.

The OESS is a supplementary system allowing the capture of braking energy to

supply additional energy and supplement the network supply as needed. The trams combine a unique identity well suited to the operability needs and user experience, built on the extensive Flexity operational history in Melbourne.

Designed with passenger safety and comfort in mind, each of the new trams has multipurpose areas that offer ample space for strollers, bicycles, and wheelchairs. The fully air-conditioned vehicles with high energy efficiency and noise-optimised design keeps the interior quiet while in operation.

“We had a number of platforms to use but the Flexity platform was the one which best suited with the constraints that are found on the Melbourne network,” Dupond said.

Delivery of the Flexity light rail vehicles is scheduled to begin in 2025.

Introduction of the NGT fleet will enable gradual retirement of the existing high-floor trams from the Melbourne network, ensuring compliance with disability standards for accessible transport (DSAPT) requirements and provide a modern, inclusive, safe and reliable transport network for all passengers.

“The NGT fleet will replace the existing high floor fleets, so basically we have adapted the vehicle to meet the current infrastructure limitations,” Dupond said.

“The NGTs offers new technology, better accessibility, better comfort and better energy efficiency without the need for major changes to infrastructure.”

This order adds to Alstom’s already significant rolling stock fleet in Victoria, which includes 141 Flexity and Citadis trams, 106 X’trapolis suburban trains and 95 Vlocity regional trains, with more to be manufactured and delivered from the facilities in Dandenong and Ballarat.

Alstom has manufacturing facilities at Dandenong and Ballarat.

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RATP Dev fast-tracking growth in Australia Global public transport operator RATP Dev aims to shake up the mobility industry with entry into the Australian market.

“Australia provides an exciting opportunity for RATP Dev to bring its customer-centric vision, customised innovation solutions and world-class engineering know-how that have been refined through years of experience across the world to the market,” he said.

“RATP Dev intends to leverage its extensive international experience by responding to the significant appetite in Australia for high-quality public transport at a state and federal level.

“Without a doubt, this is good news for the country’s cities, which will become even more liveable and environmentally friendly, as a result of a more competitive transport industry.

“And the company is on the right track to success – it is part of the wider RATP Group, the third-largest public transport operator globally, and operates public transport network of Paris, including the famous Paris Metro. RATP Group is one of the world’s largest multimodal transportation networks and a pioneer of the automated metro.”

As RATP Dev celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, the company expects this figure to grow as it makes roads into the Australian market.

I M A G E: A M M A R E L H O M O S S A N Y

High-quality, reliable public transport is always a priority, but never more than as the world comes out of the COVID-19 pandemic and the international community seeks to tackle climate change.

Looking ahead, policymakers and other key stakeholders in Australia recognise that the global transport industry holds the key to unlocking the future of cities through sustainable mobility projects.

The eyes of the global transport industry are on Australia, as it has the opportunity to break new ground with a suite of public mobility projects. A new investment wave is already beginning for the Sydney Metro, Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop, various light rail projects and other major public transport initiatives.

And now comes exciting news that global urban transport operator RATP Dev has recently established a representative office in Australia to implement and manage tenders, reflecting what could be a golden age of public transport in the country.

The company’s general manager for Australia and New Zealand, Denis Masure, has been tasked with building the company’s business in Australia.

Cairo Metro, Line 3.

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I M A G E: J E A N-F R A N Ç O I S M AU B O U S S I N

Mobility Systems

Paris Metro, Line 14.

EXTENSIVE INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE The company is coming to Australia equipped with 120 years of experience in metro operation and more than 70 years in semi- and full-automated metro, currently operating eight GoA4 (highest grade automation) lines globally.

RATP Dev has a proven track record of expertise in the launch of new networks (greenfield) or takeover and optimisation of existing networks (brownfield) without traffic interruption.

“The aim of the company’s new representative office is to make travelling more enjoyable and sustainable that ultimately, will create social and economic opportunities for cities and their residents,” Masure said.

While RATP Dev may well not be known to Australians, it has a reputation in other markets as an industry-leader in mobility. Already present in 14 countries on four continents, RATP Dev is recognised for its contributions in the fields of automation and world-class services delivery.

In Paris and Greater Paris, as the historical operator of the transport network, RATP works in partnership with its public transport authority IDFM to deliver an integrated transport network in one of the most densely populated regions in the world. Now RATP Dev intends to roll out this technology and expertise to Australia.

For this very purpose, RATP Group has developed the Bonjour RATP mobile app that integrates public transports solutions and other mobility options such as carpooling, carsharing, scooters, bikes, and smart parking lots.

Similarly, RATP Dev draws on innovation to improve the company’s overall environmental performance and to offer increasingly green mobility solutions.

One of RATP Dev’s priorities is to become a major proponent of sustainable cities, working hand in hand with local elected officials, authorities, and passengers.

This has recently been exemplified by the upgrading of the RATP Group’s AFNOR CSR certificate to ‘exemplary’ level – the highest recognition in the field.

“Autonomous vehicles, in addition to automated metros, in public transport are a means of creating new and improved services, enabling us to meet customers’ ever evolving mobility needs and to do the company’s part in tackling the climate crisis,” Masure said.

“For example, in February 2022, RATP Dev has been supporting the Royal Commission for Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia with the launch of an autonomous pod vehicle service – offering seamless and sustainable transport for residents and visitors to the Kingdom.”

PIONEERS OF AUTOMATED METROS As the automated metro establishes itself as an innovation and sustainable solution to the future, RATP Dev puts the totality of this expertise at clients’ disposal.

In 1998, Paris Metro Line 14 was commissioned – a world-first for a highcapacity, fully-automated line. In addition, Line 1 of the Paris Metro was fully converted to GoA4 automation without disruption – another significant event.

As well as this, Metro Line 4 has recently been extended as part of the Grand Paris Express Project and will be complete to full automation by 2023.

The RATP Group has also supported the rollout of the 14@ORY Project and the extension of Paris Metro Line 14 to the Orly International Airport. As the backbone of the Grand Paris Express, the line will reach 30 kilometres in length compared to the current 13.9 kilometres.

The double extension to the north and south will heighten travel and connection for Île-de-France residents as well as provide high level mobility service to Orly airport passengers connecting to Paris.

Since the Paris Line 14 launch, the company has worked all over the world to deliver automation in mobility now operates five metro networks around the globe.

For example, in 2019, RATP Dev worked

with its local partners to ensure that three automated lines of the Doha Metro in Qatar became fully operational.

Similarly, the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, is home to a brand-new fully-automated metro network where the two backbone lines will be operated by RATP Dev – and in Cairo, Egypt, RATP Dev recently started operation on the strategic semi-automated Line 3, 23 kilometres long with 19 stations, 6.5-minute frequency and a ridership of 150,000 passengers a day.

It is no surprise that automated metros are popular with city residents and visitors, thanks to their unparalleled high-quality and highreliability customer journeys.

TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY Sustainability must play a central role in public transport planning. Transport, the second largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the world, is critical to a more sustainable future.

Thirty cities around the world, including Paris, have succeeded in reducing their CO2 emissions by 22 per cent on average over 10 years, notably by combining efficient public transport with a reduction in car traffic.

Digital solutions, such as MaaS, can help accelerate the uptake of public transport by streamlining journeys.

LEADERS IN SAFE AND SECURE PUBLIC TRANSPORT The operation and maintenance of automated metro by RATP Dev is always accompanied by recruitment and training of locals and the transfer of knowledge and skills.

In Egypt, for example, RATP Dev Mobility Cairo offers many roles to local Egyptians, with a minimum target of 98 per cent local contracts, and the creation of a training centre to ensure the transfer of knowledge and skills.

In fact, the company recently celebrated the graduation of its first batch of female drivers who are highly trained to operate the Cairo Metro Green Line 3.

Similarly, Autolinee Toscane launched the Accademia initiative, aimed at training the drivers of the future according to the company’s high standards.

Elsewhere, in the United Kingdom, RATP Dev’s subsidiary RATP Dev Transit London implemented a world-class training centre, where all recruits have the opportunity to become bus drivers in the city.

RATP Dev’s operations all over the world enable the creation of direct and indirect jobs locally, in industries such as maintenance, construction, cleanliness and safety: and consequently, supporting the fabric of local businesses of all sizes.

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Mobility Systems

DELIVERING FOR LOCAL PEOPLE Beyond technical expertise, RATP Dev has also acquired detailed knowledge of passengers’ needs and expectations, allowing the company to offer relevant and well adapted services.

As such, the company places great emphasis on building partnerships of trust with the communities its lines serve, ensuring collective progress for the benefit of the city and its residents, and it will continue to do so.

Given that by 2030, 61 per cent of the world’s population will be urbanised, high-quality public transport systems will be crucial for the socio-economic future of local communities.

With 27,000 employees worldwide, RATP Dev is committed to investing in local talent, with the transmission of its know-how and the training of the teams in which it operates.

“The company provides high-quality jobs for local people through direct and indirect employment and integration policies. RATP Dev is committed to working with communities to ensure they can vocalise issues that we can mitigate and ensure that public transport works for everybody,” Masure said.

RATP staff in training.

COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION As well as up-skilling local people, RATP Dev is committed to diversity and inclusion.

Spread across several geographies, the company guarantees that diversity and inclusion is one of its core values.

Driven by values of female empowerment and racial equality, RATP Dev is convinced that promoting diversity and inclusion within its teams will allow the company to be more creative for its mobility offer for all passengers.

The company has a goal that by 2025, women will constitute 20 per cent of its workforce and 40 per cent of its management team.

“RATP Dev’s entry into the Australian mobility marketplace represents an exciting time for the industry,” Masure said.

“With its extensive international experience, innovative technology, and world-class engineers, it will undoubtedly be of benefit to the cities and people of Australia.”

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Operations and Maintenance

Manco innovations prove big drawcard at field days The latest products from the Manco Rail Group provided some of the biggest attractions at the recent RTAA field days. capability allowing all terrain access near, on, and over the tracks.

Equally valued were the 400kg payload platform, 16.5m maximum vertical reach, and 7.5m horizontal reach of the units.

“Continued innovation has resulted in the Manco GEN 2 Rail Boom,” Vanderent said.

“This new system has a EURO6 engine on it, so it’s emissions-compliant, making it ideal for tunnel works.

“We also replaced the hydraulic system with a specialist rail-compatible system, allowing users to rotate the boom all the way round, which you need in rail. Traditional booms tend to be limited because they go one way and then stop.

“This upgrade to the hydraulics slewing means that the hydraulic hoses can also spin at a continuous 360 degrees.

“We also noticed in the first model you couldn’t quite get to all the areas as easy as you needed to in a rail environment. With this version, the cover comes off and you can access every hose easily, which is a big advantage.

“But the biggest feature is the new chassis system assembly for both rubber and rail use.

“This chassis features unparalleled strength and ground clearance, while incorporating userfriendly best practice hydraulic and electrical routing for ongoing serviceability.

I M A G E: R A I L G A L L E RY

Come rain or shine, the show must go on.

And indeed, that’s what happened at the recent Rail Track Association of Australia field days, when exhibitors braved the showery elements to showcase their latest products.

The event, held at Sydney Trains’ Chullora rail yards, attracted about 45 companies from all facets of the rail industry, displaying their latest products and wares.

Visitors came from near and far despite the drenched grounds, jumping at the chance to view and sample.

With the new precinct substantially larger than the previous site at Clyde, offering more ground space for sites and displays, organisers were able to set up distinct areas for hosting and demonstrating the different equipment and machines in practical environments.

One of the main attractions at the site was the Manco Rail Group, which took the opportunity to present its latest innovations.

Taking centre spot was the latest version of the Manco Rail Boom, modified and improved specifically for the rail industry.

Manco general manager in Australia, Jaclyn Vanderent, said the company’s range of rail booms had long been renowned for their various all-access overhead work, stabling yard jobs and close-range projects, with their 4WD

The latest version of the Manco Rail Boom on show.

“Using the simplicity of CAN bus wiring and auxiliary hydraulic functions built into the standard package, all accessories are essentially plug and play.”

As well, Manco has increased the number of accessories on offer.

“Our latest pantograph system is a unique design internationally compared to other pantographs,” Vanderent said.

“The electrical system provides digital height, stagger and CANT display and recording.

“Continuing on from the GEN 1 model, the GEN 2 is offered with a tri-gauge guidance system as standard.”

Other features include solid rubber tyres, an over-sized operator control touchscreen display in the basket, and enhanced hydraulic and cooling systems.

“We’ve had a lot of interest in the vehicle and a lot of people that have been supporting other competitors of ours are showing a real interest because of the benefits we’ve exhibited,” Vanderent said.

“We’re getting the kind of response we’d want for redesigning something that was already doing well in the marketplace.

“In a world where steel prices, base unit prices and all the component prices going up, we’ve been able to maintain that same price point for this model because it’s so much more efficient with the plumbing and the wiring.

“We’re really, really keen on pushing these for track maintenance throughout the whole of Australia.”

The other Manco units drawing the eye at the field days were trucking, bucket and pantograph units modified for specific use by Sydney Trains.

They exemplified the versatility of the company and its ability to customise equipment as needed by clients.

In coming up with various designs, Manco engineers often start with a clean sheet of paper, prioritising safety and efficiency without compromise.

“Manco considers the end user’s requirements carefully, with key design contributors including the wide range of applications and the road and rail conditions these vehicles would be operating on,” Vanderent said.

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Rolling Stock and Manufacturing KLP products have undergone and successfully passed a variety of rigorous tests.

KLP hybrid polymer solutions for rail Australian and New Zealand rail infrastructure managers have in recent years started to replace both timber and alternative composite sleepers with KLP hybrid polymer solutions.

KLP hybrid polymer sleeper technology is increasingly gaining recognition from satisfied customers in the rail industry. The durable steel-reinforced polymer sleeper

KLP sleepers can be cut, drilled, and handled on-site without respiratory protective gear.

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technology can handle up to 35 tonnes axle load, in diverse applications.

The polymer sleepers offer attractive lifecycle costs, due to their 50-year design life and competitive pricing.

These sleeper solutions are engineered to provide a structural solution by optimising structural stiffness, so that it approximates the stiffness of sleepers that it replaces.

The required stiffness is obtained by selecting a suitable polymer type, associated rebar diameter and related sleeper height.

Although timber and some composite offerings may be cheaper, these alternatives either have a shorter life, do not perform as required, have an exceedingly long order lead-time, or have widely varying quality characteristics.

In contrast, KLP hybrid polymer sleepers perform as promised, with excellent engineering and quality assurance ensuring predictable and reliable performance.

The high-quality and highly ductile polymers provide excellent damping characteristics.

The damping effect acts like shock absorbers, reducing noise with up to 5dB on bridges, viaducts, main track and in tunnels.

They also dampen the impact of high-load fast-moving trains on track foundations and ballast, thereby extending their longevity.

The polymer provides good settlement in ballast, providing positional stability under typical and expected load conditions.

Furthermore, KLP sleepers can be machined and handled just like timber sleepers.

The encapsulated steel rebar provides several benefits, having a very comparable function to steel in reinforced concrete sleepers. They provide an extremely high bending stiffness, which prevents gradual plastic deformation during repeated load cycles.

Their low thermal coefficient of thermal expansion ensures that gauge distance is maintained within required tolerances over the entire temperature spectrum.

The lateral strength of the sleepers ensures that the required gauge is maintained, despite high centrifugal forces in curves.

Finally, the steel rebar encapsulated in polymer will bend and plastically deform during extreme overload conditions. It will not fail catastrophically, like products made of materials that can become brittle.

The sustainable high-strength recycled polymers used do not rot or splinter. Since they encapsulate the rebar, the rebar is protected against rust and degradation due to exposure to chemicals. The inclusion of UV blockers ensure stability against UV radiation from the sun for its 50-year design life.

The absence of glass fibres or carbon fibres means that KLP sleepers can be cut, drilled, and handled on-site without respiratory protective gear.

And the use of recycled materials (that can be easily separated and recycled again) makes them an environmentally friendly carbonneutral product.

• KLP TURNOUT BEARERS Bearers are offered in different lengths, ranging in length from 2.1 to 5.2 metres.

During assembly and installation of turnouts, holes can be drilled along the length of the bearer.

A unique feature of KLP hybrid polymer

The durable, steel-reinforced polymer sleepers can handle up to 35 tonnes axle load.

Transoms enable tracks to be “straightened” along a sagging or wavy bridge.

bearers is a connectable sleeper, offering bearers of up to 10.4 metres in length, with steel rebar structurally providing bending and transversal stiffness across the entire length of the bearer.

• KLP BRIDGE TRANSOMS Due to steel rebar providing high bending stiffness, KLP bridge transoms (designed for up to 20 tonnes axle load) can be used in bridges with track offsets up to 300mm.

If required, transoms can be milled to a required height, from 130 to 270 millimetres.

This feature allows the opportunity to provide

canter on a bridge if required, or to “straighten” a track along a sagging or wavy bridge.

• K LP SLEEPERS (FOR TRACK, VIADUCTS AND TUNNELS) Besides traditional sleepers of rectangular cross-section, the optimised Type 101/102 sleeper offers full performance at reduced weight, minimised material usage and low price.

The ribbed lower surface and ballast (partially on top of the sleeper) guarantee the required positional stability.

These sleepers have been in use in main track since 2008, in several European countries.

In recent years, they have also been installed in tunnels locally.

• K LP PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING Apart from in-house engineering and development, KLP products have undergone and successfully passed a variety of rigorous tests, confirming they meet the requirements of their exacting clients. This includes but is not limited to following tests: static strength, screw spike pull-out, dynamic stiffness, lateral resistance, flammability, electrical insulation, slip resistance and weathering.

Connectable sleepers offer transversal stiffness across the entire length of the bearer.

Link Asia Pacific is the sole agent for KLP Sleepers in Australasia. Datasheets per sleeper type are available upon request via info@linkap.com.au.

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Industry Associations

The transport sector will need to take a lead role in achieving Australia’s sustainability goals.

Transport must lead journey to net-zero A new report on the transport sector’s journey to net-zero has highlighted the essential role it will all play in meeting Australia’s net-zero targets.

The report – a partnership between the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) and Roads Australia (RA) – represents an industryfirst collaboration to drive real change to achieve decarbonisation across the asset life cycle.

It comes at a crucial time, when urgent action is needed to meet the country’s netzero ambition.

In Australia, 70 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to, or influenced by, infrastructure.

Once operational, 55 per cent of Australia’s annual emissions are related to the uses infrastructure enables.

Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory estimates that the transport sector contributed to 18.3 per cent of Australia’s emissions in 2020 (94 million tonnes CO2e) and that is projected to increase to 100 Mt CO2e by 2030.

With governments across the country committing to significant emissions reductions by 2030, the transport sector will need to be a key contributor to leading solutions to support our sustainable future.

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COLLABORATION IS KEY The primary theme throughout the new report is that we cannot achieve change in isolation.

This echoes the observations of ARA members when we developed our Sustainability Strategy in 2021, highlighting the importance of an integrated and coordinated approach to infrastructure planning and development.

It is why the collaboration to deliver the report was so important, and why the three associations who contributed to it remain united in advancing its recommendations.

The journey to net-zero must be a collaborative one, and will need to be advanced with industry and government working in partnership.

This is not a new concept – collaboration has been at the heart of many of the ARA’s activities for some time as we have sought to achieve improved outcomes that benefit government, industry and the community.

We know that by working together, we can improve planning and procurement processes, drive technology and innovation, and uncover new ways of working to improve productivity and efficiency.

Caroline Wilkie, chief executive, Australasian Railway Association.

So it should come as no surprise that collaboration between industry and government will also be an essential part of addressing the climate challenge we now face as we move towards 2050.

Within our industry, there is also great potential for increased collaboration to drive new solutions across the rail supply chain.

In the UK, Network Rail has confirmed commitments from half of its suppliers to join a Science Based Targets initiative to reduce their carbon footprint.

The organisation held a number of cross-industry supply chain decarbonisation workshops in 2021 to share best practice and ideas for cutting carbon across the supply chain.

The initiative has created a shared focus on tackling climate change and is a good example of industry collaboration to support greater awareness, information sharing and action on reducing carbon.

This is a good example of what can be achieved within the rail supply chain, particularly when supported by broader collaboration between industry and all levels of government.

A NATIONAL APPROACH IS VITAL With the wave of new infrastructure projects underway at the moment, there is a huge opportunity to embed sustainable principles in their design, construction and operation.

And of course, the biggest benefits can often be achieved at the earliest stages of project development.

To ensure we make the most of these opportunities, a national approach is vital to help us clearly identify and work towards meeting the nation’s infrastructure needs over the long term.

This coordinated approach will support stronger collaboration during the planning stage to develop measures to reduce carbon, and maximise the wider social, environmental and cultural benefits of a projects.

The ARA’s 2021 report on the Australian Rail Supply Chain also identified the need for a national approach as vital to the industry’s sustainable future.

It confirmed the importance of a national focus to drive innovation, reduce costs and complexity during procurement processes and support greater efficiency and productivity – all factors that can support more sustainable outcomes across the infrastructure sector.

It also assists in the prioritisation of the use of safe, accessible and affordable public transport over private vehicles.

By designing for these behaviours, the infrastructure sector can have a significant impact on reducing emissions, and support the development of daily habits that underpin sustainable, healthy communities.

This focus on place making can already be found in key developments here in Australia.

Fishermans Bend in Melbourne is one example. The precinct is expected to house 80,000 people and the same number of jobs by 2050.

The project features a range of sustainable urban renewal measures to support its development.

This includes a target to ensure 80 per cent of transport movements are made by public transport, walking or cycling.

An integrated transport system including cycle paths, tram lines and an underground rail line will support this goal to make it easy for people in the community to choose sustainable transport options.

It is this kind of focus that will drive lasting change and support the sector’s journey to net-zero.

PLACEMAKING AT HEART OF SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE Placemaking puts the focus on creating quality spaces where people can live, learn and work.

This comprehensive focus is essential to the development of sustainable communities and must increasingly be our focus as we plan for future growth.

As Infrastructure Australia highlighted in its Australian Infrastructure Plan, pursuing place-based outcomes builds on the strengths of individual locations and helps reduce placebased disadvantage in our communities.

It can also change behaviour to support more sustainable choices in our daily lives.

A focus on place can encourage greater use of active transport such as walking and cycling as a first choice for community members.

A TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION CULTURE The ARA’s 2020 research on fast tracking innovation confirmed the need for a strong rail innovation culture in Australia.

As we consider our journey to net-zero, fostering that culture of innovation has never been more important.

The rail industry must be at the forefront of new approaches that drive efficiencies, support greater use of recycled and reused materials and create new solutions to support a more sustainable sector.

There are many examples of this already being implemented, such as predictive maintenance and monitoring technologies that are helping make the most of existing infrastructure and improving the efficiency of operations across the life of an asset.

Placemaking puts the focus on creating quality spaces where people can live, learn and work.

In New Zealand, Kiwirail’s Driver Advisory System, which uses technology implemented by the Trapeze Group, has helped achieve a 13.5 per cent fuel reduction saving as the organisation moves towards its target of a 30 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.

This is a good example of how new approaches can deliver better outcomes for existing infrastructure.

For new projects, innovation has been designed into the project’s construction and operation from the beginning.

In the ACT, Canberra Metro set a target to achieve net-zero emissions in construction and operations through the use of 100 per cent renewable energy.

The project also introduced design features such as solar panels and lights and regenerative breaking technology to support this goal.

It has been recognised for its leadership by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council under its IS Rating scheme and is continuing to focus on driving sustainable outcomes now the project is operational.

This highlights the positive outcomes passenger rail projects can achieve by through a focus on moving to renewable energy and implementing sustainable design principles.

THE MOVE TO ALTERNATIVE FUELS Looking beyond our cities, the move to renewable energy sources can present complex challenges, although there are encouraging signs that new technologies will help realise new solutions.

The early use of hydrogen trains in Europe has shown potential for alternative fuel sources and is a positive step forward.

Here in Australia, trials of battery/electric technologies in the Pilbara have highlighted the possibilities that may exist for the heavy haul and rail freight sectors.

However, the right infrastructure, policy and regulations will need to be in place to support this shift on parts of the network that span large, often remote distances.

While the technology is promising, this highlights the need for industry and government to work together to bring these innovations to life in the Australian context.

THE TIME FOR CHANGE While there remain challenges ahead in our journey to net-zero, it is clear that the time for change is upon us.

The ARA will continue to work closely with the wider sector to support a continued focus on emissions reduction, and confirm the leadership role transport can play in making a real difference.

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Boosting the Victorian rail sector Apart from providing a modern and energy-efficient fleet, Alstom’s contract for new trams in Melbourne also ensures long-term stability for the local railway industry and supply chains. PAGE 32

RAIL EXPRESS is compulsory reading and a vital tool for all people working in and around the rail sector.

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Siemens leading the ATO drive

RATP Dev aims to make impact

Hybrid polymer solutions for rail

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Industry Associations

Resilience the key in logistics and supply reset The freight and logistics industry in Australia is re-shaping its priorities as it emerges from challenges of the past two years.

Over the last three years, the resilience of Australians has been severely tested.

Meeting challenge after challenge and adapting as businesses adjusted to a new paradigm, nowhere was this more evident than for those working across freight, logistics and supply chains.

Regardless of postcode, all Australians have to some extent experienced the impacts of a global pandemic, extreme bushfires and devastating floods. These challenges, compounded by port shutdowns, geo-political tensions and war in Ukraine, have tested global supply chains, like never before, and our own domestic systems have been put in the spotlight.

Our freight and logistics sector is significant.

The sector employs nearly 1.2 million people across supply chain and transport activities and contributes more than $140 billion to Australia’s economy every year.

It moved highly valued export goods worth $475 billion in 2019 to markets across the world.

Each year our infrastructure operators, transport companies and logistics teams deliver about 4 billion tonnes of goods across Australia that is 163 tonnes of freight for every person.

The terms ‘supply chain’ and ‘sovereign risk’ have become more common in our daily conversations. The increased demand throughout the pandemic has heightened awareness of the significant impact the people who work in the freight and logistics supply chain have on our every-day lives and economic prosperity.

The vulnerability of our industry to global events has been highlighted further in recent months with shortages of diesel exhaust fluid AdBlue, pallets and a global scarcity of shipping containers.

As we emerge from these back-to-back challenges, the freight and logistics industry in Australia is re-setting its priorities as we look once again to the future.

Total freight volumes carried across our networks are expected to grow by over 35 per cent in the next 20 years, with Australia’s urban freight task alone expected to grow by 60 per cent.

Our priorities for the next Australian Government are clear, and they are underpinned by a national approach to strengthening our supply chains and their end-to-end resilience.

It is critical we implement the learnings from the pandemic through the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy, adopt a strategic end to end systems approach to building our rail freight capacity to help drive modal shift from road to rail.

We must ensure we enable industries net zero transition, addressing critical skills gaps and labour shortages whilst implementing a sustainable road user charge to fund government infrastructure investment.

Our industry is stepping up the focus on improving the end-to-end efficiency, productivity, safety and resilience of the supply chain systems our national economy relies on.

We are working to make the most of emerging technology and data, with a dedication to driving end to end efficiency and productivity.

We are leading with an increased focus on adapting to climate change and making a step change in emissions reduction.

The economic weight of Australia’s transport sector unsurprisingly equates to a large contribution to carbon emissions.

The industry is committed to a decarbonisation agenda, that includes electrification of our fleets, alternative fuels for air, sea and rail as well as renewable energy across our terminals and warehouses.

Australia is one national economy, any approach to improve regulation, planning and investment should be through a national perspective. We cannot enhance regulations, improve planning and better inform investment priorities without looking across the whole system.

National coordination is required more than ever, to overcome any complacency or inertia in the system, and ensure a focus on the best endto-end outcomes for Australia.

Coordination between the public and

Australian Logistics Council chair Philip Davies.

private sectors, similar to the coordination experienced with the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM).

This public policy measure provided more than $1 billion to keep airfreight moving, supported Australian producers and growers to keep exporting, when airfreight capacity disappeared alongside travel bans and border closures.

Border closures not only impacted goods traditionally moved in the cargo holds of passenger planes, but also the global movement of talent.

The freight and logistics industry was already facing tough competition for skills, seeking in-demand recruits with analytics skills and cyber experience.

As industry has sought to increase the resilience of the end-to-end system, with a laser focus on identifying and protecting critical infrastructure, there is an even greater need for these skills.

We must take a system-wide approach to improve planning, better inform investment priorities and reduce regulatory impost.

The ALC provides the forum for users and end-to-end systems providers to work together to meet these challenges and embrace the opportunities ahead.

The post-election environment will be a critical opportunity to participate in the decision-making debate. During the election campaign, the ALC outlined a number of the priorities mentioned above to achieve supply chain efficiency and safety, drive productivity and ensure reform to safeguard against future shocks.

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Industry Associations

Field days showcase for latest rail equipment Wet weather failed to dampen the spirits of attendees at this year’s Rail Track Association of Australia field day.

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30 countries; Sydney Trains had its asset management app in operation; and passenger accessibility ramps were exhibited by the Australian Centre for Rail Innovation.

The live demonstrations included: • Aluminothermic welding systems by Thermit and Pandrol • Flashbutt welding by Swietelsky • Rail grinding by Speno • Rail milling by Linmag • Cutting and grinding with hand held equipment by Saint Gobaine • Melville Aluminocart - a hand portable powered rail cart • Tinbin excavator-mounted ballast vacuum There were also interactive displays from the likes of RT Health with the Evolt body health scanner; Plasser with its tamping simulator; and KH1, Cold Forge, Melville and Keysource with hands-on displays of the latest in hand-held rail equipment.

Barnes said the field days presented an opportunity to reach out to the next generation of rail staff and “show them what and how we do what we do”.

“With our colleagues in the learning and development industry, we can talk about the pathways to rail and how they can get the role that interests them,” he said.

RTAA president Jonathan Barnes (left) speaks to visitors.

Another highlight of the proceedings was the traditional no-tie conference dinner, held at the large Accor Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park, and made possible by Platinum Dinner Sponsor Laing O’Rourke and Gold Dinner Sponsor Saint-Gobaine Abrasives.

“It was held again as a casual affair to celebrate and wind down after a busy day,” Barnes said.

“And what better way to open the dinner, than with a trip to the field at Accor Stadium.

We moved from a field day onto a different sort of field.

“The attendees were taken on a tour through the depths of the stadium and the players’ entrance to the field, before moving up to the dining room where light jazz music greeted the guests.”

The coveted “Best in Field Trophy” for the best 2022 field day stand went to transport and railway health insurers rt Health.

Other sponsors included Delkor Rail, Speno Rail Maintenance, Anric Developments, Plasser Australia, Pandrol, Kennards, Australian Mutual Bank, Zoellner Australia and event partner Sydney Trains.

IMAGE: RAIL GALLERY

The event, held at Sydney Trains’ Chullora rail yards, attracted about 45 exhibitors from all facets of the rail industry, displaying their latest products and wares.

Visitors came from near and far despite the presence of mini-pools throughout the drenched grounds from persistent rain, jumping on the opportunity to try before they buy.

With the new precinct substantially larger than the previous site at Clyde, offering much more ground space for the event, organisers were able to set up distinct areas for hosting and demonstrating various different equipment and machines in their natural environments.

The field days were opened by Sydney Trains chief executive officer Matt Longland, followed by a traditional smoking ceremony and Welcome to the Country.

As RTAA president Jonathan Barnes said, it is the largest outdoor rail exhibition in Australia.

Hosted in a rail yard, it provides a unique opportunity to showcase heavy equipment, rail bound machines and demonstrate these fantastic machines in their native environment.

“Paired with live demonstrations of welding technology and hands-on displays of hand tools, it is a unique event for maintainers and constructors to see and touch the latest technology,” Barnes said.

“The products don’t have to be earthshattering, big, bold or flashy, but a lot of them are about those incremental improvements that will make life a lot better for everyone in and what we do.

“You don’t get this opportunity in closed conference events such as AUSRail.

“All up we had an absolutely packed technical program in the Fettlers shed.”

Melvelle Equipment showed off its portable Light Boy balloon lights, which illuminate worksites with minimal glare; voestalpine displayed its UniStar HR electro-hydraulic point machine for freight, urban and mixed traffic, which has already been installed in

An aerial view of the field days.

Industry Associations

Safety conference puts spotlight on climate change challenges The 22nd RISSB Rail Safety Conference helped delegates from across Australia gain a better understanding of how the rail industry can take action on climate change.

The two-day conference was designed to lay the groundwork for industry-wide discussions on rail’s journey to decarbonisation, including how industry can adopt or adapt work undertaken by our overseas counterparts, and the challenges and opportunities faced by those working in the Australian rail industry.

Delegates at the conference - themed Safety Climate and Climate Safety - also learned about the after-effects of a oncein-a-lifetime pandemic, and how COVID has affected travel patterns and disrupted cultural norms, destabilised individuals, and changed team dynamics.

The conference heard addresses from a dynamic line-up that included speakers representing manufacturers, consultancies, rail transport operators, rail infrastructure managers, the regulator and government.

They covered topics such as safety culture, safety climate, manufacturing, psychological risks in rail, fatigue management, decarbonisation, and the impacts of climate change.

The event attracted close to 200 delegates

The various winners of the Rail Safety Awards.

Speakers at the conference came from various sectors, including private and and government organisations.

either in-person at Melbourne’s Collins Square, or on-line in a hybrid format. A similar number of attendees attended the first Rail Safety Conference dinner, held at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, where winners of the inaugural Rail Safety Awards were announced.

The inaugural awards were established to reward individuals and teams that have demonstrated excellence in safety, and draw attention to the unsung heroes who drive safety changes at a grassroots level.

All up, a total of eight winners across five categories were recognised with an award, with a further four projects/people receiving a high commendation for their work in raising the safety bar.

SAFETY LEADERSHIP/PROGRAM INITIATIVE Winner: Aurizon, Leading for Safety Program Winner: ARTC, Inland Rail Safety and Wellbeing Program Highly Commended: Downer Rail Supply Chain Logistics

WORKER IMPROVEMENT OUTCOME Winner: Possession Improvement Team, Sydney Trains , GPS Possession Limits Markers Highly Commended: Emma Villmarin, Pacific National, SPAD Reduction Program WELLBEING PROGRAM INCORPORATING MENTAL HEALTH Winner: Metro Trains Melbourne, Rail Trauma Guidebook Winner: Metro Trains Melbourne, Wellness Advocate Program SAFETY INITIATIVE BY A YOUNG RAIL EMPLOYEE Winner: Deborah Loats, Metro Trains Melbourne, Fatigue Risk Management Program Highly Commended: Edward De Guzman, Sydney Trains, Frontline Safety Calendar INDUSTRY SAFETY PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR Winner: Toni McKiernan, Downer Rail Winner: Bronwyn Trlin, PTA WA Highly Commended: Maythee Varayudej, Sydney Trains All winners of the 2022 RISSB Rail Safety Awards have automatically progressed to the 2022 Australasian Rail Industry (ARI) Awards and are finalists in the Rail Safety category.

RISSB looks forward to catching up with the winners of the inaugural awards as well as network with peers across the rail industry at the ARI event, to be held at the Palladium-Crown Melbourne on Wednesday, September 14.

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Contracts, EOIs, Tenders

VICTORIA Victoria’s Big Build To help more Victorians get into work, the State Government is delivering 300 new building and construction sector apprenticeships and traineeships across Victoria by mid-2023.

Through Jobs Victoria, 300 Victorians will have the opportunity to undertake on-the-job training as the Labor Government works to meet industry demands and continue progress on Big Build and major infrastructure projects.

Career opportunities range from plumbing, electrical and engineering to civil construction, work health and safety, project management and more. With an ‘earn and learn’ model, recruits can start working and earn an income from day one while training to build their skills for a new career – gaining an accredited qualification through TAFE or other registered training organisations.

Women will be prioritised for 180 of the roles on offer. People under 25, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, those from culturally diverse backgrounds, those facing long term unemployment are also strongly encouraged to apply for the roles.

The two-year program is being delivered by Apprenticeships Victoria and the Apprenticeship Employment Network.

The initiative is supported by the $250 million Jobs Victoria Fund, creating 10,000 steady and secure jobs in sectors where they’re needed most.

As well, more than 100 new drivers are being recruited to operate additional train services when Melbourne’s new Metro Tunnel opens a year ahead of schedule in 2025.

Up to 120 new drivers will undergo an intensive 44-week training program to ensure they’re ready to operate the 65 new and bigger trains that will run through the Metro Tunnel.

Training includes a mix of classroom, practical and on-the-job training, where the trainee drivers are accompanied by a trainer while operating passenger services.

Additional training will be provided to qualified drivers to allow them to drive in the new tunnels. This will include the project’s nextgeneration signalling system and the use of platform screen doors – a Victorian first.

Recruitment for up to 180 operational staff including driver trainers, line and system controllers, signallers and signal maintenance technicians is also underway.

Work has also started on helping passengers navigate the new network, with

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the development of new network maps and marketing and communications materials to support customer journeys.

People looking for work can register for the Jobs Victoria Online Hub and explore a range of other free employment support services on offer by visiting www.jobs.vic.gov.au Cranbourne Rail Line Melbourne’s Pound Road West Upgrade is making its mark for its sustainability initiatives across transport infrastructure, by installing environmentally friendly glass fibre bars on the new bridge over the Cranbourne rail line.

Crews installed more than 1000 bars of glass fibre, each almost six metres long, to reinforce concrete panels for the construction of retaining walls on the new bridge, which will remove the dead-ends at Remington Drive and Pound Road West.

The glass fibre bars are used as an alternative to conventional steel reinforcements. The glass fibre bars are more environmentally friendly than conventional steel bars, which produce four times more carbon dioxide during manufacture.

Aside from its environmental benefits, the glass fibre reinforcements • are more cost-effective than conventional steel ones • use less energy to manufacture compared to steel reinforcements • exceed the tensile strength and bond strength of steel bars • are rustproof, non-conductive, non-ferrous • are lighter, which makes installation easier and safer for crews.

Seymour Whyte, in consultation with Madewell Products in Carrum Downs, designed and specified the glass fibre reinforcement bars on the Pound Road West Upgrade.

The glass fibre reinforcement bars were supplied by Madewell Products to Rapid PreCast Panels for the construction of the concrete panels in Pakenham.

The new bridge will provide better connections between the Dandenong South employment hub and freeway network, improving access in and around the area and reduce growing traffic pressure on Abbotts Road and the South Gippsland Highway.

By 2031, it’s expected more than 40,000 vehicles will use this new connection every day.

The bridge will feed into two lanes each way, bordered by new shared walking and cycling paths to improve access and safety for pedestrians and bike users.

CANBERRA Canberra Light Rail CAF Digital Services’ LeadMind platform will enable safer rides on the 12-kilometre 14-stop Canberra light rail line linking the suburb of Gungahlin to the city centre.

Armed with the latest technologies for data acquisition and advanced analytics, the fleet will use predictive maintenance to improve availability, reliability and safety.

Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF supplied the five-module Urbos trams for the route, which opened in 2019, and is also responsible for fleet maintenance over 20 years.

With its LeadMind now implemented, fleet performance is continuously monitored throughout each journey. By detecting anomalies in service, LeadMind enables maintenance tasks to be prioritised, ensuring that resources are directed only where they are required.

The system also offers geolocation, telemetry and event creation capabilities by the user.

These events can generate an email notification, thereby automating diagnosis.

Users can dynamically plan future maintenance optimisation tasks, saving costs and component replacement.

They can set up health and life indicators of every system of the fleet, such as doors, brake system, batteries, traction equipment, HVAC, air generation and treatment units, and skip unnecessary activity that may create more faults to appear, avoiding unexpected stops.

Future extensions to the Canberra Metro network are planned to include catenary-free sections, with LeadMind’s onboard energy storage system-monitoring supporting operational efficiency and reliability when these extensions are commissioned.

CAF says that its LeadMind system has been supplied to more than 40 projects, is now monitoring vehicle health on 1000 trains and 5000 cars around the world.

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