Rail Professional Asia Pacific June 2021

JUNE 2021 Issue number 22

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR RAIL

www.railprofessional.com

Just the ticket New psychometric ticketing tools for stations and onboard teams SYDNEY METRO Australia’s biggest public transport project

EVENTS RAIL Asia 2021 gears up

STATIONS Singapore LTA awards multiple new stations contracts

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3

JUNE 2021 Issue number 22

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR RAIL

www.railprofessional.com

Just The Ticket New Psychometric Ticketing Tools for Stations and Onboard Teams SYDNEY METRO Australia’s biggest public transport project

EVENTS RAIL Asia 2021 gears up

STATIONS Singapore LTA awards multiple new stations contracts

PUBLISHER RAIL PROFESSIONAL LIMITED Hallmark House, Downham Road, Ramsden Heath, Essex CM11 1PU Tel: +44 (0)1268 711811 EDITORIAL EDITOR SAM SHERWOOD-HALE editor@railprofessional.com SALES NATHAN KLIBER ADAM OVERALL DEAN SALISBURY JAMIE TREGARTHEN sales@railpro.co.uk ADMINISTRATION LISA ETHERINGTON CHERIE NUGENT ALISHA GHENT info@railpro.co.uk DESIGN & PRODUCTION LUKASZ SACZEK production@railpro.co.uk

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No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the copyright owners.

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elcome to the June issue of Rail Professional Asia Pacific.

It feels as though Summer 2021 in the Asia Pacific region is a bit of a role reversal compared to last year. As Europe and America opens up with passenger numbers recovering, here in Asia we are living through another period of cancellations and suspensions. In Vietnam, trains between Ho Chi Minh and cities in the central region of the country have been suspended as well as trains running the length of the country from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh.

Passenger numbers in other ASEAN countries are unlikely to recover in the short term, but if we step back and look at the big picture – the major project of turning the 2020s into a decade that will advance railway connectivity across Asia continues.

In Jakarta, the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Railway is 73 per cent complete and plans for operations to commence by the end of 2022 are still on track. With a design speed of 350 kph, the high-speed railway will cut the journey between Jakarta and Bandung from more than three hours to around 40 minutes. The 142.3-kilometre railway will connect to light rail transit (LRT) and mass rapid transit (MRT) networks in Jakarta.

Within these pages you will find other positive stories, namely the expected opening of Bangkok’s Bang Sue Grand Station that will be a hub for multiple rail lines across Thailand as well as welcoming cross-border trains from neighbouring countries. Alongside that story we have other developments in Singapore and Australia and feature articles from OPC Assessment and Forbo Flooring and a update on the RAIL Asia exhibition slated for November.

Sam Sherwood-Hale Editor

Rail Professional

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ISSUE 22 • JUNE 2021

06 News

15 Metro

Line 7 extension in Seoul opens, Improvements to Manila’s Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) system, Major tunnelling works complete as all four TBMs reach final stop, MTR Tuen Ma Line to commence passenger service on 27 June 2021, Trackunit Announces Strategic Expansion in Asia Pacific Japan region with new offices and regional leadership to support growth in construction, Multiple Thai rail bids to be announced this Summer, New independent Non-Executive Directors Join MTR Board

Sydney Metro – Australia’s biggest public transport project

08 Stations The Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore has awarded contracts for station construction along the Jurong Region Line, the Cross Island Line and the Thomson-East Coast Line

10 Ticketing Technology OPC Assessment shares news about new station and onboard staff ticketing psychometric tools and the robust manner in which they are developed to ensure they are fit for purpose

17 Events RAIL Asia 2021 gears up as the region prepares for growth

13 Business Profile Forbo Flooring Systems has a truly comprehensive and compliant floor and wall covering product offering for the global rail sector

Rail Professional

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| NEWS

More news at www.railprofessional.com/news

Line 7 extension in Seoul opens A new Line 7 extension has opened in Seoul, South Korea, creating a connection with Incheon Line 2. There are also plans to extend the line to Cheongra. The Seoknam Extension Line is a 4.2

kilometre track from Bupyeong-gu Office Station to Seoknam Station on Incheon Subway Line 2. The cost of the project is invested in a total project cost of 377.5 billion won (USD$330 million).

Improvements to Manila’s Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) system The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) and the Department of Science and Technology – Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) have entered into a new partnership to create a more efficient rail system that would make mobility and transportation better for Filipinos.

In a memorandum of understanding signed by both parties on 21 April 2021 in a virtual signing ceremony, LRMC and DOST-MIRDC have agreed to perform specific functions to achieve a common goal of sustaining the improvements in the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) system.

As the current private operator of LRT-1, LRMC is seeking the expertise of the DOST-MIRDC in conducting structural repairs of specific light rail vehicles (LRVs), as well as the local re-engineering and/or fabrication of spare parts that are already obsolete and/or difficult to source.

Enrico R. Benipayo, LRMC Chief Operating Officer said ‘LRT-1 is a valuable mode of transportation for Filipinos in Metro Manila. We believe that with the expertise of our partners at DOST-MIRDC, we can continue enhancing the LRT-1 system to achieve our vision of becoming the commuter’s choice in transportation.’

Major tunnelling works complete as all four TBMs reach final stop All four tunnel boring machines (TBMs) digging the Metro Tunnel’s 6.3 metre-high, twin 9km tunnels have now completed their works after 20 months. The last TBM to hit the finish line was Meg, which arrived at the new Town Hall Station in May. The other TBMs – Millie, Alice and Joan – arrived at the site throughout May. Between them, the TBMs have lined the tunnels from South Yarra to Kensington with around 250,000 tonnes of concrete, tunnelling an average of 90 metres per week. They dug as deep as 40 metres below ground, passing twelve metres under the Yarra River, seven metres beneath the Burnley tunnel and just 1.5 metres below the City Loop.

The huge TBMs are now being dismantled. The ‘skin’ of each will remain underground to form part of the permanent tunnel lining, and the remaining TBM components will be assessed for potential reuse on other tunnelling projects.

There is much more work to be done before the Metro Tunnel is completed in 2025 – including more digging works using roadheaders to complete the final section of tunnels alongside the platforms at Town Hall Station. Work is also continuing on building the five new underground stations.

Focus now turns to major construction of the project’s five new underground stations, Arden Station will be the centrepiece of a massive new precinct that will be the home of Victoria’s innovation economy, which is expected to include up to 34,000 jobs and be home to around 15,000 residents by 2050. Arden Station will have a direct link to the Airport in 2029 and be within walking distance of the North Melbourne Recreation Centre, Arden Street Oval and the route 57 trams, creating a transport hub.

MTR Tuen Ma Line to commence passenger service on 27 June 2021 MTR Corporation has announced that the Tuen Ma Line (TML) full line will commence passenger service on Sunday, 27 June 2021. This follows the official completion of statutory safety tests and inspections and approval from relevant Government departments. The TML will be the longest railway line in Hong Kong, linking the east and west of the New Territories and east Kowloon, and the start of passenger service will mark another milestone in Hong Kong’s railway network development. With a route length of 56 kilometres and serving Rail Professional

27 stations, the TML consists of six interchange stations connecting to the East Rail Line, Kwun Tong Line, Tung Chung Line and Tsuen Wan Line, allowing passengers to travel around the city more conveniently.

The TML also extends the railway network to Kowloon City with new stations at Sung Wong Toi and To Kwa Wan, bringing convenient, efficient, environmentally friendly and comfortable railway service to local residents.

NEWS |

More news at www.railprofessional.com/news

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Trackunit announces strategic expansion in Asia Pacific Japan region with new offices and regional leadership to support growth in construction Digital transformation expert, Chi Sen Gay, has been appointed to lead Trackunit in APJ as new Regional HQ established in Singapore. SaaS (Software as a Service) technologies expanding userbase in construction industry highlights digital uptake across industry sectors. Country-specific, regional strategy exemplifies Trackunit’s customer-led philosophy. Digital deployment increases efficiency to help Eliminate Downtime – a major factor slowing construction’s productivity.

Trackunit, a global leader in software-led telematics solutions for off-highway vehicles and construction market equipment, has increased its APJ presence with the appointment Chi Sen Gay, a highly experienced global tech senior executive, and the opening of its regional HQ in Singapore as well as new offices in Japan and Australia. The new moves build upon Trackunit’s existing presence to better serve current and new customers throughout the region.

Leading the expansion in Asia Pacific Japan (APJ) as newly appointed SVP for the region, Chi Sen Gay brings decades of experience garnered from the enterprise IT sector, where he focused on software, hardware, and services. Chi Sen previously worked at global companies including Schneider Electric and IBM and brings strong knowledge and experience of building a digital business.

Trackunit is a driving force in the digitization of the construction sector, serving equipment manufacturers, rental companies, and contractors, connecting construction equipment and processing data to the cloud to deliver value-added insights. The APJ region is highly receptive to the benefits that technology provides. It is a major opportunity for Trackunit’s SaaS capabilities to add insights and value for customers. The digital transformation of the construction industry supports customers’ greater understanding of their site environments and machine asset health.

Multiple Thai rail bids to be announced this Summer Both Thailand’s Transport Ministry and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) are preparing to receive and announce the winners of multiple bids for railway projects across the country.

The Ministry is expected to invite tenders for the concession to run commercial operations at Bang Sue Grand Central Station this month

with the bids coming in through to July. That same month, SRT is expected to name the winners of the bids for two of its double-track rail projects in the north of the country.

Bang Sue Grand Station will replace Hua Lamphong as Bangkok and Thailand’s main central station.

New independent Non-Executive Directors Join MTR Board The MTR Corporation has appointed Mr Hui Siu-wai and Mr Adrian Wong Koon-man as Independent Non-Executive Directors (INED) of the Board. The Board has also appointed Mr Hui as a member of each of the Capital Works Committee and Risk Committee, and Mr Wong as a member of each of the Audit Committee and Nominations Committee of the Corporation. Mr

Hui Siu-wai joined the Hong Kong Government in 1978 as a student building surveyor and has worked in a wide range of posts in the former Buildings Ordinance Office, the former Building Development Department, the former Buildings and Lands Department and the Buildings Department.

Rail Professional

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| STATIONS

Singapore LTA awards multiple new stations contracts The Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore has awarded contracts for station construction along the Jurong Region Line, the Cross Island Line and the Thomson-East Coast Line

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he Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the civil contract for the construction works of two Jurong Region Line (JRL) stations and their associated viaduct to China Harbour (Singapore) Engineering Company Pte. Ltd. at a contract value of SG$241 million.

The contract comprises works to design and construct two JRL stations, JS9 and JS10, in the vicinity of Enterprise Road and Jalan Tukang. The contract also includes a 1.5 kilometres viaduct between the stations, over Jurong Central Park and Jalan Boon Lay. China Harbour (Singapore) Engineering Company Pte. Ltd. (formerly known as Zhen Hua Singapore Engineering Pte Ltd) has been operating in Singapore for more than 35 years and has completed rail projects in Macau and Thailand. It is also currently involved in the construction of Siglap station on the Thomson-East Coast Line.

Construction works for this contract are expected to start in May 2021 and are expected to be completed by 2029.

The JRL will improve connectivity in the western part of Singapore by serving areas that currently do not have direct links to the rail network such as NTU, Jurong Industrial Estate, Jurong Innovation District, Pandan Reservoir and the future Tengah area. The stations at Choa Chu Kang, Boon Lay and the Jurong area are expected to add more than 60,000 additional households within a ten-minute walk from a train station. As key residential areas such as Tengah new town develop over time, even more households will benefit from the JRL in the future.

The Land Transport Authority handed over Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 2 (TEL2) stations to rail operator SMRT, marking a key milestone in the lead-up to the opening of TEL2 in the third quarter of this year.

The civil and structural works for the stations along TEL2 have been completed, with some architectural, electrical and mechanical works ongoing. LTA has also completed rigorous testing and commissioning of the trains and systems for TEL2, including tests to ensure that the new stations operate seamlessly with the three TEL1 stations Rail Professional

(Woodlands North, Woodlands and Woodlands South).

Following the handover, SMRT will conduct its tests to validate the operational readiness of TEL2 systems and familiarise its staff with TEL2 operations. Emergency preparedness exercises will also be carried out during this period.

TEL2 comprises six stations, namely Springleaf, Lentor, Mayflower, Bright Hill, Upper Thomson and Caldecott. Caldecott station will be an interchange station that connects to the Circle Line (CCL).

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the civil contract for the design and construction of Pasir Ris interchange station and tunnels for the Cross Island Line (CRL) to Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. – Dongah Geological Engineering Co., Ltd, Singapore Branch Joint Venture, at a total contract value of SG$980 million. This contract covers the design and construction of Pasir Ris interchange station and tunnels, as well as addition and alteration works to the existing Pasir Ris station along the East-West Line (EWL).

Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. and Dongah Geological Engineering Co., Ltd, Singapore Branch have established track records in providing design-and-build construction services for infrastructure such as rail stations and tunnels locally and abroad. For example, Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. is currently involved in the construction of Stevens station and tunnels for the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL).

Dongah Geological Engineering Co., Ltd, Singapore Branch is also currently working on the construction of Great World station and tunnels for TEL. Construction works for the CRL Pasir Ris station are expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2021, with passenger service planned to commence in 2030. The CRL is Singapore’s eighth MRT line. It will serve existing and future developments in the eastern, north-eastern and western corridors, linking major hubs such as Jurong Lake District, Punggol Digital District and Changi region. The CRL will have almost half of its stations as interchanges with other rail lines,

making it easier and more convenient for commuters to travel across the rail network.

CRL1 is 29 kilometres long and comprises 12 stations from Aviation Park to Bright Hill.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded two civil contracts for the construction of four Jurong Region Line (JRL) stations and their associated viaducts at a combined contract value of SG$526 million.

The first contract, for the design and construction of two JRL stations, JS11 and JS12 in the vicinity of the Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) industrial area, was awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (Singapore Branch) (CCECC) – SCB Building Construction Pte Ltd Joint Venture. Valued at a cost of around SG$263 million, it also includes the construction of a 1.1 kilometre long viaduct between the two stations along Jurong Pier Road.

SCB is a local company founded under SCB Group which specialises in building projects.

It was previously involved in the upgrading of Tuas Depot as well as undertaking addition and alteration works to the Thomson-East Coast Line rail facility building. SCB was also involved in the construction of the Tuas Crescent Station and viaducts for the Tuas West Extension as a sub-contractor.

CCECC is a multinational engineering and construction company which is currently involved in the construction of the Pasir Ris railway turnback, as well as a viaduct stretch of the North-South Corridor between Sungei Seletar and Yishun Avenue 5. The company is also working on the trackwork for Circle Line 6 and the North East Line extension.

The second contract, valued at approximately $263 million, was awarded to Hwa Seng Builder Pte Ltd. The contract includes the design and construction of two stations (JW3 and JW4) and a 1.4 kilometre long viaduct between the two stations, in the vicinity of Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

Construction works under both contracts are expected to start in the second quarter of 2021 and are expected to be completed by 2029.

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| TICKETING TECHNOLOGY

Just the ticket – New psychometric ticketing tools for stations and onboard teams OPC Assessment shares news about new station and onboard staff ticketing psychometric tools and the robust manner in which they are developed to ensure they are fit for purpose

O

PC Assessment has a long history in developing psychometric tools for the rail industry with over 20 years of experience. They work hard to ensure that all new tools that are developed meet quality standards using psychometric principles. Psychometricians are evidence based. So, when they design a test, they ensure first that the test is reliable so that a Rail Professional

candidate’s test score is trustworthy and not fluke or random. Secondly, they work to ensure that the test is valid – i.e., it does its job.

For example, does it predict a trainee’s ability to pass ticket training or a candidate’s future customer service performance; and finally, is it fair. Does it assess all candidates equally without bias or discrimination against one population or demographic group?

Rigorous test trialling to help deliver a quality test to the rail industry There are specialists at OPC Assessment who develop psychometric tools, who are experienced at doing the job. To ensure the three principles of reliability, validity and fairness are met OPC psychologists will often develop at least three times the number of questions they eventually want to use. This is because some questions may fail and not assess

TICKETING TECHNOLOGY |

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News in brief Detailed planning and design of Northern Link Phase 1 commences The MTR Corporation has awarded a design consultancy to Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd. (OAP) to carry out detailed planning and design of the Kwu Tung Station for Phase 1 of the Northern Link project. The new Kwu Tung Station will serve the transport needs of the Kwu Tung North New Development Area.

The scope of the consultancy includes development of the scheme into an engineering design, preparation of the construction programme, gazette plans and project cost estimate, as well as liaison with government departments and other stakeholders. OAP will work closely with the Corporation’s Capital Works team to deliver the above.

‘The award of this contract marks a significant step forward for the Northern Link project. Kwu Tung Station will enhance the connectivity of the area and will provide additional transport convenience to residents from the New Territories North. We will actively engage the local communities during the design and construction of the project’ said Roger Bayliss, Capital Works Director of MTR Corporation. Other works, include ground investigation and a survey of existing utilities, will also commence soon.

In December last year, the Government invited the Corporation to proceed with the detailed planning and design of the Northern Link project. The first phase of the project will involve the construction of a new Kwu Tung Station along the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line between Sheung Shui Station and Lok Ma Chau Station. The second phase will be a railway line about 10.7 kilometres long linking Kam Sheung Road Station on the West Rail Line (future Tuen Ma Line) and the new Kwu Tung Station, via three intermediate stations in San Tin, Ngau Tam Mei and Au Tau. Construction of the first phase is expected to commence in 2023 and is scheduled to be completed in 2027.

the intended characteristic or ability, or they may be ambiguous for the candidates. All the test items are then trialled, usually by a large group of people, of around 100+ that the test is aimed at. OPC Assessment regularly works with its rail clients around the world to help find these trial groups.

The trial results on the questions are analysed very carefully by OPC Assessment psychometricians. Each individual question is looked at across all those who answered them to check they are working. The best questions are used to create the final test that is then normed. This involves a large group of individuals sitting the final test to create a comparison group – a ‘norm group’, against which to compare and contrast future applicants.

Extracting key job requirements to design the right assessment tool for the right job If the new test they want to design and use is really to work then it needs to be fit for purpose. OPC Assessment psychologists spend time with organisations and job holders, observing and analysing the job tasks and activities in order to develop an in-depth job profile. From this they determine what Non-Technical Skills (NTS) and personal competencies are specifically required for the role. The psychologists can then either build a bespoke assessment tool to measure the required NTS or personal competency, or alternatively select an off-the-shelf assessment tool for a client from OPC Assessment’s extensive range of rail related assessment tools.

Benchmarking the candidate to others: an informed assessment of a candidate’s test performance Because OPC Assessment tools are based on the robust analysis of a role, evidence of the efficacy of the tool and statistical research, then we can predict they are more likely to tell us how someone is likely to perform in the job, for example, working on a station or in a ticket office. As each candidate takes the test, they can be compared to the norm group. This comparison will help show if a candidate or existing employee is performing higher, lower or about the same as the norm group. The

rail recruiter can then have confidence that the person they are selecting is more likely to perform to the required level and standard on the job according to the test assessment.

For some OPC Assessment tools, there are now norm groups consisting of thousands of rail candidates. Furthermore, the OPC has also worked closely with some rail organisations to create bespoke norm groups e.g. an entire group of train driver applicants or train dispatcher candidates for a particular train operator. These bespoke norms are used by the rail recruiter to provide a confident and robust benchmark against which any candidate wanting to join their organisation will be measured against.

Existing off-the-shelf assessment tools for onboard and station staff Rail organisations have still needed to recruit staff during the pandemic and many have had to adapt their recruitment processes, utilising more online digital technology – to the benefit of both rail organisations and candidates.

OPC Assessment has an extensive range of onboard and station ticketing assessment tools available to help recruit train conductors, station ticket office staff and station customer service roles. For example, the Ticket Selling and Checking Test (TSCT) assesses the ability to sell tickets and check the validity of tickets.

It may also be necessary to assess applicants for station ticket office roles where numerical and verbal reasoning abilities are required.

Here, the Core Skills Verbal Test (CoreV) and the Core Skills Numerical Test (CoreN) may also be useful tests in a talent acquisition process. In some on-station roles rail clients are looking for individuals who have exemplary customer service skills. The Customer Service Situations Test (CSS) is a situational judgement test that presents the candidate with a range of customer service problems and four potential solutions. They must order and prioritise the solutions according to their experience and personal judgement. This test is based on award-winning customer service managers’ performance. So, any candidate’s answers are assessed against the very best in customer service!

Rail Professional

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| TICKETING TECHNOLOGY

New online ticketing assessment tools launching from OPC Assessment Ticketing regulations can be pretty complex depending on varying factors e.g. time of day, route, whether cross border, discounts, duration of validity etc.

So, our ticket staff and onboard train personnel who sell tickets need to have the ability to hold and retain a lot of information, concentrate on the detail as well as check information quickly and accurately.

It is also important to consider the shift in job function due to cashless ticketing and a move towards more digital ticketing technology too. For station staff and conductors there may be less focus on working with money or counting up now. Instead, the new key characteristics are about the ability to work with technology along with demonstrating the NTS of conscientiousness, checking and accuracy.

With these changes in mind and through listening to customer’s requirements, OPC Assessment have been able to review their assessment portfolio and have recently developed and launched the following new online tests, suitable for onboard and station staff: The Ticketing Machine Test (TMT) assesses an applicant's Rail Professional

checking ability, to determine if the ticket information displayed on a ticket machine is correct vs. customer travel information provided. They must understand how the ticketing machine works, how the information is presented and check the information displayed; identifying how many errors, if any, are showing on the machine.

The Ticket Checking Test (TCT) is a new online test, specifically developed for use with station staff or conductor role recruitment. It is designed to assesses an applicant's ability to check the validity of different types of train tickets and determine if they are good for travel. This test requires concentration, attention to detail and accuracy skill against a set of fixed criteria.

As a result of the pandemic, some clients have approached OPC Assessment to design bespoke, online assessment tools because of the need to use more digital technology in their selection processes. The Station Staff Timetable Test (SSTT) is one such test, developed for a client needing a tool to help recruit for station roles. The SSTT assesses a candidate’s analytical skills when working with timetable information.

The applicant is provided with a section of a train timetable and

they must use the information to answer customer queries – assessing their ability to read and interpret timetable data correctly.

Jo Lawrence, Business Development Manager and Director said: ‘OPC Assessment has invested considerable time and expertise in designing new bespoke and off-the-shelf assessment tools for use by our clients. By having close relationships and regular conversations with clients, we are able to discern their future requirements and develop new tests accordingly.’

The Train Dispatch MultiTasking Test (TDMT) is a new online test that assesses a candidate’s ability to multi-task and ensure trains depart safely. It measures a candidate’s capability to concentrate on a dispatch sequence and to prioritise safety critical tasks above all else whilst also being required to multi-task where possible.

Jo Lawrence concluded by saying: ‘The use of technology on the railway is advancing at pace. This includes how we maximise digital recruitment and psychological assessment. Our Aim at OPC Assessment is to assist our rail clients to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their recruitment processes, and also to improve the experience of applicants who want to join our rail industry. OPC Assessment has a suite of nearly 90+ assessment tools including ability tests, situational judgement tests and personality questionnaires. We are working at speed, to embrace the technological revolution too, by updating our testing platform which will be ready for release some time this year, and by updating our paper and pencil test materials to online versions.’

Tel: 01923 234 646 Email: admin@theopc.co.uk Visit: www.theopc.co.uk

Discover potential.

Drive performance.

With 20 years’ rail industry experience, at OPC Assessment we offer an extensive range of practical, reliable and innovative assessment tools to help you improve performance and assess suitability for a wide spectrum of roles.

For more information, visit www.theopc.co.uk or email us at admin@theopc.co.uk One Wellstones, Watford, Herts, WD17 2AE

+44 (0)1923 234646

BUSINESS PROFILE |

13

Widest portfolio of floor and wall Forbo Flooring Systems has a truly comprehensive and compliant floor and wall covering product offering for the global rail sector

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hether you are sourcing floor coverings for high speed, intercity, regional, light rail, trams or metro vehicles, we can provide you with an exceptional range of products and services.

Coral FR By removing wet and dry soiling from the soles of shoes and wheel treads, an effective entrance system reduces premature wear and tear to interior floor coverings, minimises cleaning and maintenance costs and protects passengers by reducing slip hazards. Coral FR (Classic FR/ Brush FR/ Duo FR/ Welcome FR) is a collection of textile clean off products for entrances with heavy traffic.

• Stops up to 95 per cent of dirt and moisture • Excellent dirt storage/soil hiding • Available with Pro-Fit backing for quicker installation • Reaction to fire EN45545-2: HL2/ HL3 (depending on design)

Marmoleum FR2/ Marmoleum Striato FR A natural linoleum floorcovering that is associated with sustainability, durability, high quality and innovative in colour and design.

What makes these floor coverings really stand out is the fact that they are created using a high percentage of natural raw materials, with

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| BUSINESS PROFILE

Flotex FR A unique, textile, flocked floor covering, combining the cleaning properties and durability of a resilient flooring with the comfort, slip resistance and acoustic properties usually associated with textiles. Flotex FR can be rotary (Flotex Colour FR) or high definition digitally printed (Flotex Vision FR), the latter allowing for far greater design freedom.

• Bespoke design service • Lightweight at approximately 1225g/m2 • Excellent acoustic properties up to 22 Db • Impervious backing making it suitable for wet cleaning • Reaction to fire EN45545-2: HL2 Tessera FR Tessera FR (Alignment FR/ Helix FR/Nexus FR) is a collection of attractive, hardwearing carpets, offered in various pile constructions and textures, all designed to deliver specific aesthetic and performance benefits. The installation of carpet in a rail vehicle adds significant warmth, comfort and acoustic benefits.

• Durability and appearance retention, made from one hundred per cent nylon

• Flexibility to re-colour designs • Available with Pro-Fit backing for quicker installation • Reaction to fire EN45545-2: HL2 Coral Move FR An exceptionally versatile, premium cut pile carpet solution offering extensive design possibilities and colourways to complement a wide range of interior design schemes. Coral Move FR is made from one hundred per cent regenerated Econyl yarn, that offers aesthetic styling, durability and long lasting appearance retention.

• Extensive customisation possibilities, including high definition digital printing (Coral Move Vision FR) • Premium cut pile carpet specification achieving luxurious ambience and underfoot comfort.

• Natural latex backing from rapidly renewable source • Available with Pro-Fit backing for quicker installation • Reaction to fire EN45545-2: HL3 Fleet FR The robust, hard wearing properties of Fleet FR textile wall and ceiling covering, meets the demands of high traffic rail environments that require long lasting performance and ease of maintenance.

• Durable, high quality polyester fibres • Reduces ambient noise • Lightweight at 550g/m2 • Self-adhesive backing allows for quick and easy installation, saving time and money • Reaction to fire EN45545-2 (R1): HL2 In addition to the breadth of our rail portfolio combined with the flexibility in creating custom design and colour solutions tailored for your projects, Forbo realises that service is equally important in ensuring optimal efficiencies in time and cost management.

• Cut to shape/size • Bespoke labelling • Custom packaging • Material scheduling • Just in time logistics Tel: +44 (0)1773 744121 Email: transport@forbo.com Visit: www.forbo-flooring.com/rail

Rail Professional

METRO |

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Sydney Metro – Australia’s biggest public transport project

In 2024, Sydney will have 31 metro stations and more than 66 kilometres of new metro rail, revolutionising the way Australia’s biggest city travels construction jobs, including 250 apprentices.

This contract will employ a range of civil engineering trades and specialist services including drainage and ground workers, steel-fixers and concrete workers, earthmoving plant operators, truck drivers, piling contractors, crane operators, general labourers, pre-cast operators, surveillance officers and security guards. The contract is expected to be awarded in the first quarter of 2022.

The Australian and NSW governments are jointly delivering the 23 kilometre-metro railway and six stations between St Marys and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, including two stations at the airport.

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Credit: NSW Government / Sydney Metro

ydney Metro is a once-in-ageneration infrastructure project which will deliver exceptional benefits for the communities it serves by improving liveability, enhancing productivity and promoting connectivity across the Greater Sydney region.

Faster journey times and an extended public transport network will allow people to be more connected to job centres and educational institutions and ultimately deliver more opportunities for communities.

By the end of the decade, the network will be expanded to include 46 stations and more than 113 kilometres of world-class metro for Sydney. Sydney Metro, together with signalling and infrastructure upgrades across the existing Sydney rail network, will increase the capacity of train services entering the Sydney CBD – from about 120 an hour today to up to 200 services beyond 2024. That’s an increase of up to 60 per cent capacity across the network to meet demand.

Technology will keep customers connected at all stages of their journey, from: • Planning at home using smart phone travel apps.

• Real time journey information at metro stations and on board trains.

• Accessing information and other public transport to help get to their final destination after they leave the train.

• This approach will help customers achieve their daily tasks, whether it’s getting to work, meetings, school or education, sport, a day out or running errands and of course, getting home.

Two organisations, CPB Contractors Pty Ltd and Acciona Construction Australia Pty Ltd, have been shortlisted to deliver key construction work. The successful tenderer will build more than ten kilometres of viaducts, bridges and embankments that will support railway tracks and associated infrastructure. The project will support 14,000

Connecting Sydney When Sydney Metro is extended into the central business district (CBD) and beyond in 2024, metro rail will run from Sydney’s booming North West region under Sydney Harbour, through new underground stations in the CBD and beyond to the south west.

There will be ultimate capacity for a metro train every two minutes in each direction under the city, a level of service never before seen in Sydney. Sydney’s new metro railway will have a target capacity of about 40,000 customers per hour, similar to other metro systems worldwide. Sydney’s current suburban system can reliably carry 24,000 people an hour per line.

Credit: NSW Government / Sydney Metro Rail Professional

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Turner & Townsend Turner & Townsend is an independent professional services company specialising in program management, project management, cost management and consulting across the real estate, infrastructure and natural resources sectors.

Credit: NSW Government / Sydney Metro

Credit: NSW Government / Sydney Metro

Turner & Townsend to provide Project Management Office Support Sydney Metro appointed Turner & Townsend to provide Project Management Office Support services across their entire programme. Supported by HKA, Deloitte Australia and LogiKal, Turner & Townsend will provide Project Management Office Support (PMOS) services across all projects in the Sydney Metro programme.

The PMOS contract is a long-term appointment of up to six years and encompasses Sydney Metro City & Southwest, Sydney Metro West, Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport, as well as studies into future network expansion.

Turner & Townsend, HKA, Deloitte Australia and LogiKal will work as part of

a blended team with Sydney Metro. When fully mobilised, the PMOS team will reach full capacity of over 80 programme and project controls professionals working across multiple contract packages.

Darren Munton, Turner & Townsend’s Head of Infrastructure for Australia and New Zealand said: ‘Our relationship with Sydney Metro and Transport for NSW extends over a decade since the inception of Sydney Metro. Over this time, we have worked tirelessly to build a reputation for delivering exceptional standards of service and working collaboratively with Sydney Metro and their key stakeholders.’

HKA HKA is one of the world’s leading privately owned, independent providers of consulting, expert and advisory services for the construction, manufacturing, process and technology industries.

About LogiKal LogiKal is an award-winning SME consultancy that specialises in project controls, enhanced business intelligence, and BIM solutions. Having supported and advised on many of the world’s largest and most complex capital programmes, LogiKal helps develop client teams, optimise processes, and implement disruptive digital technologies that enable the successful delivery of projects, programs and portfolios.

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www.gzconsultants.com

EVENTS |

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RAIL Asia 2021 gears up as the region prepares for growth The Eastern Economic Corridor will be the main theme at RAIL Asia 2021 scheduled for 25-26 November in Thailand

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uilding on its success as Asia’s only international rail exhibition and conference in 2020, RAIL Asia maintained its position as the region’s most important trade event in one of the world’s most important and expansive markets. Thailand accounts for 40 per cent of all rail investment in Southeast Asia.

The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), Thailand’s flagship economic zone, has attracted investment applications totalling more than US$39 billion, 59 per cent of all investment projects received by the BOI were

from projects in the EEC. Thailand’s gateway to Asia ranges across three eastern provinces, Chachoengsao, Chonburi and Rayong.

The EEC Development Plan is designed to help transform Thailand into a valuebased economy with extensive and efficient transport links to Asia through its US$32.93 billion infrastructure upgrade plan headlined by the High-Speed Rail Ribbon Sprawl (EECh) linking three main airports to include the new Eastern Airport City ‘Aerotropolis’ (EECa).

RAIL Asia was hailed a great success in its previous edition by the government, hosts and supporting organsations as it defied global

challenges and staged the only international exhibition and conference for the rail industry in 2020. Hosted by the State Railway of Thailand and opened by the Ministry of Transport, RAIL Asia 2020 highlighted its importance and strength in the region with a successful eighth edition in Bangkok as the industry ‘reconnects’ and business rebounds.

‘For Talgo this is our first time at RAIL Expo and we’ve met a lot of new clients from the industry including top executives and government. This is the exhibition that gathers people from the rail sector, not only from Thailand but from throughout Southeast Rail Professional

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Asia. Talgo will definitely exhibit again next year’ explained Mr. Surawut Sakulhiranrak, Managing Director, Talgo Country Representative.

Opened by Mr.Pisak Jitviriyavasin, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport and hosted by the State Railway of Thailand, the RAIL Asia 2020 international conference and exhibition welcomed a global line up of world class technology, solution providers

Rail Professional

and 1,276 of the region’s stakeholders and other related industry professionals to meet, network, see the latest technologies, learn about the latest developments and trends and re-connect with the rail and metro industry in this new business environment we embrace.

RAIL Asia attracts a diverse attendance of industry, last year rail and metro operators made up 13 per cent of the visitors, government five per cent, contractors 15 per

cent, consultants 17 per cent, professional and academic organisations nine per cent, suppliers 24 per cent and investors three per cent.

Visitors to the event represented projects and budgets reported to be worth over US$2.426 billion in Thailand and the region.

According to the audited onsite survey the main product areas of interest to the trade visitors to RAIL Asia are rolling stock and maintenance (35 per cent), signalling (29 per cent), civil engineering (24 per cent), passenger experience for PIS, ticketing, station management (19 per cent), information technology (18 per cent) and other related sectors to include tunneling, OCS, trackwork, multi-modal integration, investment, tooling and consultancy (five per cent).

‘RAIL Asia is very important for us as it gives a very good chance to catch up with all our customers at the same time to introduce new products and to discuss new projects, it is also a very good chance to meet new potential customers from the rail authorities and operators. Overall it is very beneficial to us and we very much appreciate the exhibition’ explained Mr. Hannes Saurug, Chief Commercial Officer of Voestalpine Railway Systems.

RAIL Asia 2021 will be staged from 25-26 November for its ninth edition with continued full support and collaboration of government and industry, find out more by contacting the team directly at rail@aes-exhibitions.com