Thanks to GM Rail, this technical meeting is FREE! However, please note that numbers are limited, so use the link above to register and avoid missing out! The event will include food and beverages.

The event will see two interesting presentations:

• Charlie Tate from GM Rail will be presenting on the Rail Mounted Lift Study, which has been initiated following a fatality in Tasmania; and
• Richard Wales will be presenting an interesting perspective on Major project overruns and the relationship between designers and contractors.

GM Rail is Australia’s agile rail engineering partner. Delivering expert knowledge from concept to execution across the full rail lifecycle. Charlie Tate will be presenting on the Rail Mounted Lift Study, which has been initiated following a fatality in Tasmania.

Charlie is a Senior Project Engineer at GM Rail with 10 years of international rail industry experience. Since graduating from the University of Greenwich in 2015, he has held design and construction roles on major infrastructure projects across the UK, Canada, and Australia including Crossrail, HS2, and Montreal’s REM. Over the past 3 years in Western Australia, he has contributed to key projects in both the Pilbara and Perth Metro regions.

In July 2022, during planned track maintenance work, a track mounted excavator toppled when lifting an infrastructure trailer off the track near the Evandale Road level crossing in Tasmania, killing the operator and injuring the spotter. Following an in depth investigation, GM Rail was recently engaged to lead a review of rail mounted lifting practices and standards across Australia. The study has resulted in highlighting some key WA learnings regarding using earthmoving equipment for lifting, and the development of a new Code of Practice for RRVs (Road Rail Vehicles).

The presentation will cover:

• Introduction and Basis of the Study, including industry safety improvements and reduction of ambiguity
• Development Process
• Outcomes from Industry Engagement
• Next Steps

This is a valuable insight to key changes that are anticipated in our industry through the development of a national standard, with implementation in Western Australia being the first significant milestone. It will also provide some guidance on how you can contribute and support the study moving forward.

Richard Wales from Andromeda Engineering will be presenting an interesting perspective on Major project overruns and the relationship between designers and contractors.

Richard is an Australian based multi-disciplinary railway engineer with more than 30 years of experience, most recently as the WA Public Transport Authority, General Manager for Infrastructure. Richard has held senior multidisciplinary leadership roles in large contracting, consultancy and client organisations. He has worked on large transformational rail projects in Asia, the Middle East, as well as the UK and Australia. He has experience in High Speed Rail, Metro Systems, Mixed Traffic Heavy Rail, Light Rail and Heavy Haul. Working on some of the world’s largest projects Richard has practical experience dealing with the challenges associated with all stages of the project lifecycle and is currently advising clients associated with a wide range of projects across the world.

In Australia and in most other countries complex rail ‘mega’ (>$500m) projects are more likely to have cost and program over runs than any other type of major capital investment. This presentation briefly explores the current academic views related to this problem and then focuses on the relationship between designers and contractors. Drawing on practical examples and direct experience of projects in Australia and internationally the presentation will focus on the change in the relationship between suppliers and designers, the alignment of incentives and the adoption of new methodologies and technologies.

The involvement of the designer during the bidding phase and then the way the relationship changes over the life of the project from both contractor and designer perspectives are explored. The benefits of adopting systems engineering, safety assurance and modern technologies within the context of complex rail ‘mega’ projects is discussed drawing upon both positive and negative experiences. A potentially pragmatic approach is proposed based on international experience using some of the latest thinking from the Integrated Project Delivery methodology, Project 13 and also introducing the concept of the ‘guiding mind’ to facilitate clear and unambiguous decision making.

Finally the level of design detail required by contractors is discussed using the example of modern electrification projects in Australia, UK, Europe and India. This will be put into a historical context and an overall summary will be provided posing questions to the industry about the right approach to optimising the designer and contractor relationship