This week's rail highlights: Technology in the rail workforce, Smart infrastructure in American public transport & AI-driven advancements in rail ---

Welcome to this week's Global Railway Review newsletter where we highlight the latest buzz in rail. Explore our exclusive articles exploring integrating advanced technologies into rail, addressing workforce resistance, education and cultural shifts, dive into our latest podcast episode exploring all things ETCS and AI and learn more about what inspired Jorge Maroto to a career in rail, leading to his role at Metro de Sevilla. Dive into exclusive insights and more below!

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Latest articles: Dive into our Editor’s picks

Preparing your railway workforce for technological advances

Indiana Lee, Business Journalist, discusses the challenges and strategies for integrating advanced technologies into the rail industry while addressing workforce resistance and the need for ongoing education and cultural shifts.

The rail industry is more than 200 years old — but that doesn’t mean the technologies that support the industry are outdated. Railways have always advanced with the times, integrating new materials, fuels, safety features and more; it should hardly be surprising that railways around the world continue to adopt the latest technology to increase train efficiency, improve sustainability, reduce travel times and improve experiences for all. Technologies like automatic train operation (ATO) and positive train control (PTC), in particular, are seeing increasing rates of adoption, which can cut costs and enhance safety for workers and passengers alike.

However, despite the advantages of utilising advanced technology to improve railways, not everyone is all aboard. Railway workers can be resistant to changes to the systems they know, and this resistance can make updating railways slow, expensive, and ultimately ineffective. If rail companies want to take advantage of high-tech solutions, they need to prepare their workforce appropriately, beginning well before the change occurs and throughout the process of adapting to new practices. Here are a few ways rail companies might help workers transition to utilising new technologies that promise a better railway for everyone.

Understand why rail workers resist new technology

The average age of the workforce is about 39, but among railway workers specifically, the average age is closer to 45. One might wonder whether their age makes them more resistant to new technologies – but that is only a stereotype. Some studies have found that older workers are more willing to make changes that benefit their organisation or industry.

Instead of focusing on the age of their workforce, rail companies should consider the average level of education. A majority of rail workers have no education beyond high school, and their limited experience in a learning environment could impact their ability to gain new skills. Learning itself is a skill that requires practice; when workers don’t have much practise in learning, their confidence in their ability to learn may be low.

Hiring workers with higher levels of education could be a solution, but for many railway roles — which may have attributes unattractive to those with advanced degrees, like constant travel, manual labour, rural locations and more — it simply isn’t a viable option. Instead, rail companies should consider ways to attract their current workforce to new technology and encourage enthusiasm for technological advancements in the rail industry.

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Smart infrastructure and connectivity in American public transportation

Jon Nouchi, Deputy Director of the City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services, and Dottie Watkins, CEO of CapMetro, discuss how smart infrastructure is revolutionising public transportation across the U.S.

How has your city embraced the concept of smart infrastructure to improve public transportation efficiency and sustainability?

Jon Nouchi: As the most isolated capital city in the nation, you might think Honolulu would be slow to innovate and would be behind our partners on the American continent. However, we are a city who embraced innovation as far back as the 19th century, where our royal palace had electricity before the U.S.’ White House.

Similarly, our public transportation networks are influenced by innovative mobility technologies firstly for passenger information and comfort and paralleled with efficient operations and maintenance of our mobility services. We are early adopters and innovators of smart infrastructures and have contributed to the inception of, and ongoing development of, initiatives such as the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS, formerly Google Transit Feed Specification).

Dottie Watkins: The Austin Metro has consistently been one of the fastest growing areas in the country year after year, and surrounding areas once considered ‘suburban’ are now more urban and more connected to one another. CapMetro moves people in and between Austin and our five suburban member cities in the service area and provides almost two million trips per month across our network, primarily on local buses but also commuter buses and rail, on-demand service, paratransit service and bike-share. To meet the needs of growing communities, CapMetro, and the surrounding areas need to innovate and embrace holistic approaches to transportation and land-use planning.

In 2020, Austin voters overwhelmingly supported substantial investments in public transit through the passing of Project Connect, a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar transit investment to expand transit options throughout the Austin area. Project Connect includes new light rail, new rapid bus lines powered by a new zero-emission bus fleet, a new regional rail service, and investments into the planning and development near transit corridors to equitably support the overall quality of life for persons of all incomes and backgrounds.

How does the implementation of smart infrastructure in your city’s public transportation system align with the unique urban challenges and infrastructure requirements commonly found in the U.S.?

Nouchi: Transit operations are comparatively not well-funded in the U.S. compared to other countries; this results in more basic and minimal service which do not operate frequently and reliably. Ridership has declined in most places since the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to attract, and more importantly, retain riders, transit agencies need to innovate and rethink services and provide real-time information on all of their services. In Honolulu, we recently opened our Skyline rail system, which is a fully grade-separated, fully automated and autonomous rail service. We also restructured legacy bus services to connect passengers to the new Skyline. As we continue the buildout of Skyline, we will continue to reinvent our bus services to adapt to new ridership patterns as we grow new equitable communities around Skyline stations. Uniquely, we aim to use the nearly 20-mile Skyline rail viaduct as an alternative data corridor to house high-speed fibre broadband for network resiliency.

Watkins: Texas is primarily a car-centric state, and mode-shift is a huge challenge. Amidst the region’s economic and population growth, the intersection of mobility, housing density and land use planning is key. The City of Austin, for example, adopted a 2039 modal shift goal that aims to only have 50% of residents reliant on a single-occupancy vehicle. CapMetro, along with the City of Austin and the Austin Transit Partnership, is advancing multimodal transportation. Future public transport network improvements, such as light rail and an accessible bus system brought on by Project Connect, will better connect neighbourhoods in and outside our city.

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Latest podcast episode: Listen now!

The Right Track Podcast Series, Episode 9 – AI-Driven ETCS Solutions

In this latest episode of The Right Track, Emmanuel Marquis, Executive Vice President of Aerospace, Defence and Rail at Trigo Group, discusses the integration of European Train Control System (ETCS) and artificial intelligence (AI) in rail projects. He explains how ETCS and AI are enhancing efficiency and safety in rolling stock manufacturing, particularly for large-scale projects like HS2 and the East Coast Main Line.

In the second half of the episode, Emmanuel shifts his focus to the future of rail, discussing upcoming technologies and trends that are set to shape the industry, including:

? Advancements in propulsion systems: Hydrogen and hybrid trains, and their impact on power complexity

? Use of composite materials: Adoption of lightweight materials to reduce weight and environmental impact

? Improvements in passenger experience and connectivity: Increased focus on electronics and software in train environments

? Evolving manufacturing processes: Adjustments needed due to increased train quantities and potential market shifts

? Market shifts and consolidation: Anticipated changes in the North American rail market and supply chain consolidation.

Whether you’re curious about the push for sustainable materials or the future of passenger experience, this episode provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities ahead for the rail sector.

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The people behind the wheel: Jorge Maroto’s story, Metro de Sevilla

In the latest instalment of Global Railway Review’s ‘The people behind the wheel’ series, Jorge Maroto, Managing Director of Metro de Sevilla, discusses his leadership role, the challenges of modernising urban transport, and his commitment to sustainability and innovation in shaping the future of rail.

Can you tell us a bit about your role at Metro de Sevilla?

Metro de Sevilla is a Concession of the Andalusian Regional Government and is part of the Globalvia Group. As Managing Director of Metro de Sevilla, my primary responsibility is to lead our team in creating value for customers, shareholders and society. I ensure that day-to-day operations run smoothly, providing reliable and efficient services that meet the needs of Seville’s residents and visitors.

Metro de Sevilla is more than just a transportation provider; it plays a key role in the city’s infrastructure, contributing to urban mobility while promoting sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.

A key aspect of my role is leading a skilled, customer-focused team. We are committed to delivering safe, accessible and easy-to-use services. As public transport continues to evolve, we aim to be at the forefront of innovation and sustainability, constantly looking for ways to optimise our operations through digitalisation, automation and data-driven decision-making.

What inspired you to seek a career in the transport industry?

My inspiration to pursue a career in the transport industry, particularly in rail, has deep personal roots. My family has been connected to the rail industry for over a century: my great-grandfather, my grandfather and his siblings, as well as several of my uncles and aunts, including my father, all worked in the sector. From a young age, I was captivated by the rail industry due to my father’s dedication and passion for railways, which heavily influenced my own aspirations.

As I grew older, this early exposure evolved into a genuine passion for engineering and problem-solving within the rail sector. I was drawn to the industry because of its complexity and the crucial role it plays in shaping urban and regional mobility. The co-ordination between mechanical systems, electrical components and human factors presents a unique set of challenges, which I was eager to tackle as an engineer.

During my university years, while studying Industrial Engineering, I became increasingly fascinated by how rail systems contribute to sustainable urban development – reducing congestion, cutting emissions and offering reliable alternatives to personal vehicles. The knowledge that my work could have a meaningful and positive impact on society was a key factor in my decision to specialise in rail.

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Global Railway Review Issue 3 2024

Welcome to our Autumn issue of Global Railway Review! This issue is particularly important (and comparatively heavy) thanks to the great event taking place this September. In this issue we deep-dive into Passenger Experience, Noise & Vibrations and the latest advancements in Rail Asset Management.

Our Regional Focus is also a bit bigger than usual, with an investigation into the impact of policy choices on the modernisation of the Indian Railway and where the future of rail in India might lay as continuous growth of the industry presents a host of opportunities for logistics service providers.

The exclusive Roundtable Feature in this issue will have four fantastic experts from across the industry discussing the impact and opportunities involved in a greater understanding and use for Data & AI in rail. Not to name names, but these experts are:

? BCRRE’s Dr Joe Preece

? Hannah Richta, Head of Algorithms for Operations at DB InfraGO

? Matt McInnes, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Lynxx

? Richard Adams, Head of Digital Architecture at LNER.

In this special issue, the latter part of this magazine speaks to those attending the biggest rail event on the calendar, what they’re most looking forward to seeing and doing there, as well as exciting glimpses of what attendees will be able to experience at InnoTrans 2024.

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?? Webinar Alert: Safeguarding Rail Infrastructure in the Quantum Era ??

Date: 30 October 2024

Time: 10:00 AM GMT

As the quantum era approaches, network security is at a crossroads. With the European Union’s NIS 2 directive coming into effect and quantum computers threatening traditional cryptography, the railway sector must act swiftly to protect its critical infrastructure.

Join us for an insightful free webinar and learn how to safeguard your rail networks from emerging cyber threats.

Key Learnings Include:

? Protecting your network's Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA) in the quantum era

? Practical steps for deploying Quantum-Safe Networks in rail infrastructure

? A multi-layer quantum-safe networking blueprint for long-term security

? Real-world applications: A journey into Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) to protect critical infrastructure.

Expert Speakers:

? Hansen Chan, Sr. Product Marketing Manager, Nokia for industries

? Chris Janson Sr. Market Advisor, Nokia

Register now to gain invaluable insights into fortifying your network and stay ahead of the quantum threat!