Protection Officer Services for C-Series Railcar Testing - METRONET Railcar Procurement Project

Background

The Public Transport Authority (PTA) of Western Australia operates the Perth urban rail network that consists of approximately 180 kilometres of electrified track and 72 stations. The metropolitan passenger rail network is currently serviced by two (2) types of Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) railcars, known as the A-Series (configured as 2 and 4-car sets) and the B Series (configured as 3 and 6-car sets). As part of the METRONET Railcar Procurement Project, forty one (41) new 6-car EMU sets (known as the C-Series) are being procured.

The PTA also operates regional diesel rail fleets which service communities as far east as Kalgoorlie and south to Bunbury. The railcars used for the “Australind” service to Bunbury are also being replaced with two new 3-car Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) sets as part of the METRONET Railcar Procurement Project.

The State Government has nominated the METRONET Railcar Procurement Project as a “strategic project” under the Western Australian Jobs Act 2017 (WA). A key Project objective is the State Government’s desire to maximise opportunities for Western Australian (WA) jobs, apprenticeships and Small/Medium Enterprise participation. To facilitate the above objective, the State Government announced Bellevue as the chosen location for the new multi-functional depot (Bellevue Depot).

The Bellevue Depot will include:

1. 1. 1. 1. A new Railcar Assembly Facility and High Voltage (HV) Testing Facility (constructed in 2021 as Bellevue Stage 1 Works) which have been made available by the Public Transport Authority to the C-Series railcar manufacturer, Alstom Transport Australia Pty Ltd (Alstom).
         2. The New Railcar Maintenance Facilities currently being tendered and due to commence works in Q4 2022 and be completed in Q4 2024.
            1. 1. 1. The New Railcar Maintenance Facilities will include B Series Maintenance Facilities, Diesel Railcar Maintenance Facilities, Underfloor Wheel Lathe and Bogie Drop Table Building, track and overhead line equipment and associated works (also known as Bellevue Stage 2); and
                  2. A Traction Power Feeder Substation, to be constructed by UGL Engineering Pty Ltd with construction scheduled to occur from mid-2022 through until Q2 2023.

The Bellevue Depot site is located on PTA-owned land, which is currently leased to the freight rail operator, Arc Infrastructure, who are currently being relocated to a new facility in Kenwick. The Bellevue Depot site is located adjacent to the live freight railway line, and includes a track connection to the Perth Urban Rail Network (Transperth network).

The PTA and Alstom will be implementing an extensive testing and commissioning regime for the new railcars to ensure that the C-Series trains are safe to carry passengers and able to provide the required level of service to the Transperth network. This will include static testing and commissioning at the Bellevue HV Testing Facility, testing at PTA’s railcar maintenance depot at Nowergup, as well as dynamic testing at various locations including on the PTA mainline track.

To facilitate the mainline testing and commissioning activities, the Project is planning to establish testing worksites at specified locations along the rail network using a Track Occupancy Authority (TOA) governed by the PTA’s Safeworking Rules and Procedures. It is anticipated that these TOAs will primarily occur during the existing Network & Infrastructure (N&I) maintenance windows outside of the regular passenger service timetable which typically occurs during nights.

The C-Series TOA testing is anticipated to commence in September 2022 and conclude in May 2023, with potential further testing through until August 2023.

The PTA will require the services of a Protection Officer Level 3 (PO3) with Pilot accreditation to provide protection to the rollingstock testing and commissioning work groups via implementation of the TOAs and guiding of railcar drivers through the testing sites.

1. Scope of Services

To support the mainline testing and commissioning activities for the new C-Series railcars, the METRONET Railcar Procurement Project requires the services of a rail safeworking accredited Protection Officer Level 3 (PO3) with Pilot accreditation to implement the TOA required to provide the necessary protection to the Project work groups and guiding of railcar drivers through the testing sites.

The PTA may from time-to-time also request the Contractor provide rail safeworking personnel for other roles such as a PO1, PO2 or PRES. The PTA may also require the services of more than one PO3 Pilot during the same shift in the event that multiple worksites are used for testing activities.

The Contractor’s PO3 Pilot and other personnel performing the Services must possess competencies as per PTA Procedure 9100-000-007 - Safeworking Rules and Procedures and its related documents.

It is the PTA’s preference that, where possible, the same two or three personnel be provided for the PO3 Pilot role for the duration of the Contract, to help ensure they become familiar with the testing worksites and requirements.

The Contractor (including its sub-contractors) must ensure that their employees are appropriately competent to obtain a Track Access Permit (TAP) at the appropriate level. Details for obtaining TAPs are contained within the PTA’s Safeworking Rules and Procedures.

The PTA has an indicative testing schedule which anticipates that testing and commissioning activities on the mainline track will occur from approximately September 2022 through until May 2023, with potential further testing through until August 2023. It must be noted that these dates are fluid and may be subject to change. The PTA will advise the Contractor accordingly ahead of time.

The Project anticipates that a Protection Officer Level 3 (PO3) with Pilot accreditation is required for approximately 150 shifts across two train sets throughout the entire testing schedule. There may be times when two PO3 Pilots are required on any given day, as both train sets may be operating on separate parts of the rail network. It is expected that shift durations will be approximately 8 hours in duration, however during extended line closures shifts may be up to 10 hours or longer. The Contractor must ensure it has personnel available for the required shift durations.

The PTA anticipates that it will primarily require the services of a PO3 Pilot, and that the Services will primarily be conducted during night shifts. The PTA shall provide the exact dates and times of shifts in due course once the testing regime is finalised.

Site access and permission to enter the Rail Corridor shall be obtained in accordance with the PTA’s Safeworking Rules and Procedures and as directed by the Project Integration Manager. The Contractor must comply with the current PTA Safeworking Rules and Procedures, and the current Rail Safety Act and Rail Safety Regulations at all times while performing the Services.

Please refer to PTA220053 - Services (Book4) RFT Scope of Services and Specification for further information regarding the scope of requirements.