Global Rail Australia are delighted to announce the granting of our Commercial Builders licence Medium Rise. The licence which was given to CEO Ivan Holloway, will allow Global Rail Australia to build up to 25 metres in height and undertake bulk excavations up to a depth of 8 metres in throughout the State of Victoria.
The work permitted additionally includes structural and non-structural fit out work for buildings up to 25 metres in height and also structural landscaping associated with those buildings.
Global Rail Construction Ltd (GRCL) has been awarded a full status Network Rail Principal Contractor Licence – a key milestone for the UK railway infrastructure and systems contractor.
This licence provides the company with the opportunity to act directly as a main contractor for Network Rail on the delivery of major railway infrastructure projects across the UK.
After successfully being selected through Network Rail’s comprehensive supply chain selection process, and following a rigorous two-stage audit of GRCL’s systems and on site management, the Network Rail Principal Contractor Licence scheme assessed the competency and application of GRCL’s workforce, operating culture, processes, procedures and HSQE practices, concluding that it is fully assured to deliver works safely, and to the highest possible standard.
Global Rail Construction achieved a provisional licence in 2014, following a rigorous review of its procedures and the success of the works undertaken on a number of projects including the ASDO signalling project for Network Rail’s Wessex route.
Managing Director of Global Rail Construction, Marco Lombardelli, said: “This outstanding achievement is testament to the combined efforts of the whole team since gaining provisional status. Gaining a full Principal Contractor Licence validates Global Rail Construction’s commitment to the control of quality and safety assurance, and demonstrates a culture of railway excellence that is the very cornerstone of our business.
“These daily practices are part of our company’s ethos and core values and I am delighted with this result as we look to extend our offering into both new and existing rail markets. On behalf of the board, I would like to thank everyone involved in the process. It has taken a remarkable team effort and is acknowledgement of the commitment, determination and ability of our people.”
Global Infrastructure Group gained valuable press coverage this month through a double page spread in the July edition of Rail Engineer.
The article leads on the way railway infrastructure providers must employ innovation to add value for their clients, citing how the UK arm of the group – Global Rail Construction Ltd. – applied this to their recent ASDO project for Network Rail’s Wessex Route. The approach taken by rail engineering specialist Global Rail Construction Ltd. involved meticulous planning and high levels of collaboration to minimise disruption to the railway infrastructure.
Credit is also given to Global Infrastructure Group’s strengths in collaborating with other contractors, suppliers and stakeholders, and its ability to understand the multi-disciplinary nature of rail projects. The second half goes on to describe Global Infrastructure Group’s recent period of growth and rebranding, to provide its public and private sector clients with complete clarity around its unique infrastructure offering in the UK, Irish and Australian markets.
The publication was pleased to note the Group’s Safety Coaches programme, which will be of great interest and benefit to the industry.
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Lough Rynn Castle is one of Ireland’s most luxurious castle hotels, set on the shore of Lough Rynn, surrounded by over 300 acres of breath-taking scenery. Trip Advisor reviews boast of it being a ‘hidden gem’ but the only drawback for guests to this majestic hotel was the lack of Wi-Fi and mobile phone coverage.
The black spot was targeted by Vodafone and Netshare Ireland and the work, which was awarded to GRA Networks, was executed promptly, efficiently and very discreetly so as not to cause disruption to any of the staying guests.
General Management of the hotel expressed their delight to Netshare Ireland regarding the efficiency of the GRA Networks team and have noticed a significant improvement in their coverage. Off the back of this significant improvement, Netshare Ireland are using the Lough Rynn project success as an example to other hotels in remote locations around Ireland.
Global Rail Australia, have recently been appointed as Framework Contractor for construction services on behalf of Yarra Trams, Melbourne.
The contract, which covers the largest operating tram network in the world, with over 250 kilometers of double track and 1763 tram stops, has an annual patronage of over 180 million.
As an experienced railway provider, with offices and in-house engineering support directly from Melbourne, Global Rail Australia were seen as the perfect partner of choice to work with Yarra Trams on this year long framework.
Global Rail Australia CEO Ivan Holloway said; ‘We are delighted to have secured this framework with Yarra Trams and look forward to developing a long-term partnership in our heartland of Melbourne’
Global Rail Construction’s Safety Coach Initiative – has been shortlisted by a panel of experts for the National Rail Safety Award.
As one of the most important National Rail Award categories, safety has always been high on both public and political agendas – and rightly so. Having been shortlisted the judges were clear on Global Rail Construction’s tangible commitment to improving safety.
Global Rail Construction’s Safety Coach initiative has been instigated as a long-term measure and is part of an embedded culture of practices to influence both employee and supply chain behaviours.
Just under a year ago, Global Rail Construction commenced its Safety Coaches initiative as part of its overall Behavioral Safety Management Programme. Safety Coaches are front line employees that act as the “Voice” and “Face” of the organisation. They are engaged and empowered to promote a culture of safety across all projects and provide the continued growth of our safety leadership team, values which are at the very heart of the business.
The next steps are to present to a further panel at the end of June, as Global Rail Construction look to further demonstrate their commitment to all railway stakeholders who come into contact with their day-to-day activities.
Having successfully secured the contract on behalf of regional train operator V-Line in August, to fabricate and install a new bridge superstructure in Victoria, Global Rail Australia completed the bridge installation works during a major railway occupation over a weekend shutdown starting on 19th May 2016.
Taking possession of the railway on Friday morning, Global Rail Australia worked to a fully resourced hour-by-hour program, providing round-the-clock contingency arrangements in respect of weather, plant breakdown and resources to complete the works.
Having already pre-fabricated the superstructure Global Rail Australia, were able to confidently strip out the existing life-expired structure, safe in the knowledge that the new bridge superstructure was within tolerance.
Having established an excellent working relationship with V-Line on previous projects, the team were able to co-ordinate their activities with the client and minimise the impact of their operations on the client and their stakeholders.
Providing a full turn-key solution allowed Global Rail Australia to act as the single point of responsibility throughout, managing staff and specialist suppliers to ensure that the track was re-instated and the railway was fully handed back on time at the end of the occupation on 22nd May 2016.
Hot on the heals of their other award success, Global Rail Construction have been nominated as finalists for the FSB Hertfordshire Business Awards.
Their nomination for the Green Award reflects the company’s sustainable approach to business in terms of reducing or removing the harmful impact that its products and/or services have on the environment; the business has also been selected as a finalist for Welwyn and Hatfield Business of the Year.
Global Rail Construction place a lot of importance on the role they play in their local community and this nomination, which highlights the businesses outstanding initiative, as well as sound management practices, also focuses on our boldness and imagination as a local enterprise.
These awards further demonstrate Global Rail Construction’s on-going and sustainable growth, which provides a platform for our long-term commercial success.
Our full listing can be found at: www.hertfordshireawards.co.uk
Global Rail Construction, having recently entered three categories at this year’s Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards, have been nominated as a finalist in all three for Business of the Year, The Environmental Award and also Achievement in International Business.
The Business of the Year award recognises demonstrable levels of growth and our robust plans for sustainable financial performance, whilst the Environmental Award has noted to date our responsible business practices in relation to the environment, community and people – aligning with our business core values.
Finally, the Achievement in International Business nomination recognises the successful trade of the wider Global Infrastructure Group of companies.
A representative from the Award category sponsor plus two independent judges presided over each entry and after a fiercely fought completion Global Rail Construction were shortlisted for these prestigious awards, awards that recognise the importance of the business in the Hertfordshire region.
Neville Reyner, Chairman of the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce Board, also moderated the entries.
The full list of finalists is available at http://www.hertschamber.com/2016-finalists.
Irish Rail as part of their rail network communications upgrade works, have awarded GRA Networks Ireland works as part of the 2-3 year phased roll out of GSM-R – which is the international wireless communications standard for railway communication and applications.
The system, which is used for communication between the train and railway regulation control centres, requires GRA Networks Ireland to install a series of Relocatable Equipment Buildings (REB) and telecoms towers.
The system on installation, will guarantee Irish Rail performance speeds at 310mph, without any communication loss and the system can transmit both data and voice.
Working to a phased completion program, GRA Networks Ireland has completed sites at Jonesborough, Limerick, Gormanston and Rush and Lusk and their multi-faceted team are providing to be a safe, secure and collaborative working partner.
Phase 2 has now commenced, as GRA Networks Ireland look to continue to reach the heights expected – by delivering works on time and to the required budget.