Currently working on their third consecutive prestigious four-year railway framework for building works, Global Rail Services Limited (GRSL) were awarded a contract to completely refurbish a historical listed building at Dundrum Station.
The specialist building framework which was let by the organisation that maintains Irish Railways – Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) – was won by Global Rail Services following competitive tender giving TII the mechanism to let individual packages of works to their preferred contractors of up-to €1m.
Having successfully delivered many contracts throughout the framework, TII selected Global Rail Services as their partner of choice for the sympathetic refurbishment of a listed heritage structure known as ‘Dundrum Station House’ and demolition of an adjacent two storey derelict structures parallel to the existing live Dundrum LUAS stop.
The completely derelict building – which had been subject to intense vandalism – was to be carefully re-built and restored to its former glory and converted into a café and two offices. Works included structural alterations and repairs to the building, brickwork restoration, full heritage internal refurbishment works and the provision of new mechanical and electrical installations throughout – all in accordance with exacting conservation standards.
The scope of works also extended to transforming the surrounding areas by demolishing an adjacent dilapidated industrial unit to form a new car park including cycle storage, providing external lighting, CCTV and external landscaping.
The works formed a fundamental part of the TII’s programme to improve passenger experience at metropolitan railway stations by refurbishing commercial buildings and structures in and around them.
The scope involved the complexities of working adjacent to a live railway environment, materials management and site logistics, all whilst delivering works to an exacting heritage specification. GRSL have an experienced project management team and held weekly site progress meetings to ensure works were being delivered to the required standard.
Having a multi-disciplinary in-workforce including Building, Civil and Structural Engineering, M&E and General Construction along with in-house site management, allowed Global Rail Services Ltd to provide a compelling solution, deliver to program and produce a lasting legacy for the building and the surrounding area.
Global Rail Services provided a most compelling offer to Irish Rail and were awarded a €1.1m track renewal contract, to remove and replace 1km of railway track on both the Up and Down lines between Tara St and Connolly Station.
The works were to be completed during restricted working hours – 24/7 possession working – commencing on St Stephens’s day and for 14 consecutive days thereafter throughout the Christmas period.
Having a vastly experienced project engineering team, enabled Global Rail Services to put together a fully planned and detailed methodology to deliver a huge volume of critical infrastructure works, which formed part of Irish Rail’s railway upgrade programme.
With access over ¾ of a mile away from the site and the works limited to a single line for both removal of the old and delivery of the new track materials, Global Rail Services meticulously prepared a detailed hour-by-hour programme for all activities. This included full contingency provision.
With this is mind, early stage preparation works were undertaken to build the track panels in readiness for the works. A bill of materials was also prepared, so that all materials could be delivered, quality checked and stacked ready for the Christmas shutdown.
The works also involved the re-alignment of a bridged line over the centre of Dublin, which required advance notices and planning and also the replacement of curved check rails.
Having a strong in-house capability of 60 track staff provided Irish Rail with the confidence that Global Rail Services were the partner of choice and this proved to be a wise decision.
With strong supply chain partnership with their plant and machinery providers, Global Rail Services provided full project surety, enabling the works to be handed over defect free, on time and to the required budget.
GRA Networks Australia were selected by global telecoms and software giant Huawei, as a result of their compelling offering to provide a fully project managed telecoms service, creating a delivery solution for the installation of new telecoms equipment throughout Victoria.
The initial engagement by Huawei – who are the largest telecommunications manufacturer in the world, employing 170,000 people – was for the Apollo Project on behalf of Optus, one of the largest telecommunications providers in Australia.
This Apollo Project involved the upgrade of 3G and 4G sites in Victoria. The work involved the installation of 3G and 4G RRU’s on towers and structures in addition to the upgrade the existing BTS equipment in the shelters. To date GRA Networks Australia has completed upgrades to over 550 sites under the Apollo Project.
Since then, as a result of their impressive offering – which provided an efficient end-to-end solution – GRA Networks Australia has been engaged on a number of other frameworks with Huawei and to date have completed work on over 1,500 sites in both Victoria and Tasmania.
Building on this success, GRA Networks Australia has recently been awarded a number of Greenfield Projects. Typical greenfield sites involve the construction of new telecoms compound and Installation of a new monopole and foundations, Installation and connection of new power supply, Installation and fit-out of a new telecoms cabin; Installation of a new headframe and associated telecoms equipment including Installation of 10/12 port antenna systems, RRU’s, TMA’s, Feeder’s and Trunk Fibre’s. GRA Networks Australia are also responsible for the commissioning and integration of the sites on completion.
The team are also working with Huawei on the IBC rollout programme and have been appointed to carry out design surveys as part of this programme.
Irish Rail having purchased a further fleet of 57 Intercity railcars (ICR) formed up by 19 x 3 car sets, which were identical to their existing operational fleet of 177 Class 22000 railcars, sought a partner to modify, test and commission the units for continued and effective service.
The fleet, which was manufactured in South Korea by Hyundai Rotem, was shipped to Ireland in batches.
Having competitively tendered for the works, Global Rail Services were selected as the contractor of choice to undertake all modification and warranty work, inclusive of testing, commissioning and shakedown running, providing a 24-month warranty for their service.
The Works are necessary for the continuous improvement, upkeep, continued reliability and safe operation of these cars, which are currently being used in Irish Rail’s passenger service operations.
