Spotlight on Rail - A Global Career

With Network Rail’s Control Period 6 a mere seven months away, many of the large projects from Control Period 5, such as Crossrail, are entering their final phases. For some projects, this may mean a final push with all hands to the pump. But with no more funding available until the new period starts in April 2019, new opportunities for rail staff may be limited.

Fortunately, rail is a global market with rail professionals in great demand, particularly in Canada. In early 2017, Network Rail Consulting – a subsidiary of Network Rail – opened an office in Toronto. With a large order book of projects about to go live in Ontario, Canada, opportunities for professionals with rail experience are about to increase dramatically. Candidates with British rail experience are highly regarded and sought after, making emigration an attractive option.

Here’s a look at some of the upcoming projects about to start or nearing design completion.

Light Rapid Transit Projects

Light rapid transit (LRT) is a popular public transport option in Toronto. New lines are continuously being added to serve the growing population commuting into Toronto’s city centre, such as:

• Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT): $2.5 billion CAD project to build 11km of new LRT, 17 surface stops, plus a new maintenance and storage facility. Mosaic Transit Group was appointed as the winning bidder in May 2018, with construction expected between Autumn 2018 and 2023.
• Hurontario Light Rail Transit: Construction of 20km of new LRT with 22 stops, as well as a new maintenance and storage facility. The winning bidder is expected to be announced imminently, with construction between 2018 and 2022.

Rail Upgrades and Expansions

The GO Regional Express Rail (RER) service serves the Toronto area, as well as adjacent commuting towns such as Barrie, Niagara Falls and Peterborough. Several projects are in procurement for the expansion and maintenance of the GO rail service as part of a larger, system-wide plan to improve the service by 2024-25, including:

• Highway 401 Rail Tunnel: $116.9 million CAD project to construct a new tunnel under Highway 401, including two tracks, signalling and communications infrastructure for the province’s GO Regional Express Rail (RER) service. Expected on site this year with completion in 2021.
• GO RER Expansions: including a new GO station at Cooksville, construction of a grade separation structure to minimise service delays at Davenport Diamond, infrastructure upgrades including two new grade separations, track upgrades, and constructing a third track at Lakeshore East’s Central, West and East Corridors, and infrastructure upgrades, including new track, on the Stouffville corridor.

Going to Canada on a fixed term contract may be easier than you think. Check out our article on Canada working holidays for some of the available options, as well as our post on the market outlook for construction roles in Canada. Alternatively, browse our current vacancies across this vast nation.

About the Author

Steve Thomas
Construction Recruitment Director, UK & Canada
I am responsible for the Maxim Recruitment office in the UK where our team of recruitment consultants specialise in the recruitment of quantity surveyors, commercial managers, delay, dispute and claims consultants for civil engineering and building contractors and specialist construction consultancies.  I am also responsible for growing our recruitment operation in Canada and the USA where we are increasingly busy.  I have over 20 years’ experience in construction recruitment and enjoy working on both contingency and search/headhunting assignments for our repeat clients.
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Email: steve@maximrecruitment.com