Rail

Business Overview  

John Holland’s involvement with the rail industry extends over more than 35 years with our Rail business now the pre-eminent rail contractor in Australia. This expertise has evolved over the years from purely short term construction and rehabilitation contracts to long term partnerships with public and private clients for the provision of construction, rehabilitation and maintenance services.

We are a service provider that recognises the long term needs of our clients as well as the short term constraints of implementation. The development of this service is the result of a commitment to recruiting and training highly motivated staff to produce results which continually exceed our client’s expectations.   In addition, our association with contracting partners overseas means we are able to bring to our clients specialised capabilities and resources which enhance the productivity and return to our partners.

We welcome any opportunity to discuss ways in which we can provide the most cost effective solution to our partners’ rail infrastructure needs.  

Continuous improvement is not a concept, but a way we do business.  

Our capabilities  

Our capabilities allow us the ability to provide end-to-end solutions for our clients whilst ensuring that we have the right people with the right skills for any project.

Design

We feature a multi-disciplined approach to projects in the railway environment involving the design and construction of a diverse range of railway and tramway infrastructure, including the design of:

• Track formation drainage
• Track geometry and alignment including ‘Green Field’ diversions
• Yard configurations and layouts
• Track structure
• Railway structures including bridges, signal structures, masts and overhead traction structures.   
  

We feature extensive experience with specialist design suppliers alongside our rail capabilities allowing us to provide end-to-end project delivery to our clients.  

Inspection & Maintenance

We have the skills to undertake independent audits and inspections in order to provide comprehensive condition reports of rail infrastructure. We have the capacity to assist clients in determining their base railway infrastructure needs and to assist in the preparation of upgrading and maintenance strategies and programs. 

In addition, we have experience in the establishment and management of Maintenance and Asset Management Plans.  

Track Construction and Tracklaying

Operators demand availability of infrastructure for the operation of rail traffic and windows for infrastructure maintenance continue to be reduced. We have extensive experience in the track construction and tracklaying sector in a variety of challenging and unique operating environments.  

Surfacing

John Holland has an extensive range of broad, standard and narrow gauge surfacing plant including Tampers, Regulators and Compactors available for work throughout Australia.

Shoulder Ballast Cleaning and Undercutting

We currently operate a Plasser and Theurer™ RM74 broad gauge machine that is convertible to standard gauge. John Holland has also invested in a Shoulder Ballast Cleaner which can be used to remove fouled shoulder ballast, improving drainage without significant disturbance to the ballast track structure.   

Lightrail

We have been involved in the progressive upgrade of Melbourne’s light rail system for more than fourteen years. Our established skill base for design and construction of light rail infrastructure is without equal in Australia.  

This specialist work requires extensive coordination of traffic, community, operators and other stakeholders. The time sensitive nature of the works and the impact it has on traffic management and congestion requires our lateral thinking and initiative to minimise impacts.  

Rail Welding

John Holland’s Total Railway Service includes aluminothermic, fixed flashbutt and mobile flashbutt welding of rails. We have also introduced mobile flashbutt welding technologies into some of our long term maintenance contracts resulting in significant improvements in unit costs previously experienced by our clients.  

Our welding teams are experienced in carrying out production welding, turnout welding, weld defect removal, rail bending as well as the stress adjustment and management of rails.  

Tie Renewal

Cyclic replacement of life expired assets is key to the sustained, reliable and safe operation of railway infrastructure. Our fleet of ‘On Track’ tie renewal equipment is available in narrow, standard and broad gauge configurations. We also operate a fleet of purpose designed Hi-rail equipment that offers flexibility for renewals on tracks with frequent train running schedules and is particularly used in the metropolitan environment.  

Rail Grinding 

Our range of grinding machines offer high precision grinding in tight locations near obstacles such a guard rails, vee crossings and point blades. The high precision of the machine is backed up by skilled machine operators and mechanical fitters.  

Railway Bridges

We own and operate an extensive range of bridge construction equipment and have the capacity to mobilise plant to suit the location and requirements of any structure and client.

Track Access Certification Training

Our training and education programs range from nationally accredited training to specialised internal training, professional development and succession planning programs. The training and education programs are integral to the larger John Holland Group initiatives but indeed are setting the pace for change in the railway industry.  

The rail industry specific programs that we offer lead the private sector. John Holland was recognised for our industry leading approach by winning the 'Employer of the Year Award' at the 2006 Australian Training Awards.  

Plant and Equipment

We have been involved in the introduction of significant new technology, equipment and plant into the Australian market including;  

• Tamping machinery
• Mobile flash butt welding equipment
• Shoulder blast cleaner
• Multi-stone rail grinders
• Road rail mounted equipment  

Our contracting methods  

We are familiar with all forms of contract delivery but have particular experience in long standing partnership/alliance style relationships. 

Our capacity  

John Holland offers clients the efficient, cost effective and experienced solutions to railway problems.  

Part of this commitment is the capability to coordinate rail projects from the feasibility and design phases, through to construction and into long term maintenance programs. John Holland engages in the design, construction and maintenance of the complete range of railway and tramway infrastructure including formation, track alignment, yard layouts, track structure and bridges.

Our approach  

Our focus remains on the successful delivery of projects to our clients, and as such our approach relies on collaboration and consultation.  

Early involvement is critical in terms of timing, equipment, process and delivery. We also realise that access to a mobile and experienced workforce alongside efficient plant ensures that projects stay on track through all phases of project delivery.  

Finally, delivery in full, on budget and on time is what our reputation is based upon

Our teams  

Our people are not only our greatest assets -  they are also the driving force of our group. Our people’s skills, loyalty and commitment to being the best they can be at all times has helped place John Holland at the forefront of our industry. We pride ourselves on putting our people first whether it is in terms of remuneration, paternity and maternity leave, job safety or staff benefits and we understand that a healthy workforce means a healthy business.  

Our commitment to safety is paramount, and flows through to our sub-contractors, our clients and the broader communities in which we work. Good people are the key to all of the key principles of our company and we understand that by putting them first we can ensure the continued performance, strengthened partnerships, and increased profits for our company.