Centre of attention SNC-Lavalin’s Rail & Transit central European team is based in Germany, but it covers a much wider geographical area with its strong railway engineering skills. Viewpoint finds out why all the team members share a strong passion for working in rail Words ANdREw BENNETT One glance at a map of Europe clearly shows that the town of Aachen, Germany, is at a crossroads – right on the border with Belgium and the Netherlands. Paris is less than three hours away by train too. It’s no coincidence that SNC-Lavalin set up its central Europe office in this Rhineland location less than two years ago, as it is right on the doorstep of three other European countries, with good access via the wider rail network – all the better to serve clients. Other reasons for this strategic choice include the ability to recruit graduates from Aachen’s two universities, which teach rail engineering, and being located within the European rail-freight corridor, nicknamed the ‘Blue Banana’ because of the way it is displayed on EU rail maps. Regional director Georg Hauschild, who has 22 years‘ experience in the rail industry and joined the team in 2014, explains: ‘From Aachen, Amsterdam is two hours away, Brussels is just over an hour, Frankfurt is less than two, Paris less than three by train – and even our colleagues in the UK, can reach Aachen from London by rail in four hours.’ Speaking in mother tongues Clients find other benefits in dealing with the central Europe office, which covers a wide portfolio of work. ‘All of us speak fluent English at the very least,’ says Georg. ‘Some of us speak French too. Last year, we had two French customers with asset management and asset evaluation projects, so the proximity to Paris was a benefit; we can be there by 10am without flying. ‘Customers appreciate being able to speak in their mother language too.’ The 25-strong team – ranging from seasoned engineers with many years’ experience to bright young graduates plucked from the town’s rail engineering faculties – share another bond. ‘All of our engineers, whether experienced or new hires, have studied rail or come from the railway business,’ says Georg. ‘If we get somebody on board, even from the university, we don’t need to explain what a dMU [diesel multiple unit] or EMU [electric multiple unit] is, or what a six-axle versus a four-axle unit is, and so on.’ Principal Consultant Lutz Goeke, who manages the office’s sales, marketing and account management, and is also a trained engineer, adds: ‘It is really practical expertise. we are not glued to theory. we are talking about having hands-on, rail-industry experience.’ Such expertise has resulted in the team working on a multitude of challenging and varied projects. These include conducting regional commuter passenger traffic surveys for Public Transport Authorities (PTAs) across Germany, which have accounted for around half of the team’s workload recently. Across the various German federal states – known as Bundesländer – income from passenger fares does not cover the full costs of regional rail services, so the PTAs look for up-to-date figures on income flows to make decisions about where taxpayers’ money should be allocated. Adding to the pressures Last year, Baden-württemberg required a regional passenger traffic survey for the Stuttgart region, with an immediate start date. despite the additional pressures this put on team members, SNC-Lavalin was able to deliver the project for this substantial network successfully. Alexander Kirfel, Team Leader, Transport Advisory, says: ‘Passenger rail tariffs in Germany are still somewhat complicated, but our expert knowledge ensured an instantaneous solution to gather the requested information at a top level of quality.’ The Aachen-based team also advises German PTAs and ministries on technical matters, such as reviewing the specifications for new passenger rolling stock they intend to buy. It performs a similar service for rolling stock asset managers, such as banks. The engineers also prove their worth on homologation projects and, in recent months, have helped introduce two vehicles that originated in the United States to German railways. Lutz, who worked in senior commercial roles for Alpha Trains Locomotives and Bombardier Transportation before joining SNC-Lavalin in 2014, says: ‘we look at all the documents – the implementations – and confirm the technical standards that are required and that the documentation reflects the actual design, and can be accepted by the homologation authority. This includes the co-ordination of assessors, as well as very practical things such as test rides.’ Germany has a substantial number of tram operators and, over the years, SNC-Lavalin’s expertise has contributed substantially to the design of highly specialised track building, and to the maintenance of way vehicles. Other client work has included consultancy for the Belgian and Swiss passenger rail operators, for a Poland-based rolling stock manufacturer, and – last but not least – for German railway company, deutsche Bahn. SNC-Lavalin also provides a workshop-auditing service to check if rail companies are following technical, state-of-the art processes – including compliance to ISO quality standards – correctly, and assesses the maintenance of passenger coaches. One such project was described by Lutz as: ‘Very interesting, complex and technical.’ whatever the projects and their particular demands, however, there is one thing, above all else, that gives Georg – whose previous roles have included being on the infrastructure (fastening systems) and vehicle (diesel locomotives) sides at Vossloh and Alpha Trains – enormous satisfaction. ‘I am really enthusiastic about seeing our young engineers develop,’ he says. ‘These people are transferring lessons learned and professional skills, and adapting methods from our senior engineers in a very fast manner. It surprises me on a daily basis.’ viewpoint@snclavalin.com I am really enthusiastic about seeing our young engineers develop Georg Hauschild Regional director, central Europe Georg Hauschild (far left), Regional director, central Europe, and Lutz Goeke, Principal Consultant, from SNC-Lavalin's Rail & Transit business in central Europe Looking ahead to InnoTrans 2016 Every other september, Berlin is the place to be for all serious players in the international rail industry – and sNC-Lavalin will be no exception this autumn. InnoTrans, the biggest trade fair for transport technology, will include a stand from SNC-Lavalin. The company intends to use the event as a major platform to explain the benefits of its global reach and the rebranding of Interfleet. The four-day industry event has grown bigger, with a wider focus. This September will be a great opportunity for SNC-Lavalin, including representatives from the Aachen office, to talk about the company’s wide-ranging expertise. The German-based team will also be pleased to meet many of their customers over a short period of time. Since its inaugural staging in 1996, InnoTrans has always been held in Berlin, but it is not strictly a German event. Despite being a strong showcase for European firms, many of the exhibitors and attendees now represent activity in global markets. In 2014 there were more than 2,500 exhibitors, originating from 55 countries. Visit SNC-Lavalin at Stand 412, Hall B. For more information on InnoTrans 2016, visit the website here snclavalin.com Regional focus Looking ahead to InnoTrans 2016 Every other september, Berlin is the place to be for all serious players in the international rail industry – and sNC-Lavalin will be no exception this autumn. InnoTrans, the biggest trade fair for transport technology, will include a stand from SNC-Lavalin. The company intends to use the event as a major platform to explain the benefits of its global reach and the rebranding of Interfleet. The four-day industry event has grown bigger, with a wider focus. This September will be a great opportunity for SNC-Lavalin, including representatives from the Aachen office, to talk about the company’s wide-ranging expertise. The German-based team will also be pleased to meet many of their customers over a short period of time. Since its inaugural staging in 1996, InnoTrans has always been held in Berlin, but it is not strictly a German event. Despite being a strong showcase for European firms, many of the exhibitors and attendees now represent activity in global markets. In 2014 there were more than 2,500 exhibitors, originating from 55 countries. Visit SNC-Lavalin at Stand 412, Hall B. For more information on InnoTrans 2016, visit the website here snclavalin.com Looking ahead to InnoTrans 2016 Every other september, Berlin is the place to be for all serious players in the international rail industry – and sNC-Lavalin will be no exception this autumn. InnoTrans, the biggest trade fair for transport technology, will include a stand from SNC-Lavalin. The company intends to use the event as a major platform to explain the benefits of its global reach and the rebranding of Interfleet. The four-day industry event has grown bigger, with a wider focus. This September will be a great opportunity for SNC-Lavalin, including representatives from the Aachen office, to talk about the company’s wide-ranging expertise. The German-based team will also be pleased to meet many of their customers over a short period of time. Since its inaugural staging in 1996, InnoTrans has always been held in Berlin, but it is not strictly a German event. Despite being a strong showcase for European firms, many of the exhibitors and attendees now represent activity in global markets. In 2014 there were more than 2,500 exhibitors, originating from 55 countries. Visit SNC-Lavalin at Stand 412, Hall B. For more information on InnoTrans 2016, visit the website here snclavalin.com Looking ahead to InnoTrans 2016 Every other september, Berlin is the place to be for all serious players in the international rail industry – and sNC-Lavalin will be no exception this autumn. InnoTrans, the biggest trade fair for transport technology, will include a stand from SNC-Lavalin. The company intends to use the event as a major platform to explain the benefits of its global reach and the rebranding of Interfleet. The four-day industry event has grown bigger, with a wider focus. This September will be a great opportunity for SNC-Lavalin, including representatives from the Aachen office, to talk about the company’s wide-ranging expertise. The German-based team will also be pleased to meet many of their customers over a short period of time. Since its inaugural staging in 1996, InnoTrans has always been held in Berlin, but it is not strictly a German event. Despite being a strong showcase for European firms, many of the exhibitors and attendees now represent activity in global markets. In 2014 there were more than 2,500 exhibitors, originating from 55 countries. Visit SNC-Lavalin at Stand 412, Hall B. For more information on InnoTrans 2016, visit the website here snclavalin.com Looking ahead to InnoTrans 2016 Every other september, Berlin is the place to be for all serious players in the international rail industry – and sNC-Lavalin will be no exception this autumn. InnoTrans, the biggest trade fair for transport technology, will include a stand from SNC-Lavalin. The company intends to use the event as a major platform to explain the benefits of its global reach and the rebranding of Interfleet. The four-day industry event has grown bigger, with a wider focus. This September will be a great opportunity for SNC-Lavalin, including representatives from the Aachen office, to talk about the company’s wide-ranging expertise. The German-based team will also be pleased to meet many of their customers over a short period of time. Since its inaugural staging in 1996, InnoTrans has always been held in Berlin, but it is not strictly a German event. Despite being a strong showcase for European firms, many of the exhibitors and attendees now represent activity in global markets. In 2014 there were more than 2,500 exhibitors, originating from 55 countries. Visit SNC-Lavalin at Stand 412, Hall B. For more information on InnoTrans 2016, visit the website here snclavalin.com