Global reach boosts JV, says Aecom's Topolski

Aecom is building a 'critical mass' orf regional rail projects, says Topolski.

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The global reach of Aecom and its joint venture partner is central to its ability to deliver the first stage of Etihad Rail, according to an executive.

Tom Topolski, vice president of transportation, said that the size of the US-headquartered consultant, along with its partner Parsons, means that specific skills from its team around the world can be used when needed.

“The beauty of Aecom and Parsons is that we’re both big organisations. I think what we bring to Etihad Rail is best-in-class services and depth of resources to respond to any of the unique challenges of the project,” he said in an interview with CW yesterday. “So any situations that come up there is someone we can draw upon to provide the technical expertise and advice.”

In May, Aecom and Parsons’ joint venture won the contract from Etihad Rail to provide programme management services for the first stage of the upcoming UAE national rail system.

The first phase is the Shah-Habshan-Ruwais route for transporting sulphur in granulated form to its point of export at Ruwais. Later stages will comprise of the remainder of the Abu Dhabi Emirate network and the connection to Jebel Ali Port, followed by the remainder of the Northern Emirates network.

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Much of the work includes help with the tender valuation for the first-stage building contract, known as 301. The JV will evaluate the technical aspects of the contractors’ bids and provide a recommendation for first-stage construction, and also provide design review services for stage 2.

“The freight side is exciting because of the connectivity that it will provide to key transport facilities – ports, of course - and facilitate economic development,” he said. He added that the planned system has attracted increased interest from industrial companies that would like to be able to access the rail system – the first of its kind in the region – for to benefit from the reduction in transport time and costs.

The win came the same week that the joint venture secured a consultancy contract for the development of the Lusail Light Rail system in Qatar. They are the first two projects on which the two consultancies have collaborated with t a joint offering, having worked in this way on other projects around the world.

“It was a good marriage: it’s been good for both firms that our talent complement each other, and I think it was a strategy both firms share the same view that there’s a tremendous amount of work in the sector in the region, and we want to provide best-in-class services to make sure we deliver what we say on time and to the quality they expect.”

The wagon and train-building contracts have already been awarded by Etihad Rail.  The decision for the main contract is expected to be reached by the end of the year, according to Etihad Rail.

Aecom has been developing "a critical mass" of regional rail projects", which includes initial design consultancy for the Abu Dhabi metro, a concept still in an early planning stage which will eventually form part of an integrated transport solution for the capital’s urban territory along with a light rail system and a bus system. It is also consultant for the planning of the Makkah Mass Rapid Transit System.

Aecom last week gave a presentation for its early stages of research for the project, Topolski revealed, adding that there would eventually need to be a link with the other consultants working on the other modes of transport.

The company is a Los Angeles based consultant that has worked on some of the most extensive rail projects in the world, across passenger and freight services. Topolski said the company has seen a lot of work in Australia and New Zealand as well as Canada and the US The company is designing the 2nd Avenue subway in New York City, as well as Crossrail in the UK.

Etihad Rail’s board is leveraging the company’s expertise developed from these projects, he said.

“That’s been I think a criterion, [for them to say] ‘what we want from you is best of class solutions, best value, draw upon the experience you have to help us deliver a world class rail’. This is not necessarily bring people in on a full time basis, but when unique situations arise and there’s a need for a quick response, these resources are available to rely upon.”

He added that Aecom is now actively pursuing the rail opportunitites in Oman.