Blog Archives

Accessibility Upgrade Completed at Maynooth Railway Station, Maynooth, Co. Kildare

Global Rail Services is delighted to announce the successful completion of a major accessibility upgrade at Maynooth Railway Station, officially opened on 11th December 2025. This milestone project supported by the Disability Users Group and the NTA, reflects Irish Rail’s commitment to creating an inclusive travel experience for all passengers.

What’s New?

  • A new covered footbridge over the railway, featuring two 13 person lifts.
  • Remedial works to Platforms 1 & 2.
  • Redesign and marking of existing accessible car parking spaces adjacent to the station building.
  • Upgrades to the lighting on the pedestrian walkways from Straffan Road.
  • Improvements to accessible wayfinding signage and installation of tactile signage; including a tactile map at the station entrance.
  • Provision of help points and induction loops, connecting to the existing public address system.
  • Refurbishment of the existing disabled toilet.

These enhancements ensure safer, more convenient travel and demonstrate a continued focus on accessibility and network improvement.

Opening Ceremony Highlights

The official opening was led by Councillor Carmel Kelly (Kildare), who congratulated Irish Rail on its ongoing efforts to improve accessibility across the network.

Key attendees included:

• Mary Considine, CEO of Irish Rail
• James Lawless, Minister
• Members of the Irish Rail project team

During the event, Colin Grimes from Irish Rail praised Global Rail Services for delivering the project to an exceptionally high standard, despite the challenges posed by the busy station serving local colleges and commuters.

Commitment to Inclusivity

This achievement reinforces Global Rail Services’ dedication to quality, safety, and inclusivity in every project we deliver.

Learn more about our projects: https://www.theglobalinfrastructuregroup.com/global-rail-services/our-projects/

Read Irish Rail’s announcement: https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/news/accessibility-upgrade-complete-at-maynooth-station

Global Rail Services honoured with Top Safety Awards at National Ceremony

Global Rail Services Ltd, a leading provider of rail infrastructure services in Ireland, has been awarded both the Higher Distinction Award and the Consistent High Achiever Award at the prestigious All Ireland Occupational Safety Awards 2024.

The awards were presented during a gala ceremony held at the Great Southern Hotel in Killarney, Ireland, on 10th October 2025, attended by industry leaders and safety professionals. Representing Global Rail Services was Safety Advisor Declan Dixon, who accepted the accolades on behalf of the company.

These awards recognise outstanding performance in occupational health and safety and highlight the company’s commitment to maintaining a proactive and positive safety culture across all operations.

In preparation for the awards, Global Rail Services’ management and SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environment & Quality) teams conducted a thorough review of past submissions and feedback. A comprehensive submission folder was compiled and approved internally before being presented to the National Irish Safety Organisation for consideration.

Commenting on the achievement, Declan Dixon said: “Thanks to the dedication and collaboration between our management team and the SHEQ department, we are proud to have once again received the Higher Distinction Award, along with the Consistent High Achiever Award. These honours reflect our unwavering commitment to safety excellence, teamwork, and attention to detail.”

Global Rail Services continues to set industry benchmarks in safety performance, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted and responsible infrastructure partner.

Sedgeberrow Sewage Treatment Works Award

Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL) is delighted to announce the award of a Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) Design & Build sub-contract for Sedgeberrow Sewage Treatment Works, on behalf of MWH Treatment Limited, a sister company from within RSK Group. This reflects an exciting diversification from the highly regulated rail industry, whereby GRCL is able to use and transfer its extensive Electrical and Mechanical design and engineering experience in rail, to support water management and treatment.

Our UK teams’ scope of work includes: full system electrical design, installation of cable containment, LV sub-main installation, telemetry cable installation, termination of all final circuits, NICEIC testing & certification and handover for final system testing.

This latest success highlights the symbiotic expertise within RSK Group; enabling an exciting collaboration in order to deliver a bespoke turnkey solution for this project, and we hope further strengthens MWH Treatment’s offering for the up-and-coming Asset Management Period 8 (AMP8).

Mechanical and electrical services are central to the majority of construction and civil engineering projects. The increasing reliance on service installations, in all their forms, accounts for an increasing proportion of a project’s out turn costs. Projects, therefore, need to take considerable care in the delivery of these works.

GRCL’s track record working on M&E related projects is significant, allowing us to design and deliver customised solutions based on a practical understanding of the project requirements. Services provided by the company are constantly upgraded through training and development and are consistently delivered to the very highest specification.

Learn more: https://www.theglobalinfrastructuregroup.com/global-rail-construction/what-we-do/mechanical-electrical-and-power/

Enabling Works Contract Completed

Global Rail Services has successfully completed a complex and challenging Enabling Works Contract for Irish Rail for a new Greenway link between Malahide Demesne and Newbridge Demesne over the local estuary.

Global Rail Services’ multi-disciplinary enabling works involved the strengthening of the existing OHLE mast. The strengthening works involved the installation of 33No self-drilling, micro piles, through rock armour, sand and clay 12m deep, the construction of pad foundations, and disconnection and subsequent reconnection of the cables stays.

All works were completed in close proximity to the OHLE line, under TSC protection. Track monitoring, vibration monitoring and tilt monitoring were implemented throughout the project to always maintain the safe running of the lines and trains as well as the safety and wellbeing of the passengers.

The works were completed in a SAC (Special Area of Conservation). Suitable environmental protection and control was implemented throughout the project to protect the area and remove any impact on the inherent wildlife.

Significant challenges were faced throughout the construction due to unforeseen ground conditions, but with constant collaboration between Irish Rail and Global Rail Services’ colleagues, together, we were able to successfully solve the issues and maintain program in order to allow the main works to commence on time.

The overall project is being funded by the NTA and led by Fingal County Council and our successful rail systems works proceed the new link being completed by Jons Civil Engineering Company Ltd., which has just commenced and is due to be completed in 2026.

The Greenway will be comprised of new and existing sections of pathways and roads in both Malahide and Donabate, with new infrastructure also extending across agricultural lands to link with the Donabate Distributor Road and Corballis East land to the South. The Estuary itself will be bridged alongside the existing rail line by a new 180m long, 12-span bridge constructed on piers which were placed by Fingal County Council to facilitate this future development. The scheme will provide a vital and highly anticipated connection between Malahide and Donabate, offering an alternative to car or public transport travel between the two locations, opening up greater access to the region.

Successful commissioning of Feltham to Wokingham Phases 3&4

Following 18 months of efficient planning and effective delivery, Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL) has supported client and Principal Contractor Atkins, with the successful commissioning of Feltham to Wokingham Phases 3&4. The sheer scale of this achievement can be seen in the blockade numbers: GRCL deployed 64No RRV’s, 32No MEWP’s and 24No Scrap Train Shifts. In total 1,356 staff supported the blockade across 17 miles of track, downloads from step counters were in the region of 12-14 kilometres per day – an incredible effort!!

GRCL’s significant rail systems sub-contract, encompassed Civil and Structural Engineering including temporary works, E&P, Telecoms and Signalling installation works on Network Rail’s Wessex Route – part of their Southern Region. All existing lineside signalling infrastructure has been replaced with new equipment including all cabling, Location Case suites, Signal Structures. AWS and TPWS, and existing AC track circuit train detection replaced by the Frauscher Advanced Counter (FAdC) Axle Counter system. A total of 7No controlled Level Crossings have been renewed to interface with the new ElectroLogIXS lineside equipment with the decommissioning and replacement of the booms, barrier machines, road traffic lights (RTLs), and changing from incandescent bulbs to white light LEDs. This included all road re-surfacing works including yellow and white lining. Our pre-commissioning works enabled our teams to cover multiple sites over the two-week blockade closure of some the busiest lines in the region, including the full telecoms Installation works resulting in a total of 88 SPT’s and 12 Substation phones entered in service.

Our GRCL team has consistently demonstrated a collaborative approach throughout this sizeable multi-disciplinary project. Led by Project Manager Barry Smith, the entire workforce including our supply chain partners, deserve huge praise for the impressive result, resulting in timely culmination and successful commissioning of these newly signalled areas.

Donal Kelly promoted to Senior MEP Manager for Global Rail Services in Ireland

Our Dublin based Global Rail Services Ltd team is delighted to announce the promotion of Donal Kelly to Senior MEP Manager.

The promotion is validation of the expertise and dedication Donal has provided over the last 10 years – support that has been instrumental in the success across the rail, mechanical and electrical operations in Ireland.

His role going forward will involve project tendering, project team organisation and project managing key contracts throughout Ireland, supporting staff, and acting as senior liaison for clients.

Donal will be supporting MEP Director Aidan Kelly, to deliver sustainable MEP management solutions in line with both client and business requirements.

Aidan Kelly, MEP Director for Global Rail Services Limited said:

“Donal is a high calibre Senior Project Manager. We are delighted to promote him and look forward to his support of Global Rail Services’ future growth and prosperity.”

Mechanical & electrical services provided by Global Rail Services are constantly upgraded through training and development and are consistently delivered to the highest specification. Design and project management of these specialist services are deployed on a wide range of rail, utilities and energy projects including:

• Commercial and industrial
• Private domestic
• Bespoke installations
• Site enabling field works
• Fibre splicing & copper jointing
• Clean earth systems
• Telecom and signalling room fit outs
• Electrical maintenance
• Access and security systems including CCTV
• Fire alarms
• Lighting control systems
• Building management & control

GRA Networks Australia continues to support 5G telecoms network upgrades

On behalf of Ericsson, our GRA Networks Australia team is contracted to upgrade the existing 3G/4G network and install new 5G technology for both Optus and Vodafone (eJV).

The suburb for this upgrade is Delahey North, where there is an existing Broadcast Australia 30m high Rocla concrete monopole, with Optus, Vodafone and Telstra antennas mounts present.

GRA Networks Australia is supporting all aspects of these upgrade works supplying staff including Riggers, Technicians, Electricians and Civil Engineers. Also liaising with Broadcast Australia’s (BAI) communication management team, Melbourne DMC’s team, and the security to plan and coordinate this upgrade work, which is a very important element of eJV’s remit.

The broad scope included, delivering materials including all necessary approvals from Broadcast Australia, working at heights, removing and installation of new steelwork, compound extension works and electrical upgrades.

This was a very demanding site which required a high level of stakeholder liaison and management to ensure it ran as smoothly as possible, in accordance with strict site access protocols and process requirements. The project team also had very challenging weather conditions during these works.

The works were also performed under an SLO (Single Long Outage), meaning the duration of the time both Vodafone and Optus were off air was minimised, whilst upgrading the site.

In completion of this project, the team at GRA Networks Australia completed all works to a high-quality standard, with high levels of professionalism and no reported safety concerns.

The project involved:

  • Delivering all steelwork, materials, and equipment. This required careful planning during weekdays to complete the delivery, in full coordination with the BAI communication team to provide the necessary processing lead time prior to accessing site
  • An electrical upgrade in order to install the new group meter panel on H frame and new Optus 63A 3P MCB as load control. Also, installation of new 100A site protection device
  • Network outages, fully decommissioning existing technologies, and equipment internally and externally. Upgrading all equipment internally and externally, with new steelwork, antennas, RRUs (Remote Radio Units) and internal BBU (Base Band Units), and all DC equipment. Commissioning and integrating the new technology into the Network, via support from the RIC (Remote Integration Centre)
  • Compound extension work including extension of existing palisade fencing to the north recline to add a new ICS industries Thermocab 5-bay outdoor cabinet into the BAI compound located inside the Sydenham MF site
  • Providing all OHS and HSE standards and submission of post-completion documentation on the client submission portal (site handler)

GRA Networks Australia’s scope included:

  • Removing existing antennas and steelwork from the existing monopole
  • Installing new steelwork and new lad-saf on existing monopole
  • Installing new Optus RRU8863, Vodafone AZQJ and AHPCDB antennas to the newly installed steelwork
  • Installing new Optus and VHA ancillary equipment and hybrid trunk cables
  • Swapping existing eJV 4G panel antennas with new 4G panel antenna (RRVV2VVT4S$-65DR10) on new longer antenna mounts
  • Installation of a new group meter box on new H frame to host relocated Telstra meter plus new Optus meter with site SPD

GRA Networks Australia Electrical Project progressing well at Belmore

GRA Networks Australia’s Electrical department has completed SEQUENCE-A of its Electrical and Data scope of works at Belmore Special School, as part of the Victorian School Building Authority, ‘Better Schools Project’ for builder S.J Higgins.

The works at Belmore Special School are being conducted in two sequences, which shall enable the normal operation of the school, throughout the entire building process.

The successful completion of SEQUENCE-A comprised of a renovation of the senior staff offices and school administration area and one new building consisting of:

  • four new classrooms
  • two assisted bathrooms
  • two general bathrooms
  • two break-out rooms
  • two teacher prep rooms
  • activity space
  • IT Room
  • Student library

GRA Networks Australia’s Electrical department started SEQUENCE-B in May 2023, with the anticipated delivery completion date in July 2023.

Global Rail Australia passes annual ISO accreditations for 45001, 14001 and 9001

Global Rail Australia has again achieved its accreditation for HSEQ – Occupational Health and Safety, Quality and Environmental Management – through completion of their triennial audit in compliance with:

ISO 45001:2018, (Occupational Health and Safety Management System);

ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management System) and

ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management System)

This great result was accomplished with no non-conformances, no observations or improvements raised. A great success from all concerned.

As Australian businesses, we aim to comply with all relevant legislation as a minimum and works towards recognised good practice in sustainability and corporate responsibility.

We are committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for our employees in which to work through the implementation of an effective occupational health and safety management system.

Quality is built into our projects and we carry out a review of the initial requirements to determine the impact of our operations, and also the selection of materials and waste management.

We recognise and respond to the challenges and opportunities that are presented by climate change and we aim to manage our environmental footprint and enhance our performance in areas where we operate. We also look to maximise the benefits to local communities in areas where we operate.

Global Rail Australia always looks to develop internal and external awareness of our corporate responsibility and continue to recruit, train, develop and retain the best available workforce.

EV D&B civil and electrical project progressing for Irish Rail

As part of a competitive tendering process and through its house resources & design capabilities from both civil and electrical perspective, Global Rail Services Ltd were awarded a contract for the design and build of 150kW charge points at five Irish Rail Stations, Sallins/Nass, Tralee, Dundalk, Westport and Bray.

With the previous successful D&B delivery of EV fast chargers for taxis on a previous contract for Irish Rail at three separate locations, Global Rail Services are becoming a supplier of choice for Irish Rail in its expansion of EV charging capabilities.

The works are in support of the Irish government through its state body, the NTA (National Transport Authority) to expand the growth of electric vehicles (EV).

On completion, each station will be equipped with a 150kW rapid charge point and all necessary site infrastructure to provide a seamless charging experience for EV drivers. This investment in EV charging infrastructure, is an important step towards making Ireland’s fleet greener and more sustainable.

The design and installation of these fast-charging stations involves the detailed design of duct routes and chambers in roadways, pathways, and car parks. Electrical works, including the provision and installation of electrical charging units and ESB units.

The works at each railway station include:

• 150kW DC rapid charge point
• Electrical supply equipment
• Groundworks and trenching of roadway
• Construction of ESBN substation reinforced concrete bases
• Signposts and safety bollards
• Car space painting

The individual charge points will include a dual outlet with the charging output shared between one CHAdeMO and one CCS connector, with the option to upgrade to CCS in the future if requirements change. These charging points will also have the ability to load share across the two sockets.

Progress to date the civil works are complete in four of the five sites with Tralee being almost complete. Cable installation has been completed in four of the five sites also, with Tralee the only site remaining. Line marking has been carried out at two of the five sites with the three remaining sites anticipated to be completed in the next two weeks. Commissioning of each unit will take place as soon as the ESB Networks metering team installs 3 phase meters and energises each metering cabinet, this is due to be completed within the next 4 weeks. The project is on track to be finished by the end of May. This is great news for EV taxi drivers who will soon have access to fast-charging stations at key locations throughout the country.

Global Rail Services is committed to supporting the transition to clean energy and reducing the country’s carbon footprint. The installation of these rapid charge points is just the beginning of a larger effort to make Ireland’s public transportation system more environmentally friendly.

In conclusion, the government’s provision for new EV fast-charging stations and Irish Rail’s partnership with Global Rail Services is a positive step towards a cleaner, greener future for Ireland.