Nippon Koei Acquires Mikado Group to Expand Railway Consultancy in Australia
Nippon Koei Co, Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Tomohisa Fukuoka), a subsidiary of ID&E Holdings Co, Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Shinya), today announced that it has acquired a majority stake in Mikado Rail Pty Ltd. (Headquarters: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; hereinafter ‘Mikado Group’).
Mikado Group is an independent railway systems consultancy headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria. The company specialises in project management and technical consulting for railway systems — including signalling, communications, control, and power supply — and has supported delivery of major projects across Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia, such as the Level Crossing Removal Program, Regional Rail Revival, and the Tram Grade Separation Project.
Nippon Koei has a long-standing track record in railway consultancy through its involvement in Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects worldwide. Over recent decades, the company has supported railway projects across Asia, Latin America, and other regions, providing professional services throughout the project lifecycle, including design, tender assistance, contract administration, construction supervision, staff training, and trial operations.
In 2022, Nippon Koei further strengthened its railway systems consulting capabilities through the acquisition of Nippon Koei Mobility in Malaysia (formerly ASAP Mobility), an independent railway systems consultancy.
Following the acquisition, Mikado Group will continue to be led by Mr Michael Lattouf as managing director. The Board of Directors will be strengthened with appointments from the Nippon Koei Group, including Takayuki Fujitomi, Satoshi Nishizawa and Aniket Mukhopadhyay.
By joining the Nippon Koei Group, Mikado Group will gain access to Nippon Koei’s global technical excellence and advanced technologies, enhancing its capacity to support Australia’s expanding rail infrastructure programme with greater efficiency and innovation. The partnership will strengthen local talent development through knowledge sharing in advanced signalling and train control systems, as well as high-capacity and next-generation rail technologies such as CBTC and ETCS, and high‑speed rail, while enabling the delivery of expanded services to clients in areas such as power systems, environmental consulting, architecture, technical assurance, and rolling stock.
Above all, the acquisition reflects Nippon Koei’s long‑term commitment to investing in Australia’s rail industry and to building a sustainable, future‑ready railway business.
Mikado Group’s strong local expertise will be complemented by Nippon Koei Mobility’s specialised systems knowledge and Nippon Koei’s extensive global experience in railway consulting. Together, these synergies will establish a more robust and sustainable railway consultancy in Australia, delivering innovative solutions and enhanced services to clients while strengthening connectivity across the Asia‑Pacific region.
