Signalling
The power of collaboration How a behavioural change is helping the major Clacton-on-Sea resignalling work continue through COVID-19
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t was just over 12 months ago that Network Rail’s geographic regions took on accountability for the delivery of all projects within their borders, including track and signalling. The move by the owner and infrastructure manager of most of the railway network in the UK was part of a drive to be more customer and passenger focused, allowing the regions to be better able to respond to local needs and demands. “Clacton is another story that just shows that we can only deliver value for our customers if we all pull together,” said Boris Lucic, Network Rail’s Capital Delivery Director, Anglia. “It is a story about integrating the supply chain, it is a story about integrating technology, it is a story about working closely with the industry partners to come up with the right logistics plan in terms of access and station operation that causes minimum disruption to passengers and users. “As we are getting through the crisis of COVID-19, it is that mentality of together we stand, divided we fall that is more critical than ever to our joint industry success. We are sharing best practice, learning from each other and working together to deliver value
for the customer. The Clacton story is the proof that devolution has happened here in Anglia.” It is a view shared by Charles Newlands, Director of Signalling and Telecoms Operations at Atkins, a top 10 supplier to Network Rail. “We have embarked on an ambitious transformation in relationships and behaviours since the devolved regions came into play. “The badges are off and there is a real sense of teamwork with an overwhelming desire to achieve common programme dates. Everyone is digging deep to find a new way of working so we can keep the infrastructure running through some very challenging times.” £37 million system As Principal Contractor, the Atkins team has been working with Network Rail on the new £37 million signalling system in the Clacton-on-Sea area to replace the Victorian equipment with modern technology. The project will upgrade a mix of semaphore and 1950s colour-light signals equipment to modern standards, controlled centrally from the existing Alstom Modular Control System at Colchester Powered Signal Box. The team has risen to the challenges surrounding COVID-19, delivering every project milestone, with the successful installation of 13 new OLE structures, two new relocatable equipment buildings, a new power supply, six new signal foundations and over 25,000m of new cables during the recent preparatory works. “It isn’t different in terms of the general principles
20 | January 2021
of how a project is done; but what is different is how it is done in terms of behaviours and dialogue that has taken place between all the industry partners,” said Boris, who has worked in the industry for over 20 years. “It is more a behavioural change. The drivers are always the same, these jobs are always about integrating technology and they’re about logistics which ultimately means that they are
The badges are off and there is a real sense of teamwork with an overwhelming desire to achieve common programme dates about people and industry partners working together. Unless you have that team of all parties involved, then you really will struggle to navigate these waters.” As it stands, everything is on track ready for the major February works, something Gary Green, Network Rail’s Senior Programme Manager in Capital Delivery Anglia, says is largely down to this behavioural change. “There has been a desire for us to change from previous projects, and despite plenty of challenges we’ve worked collectively to overcome them,” he said. railbusinessdaily.com
