RailStaff August 11

ISSUE 165 AUG 2011

RailStaff

Nationwide Network Maintenance, Repair, Improvement & Plant Hire

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Hammond announces longer franchises

Gautrain extension gears up © JONATHAN WEBB

Bombardier has been celebrating the opening of the extended first phase of the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link in Johannesburg.

Page 4

Britain’s got telent telent has agreed a deal to acquire Amey’s 40% share in the Enhance joint venture.

Page 6

Green flag for new Pendolino New Pendolino 390054 entered service on 16 July travelling from Longsight Depot in Manchester at 06.22.

The Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond, has announced a major reform of the franchise system.

Less micro-management and longer franchises will see a boost in railway investment and add job security to the passenger rail sector.

‘Our reforms will create longer, less prescriptive franchises that will give the industry more freedom to innovate, address passenger needs, and

(offer) more incentive to invest,’ says Mr Hammond.

‘The reforms will also help achieve the radical efficiency changes needed for a sustainable lower cost railway for the long term. This will include a more equitable balance of risk between the public and private sectors.’

He went on to insist new franchisees would be expected to work much more closely with Network Rail to deliver a joined

up railway, allowing integrated decision making.

The new Inter City West Coast franchise will commence in December 2012. Greater Western and East Coast will follow the year after. Essex Thameside, currently c2c, and Southeastern will become 15 year franchises starting in May 2013 and April 2014 respectively.

Thameslink’s franchise is likely to be shorter than 15 years because of the upgrade pro-

gramme. TransPennine Express wins a franchise extension and is expected to be re-let with the Northern Rail franchise in due course. Greater Anglia also wins a franchise extension and the new 15 year franchise will start in July 2014.

The rail industry has long argued for longer franchises. Mr Hammond described the move as ‘arguably the biggest programme of franchising since the industry was originally privatised.’

Page 8

Colin Flack to host RailStaff Awards Presenting the prizes at this year’s RailStaff Awards is Colin Flack, Chief Executive of the Rail Alliance.

Page 12

We’re looking for nominations in...

Depot Staff of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award Newcomer / Graduate of the Year Outstanding Customer Service Award Rail Engineer of the Year Simon Lewis London Underground Rail Manager of the year 2010

Rail Infrastructure Person of the Year Rail Manager of the Year Rail Person of the Year

Rail Safety Person of the Year Rail Team of the Year Recruiter / HR Person of the Year Signaller of the year Station Staff of the Year Train Driver of the Year Trainer of the Year

www.railstaffawards.com

2 | RailStaff | August 2011

The pictures of rioters setting fire to shops and houses, beating up passers by and looting goods on an industrial scale have terrified the British public. However, such lawlessness comes as little surprise to people working in the railway industry. Guards, station staff and transport police have to put up with criminal behaviour by delinquents as a matter of routine.

Train companies may boast about CCTV and enhanced safety techniques. However, the reality is people filmed rarely make it to prison. How many are simply given an ‘asbo’, a caution or perhaps a little light community service?

Police are rendered ineffectual by the absurdities of laws which benefit the perpetrator rather than the victims. The perception among the work shy delinquent underclass is that bad behaviour is tolerated and low level crime excused.

If the riots have any long term political message it is simply that the great liberal social experiment of the last century has run its course. State intervention and cradle to grave welfare care has spawned an ugly something-for-nothing culture.

It might have been noble to try and rectify the causes of crime, but the truth is, it hasn’t worked. The malcontents are not members of a desperate social underclass but a self defined elite who believe they are owed everything and need give nothing in return.

Contrast this with the railway industry which is full of people who arrived in this country with next to nothing. Yet by joining the railway and working hard, they bought property, raised families and built satisfying and worthwhile careers.

Although railway companies in the main have been good employers, railway people achieved this on their own. They took responsibility for their own welfare and that of their children. Railways are not perfect and there are rogues in mess rooms as well as board rooms. However, many railway staff see their children joining the railways - a concise endorsement of an industry that puts a high value on camaraderie and responsibility.

At the heart of Britain’s troubles is the failure of individuals to recognise that they are responsible for their welfare, their career and their advancement. These riots spelled out the consequences of the something-for-nothing benefits culture. Whatever you have you always want more. Being paid to stay at home and do nothing is a recipe for riot.

By intervening at almost every conceivable stage of an individual’s life, the state has supplanted the individual as the guarantor of income. The state needs to withdraw from social interference. Grasping the principle of personal responsibility is essential to the health of the individual as well as the future survival of the nation our political class aspires so imperfectly to lead.

It’s a principle that has been grasped by generations of railway workers. The railway’s inherent advantage is that it penetrates right into the central part of all major cities. Let us hope its example penetrates with equal dexterity right to the heart of fire scorched British politics.

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Network Rail plans signal consolidation

Network Rail plans to consolidate all signal operation in 14 Control Centres.

© GERRY BALDING

RailStaff Editorial

Signal boxes, so long an essential part of the rail network, will be a thing of the past in 20 years time.

Network Rail plans to consolidate all signal operation in 14 Control Centres. The aim is to apply universal operating procedures across the network, boosting service reliability and saving money and manpower. Network Rail currently has over 800 signal boxes, down from 10,000 a century ago. Many have ageing and variable equipment.

The new system will create a high performance railway, reducing delays and increasing capacity as the railway becomes ever busier. Existing Operating Centres include Derby, Gillingham, Cardiff, Saltley, Edinburgh and Ashford with Didcot and Glasgow requiring further upgrade work.

New centres are proposed for Romford, Three Bridges, York, Manchester, Rugby and Basingstoke. Staff involved in this work will be slowly reduced from today’s complement of 5,500 to around 1,700 over the next 15 years.

However, Network Rail believes this can be achieved without compulsory redundancies bearing in mind the rising age profile of those affected. Network Rail points out that the average age of those involved is 46.

‘Over the next 15 years, 2,061 or 41% of operations staff will reach retirement age (65). The number over the next 30 years is 4426, 88% of the current signalling population. Add in a continuation of our annual turnover rate of 2%, this takes the number of staff potentially leaving the business voluntarily to around 3000 over the next 15 years.

‘Because it’s such a long term plan, we’re looking to avoid redundancies wherever possible, instead using retirements, natural turnover and voluntary severance to manage changes in staff numbers,’ a spokesman said.

Over time the roles of signallers and controllers are likely to be more closely aligned.

Minister for Employment visits Southend Airport Chris Grayling MP, Minister for Employment, joined local MPs James Duddridge and Mark Francois at London Southend airport to meet new recruits at the airport.

Airport owners, Stobart Group, have substantially redeveloped the airport and added a brand new railway sta-

tion. The new control tower is now operational, a new terminal building is under construction and the new train station is ready, with up to eight services an hour into Stratford. The 2012 London Olympics venue is approximately 40 minutes away. Liverpool Street is 50 minutes from the airport.

Says Chris Grayling MP, ‘This is a fantastic and progressive project serving the South East and Greater London with what is essentially a brand new airport that will bring many exciting opportunities to the region. Significant new job opportunities and broader potential across business, tourism and interna-

tional prospects will result from this redevelopment, and it was a pleasure to meet some of the enthusiastic first beneficiaries of the project today.’

The Stobart Group, which owns the airport, aims to have two million passengers a year passing through its terminal by 2020.

RailStaff | August 2011 | 3 © JACEK BARCIKOWSKIA

Rail News in brief > Railway Village up for sale A model railway village in Southport, Merseyside is on the market for £150,000.

Ray Jones hopes to sell the village and its railway to an equally passionate enthusiast. The model was opened in 1996.

> It’s a gas Rail enthusiast and RailStaff Awards supporter, Pete Waterman, is donating the prototype gas turbine locomotive 18000, originally delivered to British Railways in 1949, to the Didcot Railway Centre.

It is already in Didcot and will be officially handed over on 10 September during the centre’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Rail cop slams riot failure

> Southend City campaign A special constable with the British Transport Police - who is also MP for Monmouth - has slammed the politically correct culture which has stopped effective policing in recent years and recently saw police losing control of the streets in major city riots.

Says MP David Davies (not to be confused with ex-cabinet minister David Davis), ‘We are where we are because as a society we lack the will to allow the police to match the levels of violence being used by the mob. The burntout houses and shops are the price we, as a nation, pay for placing so much importance on the

human rights of violent mobs.’

London Underground suspended services in riot areas and Croydon Tramlink closed when fires in Croydon became so intense they melted tracks and electrical equipment.

Mr Davies went on, ‘The police are under strict instructions that at all times they must consider the human rights of law breakers to be their absolute priority.

This is something which is constantly hammered home in training and in briefing sessions.

‘Officers are even being advised in some areas that they should simply put up with people swearing at them, which com-

pletely undermines the authority the police once had. Carrying out an arrest is a long process which will often remove two officers for much of their shift because of the need to complete paperwork quickly, making it even harder to deal with mass outbreaks of disorder.’

Mr Davies voiced fears widespread among police that they will be prosecuted by rioters and human rights activists for any overt display of force. ‘Any officer using any level of force to defend themselves from attack knows they can expect to be investigated and possibly face disciplinary action. When in-

stead of confronting rioters the police moved to a policy of containment, referred to in the press as ‘kettling’, they were again accused by MPs of breaching the human rights of rioters.

‘Virtually any action the police take is likely to be jumped on by politicians and human rights campaigners….Trying to police a riot therefore means a thin line of police officers confronted by a violent mob have to try and identify individuals breaking specific laws, then arrest them without causing injury to the lawbreaker or anyone else supporting them. It’s an impossible task.’

c2c has named one of its trains, ‘Southend – City-on-Sea’ in support of the campaign for recognition of Southend as a city.

The town, long popular with Londoners has grown incrementally over the last few years and boasts one of the most punctual and reliable rail services in Europe.

> Young railways at York This autumn half term - 22 to 30 October - the National Railway Museum is hosting a free nine day celebration of toys and model trains.

Young visitors can check out children’s pedal trains and ride on indoor and outdoor miniature railways. The event will bring together the biggest names in toy and model trains with handson workshops and play sessions hosted by Chuggington, Meccano, Big Jigs and Tomica and dynamic displays from Bachmann, the Gauge 1 society and event sponsor, Hornby.

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4 | RailStaff | August 2011 Unipart Rail has appointed George Tillier as General Manager (T&RS) in Doncaster.

He will report directly into John Clayton, Unipart Group Director. George has been with Unipart Rail for over ten years as Sales and Customer Service Director and has developed strong relations with train operators and other rail customers.

Mr Tillier has provided strategic direction in improving customer service through understanding their businesses as well as the complexities and challenges faced in the rail supply chain.

The top team reorganisation sees Richard Jackson appointed Commercial Director. Richard was previously Head of Commercial Services. Isabelle Lloyd has now stepped into George’s previous role as Sales and Customer Service Director. Isabelle was previously Head of Business Development (UK).

The new executive team reporting to George also includes, Mike Roe, Engineering Director, Phil Chilton, Procurement Director and Neil Tinworth Business Development Director, German speaking region (DACH).

This new structure will enable the Unipart Rail Traction and Rolling Stock business to further improve service levels to customers and to grow the business both in the UK and internationally.

Unipart Rail Traction and Rolling Stock (T&RS) in Doncaster is an operational subsidiary of Unipart Rail.

Gautrain extension gears up

Bombardier Transportation has been celebrating the opening of the extended first phase of the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Gautrain project uses Electrostars made in Derby. South Africa’s Social Economic Development (SED) programme requires Bombardier to meet various obligations in terms of local employment and procurement for the duration of the contract.

Bombardier achieved all of its

obligations.

The Bombardier project team comprised of around 80% South African employees, with the remaining 20% of international experts participating in skills transfer and capacity-building programmes.

As an example of how this programme worked, Bombardier ‘s facility in Derby designed the Electrostar fleet of trains, however, 81 of 96 vehicles were supplied in kit form for final assembly in South

Africa, with only the first 15 vehicles fully assembled in Bombardier’s Litchurch Lane, Derby manufacturing site.

Says Jack van der Merwe, CEO of the Gautrain Management Agency, ‘It was, and still is a pleasure doing business with Bombardier. The gift they gave to South Africa is the best looking train in the world. They shared our vision with regards to the rolling stock and made it happen.

New chairman for SVR The Severn Valley Railway has appointed Nick Paul as chairman of its operating company, Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) plc.

Mr Paul has previously headed the regional development agency Advantage West Midlands. The former chairman of MG-Rover Taskforce succeeds Mick York, who has been chairman for the past nine years.

An SVR life member since 1997

Litchurch flyer for Chiltern Another show-stopping train built at Litchurch Lane, Derby, has arrived at Chiltern Railways.

The latest train to roll off Bombardier’s production line in Derby has entered passenger service as part of a new British-built fleet boosting service and comfort on the route. The four Class 172 two-car trains have been well

received by passengers and staff alike. More 172s are scheduled to enter service later this summer on London Midland. This will enable older diesel units to be replaced in the West Midlands.

Currently the new trains, which are the cleanest diesel trains in the country, run three trips a day, but this will increase

Top Team Success for Unipart Rail

once Chiltern’s new timetable comes into force during September. This coincides with the opening of a new through line at Princes Risborough, allowing fast trains to overtake stopping services. Introduction of the Class 172s allows Chiltern to free up capacity and strengthen busy core services.

and Holdings board member since 2003, Mr Paul was nominated by his predecessor and won the unanimous vote of fellow directors. The SVR has a new ambitious three year business plan. ‘I’m not a railway enthusiast in the traditional sense. I tend to look at the railway from a business perspective, but this is evolution, not revolution,’ says Mr Paul who started visiting the railway many years ago with

Act of Kindness © JONATHAN WEBB

As part of the Art on the Underground project TfL is running an exhibition of stories which tell of the innumerable acts of kindness that play out on the London Underground.

Passengers and staff are invited to send stories in. These will be written up and displayed on the Central Line. Artist Michael Landy will be doing the poster art work. Stories will be put up at stations and on the actual trains themselves.

Landy is interested in small, fleeting exchanges of kindness as much as heroic acts. ‘Sometimes we tend to assume that you have to be superhuman to be kind, rather than just an ordinary person,’ says Michael.

Says Tamsin Dillon, Head of Art on the Underground, ‘I’m sure Michael Landy’s Acts of Kindness will provoke a range of very interesting responses and I’m looking forward to seeing new stories of kindness appearing on the Central line.

‘This project is Michael’s response to our invitation to make a new artwork for the Underground and his intelligent approach has led to a project with exciting potential in this challenging context.’

The first Central line stations to receive the Acts of Kindness stories include Holland Park, Holborn and Liverpool Street.

his wife and children.

He has also chaired the West Midlands Confederation of British Industry and for two years was chairman of Midland Expressway Ltd which paid for and runs the 27-mile M6 toll road. Nick Paul was awarded the CBE for services to industry in the 2009 New Year Honours.

Interests include rugby and he is a director of Worcester Warriors rugby club.

PEOPLE MOVES

RailStaff | August 2011 | 5

David Franks joins Keolis New PR chief for Crossrail David Franks has joined Keolis as managing director for New Franchises.

Mr Franks will be based in Keolis UK’s London office and will report directly to Alistair Gordon, Keolis UK chief executive. Keolis UK, majority owned by SNCF, has prequalified for the InterCity West Coast Franchise, for which bidding is set to commence in early 2012.

David was recently CEO of the Stockholm Metro in Sweden and served as managing director of the Trains Division at National Express. He started as a junior railman, aged 16, at Salisbury station and worked his way up gaining valuable experience around the London Travel Centres. Later he passed the Rules and Regulations classes and was student of the year.

After a spell in line traffic management and a three year stint as Area Operations Manager at Gloucester he was promoted to a divisional directorship at Network South East. After privatisation and a failed MBO at London Tilbury and Southend (now c2c) he became divisional operations manager for Thames Trains. He has worked as managing director of First North Western and then Southern.

At the National Express Group he was initially divisional director north looking after ScotRail, Central Trains, MML and Maintrain. Then came the NEG Trains

Division managing directorship.

A coarse fishing enthusiast David Franks is a big supporter of RailSport Games and regularly attends the RailStaff Awards. Says Alistair Gordon, chief executive of Keolis UK, ‘David’s appointment underlines our commitment to the future of the UK rail industry.

His proven track record of success adds real weight to our industry expertise and opens up exciting new opportunities for us in franchise operations.’

As the current chair of the Institution of Rail Operators (IRO) and ex-chair of the industry’s National Performance Task Force, David brings with him extensive industry operations and management experience.

Says David, ‘Keolis has considerable ambition for UK rail, making this a very exciting move for me. I enjoy the challenges of railway operations and relish the opportunity of building excellence in teams. I look forward to the new opportunities that this role will bring.’

Presidential address A former London Transport apprentice is the new president of the SOE. Garry Gilby became President of the Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) during the organisation’s AGM in July 2011. Succeeding Fleet Engineer Chris Grime, Garry delivered an inspiring speech describing his aim of increasing community liaison, professional recognition and education, whilst improving member services.

During his Presidential Address, Londoner Gilby outlined his vision for the Society, which represents some 15,000 engineering professionals and organisations in the road transport, plant and engineer surveying industries and incorpo-

rates the Professional Sectors, IRTE, IPlantE and BES. Says Gilby, ‘I want to ensure all our work contributes to the community, and that we are able to demonstrate and promote the work of members, both nationally and internationally. I want everyone to know who the SOE are, and what we do. Maintaining our independence and the promotion of our members and engineering competence is the key to shared success.’

Garry began his career in the transport industry in August 1979, as an apprentice with London Transport. Following twelve years in the sector, he made a move to the Underground, where he worked for over twen-

ty years. Mr Gilby thanked Chris Grime for his dedicated service, and said, ‘We cannot help but be extremely proud of our members. By knowing our members, by working for them and celebrating them, SOE will build a reputation that is noticed by others, and one that others will want to be a part of.’

Strachan returns for Olympic Effort Peter Strachan has been appointed by the DfT to a new role overseeing major transport projects.

The one time head of Wales and Borders has been working in Australia and is currently CEO of Translink, the transport authority for Brisbane and South East

Queensland. Mr Strachan takes up his new job in October.

He will have responsibility for all major road and rail projects across the UK, and for public transport in London. Prior to joining TransLink in March 2009, Strachan held senior management and leadership positions

in Network Rail, Arriva, National Express and FirstGroup. He was also a non-executive director on the Board of Transport Initiatives Edinburgh. He has over 23 years experience in the rail industry, having started his career as a graduate trainee with British Rail.

Louise Brooker-Carey has been recruited as Head of External Affairs at Crossrail.

The one time comms supremo at Tube Lines rejoins the rail industry from the Chartered Management Institute where she was Director of Policy and Research (Interim). Louise will lead the public affairs and external communications effort at Crossrail. She will report to newly appointed chief executive Andrew Wolstenholme, who takes

over the top job in August.

Terry Hill CBE, former Arup Chairman also joins the Board on 1 September 2011. BrookerCarey faces a challenging assignment at Crossrail. Although a popular project Londoners are understandably concerned at disruption to roads and railways caused by the tunnelling as it progresses.

Louise can be expected to draw upon her experience as an Internal Communications Man-

ager at London Underground.

She has a degree in Ancient History and Archaeology from Birmingham University.

Citroën for rail body Philippe Citroën has been appointed as the new director-general of UNIFE, the Association of the European Rail Industry.

A French national, Mr Citroën has been chief executive of rail engineering and consulting firm Systra for the past nine years.

Michael Clausecker, current head, is stepping down after four years.

Previously Philippe Citroën was strategy director at SNCF (19992002), manager and chief of staff at RATP in Paris (1993-1999),

special adviser to the French transport minister (1990-1993), and based in Brussels as transport counsel at the French Permanent Representation to the EU (1986-1990).

Philippe Citroën graduated from the French School of Public Administration (ENA) in 1982 and the Paris Institute of Political Studies in 1977. He has a Masters Degree in Public Law. UNIFE stands for Union des Industries Ferroviaires Eu-

ropéennes and in English is rendered: the Association of the European Rail Industry.

6 | RailStaff | August 2011 © ANDY CLARKE

Even the local football team is backing Litchurch Lane.

The TSSA and RMT unions have started talks which could ultimately lead to a merger of the two unions.

Initial discussions will focus on closer working between both unions initially through a federation structure with a view to moving towards a merger. Both unions also agreed that the door will remain open for other smaller specialist unions in transport who may be thinking along similar lines to join the discussions at a future date.

Says TSSA General Secretary Gerry Doherty, ‘Today’s decision

March unites industry Even the local football club has come down on the side of railway workers at Litchurch Lane in Derby - threatened with closure when the Thameslink train building contract was batted oversees to Siemens in Germany.

Derby County players sported ‘Save Our Rail Industry’ shirts and children of Bombardier workers were special guests at the match against Birmingham. Says Derby County boss Nigel Clough, ‘We support the campaign to make the Government think again. The contract won’t be signed off until the end of the year, so there is still time to make a change. I hope common sense prevails.’

Over 6000 people gathered in Derby to march in support of the threatened railway works - the last train builders in Britain. Managers, trade unionists, eurosceptics and railway staff joined together to march through the streets in a strong show of support. Bombardier’s UK chairman, Colin Walton, spoke at the event urging a rethink.

Local MP Margaret Beckett said, ‘Blame us for the tender process. Then (let the government) take the credit for changing its mind. I don’t care. Just do the right thing.’ Although David Cameron and the coalition government have said they cannot change the outcome of the tender process railway staff and supporters remain unconvinced.

Says RMT General Secretary Bob Crow ‘The campaign to save Bombardier is gathering momentum by the day and if the Government thought we would go away quietly then they seriously underestimated our determination to get this bad decision overturned. We welcome the fantastic support of Nigel Clough and Derby County which gives the campaign a massive boost. The fight to save Bombardier and train building in the UK is well and truly on.’

Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey is also right behind the protests. ‘The people of Derby have good reason to be proud of their football club and of their city for the

huge support they have shown for the workers at Bombardier. Their stadium deserves its name Pride Park. This is a great football club supporting a vital local employer. There is an overwhelming sense of outrage at the government’s decision to turn its back on Britain’s last train maker.

‘David Cameron is doing a disservice to a world class workforce, to Derby and to the future of train making in this country. It’s time the Government stopped scoring own goals and backed UK workers.’

In June, the government announced that the consortium led by Siemens had beaten Bombardier Transportation’s consortium to be the preferred bidder to build the 1,200 new carriage contract on the Thameslink route.

Bombardier remains the reserve bidder for the contract. As a result 1,400 workers face redundancy and the future of Bombardier, the UK’s last train maker is at risk along with a total of 3000 jobs and many more in the supply chain.

Martin’s proposal was to create a suite of client support materials for readily designed buildings, in line with current changes in the education, health and data security markets. Laing O’Rourke graduates work through a flexible development programme lasting between two and four years, depending on the speed of progress. This flexibility ensures the professionals of the future are challenged, stretched and supported as they become qualified to deliver world-class projects. Laing O’Rourke is involved with the railways across the world with interests in Europe, Australia and Hong Kong.

Martin Staehr was presented with his award by commercial director Anna Stewart (pictured right) at a ceremony celebrating all 77 of the 2008 intake. Giving Martin a close run for his money were runners-up Adam Slaughter from Construction North, and Expanded Piling’s

Annabel Windsor Medley.

Says Tom O’Connor, managing director Rail Media group, ‘The Staehr family has been a great supporter of the rail in-

dustry for many years now and we are delighted Martin has done so well. We wish both him and all the class of ‘08 every success in the future.’

will hopefully be the start of a process designed to serve the interests of future generations of transport and travel trade workers. We owe an obligation to our children and our children’s children to leave better organisations that protect workers in the very uncertain future that they currently face.’

RMT, General Secretary Bob Crow welcomed the move. ‘These talks will bring together two unions each with over a hundred years of specialising in the transport industry in the interests of workers,’ said Bob Crow.

Britain’s got telent Leading communications company, telent, has agreed a deal to acquire Amey’s 40% share in the Enhance joint venture, which delivers communications maintenance and upgrade services to Tube Lines on the London Underground’s Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines.

The purchase means that telent will become the sole service provider for the remainder of the 13-year Whole Life Commu-

Staehr-way to heaven Martin Staehr has been named Laing O’Rourke’s Graduate of the Year.

Martin heads a strong field, part of the 2008 intake. ‘The win was genuinely unexpected; I was up against some top class competition. I’ll make the most of the opportunities that this exposure may bring. My focus is still on learning. I don’t believe there are any other contractors that invest as much in their people,’ says Martin whose father, rail legend, Per Staehr, was chief executive of Bombardier Transportation and chairman of the Rail Media Group.

Martin, a Select Site Solutions engineer, battled it out with 11 other finalists from the 2008 Graduate Development Programme (GDP), tasked with developing an implementation strategy to ‘challenge and change’ the construction industry. Contestants had to present their thoughts to a panel of senior business leaders.

Union merger

nications and SCADA Programme awarded by Tube Lines in 2005.

Says telent CEO, Mark Plato, ‘Today’s announcement is in line with telent’s strategy to grow its presence in the Rail sector and strengthen its position in the metropolitan/light rail market. Acquiring the remaining share in Enhance consolidates telent’s position as UK market leader for the maintenance of rail communication systems.’

8 | RailStaff | August 2011

GWR supporters Green flag for new Pendolino rally round Supporters of the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway, part of which was lost in a dramatic landslip earlier this year, have been rallying round to help raise funds.

Train excursion company, Pathfinder Tours, based in Woodchester Stroud, presented £2,500 to GWR Winchcombe station.

This sum had been raised through raffles held on train excursions run by Pathfinder

Tours between February and June this year.

Says Alan Bielby of GWR, ‘While we have made significant progress towards our target of £1m to repair the embankments at Gotherington (now complete) and more recently at Chicken Curve, we still have a long way to go and the amazing £2500 that Pathfinder’s customers have so generously given will take us a step closer to that goal.’

The new Pendolino 390054 entered service on Saturday 16th July 2011 travelling from Longsight depot in Manchester at 0622.

Its first working was 1A09, the 7:15 Manchester-Euston service. A deal struck between Virgin Trains and the DfT will see the 439-seat train bolstering services on the West Coast Main Line. 390054 means extra seats on the busy Birmingham-Scotland and London-Glasgow routes, which have seen growth of more than 30% in the last two years.

Says Paul Robinson, Managing Director of Alstom Transport UK, which supplies the train, ‘Thanks to our teams in the UK and Italy and close cooperation with our customers, we are able to deliver this train for passenger service ahead of the original schedule - a great achievement.’

This train is part of the Pendolino extension programme to deliver four new 11-car

Pendolino trains to augment the current fleet operating on the West Coast Main Line. It will enter service initially as a nine-carriage set.

As well as supplying these new trains, Al-

stom will lengthen 31 of the 52 existing trains operating on the West Coast Main Line from nine to eleven cars by the end of 2012, providing over 7,000 extra seats in all.

Cable appeal to Public Hodson’s Choice After over 37 years in the railway industry, Mike Hodson, managing director of London Midland, has decided to retire at the end of the year.

Says Mike, who joined the railway as a BR graduate trainee in 1974, ‘It has been a truly interesting and challenging career, but after over 37 years in the industry, I feel that now is the right time to retire.

‘The rail industry has some big challenges ahead, but I know that the people who keep the industry going day after day are more than up to meeting them.’

Jump Start Using foreign made trams presents unique challenges to drivers and passengers in Manchester.

When the back door of a tram in Manchester stuck open, the driver urged all passengers to congregate on one side of the vehicle. Moving weight away from the doors might help them slide shut. Trams will not move whilst

the doors are open.

Nothing happened and the driver then asked passengers to jump up and down. Undaunted intrepid Mancunians rose to the challenge with customary aplomb. Tram chiefs praised the driver for using his initiative and getting the Altrincham service moving. The tram was built in Italy 20 years ago by Ansaldo.

Rail chiefs have launched a new campaign calling on the public to take a stand against cable theft which causes delays to thousands of rail passengers every week.

Says British Transport Police Assistant Chief Constable Alan Pacey, ‘Metal and cable theft is one of the biggest challenges we face. In a time of falling crime figures, metal theft has risen by more than 70 per cent during the past year and, as a result, has had an enormous impact on the rail passengers across the UK. This is not a crime which solely impacts on Network Rail or the operators, as the thieves would have us believe. It represents a direct attack on people and communities who rely on rail travel to go about their daily business.

‘This has to stop. BTP officers, together with colleagues from the rail industry, have worked closely with scrap metal dealers in a bid to stop thieves being able to sell on the stolen metal and this work will continue as we aim to make life more and more difficult for criminals. But, as we jointly launch the new campaign, we are also calling on local people and communities to take an active stand against this crime and pass any information about related criminal behaviour to police.’

Dyan Crowther, director of operations for Network Rail, is right behind the campaign, ‘It is vital that we work together to tackle the issue of metal theft which is blighting our railway and our communities. The financial costs are substantial but wider social and economic disruption cannot continue.

‘In the first three months of this financial year we have seen nearly 300 crimes which caused nearly 2,000 hours of delay to passengers and cost £4.3m in compensation costs alone. This campaign is just part of a much wider programme which seeks to better protect our cables, get trains on the move more quickly when a theft does occur and – crucially – supporting British Transport Police with the detection and prosecution of the people who steal from our railway.’

The problem has attracted the attention of ministers. Says transport minister, Norman Baker, ‘It is essential we get to grips with this problem because cable thefts are becoming more and more numerous and audacious – for example, gangs of thieves have even dressed up as official workers to get access to sites so they can steal cable and equip-

ment. We also had a situation in June this year where thieves stole cabling during the rush hour, knocking out power on vast swathes of the network and causing thousands of passengers to be stranded in their trains for hours on end.

‘Stealing railway cable is selfish and dan-

gerous. It disrupts passengers’ journeys and costs the rail industry millions of pounds each year. We take metal theft very seriously. I will be meeting Ministerial colleagues soon to discuss the issue. I strongly support Network Rail and the British Transport Police in tackling these crimes.’

RailStaff | August 2011 | 9

Triple bridge triumph Renewing three bridges is all part of Network Rail’s summer time preparations for the electrification of the railway between Manchester Victoria and Liverpool Lime Street.

A £3m investment has seen three bridges rebuilt between Eccles and Patricroft stations. Albert Street bridge has reopened

after a 20 week closure, with Old Wellington Road and Chadwick’s footbridge expected to reopen soon. This marks the completion of early work to modify key structures along the railway in the Salford area before overhead power cables are installed next year.

Says Jo Kaye, Network Rail’s

route director, ‘Electrification presents a huge opportunity and is vital for Britain’s longterm, low-carbon economic growth. The opening of Albert Street bridge marks the first major step in a programme of work that will improve rail links across the north west, better connecting our towns and cities.’

Whisky A Go Go Rail supporters in the north of Scotland are helping whisky distilleries put more of the water of life on the metals.

77 of Scotland’s 99 malt whisky distilleries are located in the highlands and much of the traffic is moved by road.

Whisky makes a major contri-

bution of £2.7 billion to Scotland’s economy. 35,000 people work in the industry.

However whisky chefs are concerned that green restrictions on carbon use could impact their ability to produce more whisky jobs. Hitrans, Highland rail development of-

ficer, Frank Roach, is helping distilleries plan the switch to rail. The Scotch Whisky Association is supportive of the move. Says Frank, ‘Although it’s been spoken about in the past, this is the first step towards making something happen.’ © THIRTYFOOTSCREW

Stobart Rail refurbishes Foxfield Viaduct Stobart Rail has gained valuable experience after completing a sensitive refurbishment of Foxfield Viaduct on the Carnforth - Whitehaven line.

The railway crosses the Duddon Estuary using the five-span viaduct. Detailed examinations found the present construction to be in a ‘fair condition’ overall. However engineers decided to carry out refurbishment works which included waterproofing the existing deck which will increase the lifetime of the structure by some 20 years.

The job at Foxfield included removal of track, excavation of ballast and the installation of a loose laid waterproofing system over the viaduct structure. New ballast was laid and compacted before replacing the old track with CEN56 rail and steel sleepers.

Foxfield is part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the dreaded SSSI. The survey area was thoroughly searched for evidence of badgers, water voles, otters, great crested newts and bats. Ac-

cording to historic records the SSSI was once home to colonies of natter jack toads, adders, lizards and slow worms. A rigorous physical survey did not find any on site.

Mitigation measures included any vegetation works being carried out outside of bird nesting season. All Stobart Rail staff were briefed on the potential presence of reptiles and how to identify them and how to carefully move to a place of refuge outside the work area. Environmental briefings were conducted on site.

Stobart Rail utilised its own fleet of specialist Road Rail Plant with trailers and spoil boxes to assist in the delivery of the works which included the Colmar T 10000 FS and various lifting attachments. The project was completed on time, safely, without incident and achieved all desired targets. Network Rail has also awarded Stobart Rail a further two viaduct refurbishment schemes on bridges spanning the M6 at Knutsford and Sandbach.

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A station manager at Durham has been praised for his quick thinking rescue of a woman from the railway line.

Dennis Middleton, who works for East Coast, saw the woman jump over glass fencing on the station platform. She then climbed onto the track to stand in the path of an oncoming train. Acting with commendable speed Mr Middleton snatched the woman out of the path of an oncoming train. Trains pass the station at up to 90 miles per hour.

Mr Middleton brought the woman back to the platform as staff called the police. The quick-thinking Station Manager also prevented two further attempts by the woman to harm herself before the police arrived. The woman was later sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Mr Middleton has received the Area Commander’s Commendation from the British Transport Police.

Says East Coast Head of Stations Tom Hanham, ‘Dennis’s quick actions undoubtedly saved a life and he fully deserves this commendation. Nonstop trains pass through Durham station at high speed and in this situation, Dennis had only a matter of seconds in which to think, then act. He followed well established railway safety procedures, and his exemplary actions prevented a tragedy.’

Dennis was presented with his commendation

by British Transport Police Area Commander, Chief Superintendant Terry Nicholson (pictured left). Dennis Middelton is from Durham and has worked at the station for the last seven years. ‘I’m very humbled. I’m a little bit embarrassed. I wasn’t expecting it. We all pulled together as a team.

It’s something you do as part of our job - try to look after our passengers. It happened in a split second.

The woman was obviously very distressed and upset. My team was really on the ball.’

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10 | RailStaff | August 2011

Join the Rail Alliance now

log on to www.railalliance.co.uk

Rail Alliance membership starts

email jo.bennett@railalliance.co.uk

from just £500 per year

or call 01789 720026.

Free to members service

• fabricators (including lightweight structures and aluminium extrusions) • management consultancies • training and knowledge management/business transformation providers • mechanical and systems engineers • rolling stock engineering consultancies • communications, switches and routers • anti-pollutant experts • flexible conduit manufacturers • lighting, welding and generator suppliers • non-destructive testing providers • track, switches and crossings suppliers • drainage, survey and mapping experts • suppliers of DMU spares, safety switches, sensors and enclosures … and the list goes on!

For 2011, the Rail Alliance is staging MacroRail 2011 at its home HQ location in the Long Marston Business Park on 16 September. The Rail Alliance will be absorbing the cost of staging the events to ensure that its members can get the best possible value from the event.

The basic offer for MacroRail 2011 is a freeto-members service and is but one of the many benefits of Rail Alliance membership.

The Rail Alliance mantra of Network, Collaborate, Innovate and Thrive is much in evidence with competitors happily taking space at the same exhibition and several members collaborating to show a systemsbased approach to exhibiting products.

Members exhibiting include the following: component manufacturers and re-sellers:

Those wishing to visit MacroRail 2011 are asked to register their intention via info@railalliance.co.uk or contact the Rail Alliance Office Manager, Rhona Clarke, on 01789 720 026. For more information see: www.railalliance.co.uk/macrorail2011 Companies looking to exhibit at MacroRail 2011 are advised to contact Rhona Clarke (details above) as soon as possible as stand space is disappearing quickly. Full or affiliate membership of the Rail Alliance is a prerequisite for being allocated stand space at MacroRail 2011.

However, membership applications can be completed by e-mail or over the ’phone in a matter of minutes!).

All ahead for MacroRail in September 2011 The Rail Alliance is pleased to announce that the preparations for MacroRail 2011 are well advanced with 60+ companies expressing interest in taking space at this unique event.

Upwards of 50 of those companies have either visited the event location (Long Marston Business Park near Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 8QR), or have e-mailed in their requirements and space has been allocated for them and this number is increasing by 2 or 3 companies each day – a winning formula indeed!

So what is MacroRail?

MacroRail started out as one of those ‘why don’t we’ sort of ideas during one of the Rail Alliance’s brainstorming moments. Indeed, the Rail Alliance saw it as a larger version of the very successful MicroRail concept which, last year in March, saw a group of 15 rail companies co-exhibiting on a ‘value for money’ basis in Central Hall, Westminster, London.

At that time, MicroRail was put forward as an antidote to large expensive exhibitions where the footfall could not be guaranteed to be interested in what you – the exhibitor – had on display.

Achilles Information Ltd Adaptaflex Advanced Composites Group Applied Inspection Arc Gen Hilta Autodrain Ltd Avdel UK Ltd BCRRE Belvoir Engineering Services Bernstein Ltd Birley Manufacturing Ltd Bratts Ladders Bridge Rail Ltd D’Accord Management Services Dytecna Eglin Concourse International Essempy Eurostar

Whilst large exhibitions have their place in the annual calendar of events - so too is there a need for a series of more focused events where the cost is kept to a minimum. More importantly, using this formula, the exhibitors have more control over influencing who visits the exhibition and therefore increasing or optimising the value derived from them.

Companies declaring an interest in exhibiting at MicroRail 2011 Excalibur Screwbolts First Components Flexicon Focon Global Key Greenmech Hall Rail Harmon Group iLecsys Independent Glass Institute of Metal Finishing ISC Best Practice Jake Services Kaba Ltd

KMandT Korec Lindhurst Engineering Ltd MAN Group Martin Axford Photography MAS - WM McGeoch LED Technology MIRA Novo Graf Pathfinder Rail Security Pestokill Ltd Powerbox Group Rail Media Group Railway Benefit Fund

Resource Engineering Projects Rockwell Automation RS Components Sapa Profiles Savigny Oddie SCG Solutions Southco Manufacturing Ltd Stewart Wittering Tappex Group TQ Catalis Trans-Tronic TRB Lightweight Structures Visul Systems W H Tildesley Waterflow Westermo Data Communications Ltd Worlifts Ltd

The end of the road for the conventional industrial locomotive?

Well the team at Motorail (UK) certainly think so, and looking at the performance of their new machine in recent trials they may well be right.

The RRV is based on the globally successful JCB Fastrac and is the result of an innovative partnership between JCB and UCA, a Belgian company who are European leaders in this field. Motorail are the UK and Ireland agents and have been working

with both parties to develop and refine the model.

Says Ruth Dunmore (CEO Motorail), “we are really excited by the vehicle. It can pull with ease loads of up to 2400 tons, and its fuel consumption is less than 8 litres per hour on average.

‘It enjoys all the benefits of being a JCB with 24/7 parts availability and very low maintenance requirements. It is priced at less than a third of the cost of

a conventional industrial locomotive and yet out-performs them in every dimension.

‘Quite simply it is difficult to see a down side to this machine. It has a fantastic pedigree through both JCB and UCA; it’s very safe and easy to use and its reliability and economy are outstanding.

Furthermore, it is priced very competitively and it gives an operator huge logistic efficiencies through the ability to move it

with ease around locations. We have had it inspected and cleared for use by Network Rai and can unequivically confirm that it really is the way forward”.

There was a lot of interest at Railtex earlier in the year and Motorail will be demonstrating the machine’s capabilities at MacroRail at Long Marston on 16th September.

For more details contact Ruth: ruth.dunmore@motorail.co.uk

Latest Members Matchtech (Provider of Permanent and Contract Recruitment Solutions to the Rail Industry) www.matchtech.com Kelvatek (Supplier of Protection Relays for Signalling Power and Fault Finding Equipment for LV Networks) www.kelvatek.com MTM Power GmbH (Worldwide Manufacturer of Power Conversion Products Especially Designed for Vehicle and Railway Applications – Based in Germany) www.mtm-power.com

EVENTS MacroRail Exhibition 16th Sept - Location... Long Marston 70th Anniversary Charity Open Weekend 17th-18th Sept - Location... Long Marston TransRussia 2012 Focus Meeting 16th Sept - Location... Long Marston Members’ Meeting & Networking 27th Sept - Location... York tbc Members’ Meeting & Networking 12th Oct - Location... Severn Valley Railway Seminar: ‘Gaining Traction in Energy Efficiency’ 6th Oct - Location... IMechE, London Members’ Meeting & Networking Event 12th Oct - Location... Severn Valley Railway, Kidderminster Trako 2011, 9th International Trade Show 11th-14th Oct - Location... Gdansk, Poland The Infrastructure Show 2011 17th-19th October - Location... NEC Birmingham RailStaff Awards 2011 29th Oct - Location... ICC Birmingham Rail Interiors Expo 2011 15th-17th November - Location... Cologne, Germany AusRail 2011 22nd-24th November - Location... Brisbane, Australia Members’ Meeting & Networking Event Nov tbc - Location... London tbc Members’ Meeting & Networking Event 6th Dec tbc - Location... tbc UKTI/Rail Alliance NW Regional Rail Briefing Event 27th Jan tbc - Location... Crewe tbc Members’ Meeting & Networking Event Feb tbc - Location... TRaC Global, Skelmersdale - tbc Infrarail 2012 1st-3rd May - Location... NEC, Birmingham InnoTrans 2012 18th-21st Sept - Location... Berlin, Germany

RailStaff | August 2011 | 11

MP tackles bad behaviour Cathy Jamieson, MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, in Ayrshire has been out on patrol with the British Transport Police.

Mrs Jamieson travelled from Kilmarnock to Glasgow Central and returned later in the evening.

She watched as rail cops helped railway staff get three fare dodgers to pay up. Passengers complained of bad behaviour on the trains late at night.

Says Chief Superintendent Ellie Bird, BTP, ‘Any form of antisocial behaviour or criminality on our trains is unacceptable and remains a priority for BTP. This initiative was an ideal opportunity for Mrs Jamieson, as the local Member of Parliament, to see for herself the work of our

officers and how they tackle any issues.

Mrs Jamieson said, ‘I was pleased to accompany BTP officers on patrol on the train from Kilmarnock to Glasgow and back. This gave (me) an opportunity to speak to passengers who are regular travellers, and hear their experience of disorder on the trains.

‘While most passengers who travel earlier in the evening were relatively satisfied, it was clear that a number had concerns about drunkenness and disorder on the later trains. People should be able to travel without fear of intimidation or abuse from fellow passengers, and it is reassuring to know that BTP is taking these concerns seriously.’

Cwmbran man foils suicide A machine driver in South Wales has been recommended for an award by colleagues for his role in saving a would-be suicide.

Terry Batchelor, who works from the Quattro Group’s Cwmbran depot, had just completed a delivery of materials to Network Rail engineers on track between Barry and Rhoose stations when, on his way back to the access point, he saw the woman sitting on the high wall of the Porthkerry Viaduct.

Says Terry, ‘When the headlights highlighted someone sitting on the wall of the viaduct, I thought it was a bit strange so I stopped the vehicle and asked my machine controller David Davis to get out and see if he could find out what was going on. After a few minutes I could see that he hadn’t been able to make much headway, so I went over myself.’

Terry realised the woman sitting on the wall was very upset and had clearly been drinking. After a few more minutes of trying to talk the woman down, Mr Batchelor at last was able to provoke a response. ‘She told me she really wanted a cigarette,’ he said. ‘I told her I was happy to give her one of mine, but that she would have to climb down from the wall as I am scared of heights and couldn’t climb up to her.

‘It was the only thing I could think of to say to get her down, and it worked, as she came down from the wall and allowed us to lead her over to the trailer.’ Mr Batchelor and Mr Davis were then able to settle her on the back of the trailer, at which point he attempted to contact the emergency services but was unable to make contact due to bad telephone reception. It was then that he

Vital wins Underground staff supply contract Vital Rail has won a major contract with TfL-owned Tube Lines Limited for the provision of labour to support track maintenance and upgrade works.

The contract involves the provision of skilled track staff required to carry out the maintenance and upgrade of the permanent way track assets on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines, and part of the Metropolitan Line of the London Underground. The maintenance and upgrade of these assets is the responsibility of Tube Lines Ltd.

The works are split into two main streams, Maintenance Works and Capital Project Works, including track reconditioning, pit block replacement, track refurbishment in tunnels and open sections, conductor rail replacement, points and crossings, enhanced track renewals, life extension works, rolling vehicle access requirements and train arrestors.

The award of this contract extends the long-term successful working relationship between Vital Rail and Tube Lines Ltd.

made the decision to remove the woman from the scene and attempt to get help further down the track.

‘I know it is against safety procedures to drive with anyone on the back of the trailer, but in the circumstances my only priority was to get her to safety,’ he said. ‘I left her sitting on the back with David and very slowly drove to the access point where I was able to get help.’

Local police later revealed that the woman was in fact a registered missing person, and that a large search and rescue team had been combing the area looking for her. A police helicopter had been employed to try and locate her, as well as the Railway Police being

notified that there was potentially a suicidal person on the track.

‘We had noticed the helicopter, but had presumed that it was something to do with the nearby Cardiff Airport, admits Mr Batchelor.

‘I’m just happy that we were able to help with the rescue and that she was ok.’

The Quattro Group Managing Director John Murphy said, ‘We are all very proud of the initiative and compassion displayed in such difficult circumstances. With this in mind, we have decided to nominate Terry Batchelor for Rail Infrastructure Person of the Year at this year’s RailStaff Awards - a worthy nomination for someone who truly went above and beyond the call of duty.’

IRO man praises grandfather’s example

Says Paul Crompton, Vital Rail’s Regional Director (South), ‘I am delighted with the contract award. It continues the relationship which we have built up with Tube Lines over the past five or six years, and we hope to continue to support them in the future.’

Vital Rail, part of the Manchester-based Vital Services Group, is a major support services provider, completing enhancement, renewal and maintenance projects for the Rail, Light Rail and Underground sectors. © BOBCATNORTH

IRO member Jonathan Wilcox, 22, is building a career in the rail industry and it’s all down to the inspiration of his grandfather, Don Wilcox, rail volunteer and enthusiast.

Mr Wilcox was a founder member and later commercial director of the Severn Valley Railway. He encouraged Jonathan’s early passion for railways.

‘Through my grandfather I’ve been surrounded by railway people from a very young age. It’s in my blood and it was always a foregone conclusion I would go into this industry.’

Jonathan joined the IRO as a student member while reading for a BSc in Transport Management at Aston University in Birmingham. Now, because his employer London Midland is a corporate IRO member, Jonathan enjoys free affiliate IRO membership.

‘That’s certainly a major benefit but I would certainly still be an IRO member even without that perk,’ says Jonathan who first joined London Midland as a Safety Data Analyst in September last year soon after graduating. However, because he had held a part-time job within the rail industry while still a student and acquired a wide knowledge and experience of railway operations, within three weeks he was seconded as an Operations Data Analyst in the Safety & Standards Department. The post has since become permanent.

As well as gaining hands-on experience in the student job, with the Performance Department of Chiltern Railways, Jonathan discovered the IRO. ‘Most, if not all, of my colleagues were mem-

bers. They were vocal about the benefits of being a member of the Institution; not just about the events and Bulletin but the opportunities for networking as well as the advantage of being able to put IRO member on the CV. It looks very good.’

Jonathan also demonstrated an emerging aptitude for railway operations. As a result he was selected, at the age of just 19, for the team putting together DB Regio’s successful bid for Tyne and Wear Metro.

While at Chiltern Jonathan also undertook work for open access operator Wrexham and Shropshire, a Chiltern subsidiary. ‘Having a job like that while still a full-time student put me in a bizarre situation; sitting exams at the university in Birmingham during the morning and then travelling to London for business meetings in the afternoon.’

During his final university year Jonathan sensibly put his budding professional career aside in order to complete his course and obtain his degree. In time Jonathan plans to take full advantage of the IRO Personal Development Programme, first going for the IRO Diploma and then a second BSc, this time in Railway Operations Management.

12 | RailStaff | August 2011

RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2011

This year marks the fifth RailStaff Awards - the only event of its kind which brings the whole industry together to celebrate the heroism and professionalism of the men and women who deliver the railway round the clock, day and night.

This is the event for the guy checking tickets on the Underground, the lady cleaning trains at a depot in Edinburgh, the track worker working through the night in Stockport. Almost everyone has amazing tales to tell on the railway. Few win the recognition they deserve.

friends and colleagues they think deserve a little more recognition. People who do not normally write 1,000 word articles might feel they are at a disadvantage. This is not so. The judges are looking for genuine endorsement and quite often this shines through much clearer in a simple from-theheart letter.

Every One Says You’re Amazing

Real heroes

Self adulation Most business awards schemes in industry quite rightly draw attention to the achievements of a company or organisation. Entrepreneurs, inventors and sales people are justly praised for their efforts. Showbiz self adulation amongst the glitterati has inspired a resolve among commercial companies to celebrate their own efforts.

The RailStaff Awards takes this a step further. Who is more important in your life? A rock star or an emergency plumber? A disc jockey or the teacher who taught you to read and write?

Who are you more grateful for, the film director you so admired last night or the friend long ago who threw a party one night at which you met your life partner?

Isn’t there something inverted in our values when we honour a movie actor, however talented, instead of the casualty physician who saves your life?

Ordinary railway staff Business leaders have picked this up and thrown extravagant events honouring commercial and economic ingenuity. All power to their elbows. Nev-

er have we had greater need of the services of risk taking, inspired, entrepreneurs. However in our industry we have long over looked the heroism and courage of the men and women who crew our trains, maintain track and structures and look after thousands of people in safety every day.

No other industry has quite the same degree of staff-to-consumer

contact. The role of railway staff is thus doubly vital. Also overlooked are those railway staff who invest whole careers in the industry, some joining as apprentices and graduate trainees and many more working their way up through the ranks.

This really is an industry where you can go right to the top. It is also an industry with a tremendous and ex-

panding future. Britain needs more railways and more trains and thousands of skilled professionals to build and operate them. It is in all our interests to honour the ingenuity and selfless hard work of the ordinary railway staff.

Endorsement We want to encourage more people than ever to send in nominations for

The more information you can give us the better. Before you write out the nomination start by making a list of all the things that the person you are nominating has accomplished. List the specific incident or actions taken. Describe the nominee by adding in stories and anecdotes that show her character.

Then list a brief biography of where he has worked, plus details of family and friends.

Get comments from friends and colleagues and people from outside the industry – third party endorsement works a treat. Take as long as you need to. Do not worry about the actual business of writing. Modern spell checkers and the help of an in-house manager or secretary can take the sting out of writing.

Just look at the clichés in this piece which were left in deliberately. Writing can be as easy as falling off a log!

Whether Seal’s song, ‘Everyone says you’re amazing,’ refers to beating drug addiction or as some claim is a song about running, the message is clear. The real heroes in life are all around us – the girl on the next desk to yours, the guy booking on as you leave. Send your nominations in. Make them as long and detailed as you can. The thinking behind the RailStaff Awards is best summed up

by Seal again, ‘I want you to always feel you’re amazing…’

Colin Flack to host RailStaff Awards Presenting the prizes at this year’s RailStaff Awards is Colin Flack, chief executive of the Rail Alliance.

The one time army colonel now heads one of the fastest growing industrial organisations in Britain as well as running his own modest, but successful, rolling stock storage and maintenance business at Long Marston.

The Rail Alliance specialises in bringing together suppliers and customers wanting to work within and across the rail sector.

Colin is expected to arrive at the Awards evening ‘fresh’ from completing his major fundraising 1,000 mile triathlon ‘The Ultimate 3’ for the Railway Children charity.

Business generating dynamos Says Tom O’Connor, managing director of the Rail Media Group, which is hosting the Awards, ‘It is great to welcome someone who has won over so many people and companies to

the cause of railways. Colin Flack and the Rail Alliance are doing valuable work for the industry, giving it a loud voice and a longer reach.’

Business generating dynamos like the Rail Alliance work for the good of all. Colin remains firmly committed to railway staff and our charity of choice, The Railway Children. We wish him well on the ‘Ultimate 3’ and look forward - with some trepidation - to his safe arrival in Birmingham on the 29th October.’

Avid sportsman Drawing on his experience as a marathon runner, Colin is cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats, canoeing down three of Britain’s longest lakes and climbing three of the highest peaks in the UK this October.

Colin joined the Army straight from school and rose through the ranks where he ended up working in Logistics.His military career has taken him to Germany, Hong Kong, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Kosovo, Saudi

Arabia and Iraq as well as other short term deployments and exercises overseas.

Colin has always been an avid sportsman and a particularly keen mountaineer; additionally, he has played cricket and rugby for Kent as well as representing the Army in both sports.

In 2007, as the Rail Alliance formed up, Colin saw the value of being linked to the academic world and, as a consequence, he was appointed a Research Fellow with the University of Birmingham and has been an active supporter of the Birmingham Centre for Rail Research and Education ever since.

Colin has completed the London Marathon three times raising money for Multiple Sclerosis, the NSPCC and the National Blind Children’s Society.

This year, Colin has embarked on a charity tour de force in support of the Railway Children charity. He will complete a unique triathlon challenge called ‘The Ultimate 3’ which is

being pioneered by Colin and Ruth Flack and will see him cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats stopping off to scramble up and down the Three Peaks of: Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis as well as kayaking the length of Lake Bala, Lake Windermere and Loch Ness.

It should all take three weeks.

To see more about this epic 3country, 3-mountain, 3-lake challenge - or to sponsor Colin’s efforts - visit www.ultimate3.org.uk The Rail Alliance is the leading business-to-business networking organisation for the rail industry. Working throughout the industry, with companies large and small, the Rail Alliance represents organisations currently involved in railways, those entering the market for the first time and those considering a return to the sector.

The Rail Alliance supports and encourages all those working in what is now Europe’s fastest growing rail industry.

RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2011

RailStaff | August 2011 | 13

East Coast to Sponsor East Coast - proven success Train Driver of the Year © JONATHAN WEBB

East Coast is sponsoring the Train Driver of the Year at the RailStaff Awards 2011.

Train drivers are an integral part of any train company’s daily operations. With around 500 tonnes of rolling stock under their control, they ensure a safe and reliable journey for thousands of rail passengers each day.

Vital transport link Says Tom O’Connor, managing director Rail Media Group, which is staging the RailStaff Awards, “It is a real pleasure to welcome East Coast to the RailStaff awards. The East Coast Main Line is an integral route on the rail network, providing a vital transport link for towns and cities along the UK’s east coast.

Drivers and indeed all train crew on the East Coast operation are among the most professional and customer focussed in the business. We wish them well as they continue to deliver a busy, fast and reliable railway operation which connects London to Leeds, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh and beyond.”

Great responsibility East Coast Managing Director Karen Boswell said: ‘We are delighted to sponsor the Train Driver of the Year award which celebrates the important contribution drivers make to the safe, reliable and comfortable operation of train services across the UK each day.

‘Driving a train is a great responsibility and, in supporting the RailStaff Awards, we can reward and recognise those drivers who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to

customer service and the safety of rail passengers.’

East Coast is a subsidiary of Directly Operated Railways Limited, which is owned by the Department for Transport.

The company began operating train services on the East Coast Main Line in November 2009.

East Coast, which is headquartered in York, employs 2,800 staff in a wide range of customer service, operational, retail and support roles across the route.

www.transportation.bombardier.com

diesel trains, known as High Speed Trains (HSTs). The HSTs operate principally on the Inverness, Aberdeen, Hull and Skipton to/from London routes.

At the beginning of 2011, East Coast achieved the best performance results for both its HST and electric train fleets, in more than a decade.

The East Coast HSTs are the most reliable Intercity trains in the country, in terms of miles before each casualty (a delay of more than five minutes). In February 2011, the HSTs achieved an average of 31,000 miles per casualty, the best performance ever on the route and a staggering 41% improvement on the previous average figure of 18,000 miles per casualty during 2010.

In May 2011 East Coast introduced the biggest timetable change on the route in 20 years.

The new timetable has brought more than three million additional seats to the busy East Coast route, 19 new services per weekday, an improved frequency and pattern of services, and faster typical journeys for millions of passengers.

The new timetable also saw the restoration of the presti-

gious Flying Scotsman service, a 4-hour early-morning flagship train between Edinburgh, Newcastle and London King’s Cross. East Coast has also launched the first direct service on the East Coast route between Lincoln and London in 20 years, and a new seven day per week return service between London and Harrogate.

East Coast now runs 155 services per weekday, a 55 per cent increase on the 100 operated when the route was first privatised in 1996. The train operator has also launched major improvements to its First Class customer service, including a new complimentary food and drinks service, featuring hot meals on weekday morning and weekday and evening trains, and a new Quiet Coach.

The new timetable and customer service improvements are already proving a success. In July 2011, First Class passengers had increased by almost a third, compared to the same month in 2010. The rise is the biggest seen on the East Coast route in the last five years, and one of the biggest since the end of British Rail in 1996.

eastcoast.co.uk

East Coast is proud to sponsor the 2011 RailStaff Awards –

Train Driver of the Year

Bombardier is pleased to support the RailStaff Awards BOMBARDIER AVENTRA: The train with proven innovation

East Coast Main Line Limited Company is a subsidiary of Directly Operated Railways Limited, which is owned by the Department for Transport.

More widely-known as East Coast, the company began operating train services on the East Coast Main Line in November 2009.

East Coast, which is headquartered in York, employs 2,800 staff in a wide range of customer service, operational, retail and support roles across the route. The company also operates three engineering and maintenance depots at Bounds Green in London, Craigentinny in Edinburgh and Clayhills in Aberdeen.

Its long-distance, cross-border train services run along routes totalling 936 miles, linking London King’s Cross with Eastern England, Lincolnshire, Humberside, Yorkshire, the North East of England and Scotland, carrying over 18 million passengers a year. Approximately 70% of East Coast’s passengers start or finish their journey at London King’s Cross station.

The East Coast train fleet consists of 30 electric trains and 14

RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2011

14 | RailStaff | August 2011

McGinley Support Services Excellence in Action to sponsor Rail Manager of the Year © JONATHAN WEBB

McGinley Support Services is sponsoring the Rail Manager of the Year at this year’s RailStaff Awards.

McGinley Support Services is a Link-Up accredited supplier of personnel and support services to the national rail and metro sectors.

Says Tom O’Connor, managing director of the Rail Media Group, which is staging the awards, ‘We are delighted to welcome McGinley Support Services to the RailStaff Awards 2011. McGinley is at the forefront of providing top grade professionals to lead

and deliver the rail network. It is highly appropriate that they are backing the Rail Manager of the Year award.’

McGinley Support Services prides itself on being a leading innovator in the industry in terms of service and transparent financial arrangements. As one of the top specialist rail recruitment suppliers McGinley Support Services has pioneered new initiatives that embrace safety systems and workforce management, upholding a strong safety and quality culture that is necessary to support the rail

PROUD SPONSORS OF RAIL MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2011 McGinley Support Services have been providing staff to the Rail Sector since 1989 and have developed a strategic approach through dedicated teams focussed on the following areas of expertise: • Trades, Labour and Supervisory Staff • Protection and Warning • Professional, Managerial and Technical • Health and Safety

• Electrification • Welding • S&T • Minor Works

We offer consistent standards across all divisions: • Staff knowledge, ability, attitude & motivation • Understanding of client's expectations • Good standard of communication • Strong Health and Safety culture • Efficient problem resolution • Consistency & simplicity of approach (plan, deliver, report, review) For more information please email

rail@mcginley.co.uk

and metro industry in meeting its own objectives.

Internal processes and systems ensure that, through co-ordinated planning, a flexible, motivated and compliant workforce is available to meet all needs.

From highly skilled systems engineers, signalling and electrification staff through to protection/warning and track workers McGinley Support Services delivers comprehensive recruitment backed up by a national transport and equipment support service.

McGinley are pleased to announce that we have recently been awarded a national framework agreement with one of the UK's leading rail infrastructure companies to supply professional and technical staff across the UK. We are therefore keen to speak to the following: • Project Managers • Construction Managers • Health & Safety Specialists • Quantity Surveyors • Commercial Managers • Design Engineers • Commissioning Engineers • Planning Engineers • Technical Officers For further information please email:

patrick_o'reilly@mcginley.co.uk Tel: 0845 543 5953 www.mcginley.co.uk

Head Office: Ground Floor, The Edward Hyde Building, 38 Clarendon Road, Watford, Herts WD17 1JW

McGinley Support Services is one of the largest specialist recruitment businesses providing the Infrastructure sector of the construction industry with permanent or temporary staff and support services.

Recruiting for over three decades we now help civil engineering companies and asset managers in Rail, Metro, Roads and Airports amongst others.

Our rail division has been particularly successful growing to become the largest supplier of contingent labour in the UK to Network Rail. Based on the proactive management of a core workforce we have been able to plan, train and respond quickly in safely deploying the teams our customers’ need to meet their own objectives.

Our flexible teams are multi skilled and equipped with the tools and equipment they need.

A nationwide transport service ensures that the customer gets a convenient and reliable service; a key objective is to help improve efficiency and lower costs.

McGinley labour managers will help with workforce planning and, when on site, our safety staff will be on hand to supplement customers’ own health and safety systems.

Eugene Meehan, Managing Director, says, ‘When customers engage with us they get an experienced and dedicated group of Directors, managers and staff at their disposal. Our ability to understand their business models and help them solve the skills problems they face sets us apart from competitors and instils a high degree of confidence that our service will provide added value. This is evident in our recent tender successes on Network Rail possession management contracts.’

With locations all over the country we are able to service nationwide agreements with the same service levels as we

would regional or local projects.

Integrated systems, quality assurance and auditing programmes keep us operating at optimum levels.

Sean McGinley, Business Support Director, says, ‘Underpinning the service is a robust organisation able to take on a wide range of staffing and support service contracts. Working within statutory or industry protocol frameworks is part of our daily routine and a ring fenced compliance unit continuously monitors standards.

‘I believe that our strong safety, compliance and quality culture combined with our added value services are another clear differentiator for us in today’s competitive marketplace. Services have developed in recent years and we are now able to offer a complete range of staffing from site teams to senior executives.’

The McGinley Technical division provides customers with

staff in rail/transport, civil engineering and power. A 1st tier supplier with leading UK companies McGinley Technical is focused on finding and deploying engineering, commercial and project management staff either permanently or on a contract basis.

McGinley Corporate Solutions takes higher level recruitment further and adds specialist search and selection for the UK and international civil engineering sector. An extension of this service brings an RPO and a Bid Support capability.

Other support services have enhanced the overall offering including technical staff in electrification and signalling together with ATWS and LOWS operators. Taking all this into account we believe that, within civil engineering recruitment, McGinley is the best option to deliver a comprehensive and value for money service to customers all over the UK.

Delighted to sponsor Signaller of the Year Proud sponsor of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the RailStaff Awards

www.firstgroup.com

RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2011

RailStaff | August 2011 | 15

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8aZh]Vg VgZ egdjY id hedchdg GV^a >c[gVhigjXijgZ EZghdc d[ i]Z NZVg# Sponsors of the Rail Safety Person of the Year 2011 With a reputation built on safely delivering multi-faceted projects we continue to provide a service of exceptional value to all of our clients. !"#$%&'()*+,-./0",$1-)#"2%!-%)3+!04+/"+)+4)-%!2"5%-)%,-.!%-)+.!)5/"%,0-)5+,0",.%)0+)6%,%70)4!+8)+.!)‘one stop shop’ service offering. We know that the quality of our people ensures that we provide a quality service and this is why we are pleased to sponsor the Rail Safety Person of the Year in the 2011 Railstaff Awards.

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0115 919 1111|enquiries@bridgeway-consulting.co.uk

www.bridgeway-consulting.co.uk

Proud Sponsors of the Rail Staff Awards 2011 www.amey.co.uk

Proud sponsor of Trainer of the Year 2011 At TQ Catalis we realise the importance of quality training within a safety critical environment, however the success of any training event is reliant on the trainer, that’s why we are proud to sponsor the Trainer of the Year award!

We have our own great team of trainers that specialise in safety critical technical training for rail engineering, operations and essential Health and Safety skills required for today’s rail businesses. Many of our courses are accredited by NEBOSH, IOSH, Sentinel and City & Guilds.

Our trainers deliver solutions enabling clients to meet compulsory legislation, keeping staff safe and the company performing to its full potential. Our drive is to provide a service that exceeds our client’s expectations.

Delivering performance through people is not just a motto but a belief embedded within our business for over 70 years.

TQ Catalis The Derby Conference Centre, London Road, Derby DE24 8UX T: 0845 880 8108 E: hotline@catalis.co.uk www.catalis.co.uk

RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2011

16 | RailStaff | August 2011

LUL backing

London Underground joins Network Rail and Rail Alliance this year as Associate Sponsor of the RailStaff Awards 2011.

London’s Underground is one of the busiest urban rail networks in the world. The Tube carries more than one billion passengers a year, as many as the entire National Rail network.

With around three and a half million journeys made each day, on 11 lines serving 270 stations, London Underground is now running more services than ever before on the 148-year-old network.

Says Tom O’Connor, managing director of the Rail Media Group, which is staging the awards, ‘We extend a warm welcome to London Underground. Staff on the Underground, and throughout TfL, are well represented at the RailStaff Awards. Their professionalism and courage provide our newspaper, RailStaff, with a steady stream of good

news stories. The Tube has a major role to play in the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and we look forward to encouraging and supporting all staff.’

London Underground aims to combine a reliable train service with the highest standards of customer care. At the same time, its ageing infrastructure is being renewed and replaced.

To overcome the legacy of under-investment, London Underground has embarked on a massive upgrade programme which will deliver extra capacity and keep pace with rising demand.

The level of renewal and refurbishment work is on a scale unseen for more than 60 years. Rail staff on London Underground therefore face a unique challenge as they seek to deliver the service safely and reliably whilst the biggest rebuilding programme the Underground has ever seen continues day and night.

World’s Oldest Underground Railway London Underground Limited (LUL) is a subsidiary of Transport for London (TfL), the body responsible for delivering most of London’s transport, in accordance with the Transport Strategy of the Mayor of London.

London’s Underground - the Tube - is the world’s oldest underground railway. The first section opened between Paddington and Farringdon in 1863.

Today, LU runs trains on eleven different lines serving 270 stations. The network has over 408 km of railway, reaching into 28 London Boroughs. Indeed the extremities of the network reach beyond the Greater London boundary into Essex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. During peak hours LU operates more than 500 trains, while 422 escalators and 141 lifts move passengers in and out of its stations.

Each of LU’s eleven lines has its own General Manager and dedicated team of train, station and service control staff, responsible for the daily service on their respective lines, backed up by the range of network-wide support services needed to ensure the Tube runs smoothly.

despite LU being the oldest Metro in Europe and currently undergoing an unprecedented rebuilding and upgrade programme that necessitates a higher level of weekend and other closures of parts of the network.

Upgrade Plan As part of Transport for London’s Investment Programme, LU is working to address many years of under-investment and to ensure London has a world class transport system, including upgrades of all lines to improve reliability and increase capacity by nearly 30%.

Delivery of these major upgrades, involving new trains, track, signalling and control equipment, is phased over a ten year period due to the complexity of the task. This is allied to a continued focus on improved service delivery in response to customer demand.

The programme of major works to upgrade the Tube has presented challenges in

managing the impact of the works on customers, but an innovative and comprehensive communications campaign, informing customers of the scale of improvements to be delivered and encouraging them to “Check Before You Travel”, has helped to minimise disruption.

Already the upgrade plan has delivered significant benefits, with the recently completed upgrade of the Jubilee line leading to an increased frequency of trains; the Victoria line upgrade well on track for completion next year, with the line now operating with new trains only; and the first ever air-conditioned, walk-through trains now running on the Metropolitan line.

Over half of the Tube’s stations have been modernised and refurbished and some have undergone more extensive upgrades, such as King’s Cross St. Pancras, now quadrupled in size following a complete redevelopment.

Passenger numbers The Tube is currently carrying record numbers of passengers. In the year 2010/11, LU carried more than 1.1 billion passenger journeys, more than ever before.

This included the busiest four week period ever between 14 November and 11 December 2010, when LU carried 90.6 million journeys.

This remarkable growth is being achieved

Steam train at West Brompton Underground station, District Line. May 1876 © TfL.

RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2011

RailStaff | August 2011 | 17

Fifth fanfare for Fully FunKtional

Psychic power for RailStaff Awards

Top band Fully FunKtional will be back at this year’s RailStaff Awards with a unique take on popular rock, rhythm and roll.

Numbers range from ‘Oh what a Night,’ and ‘That’s the Way I Like it,’ to a cover of the rail industry classic by The Proclaimers - (I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles plus many more.

The band has become a regular feature of the RailStaff Awards and are rail stars in their own right.

Conga lines, body music and soul surfing gets everyone on their feet. There’s something for everyone as welcome hosts, train planners, ticket collectors and engineers take to the floor.

Music ranges from trumpet fanfares, jazz and funk to sixties classics, doo-wop and disco.

Top psychic and mind reader, Paul Stockman, will be headlining the RailStaff Awards this year.

A popular mind reader and corporate entertainer, Paul Stockman, has achieved international recognition with performances on stage and television around the world, from New York to Las Vegas and from London to Paris.

His show at this year’s RailStaff Awards promises to be one of the most fascinating, fun and enjoyable nights of theatre you will experience.

Many will recognise this gifted performer from his television appearances on the BBC, ITV, Sky Television and most recently, as the resident psychological expert on Channel 4’s popular show, Big Brother.

This is guaranteed to be a unique evening of entertainment that mixes Psychology and Intuition to give the illusion of real psychic abilities. There are no actors or stooges used in this show.

Paul does not claim to have any special powers.

This makes his performance even more intriguing, as he takes his audience into a world of mind blowing demonstrations that will have you contemplating how it was done for years after you have witnessed this very special show.

Paul recently returned from performing in the capital of entertainment, Las Vegas where he performed alongside many of the world’s leading entertainers in his field. Paul’s likeable persona, mixed with his friendly approach, guarantees that no one is ever made to feel uncomfortable or embarrassed in any way. Organisers moved to reassure railway staff planning to attend that this

show does not include hypnosis and is suitable for all ages.

Says Paul, ‘I always have had an interest in psychology and applied psychology. There is no hypnosis. We create entertainment using psychology.’

Paul used to be a professional musician. ‘I was told to give it up before going deaf. So in the end I switched to psychology.’

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networkrail.co.uk networkrail.co.uk

18 | RailStaff | August 2011

Do we need the Rule Book?

And is it also time for us to edit down the handbooks and stop tinkering with the rules?

I am indebted to those readers who contacted me following the publication of my July track safety article.

Last month the number of incidents and their implications meant that I was unable to comment fully. I will try to do so now.

identified the importance of improving our safety culture and commitment.

I quote from the report: “Improvement in the culture of safety should bring a rise in morale”.

“The first priority for a successful safety culture is leadership.”

“If communication is to be effective in the management of safety, it has to be a two way process involving the workforce and giving them the sense that they are able to make a worthwhile contribution.”

“Much can be achieved by management undertaking regular walkabout visits.”

Lord Cullen got it right ten years ago

The importance of Site Visits

During a recess in the Ladbroke Grove Inquiry I met two graduate engineers and was horrified to discover that they had left jobs with rail consultant engineers to join a London Solicitors’ and be trained as lawyers themselves. They made it clear to me that they had done so due to the increased earnings potential.

They were philosophical about their new employer who had targeted them so as to better position himself for future rail incident litigation. Another facet of the “ambulance chasing” philosophy of lawyers!

The Inquiry Report Part 2 was published ten years ago! Rereading the Executive Summary reveals how even back then it

As I reported last month the COSS (Controller of Site Safety) who was attempting to earth the wrong track at Westbourne Park, narrowly escaped being hit by a train. He had not visited the site of work before the weekend.

I have received correspondence from other multi-sponsored contract COSS’s who have expressed fears on this. Late alterations to planned work doesn’t help, but surely the risks are such that arranging and perhaps more importantly paying the COSS to undertake a site visit before the shift should be mandated unless the individual worked there last weekend?

Surely we don’t need a new rule for the lawyers to be paid to fight over.

Colin Wheeler writes...

Motivation, actual and perceived Conversely the Track Manager, his assistant and others who were working at Stoats’ Nest Junction Purley (where he was struck by a train and seriously injured) were very familiar with the area, maybe even too familiar?

The job went wrong when the selected closure rail was found to be too short. I hope the investigation report doesn’t make too much of the risk assessments, method statements and task briefing sheets which some office bound safety “professional” might think needed to be re-written before the work was completed.

I suggest that the more likely root cause was the individual’s concentration on getting the job done and the track restored to traffic. If leadership is the top priority for a successful safety culture, and safety comes first even before getting the job done, then such accidents and incidents should not occur.

The selection of individuals needs to look for individuals who put their own and their team’s safety first even when things go wrong.

The need for experience, training and guidance?

The hired Rail Grinding Train weighing some 37 tonnes which ran away last August on London Underground was the subject of the recent Rail Accident Investigation Branch’s (RAIB) Report.

The machine reached 35 mph during the 16 minute runaway and travelled around four miles going through six stations before it came to rest.

The report commends the Service Manager, Control Room staff, and Drivers for their actions which prevented what could easily have been a catastrophic collision. However, it also adds a

The problems in getting the machine onto the rails at the access point and the “single point failure of the control system” resulting in the wheels being on track with no braking were the direct causes. The report refers to the lack of any prescribed Safety Integrity Level for the electrical control systems. A level 4 system as required for signalling of trains would be appropriate. After all it was selected some years ago as the right level for automatic track warning systems.

July accidents criticism by saying that no-one in the Control Room had, “experience, training or guidance” in how to deal with such a situation. A good thing too I suggest.

The actions taken under pressure in just those few minutes were essentially correct, and dealt effectively with the situation. I hope all the Drivers and those who work in the Control Room have been fully briefed on what occurred.

Surely the actions taken by all those involved demonstrated that none of them needed further training? The lack of written procedures or guidance meant that no time was lost in searching for archived information.

The Runaway near Inverness last July On the subject of runaways, on 11th July the RAIB published its report on the accident that occurred near Inverness on 20th July 2010. The machine that ran away was a High Ride Road Rail Vehicle (RRV) pictured above.

The work had been arranged at short notice. The roles of Person in Charge of Possession (PICOP), COSS, Engineering Supervisor (ES), and Machine Controller (MC) were all being fulfilled by

the one man.

The Road Rail Access Point near Drumrosach Farm was used to get the machine on track. The access point was fully timbered to both the six-foot and the two four-foots with the cesses timbered by two side by side timber sleepers each.

Possession was taken at around 2336 hours and the Machine Operator began to ontrack his machine before the return of the PICOP/COSS /ES/MC. The machine was initially set down on the timbers rather than the rail.

The Operator then set down the other set of rail wheels but when he lifted his jib the machine began to run away. The Operator soon discovered that none of the rail wheels could be braked. (Their braking relies on the squashing force between these wheels and the rubber tyres of the machine.)

The machine ran down the 1 in 60 gradient towards Inverness for about 1.4 kilometres before it ran into the back of a stationary freight train at between 50 and 60 mph. The Machine Driver was thrown from his cab onto the rearmost freight wagon and suffered serious injuries.

Two recent incidents are under investigation by RAIB. At 1755 on 18th July a tamper was on the Down Northampton Line near Althorpe Park. Its driver saw a flapping panel on the approaching container train.

He stopped his machine and ducked away from the adjacent line before his side window was smashed by one of two metal panels measuring 2.5 metres by 1 metre wide which dropped from the freight train as it passed. The RAIB advice says that there is evidence of “loose and missing screws”.

The derailment of an empty passenger train (right) as it passed over Princes Street Gardens Junction between Haymarket and Waverley in Edinburgh at 1751 on July 27th is also under investigation. The train ran on for some 90 metres before being brought to a halt causing damage to both the track and the underside of the train.

The RAIB says that the left hand switch rail of 167B points over which the wheel flange climbed was “heavily worn”. I will be surprised if inspection and management responsibilities don’t feature in the final report!

RailStaff | August 2011 | 19

The necessary length of a PICOP’s arms!

What has all this got to do with the Rule Book and the need for simplifying our hand books etc.?

If I start with the PICOP etc. at the Drumrosach Track Access Point, he was fulfilling four different roles according to the Rule Book but they were all on the same relatively straight forward job.

Apart from proving that his arms were long enough for all the armlets he needed to wear and needing understanding of a number of Rule Book rules, do we really need so many titles etc?

Are they of real use for safety and efficient working or are they only useful to investigators, and heaven forbid the lawyers when

things go wrong?

Turning to the incidents this July I expect to read that there were instructions and rules which diluted or removed personal responsibility and accountability from individuals who would normally ensure that screws were tightened and switch rails replaced when worn.

Doing away with the Rule Book A review of the RAIB reports shows just how many recommendations indicate rule or procedure changes. I can just remember the days when inclement weather meant a disciplined reading out loud of the Rule Book in gang cabins all over the West Riding District of

British Rail. A long and arduous task even then.

We did it using the old black Rule Book which easily fitted into the pocket of the heavy black macs with which we were issued. Now we have modules, lots of them and expect those who work with shovels, bars and picks to know and understand them.

Time for realism which would improve our track safety I suggest. We do not need a Rule change following every accident and incident. If we retain the Rule Book for the lawyers and licensors of safety cases etc., then let’s restrict its use to them and only update it when it becomes imperative for us to do so, perhaps every three or five years.

(My apologies to the printers, nothing personal you understand!)

Next put together in a 10mm thick booklet as an aide memoire for trackmen, another for supervisors etc. When every five years these are revised, we need to take out at least as much as we add in! It means trusting competent people, and about time too say I.

I write as the saga of News International, and the involvement of the police and politicians grinds onwards. Is there a lesson for our railways?

Maybe!

If remote leaders pressurise their people for results without listening to their concerns and local knowledge, wrong actions can easily result. Balancing strategic management

with adequate delegation to trusted frontline people is a challenge.

They need empowering to interpret the objectives in the best way for themselves. Getting the balance right is the underlying problem to be tackled. In my experience an open, receptive and motivating management style fuelled by enthusiasm is the best way for everyone.

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20 | RailStaff | August 2011

LUAS extension launched The latest extension to Dublin’s light rail system, LUAS, has opened.

The new line runs from the existing Red Line stop at Belgard to the CityWest Campus and Saggart.

This is the third extension to the Irish capital’s successful LUAS system. The first, linking the city centre to the Dockland development at The Point, opened in 2009 and the second, an extension on the Green Line to Cherrywood and Bride’s Glen in the south of Dublin, opened last year.

Light rail campaigner TramForward has wel-

comed this extension to one of the most successful modern tramways in Europe. Luas means speed in Gaelic. The silver Citadis trams, made in France

by Alstom at La Rochelle, can travel at 45 mph when off the streets, for instance on the stretch between Red Cow and Kylemore. However, line speeds are considerably lower for safety reasons in Dublin itself.

Third extension to Dublin’s successful tram system, LUAS, is now open.

Buckshaw lifted

© THOMAS FITZGERALD

A new footbridge linking two platforms at Buckshaw has been lifted into place.

The 24-metre pedestrian footbridge was hoisted into position by crane, marking a key milestone in the development of Buckshaw Parkway. The construction of Buckshaw Parkway including a 150-metre long platform, 200 car parking spaces with bus and taxi drop-off points, a fully accessible station building

and steel footbridge with lifts started last winter.

Says Network Rail route director Jo Kaye, ‘The installation of the bridge went to plan and we will now be concentrating on things such as platform surfacing and fitting out the station building.’

The two platform station, on the same Manchester to Preston line as Chorley station, is expected to accommodate 450,000 passengers a year and will be op-

erated by Northern Rail. The station is expected to open as planned in the autumn.

The station is a joint venture between Chorley Council, Lancashire County Council, Network Rail and rail operators Northern. It had always been an important part of the vision for Buckshaw Village which has been built on the site of the 395-acre former Royal Ordnance factory at Euxton.

Class 92 acquisition Warwickshire rail award Warwickshire County Council is working to secure a £4m funding package following the awarding of a £5m Government grant towards the £9m project to construct a new park and ride station at Bishopton.

This is a short distance from the present Stratford-upon-Avon town station. The money has been made available via the Government’s Local Sustainable

Transport Fund. Centro, the local transport authority, has agreed to fund extra services along the line. Parking space is severely limited at the town station and the new Stratford Parkway will have ample spaces for commuters, which will encourage people out of their cars and onto the trains.

In a separate development Stratford may once again be-

Eurotunnel has bought the five remaining SNCF Class 92 locomotives, bringing its fleet to 16.

The Class 92 is the only rail freight locomotive authorised for use in the Channel Tunnel.

Eurotunnel now has over 280 locos including shunters. The Class 92 is British built and certificated to haul freight trains on the UK network and in the Channel Tunnel. It is a dual current locomotive, equipped for main line in Britain, French OHLE, 25kV 50Hz pantograph and for the 750V DC, third rail network in Kent.

come a through route, the last through train having run in 1976, as a campaign to breach the missing 6 mile gap between Stratford and Long Marston gathers pace. So far £50,000, of the £70,000 needed, has been raised towards funding the study into making a business case for the link, with First Great Western making a significant contribution towards the fund.

Rowe Hankins co-founder Heart felt donation Roger Rowe dies Celebrations at top rail supplier, Rowe Hankins, marking 25 years in business, have been tinged with sadness following the death of one of the founding partners, Roger Rowe (77).

Roger Rowe trained at Brighton College and saw service with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). A practical engineer with problem solving skills he had a passion for all aspects of engineering product development. After a spell in the nuclear industry, he joined the world renowned engineers Lintots where he ran the apprentice training programme.

In a career move in the early

80s Roger became a regional sales manager for Electromatch, a small electrical components distributor which is where Toni Hankins and he first met. Roger and Toni Hankins established Rowe Hankins Components Limited in 1986.

Initially a supplier of high integrity circuit breakers for the rail industry, the company has grown from just three people in a small industrial unit to a team of over 60 working on a dedicated site with design and development, manufacturing and warehousing facilities.

Roger designed and developed the first AC Earth Leakage Unit for the company. This continues to be manufactured and

sold by the company and was the foundation on which manufacturing and re-manufacturing activity developed.

Says Toni Hankins, ‘Everyone who ever met Roger had respect for his common sense approach to every problem. He was a practical engineer. I greatly appreciated his experience and wise council at the time we started the business.’

Staff at the head office of Birmingham-based CrossCountry Trains have donated nearly £1,300 to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

The donation goes towards the Hospital’s Heart Appeal and will help pay for a £2 million hybrid cardiac operating theatre. During the first six months of 2011, a total of exactly £1,290.37 has been raised

by CrossCountry’s staff through a regular ‘Dress Down Friday’ fundraiser. Each person donates £1 to wear their everyday, casual clothes. Birmingham Children’s Hospital was selected to receive the money after the charity won 42 per cent of the votes in a staff poll.

Says David Watkin, CrossCountry’s Commercial Director, ‘We have made a pledge to support a range of different charities throughout this year and we were delighted to see that Birmingham Children’s Hospital is close to the hearts of our staff.

The team at the Hospital do an amazing job, day in, day out and we hope that our donation will help take the Hospital that little bit closer to the Heart Appeal’s £2 million target.

David Watkin presents cheque to Anna Winter.

‘I was lucky enough to receive a behind-thescenes tour of the Hospital and could see for myself what an amazing effort goes in to helping the children and their families. The attention to detail throughout the Hospital is first class.’

Birmingham Children’s Hospital has an internationally renowned Cardiac Unit which sees over 10,000 children every year.

RailStaff | August 2011 | 21

Six new conductors start

New Sandwich Deal

National Express East Anglia Conductor Manager John Bellchamber has presented six new conductors with certificates marking the completion of their training at a graduation ceremony held in Norwich.

All six will be based at either Colchester, Ipswich or Norwich. Trainee conductors participate in a 16week training programme studying all operational, commercial and customer service requirements of the train conductor.

Says John Bellchamber, ‘I am pleased to welcome our new graduates to the conductors team and I should like to wish them every success in their new positions.’

Southeastern will start running high speed services from Deal and Sandwich - thanks to the support of Kent County Council - from the 5th September, one month earlier than planned.

There will be three services in the morning departing Sandwich at 05:50, 06:18 and 06:50, calling at Deal six minutes later. In the evening there will be two services to Deal and Sandwich leaving St Pancras International at 17:40 and 18:40. The new services will operate Monday to Friday and will take

approximately 90 minutes. Existing Mainline services to Deal and Sandwich take approximately 135 minutes.

Says Transport Minister Norman Baker, ‘Domestic high speed trains have already had a positive impact by introducing passengers from Kent fast and convenient access to central London. It is good news that Kent County Council and Southeastern have reached an agreement so that these services can be extended.’ © SIMON PIELOW

(L-R) Jeremy Dale, Damon Stirling, Ross Caines, Kevin Huckfield, Ian Woods and Emma Howard.

Danish Design for Atkins be a boost to passengers and businesses along the length of this important railway.

‘While a combined nine months of complete service shutdown over the three year programme will allow us greater freedom to speed up the design and delivery, we will still need to factor in a construction schedule that will compete with timetable requirements most of the time.

‘Atkins’ long history in the de-

Atkins, with partners, Cowi, has been asked by Rail Net Denmark to help with detailed design of the £160 million project to double-track Denmark’s Northwest Railway.

The contract includes the renovation of four stations. This will give extra capacity as line speeds power up from 120kph to 160kph. Says Atkins market director, Eva Rindom, ‘This is a project of huge economic significance for Denmark and will

livery of complex, multidisciplinary rail projects in Europe, the Middle East and North America means we are wellplaced to meet this challenge.’

All stations between Roskilde and Holbæk will also have platforms lengthened to 250 metres, and crossings at these stations will be replaced by subways or footbridges as level crossings will not be allowed on the new high-speed lines. © MATTINGHAM

New Class 380 trains are now at work in East Lothian as the new fleet is phased in on routes between Edinburgh, North Berwick and Dunbar.

Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown MSP checked out the new trains for himself on a recent visit to Edinburgh Waverley. Says Mr Brown, ‘This is great news for rail users in East Lothian and I’m delighted this fleet of new trains has now come into service on the North Berwick line.’

The four-carriage Class 380 trains serving the North Berwick route are part of a £430m investment by the Scot-

© JONATHAN WEBB

East Lothian answer

tish Government. The 38strong Class 380 fleet consists of 16 four-carriage and 22 three-carriage trains. All will be

maintained at ScotRail’s expanded Shields depot in Glasgow, creating more than 130 new jobs.

Borth station becomes work of art Ceredigion MP Mark Williams has unveiled a commemorative plaque at Borth station on the Welsh coast and congratulated local volunteers who adopted the station five years ago.

Volunteers have cleaned up the station and planted a garden and flower boxes. A £40,000 grant has enabled local tradesmen and volunteers to replace glass and paint the station. Derelict waiting rooms were turned over to community use.

The renovation started in January 2011. Work included fitting new doors re-wiring the station, installing a fresh water supply as well as preserving many of the original features of the old booking office.

Said Mark Williams MP, ‘The much improved facilities are a testament to the volunteers who have adopted the station, and their work has really made a difference. The whole community has got involved, and this has been an excellent project, which has left us with a real benefit for residents and visitors alike.’

Station adoption is becoming increasingly popular throughout the network with 160 stations adopted in Wales alone. Says Borth Station Volunteer George Romary, ‘When we became adopters, the building had become derelict, tired and prone to graffiti and minor anti social behaviour. We had very fond memories of the station during its heyday when steam trains ran between Aberystwyth, Shrewsbury and London.

‘Two years ago we had a dream. This is the culmination of a lot of hard work by many people and we still can’t quite believe it. The building has come to life again. Everyone is very proud. The vil-

lage as a whole is thrilled to have this new and fascinating asset.’

Funding partners for the scheme included Borth Station Volunteers, Plwm, the Association of Community Rail Partnerships, Railway Heritage Trust and Borth Community Council.

After.

Before.

22 | RailStaff | August 2011

Longest high speed line launches © MILEPOST 921⁄2 -RAILPHOTOLIBRARY.COM

Second Spring for Mull Rail

The Beijing and Shanghai high speed line, at 1318 kms the world’s longest HSL, is open for business.

63 high speed services a day link the two cities in 4hours 48minutes.The railway took three years to construct and was formally launched on 30th June, the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.

There are 24 stations on the line which is expected to carry 80 million passengers a year. The project was completed a year ahead of schedule at a cost of 220·9bn yuan - $US 34bn.

Trains will run at 300 kph rather than 380 kph in a bid to cut costs and reduce energy consumption. The railway is fenced and every kilometre is patrolled by a railwayman at all times.

The trains, from the China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corporation Limited, are CHR8 series and are based on the popular Siemens Velaro high speed train. The original three trains were built in Germany. However the trains are now produced locally in China.

The Isle of Mull railway is to be crated up and exported to Balloch on the shores of Loch Lomond.

It’s the ‘high road’ and ‘yon bonnie braes’ for the narrow gauge railway which ran from the ferry terminal at Craignure to Torosay Castle. The service ceased a year ago when the Laird of Torosay Castle had to sell up. The new line, once laid, would connect Balloch railway

station with the steamer pier and Loch Lomond Shores, the shopping centre.

The line will follow the old Balloch Central to Balloch Pier line that closed in 1986. Says Mull Rail director Nick Dodson, ‘This is a really exciting opportunity. The proposed railway fulfils a real transport need and would give the equipment, engines and rolling stock a fresh lease of life.’

War memorial comes home A war memorial commemorating the north London railwaymen who fell during the Great War 1914 – 1918 has at last found its own final resting place.

The monolith with 64 names on it has been installed outside the new London Overground Hoxton Station. Ian Brown, the former Managing Director of London

Rail at TfL and also a member of the Railway Heritage Committee was instrumental in finding a home for the memorial.

Says Ian, ‘Without doubt it is important that memorials such as these which commemorate the ultimate sacrifice of railwaymen in the past are looked after and preserved for the future. It’s also important that

they are sited in places which make them part of the everyday lives of this generation and those to come.’

Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy, who was also at the re-dedication service, said, ‘It is fitting that TfL has found a public site for this memorial that is both easily accessible and marks the working life that

Truro mural

these men left behind when they marched off to war almost 100 years ago.’

The memorial was originally installed at Broad Street station on 10 February 1921.

When Broad Street was demolished, the memorial was put in temporary storage at Richmond Station, south west London in 1989.

Primary school children have helped create a station mural at Truro in Cornwall.

The ‘Welcome to Truro’ mural is the work of children at Bosvigo Primary School. Local artist and Truro College Student, Gemma Jorey, coordinated the project with support from Cornwall County Council and First Great Western.

Says Julian Crow, West Regional Manager for FGW, ‘We’re very grateful to Gemma Jorey and the staff and students of Bosvigo Primary School for producing this wonderful artwork. First Great Western prides itself on being part of the community, and it’s great to think that the thousands of visitors to Truro Station will be greeted by the students artistic impressions of the city.’

Consultation closes on HS2 Mr Hammond thanked all participants in the consultation for their contribution. ‘High speed rail has the potential to transform the economic map of our country, create jobs, drive regeneration and deliver the additional rail capacity we so badly need.

‘However I also understand the concerns of those who will be directly affected by the proposals, which is why we have done everything possible to allow people to find out about the scheme and to have their say.

I am grateful to all who have taken the time to contribute to the consultation and their

views will form a vital part of the process as we move towards a decision later this year.’

The next step, should the decision be taken to proceed, is the drafting of a hybrid Bill which would be likely to take until autumn 2013. This would not gain Royal Assent until early 2015. Following a period of preparation, construction would then start the following year and take approximately eight years, with testing of the line beginning in 2024 and the London to West Midlands line opening in early 2026. A second hybrid bill will be needed to take the line further north.

On yer bike

© MATT BUCK

Consultation on the building of a high speed railway between London and Birmingham, eventually going onto Manchester and Leeds, has now ended.

A decision on whether to proceed is expected by the end of this year. Locally affected people have mounted a spirited opposition. However the rail industry has joined business leaders and other groups nationally to thoroughly endorse the scheme.

In a formal response to the proposals, David Higgins, chief executive, of Network Rail said, ‘Parts of our national rail network are straining at the seams and in little more than a decade our busiest, most important inter-city rail artery - the west coast main line - will be unable to cope. We will be turning people and goods away and this will have a serious economic impact on the UK. We cannot allow this to happen.

‘A new high speed line, capable of creating a massive boost in capacity and relieving the west coast main line, is essential. HS2 must go ahead - it is vital for the economy and for the transport network.’ Despite tough opposition to the scheme from a powerful home county alliance of interests Philip Hammond and the coalition government are sticking with the scheme.

John Giffen of c2c has taken part in the London to Southend bike ride to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

John, a cleaner for c2c, is a familiar face at Westcliff and Southend East stations where he works. As a keen cyclist 2011 marks the fifth year in a row that he has taken part in the arduous bike ride, last year completing the course in under four hours.

The charity bike ride took place in July starting at Victoria Park in East London and follows a 52 mile route through the picturesque villages of South Essex and finishing at Southend’s Priory Park. Around 3,500 riders took part in the event.

John is supported in his fundraising efforts by his col-

leagues at c2c. He also collects any loose change he comes across while cleaning the stations and donates this to the BHF once a year, along with the sponsorship money he has raised. John takes part in the event as a tribute to his former work colleague Albert Byrne.

RailStaff | August 2011 | 23

Triple bonus for TransPennine © JONATHAN WEBB

Mind the doors that Railway Byelaw 10, part 3, states, ‘No person shall open a train door, or enter or leave any train, while it is in motion or between stations.’

A Tube worker who was on the train said, ‘A passenger was smoking between the carriages. He slipped and fell on to the tracks while the train was moving at 50mph. He was decapitated. This shows just how

dangerous messing around between the carriages is. If this guy had waited ten minutes he’d still have been with us now.’

The incident happened on the Metropolitan Line in the early hours of a Saturday morning. The man fell and became trapped under the train which was travelling at 50 mph.

His head was then severed.

Royal advice for Bluebell Bluebell Railway staff at the Ardingly South of England Show met HRH Prince Edward.

The Earl of Wessex stopped off for a chat with the Bluebell team in front of their First Class Lounge Car Number 3064. Sharing a joke about serving food to customers on board a moving train are Commercial Director Tim Baker, Jean Sullivan, Bob McLean, Louise Duncton, Julia Piqué, Kevin Leggett, Joan and Gerry Brown and David Jones.

Green line for LUL This year’s annual ‘Underground in Bloom’ competition has seen railway staff tending corn on the cob at Northolt, runner beans at Greenford and strawberries at Hampstead.

Staff work on the small gardens in their own time. The competition is now being evaluated by a panel. The awards will be presented on 7 September at City Hall. Judges will give extra points to greener gardens that use water wisely or recycle.

Stations and yards are brightening up London with a profusion of flowers, fruit and vegetables.

Banks of flowers have sprung up on platforms at Croxley, near

the station exit at North Acton and in a car park at Perivale.

Entries for the fruit and veg category, which was launched last year as part of the Mayor’s Capital Growth programme to encourage organisations and communities to grow their own produce, have doubled this summer. Beetroot, carrots, tomatoes, broad beans, cucumbers, chillies, peanuts and mint have been grown at stations.

Says Boris Johnson, ‘It is fantastic that these talented London Underground staff have created these horticultural delights bursting with flowers, fruit and veg and all done by volunteering

in their spare time. I’d like to congratulate everybody who has worked hard to transform these stations, adding a splash of colour to the daily commute of passengers. They are a credit to this city and their efforts will help ensure London is looking amazing when we welcome the world in 2012.’

Says Howard Collins, Chief Operating Officer for London Underground, ‘I’m really proud that our staff have spent so much of their own time making our Tube stations brighter places for our customers. The effort that has gone into creating these beautiful oases proves just how much staff care about their customers and colleagues. I think it’s going to be a difficult decision for the judges to choose the winners this year.’

CrossCountry cup success team) and XC Leicester, Group C victors were Plymouth and Arriva Bootle and in Group D Lokomotiv Bob (XC Birmingham On Board) A and LMXC (A team made up of London Midland and XC Staff) made it through.

The Quarter Finals were tight however all games were decided over 24 minutes with Lokomotiv Bob A, Arriva Bootle, London Midland and Virgin Destroyers making it to the Semi Finals. All four teams were getting tired in what was two very good and exciting Semis. London Midland On Board beat Lokomotiv Bob A narrowly 6 - 5 in the one Semi Final with Arriva Bootle beating Virgin Destroyers in the other.

The Final was keenly contested with London Midland On Board Team becoming victoroius beating Arriva Bootle 6-2. The prizes were presented by Pete Donnelly (XC Train Manager) and organiser of the XC Cup. There were two individual players prizes with Wayne Rollason

The 2011 CrossCountry Cup was held at Goals Perry Barr Soccer Centre on Saturday 23rd July and was the fourth annual five-a-side tournament sponsored by CrossCountry Trains.

The Tournament was open to all Train Operating Companies and Arriva Depots. The event kicked off at midday with 16 teams entered, drawn into four groups of four teams with the top two teams progressing to a knockout. All games were two halves of twelve minutes.

There were teams from Cross Country Trains, Virgin Trains, Network Rail, London Midland and two teams from Arriva Bus Depots taking part. The group stage finished around 2.40pm with the Knockout Games commencing at 3pm.

From Group A, London Midland On Board (Birmingham) and Arriva Liverpool progressed. Group B victors were Virgin Destroyers (from Virgin Trains Customer Relations

who was selected Goalkeeper of the Tournament and Greg Baldwin who won Player of the Tournament (both are London Midland Senior Conductors).

The XC Cup was presented to the London Midland captain Billy Steadman (another London Midland Senior Conductor).

So this year was London Midland On Boards year with a clean sweep of all the prizes.

London Midland On Board were Runners Up in 2008.

‘It was a glorious day with fantastic weather,’ says Pete Donnelly, Tournament Organiser, ‘I would like to thank all the teams for a very friendly and competitive spirit in all the games. Special mention to XC Leicester who got to the Quarter Finals with the minimum of 5 players. I would like to thank Matthew Wilson (XC Senior Conductor) for taking all the photos on the day.

Last but not least, a big thank you to our four referees who refereed the matches for a solid four hours non stop.

Motorists take the train The first half of 2011 has seen a sharp increase in passengers on the rail network, as car drivers switch to rail as a direct result of high petrol prices.

Figures show an increase of 5.4%, equating to 638 million journeys this year compared to 605 million for the same period last year.

A MORI poll reveals one in six rail passengers had chosen rail over their car for at least one journey in February and March.

Half of those blamed record petrol prices for their decision.

© KEVIN R BOYD

Police and railway staff on the London Underground have warned passengers against walking from one carriage to another through the internal doors at the ends of carriages.

A man was recently decapitated when he fell on the tracks from where he was standing between the cars. The man was reportedly trying to smoke a cigarette. BTP has pointed out

First TransPennine Express has won a three year extension to its franchise.

The eight year franchise which was set to end on 31 January 2012 will now run for a further three years and 2 months until 1 April 2015. Says Vernon Barker, managing director of First TransPennine Express, ‘This agreement to extend the length of the franchise provides certainty for our plans to continue to improve services for our passengers and reassurance to our staff that the franchise will continue in its current form for an extended period.

‘We welcome this opportunity to continue to serve more passengers, to provide an improving quality of service and to meet the aspirations of the rail travelling public in the North.’ First TransPennine Express carries 24 million passengers a year, employs 1,000 staff and runs over 280 train services a day between many of the principal cities of the North of England and to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

24 | RailStaff | August 2011 The British Military Train waits at Berlin Charlottenburg for its time honoured 08.40 departure to Braunschweig in the 1960s.

Gauge O’Guild One of the last wartime freight steam locomotives to be built in Britain has been hauling passenger services on the Swanage Railway.

The ex-London Midland and Scottish Railway Stanier 8F class No. 48151 Gauge O’Guild visited the Isle of Purbeck recently and hauled a passenger train between Swanage, Corfe Castle, and Wareham.

Says Martin Payne of Swanage Railway, ‘This is a real thrill for everyone on the Swanage Railway because it is so historic and a real first.’

No. 48151 was built at Crewe during 1942. The loco is privately owned and part of the pool looked after by West Coast Railways.

The Berliner rides again The team that organised Train For Life is back in business and organising a celebratory re-run of the British Military Train, ‘The Berliner,’ between Berlin and Braunschweig.

Throughout the Cold War, 1945-1990, the British Military Train travelled between West Berlin and West Germany carrying military personnel across the Soviet-occupied DDR, the German Democratic Republic.

The train operated in a unique partnership between British Army railway operators and the two state railways of the divided Germany.

Although supposedly nonstop the Berlin bound train stopped in Helmstedt to change engines between the West and East German Railway systems. Lengthy security checks at Marienborn,

the first station in East Germany, added to the journey as Russian troops processed documentation and examined the train.

Passengers on board enjoyed top class dining facilities and could sit out delays at Magdeburg where the former double track onwards to Berlin had been singled at the time of the Berlin Blockade. On 12 May 2012 Train For Life will celebrate the calm professionalism of railway people, civilian and military, British and German, who did the job, day in day out, without triggering a Third World War. Steam loco 03 1010 will head a train of 1960s carriages, including a dining car, from Berlin to Hannover and back. Proceeds from the train will go to the Royal British Legion in Berlin. The

military guest of honour will be Major General David Burden CBE, retired Colonel Commandant of the RLC and a former OC Train of ‘the Berliner.’ The dining car will serve a typical Royal Corps of Transport menu and wine list.

During the Cold War, thanks to stringent border formalities, the train used to take 4 hrs 40 minutes to cover 145 miles. The train was formed of an armyowned dining car and staff coach, and three passenger coaches - one First Class and two Second - from the West German Railway, Deutsche Bundesbahn.

During the transit of East German territory the train doors were locked and chained to prevent East German citizens from using it to escape to the west.

The dining car was staffed by

Walk on by…

Compagnie International des Wagons-Lits (CIWL) chef and stewards and served a very British menu, a full English breakfast on the outward journey and a roast dinner on the evening return leg. It also conveyed an armed guard.

Deutsche Reichsbahn Class 03 Pacifics were regular performers usually based at Halle Shed. Loco 03 1010 is preserved as part of the official DB National Collection.

The 03 was a lightweight derivative of the more famous 01 series of Pacifics, and 298 were built, of which 10 survive. With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 the Berliner was no longer required and it ceased operations in 1990. The 2012 Berliner promises a less alarming ride. For reservations and more info email: militarytrain2012@gmail.com

© JOE DUNCKLEY

The hugely popular Trans Pennine Trail, which runs from the North Sea coast to Southport on the Irish Sea, passing through Manchester, will not now be squeezed out of its old track bed route by the new Metrolink extension.

Transport for Greater Manchester has decided to demolish an existing bridge at Sandhurst Road and replace it with a new, longer, footbridge. Demolishing the bridge will allow the trackbed to be widened, which will provide enough space to allow the trail to run safely alongside the Metrolink tracks.

The trackbed beneath the existing bridge is only wide enough to safely accommodate the tram lines. The new work will ensure that users of the trail, including

wheelchair users and people with pushchairs, can continue their journey within the existing corridor. The costs involved are estimated to be approximately £450,000 and the work is not expected to result in any delay to the delivery of the new Metrolink line to East Didsbury.

Says Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, ‘Our preferred option offers a solution that meets the needs of residents, users of the Trans Pennine Trail and our construction programme for the new tram line. Safe, offroad routes make walking and cycling more appealing to people and that is why we are committed to finding a solution that maintains a route within the corridor of the Trans Pennine Trail.’

Settled future

.

The 14th July may mark the anniversary of the French Revolution, however further north it marks the less traumatic revolution on the Settle and Carlisle railway.

14th July 2011 was the 25th anniversary of the reopening of eight stations on the famous Settle & Carlisle line. The stations on the line were decorated with bunting as supporters turned out to celebrate.

A quarter of a century ago the rail route over the roof of England from Settle in Yorkshire to Carlisle in Cumbria was under threat of closure. For a number of years there had been little investment in the line. By 1970 the stations - all but Settle and Appleby - had been closed. By 1986 many of the station buildings had been sold to private concerns.

Then a partnership of local authorities and campaigning groups striving to save the line introduced the ‘Dalesrail’ summer-weekend service aimed at giving walkers access to the Yorkshire Dales National park and beautiful Eden Valley. As a result eight stations were reopened, albeit without anything much in terms of station facilities. The eight included Armathwaite, Lazonby & Kirkoswald, Langwathby, Kirkby Stephen, Garsdale, Dent, Ribblehead and Horton-in-Ribblesdale: names familiar to generations of train crews and rail enthusiasts.

Since that fateful day on 14th July 1986 the train service has improved out of all recognition. As well as the two Summer-Sunday ‘Dalesrail’ services from Lancashire there is now a year round weekday timetable of

seven services each way between Leeds and Carlisle, and a further three on Sundays. The line is now an officially designated Conservation Area, and all of the stations have been lovingly restored. In 2009/10 a total of 133,000 journeys were made to or from the 8 stations, the number rising steadily year on year.

The Friends of the Settle Carlisle line is among the biggest rail support groups in Britain, with 3,500 members. Says Richard Morris, Chairman of FoSCL, ‘25 years ago, when the fate of the line was in the balance, none of us would have dared hope that such a complete transformation could take place.

These eight reopened stations are now a delight to visit and a pleasure to travel to or from. If only all rail stations were as good as this!’

Snake in the grass A four foot long black snake was spotted at Gravelly Hill station in the West Midlands recently.

Intrepid staff cordoned off the area around the snake and kept watch. The snake had taken up residence on a ramp next to the Birmingham bound platform at the station.

Says Nicola Moss of London Midland, ‘We have a wealth of wildlife around our stations, but we don’t want to see any snakes on a train. We believe it was on its way to Adderley Park, but this snake wasn’t charming passengers.’ When caught the snake was found to be a grass snake and was taken away to be re-homed.

RailStaff | August 2011 | 25

London Overjoy Following high ratings in Network Rail tables, London Overground has received a huge vote of confidence from passengers.

Over the last year there has been a 17 per cent increase, from 72 to 89 per cent, in those satisfied, according to the latest Passenger Focus survey conducted in spring 2011. The average for London and the South East was 83 per cent while nationally it was 84 per cent.

Top performing staff and Class 378 Capitalstars, made in Britain

by Bombardier at Litchurch Lane, Derby, are understood to be behind the surge in the popularity of the Overground with Londoners. TfL is using smart Turbostar Class 172s on the nonelectrified Gospel Oak - Barking

line, also made at Litchurch Lane in Derby. The initial order for the new fleet of 378s worked so well TfL ordered a further 36 cars.

Happily Bombardier Transportation was able to turn them out in double quick time at Derby. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, is delighted with the results. ‘These hugely impressive results are the ones that really matter because they are the voice of the passengers who are now benefiting from vastly improved services. We will not stop trying to improve on what we do but reaching these levels of passenger satisfaction is what all the hard work and investment during the last three years has been about.

‘This is a railway upgraded, refurbished and ready to serve

Olympic visitors as well as leaving Londoners with an early legacy of punctual, reliable and safe journeys. The transformation of this once-neglected service is something all Londoners can be proud of, and it demonstrates exactly why I believe my office and TfL should be given a greater say in franchising of the private train companies who run services in the Capital.’

TfL took over the management of the London Overground from Silverlink in November 2007.

Since then approximately £2bn has been invested in building the east London route extension to the network, buying the new air-conditioned train fleet designed for London conditions, upgrading the track, signalling and stations.

High fives

© JONATHAN WEBB

Aspiring young footballers from Swansea have been emulating their promotion-winning heroes, Swansea City.

Pentrehafod School was crowned No Messin’ Railway Safety Cup 2011 champions after a fivea-side tournament, organised by British Transport Police (BTP), Network Rail and Arriva Trains Wales, saw teams from comprehensive schools across South Wales battle it out on the pitch.

Although Pentrehafod lifted the trophy for Wales’s Premier League city, all 12 teams were awarded 50 tickets for a Wales international, courtesy of the Football Association of Wales. Pentrehafod, whose school is just a free-kick away from the Liberty Stadium, emerged victorious beating Caerleon 2-0 in the final and winning the Railway Safety Cup. They were presented with a shirt signed by the Wales football squad for display in their school.

Player of the Tournament was Pentrehafod’s Lewis Thomas, who spearheaded his side’s march to glory at Swansea’s PlayFootball facility, while Pontarddulais and Llanrumney made up

the quartet of semi-finalists.

The aim of the event is to promote alternative activities for youngsters to discourage them from trespassing on the railway. During the regional rounds of the tournament, which is supported by the FAW and Brecon Carreg, each team received a hard-hitting safety presentation from PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers) featuring young people and families who have been affected by trespass on the railway. Around 200 children have been involved in the tournament, spread over three regional rounds - Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot and Cardiff with the four semi-finalists from each heat progressing to the grand final.

Inspector Gary Ash, who is in charge of BTP’s Welsh Neighbourhood Policing Teams, said, ‘The final was a high quality affair, befitting of the standards set throughout the tournament, and it was a pleasure to see so many talented young players being given the platform to display their abilities.

‘Last year’s inaugural event was a huge success, and I’m delighted to see that this year’s enhanced tournament has been so popular with schools right across South Wales. Their participation reflects the positive engagement our Neighbourhood Policing Teams have in their respective communities. We are already looking forward to building on that success for the 2012 event, which promises to be even more special.

‘With the summer holidays fast approaching, this has been a fantastic opportunity to engage with young people and demonstrate to them that there are plenty of positive activities they can take part in without having to endanger their lives by trespassing on or near the railway. While clearly enjoying the opportunity to express themselves on the pitch, it has been extremely encouraging to see the youngsters’ attitude off the pitch, where they have taken on board the inherent dangers of railway trespass and the consequences this could have on themselves and their families.’

Swansea City will be sweeping all before them in the Premier League next season - becoming the first Welsh team to play in the division since its formation in 1992.

ScotRail debut for Nepal passengers Best in the west Local business leaders in the west country have welcomed plans to expand and electrify the Great Western Main Line.

Says David Rosser, director, CBI South West, ‘A modern and efficient railway is a critical part of the infrastructure needed to support business in the 21st century. For Wales and the South West, linkages to London and the international transport networks will be a fundamental component of regional competitiveness, so this programme of investment is very good news.’

The ten year £5bn investment programme in the Great Western Main Line, will see electrification, resignalling and new trains improving journey times and providing extra capacity. Passenger volume is expected to rise by 51% on the route over the next 30 years.

Raising his arm towards the fourth span at Paddington station, which had been covered in scaffolding and a protective deck since 1996, Transport Minister, Philip Hammond said, ‘It’s great to see this gem of a station revealed.’

Speaking at the launch event at London Paddington station, Sir David Higgins said the investment would turn the Great Western into, ‘The most advanced intercity railway in Britain.’ He went on, ‘Today sees the start of an unprecedented period of investment in the Great Western.

‘The planned improvements will provide a bigger and better railway for passengers, help support and drive economic growth and allow our regions to thrive. By the end of the decade, the Great Western main line will be the most

advanced intercity railway in Britain, setting the standard for twenty-first century rail and providing the capacity we need to cater for the continued increase in the popularity of rail travel.’

A recent survey of more than 800 passengers and businesses found that having more seats on trains was by far the most desired improvement, followed by improved punctuality and shorter journey times. The programme will begin with the upgrade of the signalling system between Paddington and Bristol by end of 2011, so that the infrastructure is compatible with electrification technology and ready for the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). Electrification of the lines from Paddington to Oxford, Newbury and Bristol will follow.

Eight people from Nepal have been on a train for the very first time whilst visiting Scotland.

Their visit was organised by Future Balance, a charity which provides expert advice on sustainability to businesses and public authorities. When staff at ScotRail heard that the eight Nepalese had never been on a train before complimentary tickets were provided for a return trip from Stirling to Glasgow.

This included sightseeing at the new Riverside Museum.

Says John Yellowlees, ScotRail’s external relations manager, ‘We are delighted to have helped make the visit to Scotland even more special with a debut journey on a train.’ Frazer Scott, chief executive of Future Balance, said the Nepalese visit followed a team visit to Nepal to support community groups with business planning.

Says Frazer, ‘The group was on a reciprocal visit, which included a first-ever train journey.’ Bijay Poudel of the Active Citizens group from Nepal said the group was impressed by the experience. ‘We have travelled half way across the world to have our first train journey. We are very impressed by all that we have seen and we are very grateful to have had this incredible opportunity,’ said Mr Poudel.

26 | RailStaff | August 2011

Complete fleet on Victoria Line

serving the line and is due to be completed later this year. Eleven fans have already been upgraded and work on the final two is under way. The roll-out of the new fleet comes 40 years after the line was extended from Victoria to Brixton in July 1971.

It was the first automated train line in the world and, with its ticket barriers and new

ticket machines, was ahead of its time. The first section opened in September 1968, from Walthamstow Central to Highbury and Islington. The second, which included King’s Cross St. Pancras, Euston and Warren Street, opened in December 1968. It was officially opened by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in March 1969.

Evenings Hill at Hampstead Heath

A new painting, Evenings Hill, created by artist Clare Woods, is on display at Hampstead Heath station.

Known for her dramatic, large-scale paintings of landscapes, Woods has developed a permanent artwork in porcelain tiles, extending the entire length of the station platform, visible to visitors to the station and passengers alike. London Overground has recently been improving the station.

Says Julie Dixon, Head of Marketing and

Communications at TfL London Rail, ‘We are very excited to have completed the second new art installation for our network at the same time as delivering a much improved station for the passengers of Hampstead Heath.

‘We were able to capitalise on the opportunity to incorporate this impressive artwork onto the platform wall during the large scale refurbishment of the station, which is part of a network wide programme of station

improvements. Clare’s painting, coupled with the recent introduction of more frequent services and the significant improvements to lighting, passenger information and waiting areas within the station, should positively improve passenger journeys to and from Hampstead Heath for years to come.’

Clare’s work is inspired by the nearby legendary Hampstead ponds. Clare is not alone in depicting the pools - they have been the subject matter for many artists, most famously in landscapes by the English Romantic painter John Constable.

Today, the Heath and its pools are still as much a refuge from the city as they were when Constable painted them in the 1820s.

The depiction of water and reflection is central to the composition. It features a landscape without horizon, in which the pools become voids or portals to another place. ‘I wanted to get a feel of the Heath in my work - this open space in the heart of a city,’ says Clare Woods.

Olympic warm up for Javelin © JOEL DOWN

Proposed Javelin services on High Speed One for the Olympics will see eight trains an hour operating between London St Pancras International and Stratford International.

Two trains an hour will connect St Pancras with Ashford International, Stratford and Ebbsfleet. One train an hour will run to Faversham from St Pancras. Trains will run throughout the night and there will be extra late night services to accommodate over running fixtures.

The timetable has to be signed off but is expected to provide increased service levels and longer trains as rail takes centre stage at the London Olympics.

Stagecoach has sold the ten year operating contract for Manchester Metrolink to Paris Metro company, RATP Dev UK. Greater Manchester’s Metrolink will continue to be owned by Transport for Greater Manchester. Says Andrew Fender, chair of Transport for Greater Manchester, ‘RATP Group has a span of expertise covering 12 countries and the experience of carrying 12 million passengers a day.

‘They will help us to continue to improve services, providing us with access to experts who are operating tram services and light rail systems in major cities across the world, from Paris and Florence to Seoul, Hong Kong and Mumbai. We welcome RATP to Greater Manchester and are

looking forward to working with them.’

Stagecoach Metrolink staff will remain employees of the same legal entity except its name changes to Metrolink RATP Dev Limited. RATP was formed in 1948 and is now one of the world’s biggest transport companies spanning 12 countries.

Last year it took over some of London United’s red bus routes.

Londoners were distressed to see RATP’s River Seine logo gracing the sides of the buses. The logo looks like a face but actually depicts the Seine meandering through Paris. RATP stands for Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens, or as they say in Manchester, Autonomous Operator of Parisian Transport.

© JONATHAN WEBB

New trains on the Victoria Line, one of the busiest sections of the London Underground, mean extra capacity and two more services, on average, per hour.

The new fleet of high-capacity trains, built at Litchurch Lane in Derby, has now replaced old 1960s stock. When signalling work is complete next year the Victoria Line will be able to carry 10,000 more people an hour an increase of 21 per cent. Journey times will be shorter and trains will run almost every two minutes.

Says David Waboso, London Underground’s Capital Programmes Director, ‘In two months we will be running an additional two trains per hour for a large part of the week, with further increases to come starting next spring when we’ll be running 30 trains every hour ahead of the Olympics.

When the upgrade is complete we will have provided capacity for an additional 10,000 passengers each hour - meaning better, less crowded, journeys.’

Work has also begun on doubling the capacity of fans in the main ventilation shafts

French take over for Metrolink

Abseil heroes battle buddleia Gardeners battling weeds have had a tough time of it this year with a damp summer and hot sunshine.

Spare a thought for the rail staf taking on weeds and bushes growing up walled embankments. Plants like buddleia can take root and flourish in the lime mortar used years ago and in the end cause a safety hazard if not removed. It’s a particular problem faced by Network Rail on Stockport’s railway viaduct. The 27-arch viaduct also straddles a river, a motorway and several smaller roads.

The way to do it, according to Birse Rail, which has got the contract to do the work, is a combination of very big cherrypickers working at ground level and abseilers dangling from the top. Says Network Rail route director, Jo Kaye, ‘The last time the viaduct was spruced up was in 1989. Since then buddleia has taken hold, and while it may be very good for butterflies, it can

cause us real problems. Its prominent position in the town centre and under the flight path to Manchester Airport means it is seen by millions of people, so we want to clean it up and give a good impression of both the railway and Stockport as a whole.’

During the project, vegetation will be removed and treated to prevent its re-growth, and the brick and stone work repaired.

Work on the £1m project starts in August and is expected to take 14 weeks. As much of the work as possible will be done during daylight hours but there will also some 24 hr working, which will include weekends.

Construction started in March 1839 and was completed in December 1840. Officially opened in 1841, services between Manchester and Birmingham via Stockport did not start until August 1842 because of a dispute between two separate railway companies.

RailStaff | August 2011 | 27

Model Rail Sensation

Fleet boost for ScotRail

Newcastle Central doubled as an audition venue recently as a model agency from London scoured passers by for fashion’s next face.

The first of 22 ScotRail trains to be refurbished has entered service in Strathclyde.

The Class 320 trains have been spruced up and reconditioned by hard working staff at Wabtec Rail in Doncaster. The extensive project, managed by Eversholt Rail Group, will be carried out as part of the routine maintenance cycle over this year and next. All the trains will be rebranded in the new ‘ScotRail, Scotland’s Railway’ livery.

Says Steve Montgomery, Scot Rail’s managing director, ‘This investment not only means improvements to reliability but greater comfort for cus-

Premier Model Management is searching for men and women to act in ad campaigns. Paul Emberley, communications director at East Coast, said, ‘With so much talent waiting to be discovered, we are pleased to be partnering with Premier to identify individuals who have a genuine chance of making the grade. By using our trains and running scouting events at stations along our route, we’re confident there will be many opportunities to find a great selection of potential stars up and down the UK – many of whom could become household names in the future.’

Laura Taylor, 17, from Bedlington, Northumberland, was among those snapped. Says Laura, ‘I am signed with a modelling agency but I haven’t had much work yet. I’ve done charity events but I really enjoyed it. I’m starting my A-levels. I’m going to do English because I would like to get into publishing.

I think to be a good model it is your personality that shines through and you have got to be comfortable with yourself because there is nothing worse than being awkward.’

The agency is conducting the search in collaboration with train operator East Coast. Talent scouts will also be visiting other stations including Edinburgh Waverley, York and Leeds.

Special wedding service A dining car once used for hostage training by special forces soldiers has taken up a new role as a marriage venue.

The refurbished carriage, called Martha, with bullet holes patched over and new glass in the windows, formed the backdrop for the first wedding to be hosted by Avon Valley Railway after it obtained a licence for weddings. Trevor Cockram and Laurie Canvin were married in

the carriage. Mr Cockram, 57, is a volunteer on the railway.

Says David Cole, operations manager on the AVR, ‘It was through Trevor asking if he could have his wedding here that we applied for the licence, which was granted in February.

We already have two more booked in for next year, including one with a 1940s theme that will be part of a wider community event in Bitton. We

have four different locations covered by our licence – the station building and three railway carriages.

‘Martha was in quite a poor state when we bought her, with all the windows smashed, bullet holes in the roof and the toilet blown apart. It’s lovely that we can now offer weddings on board.’ Guests enjoyed a trip on the train and a sumptuous wedding breakfast.

Basra Grand Vitesse

Iraq is pushing ahead with a high speed rail scheme.

Alstom in France has concluded a memorandum of understanding to progress plans for the line which will connect Basra and Baghdad. After feasi-

bility studies and cost analysis the new high speed line could be under construction in two years time.

Basra is approximately 280 miles south-east of Baghdad.

The high speed line would run

trains at 155 mph. French transport minister, Thierry Mariani, is to visit Iraq this autumn to back the deal. France plans to double its already extensive domestic high speed rail network over the next ten years.

tomers.’ Earlier this year, Scot Rail announced an £800,000 package of improvements to its 16-strong Class 314 fleet

on its Glasgow Central/Cathcart Circle and Neilston, Newton and Gourock/Wemyss Bay services.

Team GB Ten Pin triumph Railsport GB finished a very creditable second to Germany once again in the EuroGroup Ten Pin Bowling Tournament held in Ravensburg, Germany.

Conditions were very warm with all players suffering under the extreme heat.

The bowling alley itself suffered several breakdowns, re-

sulting in changes to the original programme to reduce the amount of games to be played.

GB made a steady start and took the lead after the opening round of games.

Then as the day progressed the German bowlers not only caught the British bowlers, but forged ahead and won the tour-

nament with Railsport GB second. The Czech Republic came third, Poland fourth and Belgium fifth. The event was organised by the German Railways. Unfortunately the testing warm conditions took its toll with lower than normal averages from the players of all five countries.

Lord Marsh RIP The son of a foundryman and a keen greyhound racer who rose to become chairman of British Rail has died.

Lord Marsh was always a bit of a maverick and whilst serving as a Labour MP famously fell out with Harold Wilson. He is remembered by railway staff for saving large parts of the network from closure.

Faced by the early 1970s economic crisis the Heath government had lined up severe spending cuts for the railways.

Marsh tackled the then transport minister, John Peyton, carefully sketching out all the railway lines that would have to close, many of which, happily, ran through Tory marginals.

Although many of the lines were saved Ted Heath scuppered early attempts to develop the Channel Tunnel.

Richard William Marsh was born in London on 14th March 1928 and never quite lost his cockney accent. Marsh studied engineering at Woolwich Technical College. After national service he went on to read Economics at Ruskin College, Oxford.

He worked in the National

Union of Public Employees and entered parliament in 1959, representing Greenwich. As Minister of Power in the Wilson administration he helped develop North Sea energy and nationalise the steel industry.

The transport brief was less to his liking although he was able to pioneer new motorways, M23 and M25, through Surrey.

In 1969 he helped the Queen make her first journey on the London Underground since the war when he joined Her Majesty to assist at the royal opening of the Victoria line.

When Harold Wilson lost the election in 1970 a disenchanted Marsh decided to leave politics. He was appointed chairman of BR in 1971. Going native he elected to run BR as a business and resist government interference. However he clashed with Ted Heath over wages policy, fare rises and investment.

He managed to pioneer the development of the HST – High Speed Train, one of BR’s most successful projects.

Runaway inflation, renewed interference from the new Labour administration, stopgo investment and industrial unrest severely weakened the

railways. BR strived to cut costs.

Marsh decided he’d had enough. The last straw, so Euston House legend has it, was a terse missive from John Gilbert, the transport minister, complaining that BR was to stop carrying racing pigeons on its trains. Marsh was succeeded by Peter Parker.

In the private sector Richard Marsh joined the print industry succeeding Lord Goodman at the Newspaper Publisher’s Association. This was at about the time Rupert Murdoch and Eddie Shah determined to take on the print unions. Ennobled in 1981 Lord Marsh switched his support to the Conservatives.

He was a director of TV-AM and chaired several companies. He was instrumental in attracting Nissan to Sunderland.

Marsh was married three times. First in 1953 to Evelyn Andrews, divorcing 20 years later. He married Caroline Dutton in 1973. She died in a car crash in Spain two years later together with the wife of broadcaster David Jacobs. Subsequently he married Felicity McFadzean in 1979 who survives him. He has two sons by his first marriage.

28 | RailStaff | August 2011

Boating song for Slough Slough station is set to be transformed into a bright, spacious and accessible rail centre in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.

The station will be used by athletes and spectators travelling to rowing and canoe competitions at Eton Dorney. There is no car parking near by. Dorney Lake is a world-class venue that sports a 2,200m, eight-lane rowing course with a separate return lane constructed to international standards. It is set in a 400acre park with a nature conservation area.

The venue’s existing facilities have been enhanced for athlete warm-up and Canoe Sprint events during the Games.

Slough’s Grade II listed station will see a revamped station forecourt, delivered by Slough Borough Council, as part of the £450m ‘Heart of Slough’ regen-

eration project. Network Rail will install a new footbridge and lifts which will provide stepfree access to all platforms. The station building and waiting areas will be upgraded by First Great Western. Work to upgrade the station forecourt will be carried out in five phases starting in early August and ending in January 2012.

As part of the Department for Transport’s Access for All programme, Network Rail is installing three new lifts and a new footbridge, providing step-free access between the station entrances and all six platforms for the first time. The £2.5m project is scheduled to begin at the end of August and be complete in late May 2012.

First Great Western will be doing up the station with a new ticket office, new toilets, new customer information point,

and there will be better accommodation for hard working staff as well. Preparation works have already begun and the work is timed to run alongside the council’s forecourt work improvements.

Says Mark Langman, Network Rail route director, ‘Thousands of people living and working in Slough rely on the railway every day. The improvements we’re making to the station will make life easier for everyone to use the train, especially those with reduced mobility or with small children, and is part of a wider effort to stimulate the local economy through better transport links. With Olympic and Paralympic athletes and spectators travelling to Eton Dorney in huge numbers next summer, it’s right that we make sure Slough station has the facilities it deserves.’

Artist’s impression of the new Slough Station.

Happy Days for NIR Fonz look-alike Brian Blair and his friend Vicky Lowey helped launch a summer rail campaign of special offers on Northern Ireland Railways.

‘Whether people want to follow in the footsteps of Finn McCool at the Giant’s Causeway, step back in time at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum or simply ramble around the beautiful countryside our ‘Happy Days’ promotions give customers a hassle-free means of getting you there,’ says Ciaran Rogan, Translink Marketing Executive. Offers include 1/3 off some Northern Ireland Railway tickets.

Vicky Lowey and Brian Blair get in the mood at a 1950s themed launch of the ‘Happy Days’ campaign in Northern Ireland.

Farewell James King One of Scotland’s most committed rail supporters has died the day after the trains he campaigned for took to the metals.

James King FCILT had a lifelong passion for railways. From his North Berwick home he helped set up the Rail Action Group East of Scotland.

RAGES successfully campaigned for improved local train services in East Lothian and Berwickshire. His death after a long illness came less than three weeks after his 60th birthday and just the day following the debut of new Class 380 trains on the North Berwick route.

Mr King worked for Scottish Enterprise and the Falkland Islands Government. He was chairman of the Scottish Government’s advisory committee, Passenger View Scotland, and served as a member of the British Transport Police Authority. With a knowledgeable grip on strategic

transport issues he became a Scottish Board Member of Passenger Focus.

Have your say on red tape Staff praised for terrier rescue drama Big hearted train crew and station staff at Polmont station have helped reunite a runaway dog with its owner.

Staff found the dog, Kobi, injured by a railway embankment. The four year old whippet/terrier cross lost a leg after an accident on the line between Linlithgow and Falkirk. Driver Davie Lewis saw the dog on a Friday afternoon in July and together with conductor, Carol Ann Livingston, rescued Kobi.

Colin Bicknell from the station took over looking after Kobi helped by Lyn Oliver, ScotRail operations communications manager, who was also on the train.

Railway staff called up local vets, Robert Wallace and Emily Chappell, at Ashbank Veterinary Practice in Laurieston. The pair conducted an emergency operation on Kobi whose condition improved. He is now in good spirits.

Owner Anne Kidd of Grangemouth had been looking for her pet for nearly two weeks. Says Anne ‘I got him from the Edinburgh Cat and Dog Home and had him for four weeks before he ran off. He saw the rabbit and was gone.’ Although Anne chased him Kobi did not return. Anne Kidd then mounted a search operation with friends and

posters. Eventually thanks to ScotRail staff the terrier and his owner were reunited (above).

Anne thanked staff saying, ‘This has certainly renewed my faith in human nature. We think he was walking along the railway tracks trying to find his way home, but then got hit by a train. I cannot believe how lucky I am. I feel blessed to have him back and just can’t stop grinning.’ Says Lyn Oliver, ‘I wrapped Kobi in my coat and he looked warm and content then. It was a real team effort and we’re all glad Kobi is all right.’

The Government and the Health and Safety Executive want to hear what you think about red tape.

The open consultation continues until 21st July.

The Red Tape Challenge is seeking views about regulations from the public, business and other industry bodies and volunteers. Contributions to the Red Tape Challenge should draw on the experience and ideas of railway staff who deal with regulation every day.

Health and Safety regulation is one of six crosscutting themes on the Red Tape Challenge website and the public will be able to give comments on health and safety throughout the whole of the Red Tape Challenge campaign.

From 30 June 2011 there will be a special threeweek focus on health and safety regulation to encourage people to get involved and have their say.

Comments received will provide the Government with a clear picture of how regulations are perceived and will help them decide which regulations should stay, which change, and which go entirely.

Says Geoffrey Podger, HSE’s Chief Executive, ‘The Red Tape Challenge is an ideal opportunity for people to give their views on health and safety regulation and we hope people get involved in the debate. The Health and Safety Executive is committed to protecting people from genuine risk and ensuring businesses don’t

face unnecessary bureaucracy.

‘This is a genuine consultation which will capture the views of people who are affected by health and safety regulations. We want to hear from all those with an interest with the aim of simplifying health and safety and making it more effective and proportionate for the benefit of business and the workforce of Britain.’ www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/home/index

APPOINTMENTS

RailStaff | August 2011 | 29

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