RailStaff December 2016

DECEMBER 2016 | ISSUE 229

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PLUS NEWS PEOPLE HEALTH & SAFETY EVENTS TRAINING RAIL ALLIANCE FEATURE SUMMITS CAREERS

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CONTENTS DECEMBER 2016 | ISSUE 229

PATRIOT - IN MEMORY OF FALLEN RAILWAY EMPLOYEES | 16

Freightliner has named one of its Class 66 locomotives ‘Patriot - In memory of fallen railway employees’ to mark this year’s Remembrance Day.

EMBEDDING SAFETY INTO 4LM | 22 Sarah Tack, head of safety at Thales UK’s transportation business, talks about the approach employed on the 4LM resignalling project.

THE ROLE OF THE ORR | 30 16

What are the responsibilities of the ORR and how might they change going into the next control period.

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SENSE AND SUSTAINABILITY | 38 David Shirres reports on November’s Rail Sustainability Summit.

THE LAST GREAT BRITISH PACIFICS | 42 Colin Garratt writes about how he followed in the footsteps of William Stanier to witness the last sad journey of India’s British Pacific locomotives.

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YEAR OF THE APPRENTICE | 50 48

A look back at some of the apprenticeship milestones in 2016 and what lies ahead in the new year.

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RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

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A Confident Christmas

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Christmas is a time for building belief and confidence. The Orange Army will be out there achieving this quite physically while the rest of the nation takes a protracted break.

A continuing theme of RailStaff since its first edition is the need to shake down, to consolidate, this ballast of self-confidence around the concrete and metal projections of the future. Our aim is to reinforce confidence in career, industry and the community and country we serve.

Never easy - especially when told the rail industry was finished - it is for many harder still amidst tragedies, crises and disappointments of private, political and professional life.

What remains axiomatic is the need to get up, wipe off the shovel and spreadsheet and © Andy Ryan, Team GB

continue. Otherwise that financial failure, lost love or collapsed dream can define the future.

2016 will go down as the year that heralded great change: The vote to leave the European Union, the apparent collapse of the Labour Party - despite the heroic efforts of rail writer, Christian Wolmar - and the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, will define our world for a generation.

The challenge for most is to accept and change and make it work. Britain remains the fifth largest economy in the world and the second medal-winning nation at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

The rail industry, despite its industrial relations set backs, offers further tidings of comfort and joy. Government backing for digital railways, final assent for High Speed Two and the plethora of good news stories in these pages show an industry and a country escaping the surly bonds of the past.

2000 years ago the world laboured in a darkness more iniquitous than our own.

Cultures adrift without moral compass, compassion or mercy held sway over the lonely and the dispossessed.

Yet light shines in the darkness even if it is so often misunderstood. Spare a thought for those who labour this Christmas in darkness and danger on our railways. Pause to cheer the disappointed.

Mr Wolmar should take heart that he beat a wide field of candidates - after the victor and runner up. Congratulations to Olney the Lonely and to Christian who, in third place, rolled up more votes combined than the rest of the following field lead by the irascible Howling Laud Hope.

Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2017. andy@rail-media.com FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF | @RAILSTAFFUK | RAILSTAFF.UK

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RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

Staff praised for Exeter excellence Hard working engineers and track staff, from the fabled Orange Army, have pulled off another coup in storm-struck Devon.

The railway at Cowley Bridge, Exeter, was badly damaged by flooding in the early hours of Tuesday 22 November. Rail staff foiled Storm Angus to get services back on track within a day. Work to repair the line was initially expected to take 48 hours.

The damage could have been far worse had recent resilience improvement work not been carried out to raise the signalling equipment in the area. That work, which formed part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan,

followed flooding a few years ago that disrupted services at Cowley Bridge for three weeks.

It involved placing the electronic signalling equipment on raised platforms. This time Network Rail only needed to replace the ballast and track, rather than repair the entire signalling system as was required following the previous major incident in 2012.

Says Network Rail’s Mark Langman, route managing director, ‘I sympathise with communities that have been so badly affected. Equally remarkable is the achievement of the Orange Army in repairing the damage to the railway and getting the line reopened so quickly.’

The 24-year old from London decided to pursue a career on the railway while studying construction management at Aston University in Birmingham. Mr Patel is now part of the team delivering the £800 million Waterloo & South West Upgrade which will boost capacity at Waterloo by 30%.

‘I saw the enormous upgrades taking place at Birmingham New Street station and knew that I wanted to be a part of something that big. I successfully applied to

David Mowat, Member of Parliament for Warrington South, visited Network Rail’s training facility on Haydock Street, Warrington to get first hand experience of working on the metals.

The conservative MP and health minister took part in a safety exercise which showed how trains are stopped if they pass a red danger signal. Train protection warning systems now automatically apply the brakes.

The centre has two classrooms and an indoor railway track complete with signals and electricity units to give the workforce a realistic experience of the operational railway.

The building is one of Network

Inspired student

Shyam Patel, a project manager at Network Rail, took the lead in ‘Tomorrow’s Engineers Week’ urging young people to go after a career in the railway.

Clean bill of health

the project management graduate scheme at Network Rail, and after a one-year scheme in which I worked on two placements, I began working on the Waterloo & South West Upgrade.

‘Working on a project that will benefit millions of people is extremely rewarding, and I’d highly recommend Network Rail to anyone. It’s a really exciting time to be working on the railways because we’re in the midst of transforming the railway so it is fit for the 21st century, and all the demands that entails. It’s a lot of responsibility but I think that’s one of the best things about it.’ It’s not all work and no play on the railway.

‘I’ve also made some great friends here as well,’ adds Shyam.

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Rail’s three training facilities in north west England. Says Stuart Macmillan, training centre manager, ‘At our training centres, we train a wide range of staff about track safety, welding, engineering, plant and signalling maintenance.

‘Our priority is to ensure that our engineers feel confident working safely on the railway and to do that we need to provide them with the right skills so that they can continue to deliver a reliable railway for passenger and freight services.

‘David Mowat MP’s visit to our training centre was a great way to showcase the often unseen and intricate work of our staff who maintain the railway throughout the year.’

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Heartbeat driver honours lifesavers A train driver who suffered a serious heart attack whilst at the controls of his train in Yorkshire has organised a Europe-wide fund raiser for two charities. David Graham could have died had it not been for a henparty of nurses on the train and prompt action by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

A seven-strong team of conductors and drivers from TransPennine Express, Virgin Trains and Northern Rail, all based at Liverpool Lime Street Station, took part in a gruelling 63 hour charity train journey across Europe to raise funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the British Heart Foundation.

Stephen Walker (TPE), David Graham (TPE), Stephen Ward (Virgin Trains), Paul Fletcher (Northern) Andrew Iles (TPE), Marc Wood (TPE), Stephen Gamble (Northern) travelled from Liverpool Lime Street to Paris, Munich, Venice, Milan, Zurich, Basel, Berlin, Cologne, Brussels, raising a grand total of £9,650.

TPE train driver, David Graham, organised the challenge in support of both charities after each played such a vital part in his rescue and recovery after he suffered a dramatic, near fatal, heart attack when driving a train between Liverpool and Scarborough back in 2012.

David, was 20 minutes into a journey from Scarborough to Liverpool when he began experiencing severe chest pains and lost consciousness on a remote stretch of track near Malton in North Yorkshire. David managed to bring his train to a halt in a safe place, after which the conductor discovered David and raised the alarm. Following an on-board announcement, a group of Royal Preston Hospital nurses returning from a hen party came to David’s rescue, treating him on the floor of his cab and calling in the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, who took over at the scene and airlifted David to Hull Royal Infirmary.

Last month, the group were invited to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Nostell Air Support Unit to formally hand over cheques to both charities. The group posed for photographs alongside the crew of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopter with Hayley Gough, British Heart Foundation fundraising manager.

Says David Graham, ‘I will be forever grateful to both charities for the part they played in both my rescue and recovery. My colleagues and I have raised nearly £10,000 for both charities, exceeding our original target of £8,000. I want to take this opportunity to thank all those that donated to our challenge in support of these two very worthy causes.’

Purple Hayes Skills Minister John Hayes today made time to visit apprentices working on Crossrail to support EngineeringUK’s Tomorrow’s Engineers Week.

He met the project’s 600th apprentice, Kayne Wilson, from Croydon, London.

The minister saw some of the skills and experience the apprentices are gaining working on Crossrail – Europe’s largest infrastructure project, which is now almost 80% complete and is on schedule to open on time and budget in December 2018.

‘An apprenticeship has opened up a new career for me and allowed me to gain experience working on Europe’s biggest infrastructure project,’ says Kayne.

‘My apprenticeship has been a fantastic experience - I get to earn as I learn, I benefit from the experience of others and am able to put what I’m taught in the classroom into practice on site. If anyone is thinking of starting an apprenticeship, I would say go for it. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made and I’m sure you won’t regret it.’

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RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

Counter offer sensation Confounding predictions of post-Brexit economic collapse, shops on stations are doing a roaring trade. Figures for this summer released by Network Rail show retail sales over July, August and September booming by 3.5%. This equates to total sales of over £166 million, up from £160 million in the same period last year.

Sales growth at Network Rail managed stations was more than 17 times greater than the British Retail Consortium results for the same period - a modest like-for-like growth of 0.2%. It’s a positive picture nationally with passengers and public making good use of restaurants, cafes and specialist outlets to shop on the hop and dine near the line.

Nationally, coffee shops and take-away food purchases

showed the strongest growth.

Asian food outlets and grocery sales were also strong performers across Network Rail’s managed stations, with 10% and 6% growth recorded respectively.

Overall sales growth was strongest in London with King’s Cross up 13% and Paddington up 9%. Outside London, Manchester 10%, Birmingham 8% and Glasgow 6% confirmed the upward trend for rail-retail.

Substantial investment at Birmingham New Street, King’s Cross, Glasgow Central and Manchester Piccadilly has helped deliver stations that are not just places to travel to and from, but destinations in their own right.

Says David Biggs, Network Rail’s managing director of property, ‘The trend in our results reflects the changes in how consumers are choosing to shop. Busy

Smile you're on ESG ESG Rail in Derby has won a turnkey contract from London Midland for the supply of closed circuit television systems. The work includes design and installation of a forward facing closed circuit television (FFCCTV) system on London Midland’s 26 Class 323 and 40 Class 350 vehicles.

Under a separate contract, ESG will also be responsible for saloon CCTV for the Class 323 units and will fit one pantograph camera to a single class 350/1 vehicle. The CCTV systems will be supplied by DTI, a recognised supplier to the global mass mobile surveillance market. The CCTV systems are capable of both live remote viewing and historical downloading. The system will enable the operator to manage operational issues.

The pantograph camera is an overhead wire network inspection system, used to analyse the overhead infrastructure conditions, identify and record anomalies and notify the operator of any issues before they impact on passenger service.

Says Nick Goodhand, general manager and engineering director, ESG Rail, ‘ESG is experienced in integration design and installation of train borne systems. We are already working with DTI on other UK projects and look forward to continuing this relationship and to meeting our customer’s expectations.’

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commuters and other people who use our stations want to be able to shop at a time and place that works for them. And that is

why the upgrades we’ve made and are continuing to make to stations across Britain are proving so popular.’

Morson tracks success As the rail industry ramps up efforts this winter to attract the next generation of rail careerists Morson International is launching its ‘Tracks to Success’ online education hub.

It’s an inspired new media tool aimed at getting young people to look closely at railways and the secure, high earning, stimulating careers on offer.

Says Gary Smithson, Associate Director at Morson International, ‘As an older generation of rail professionals prepares for retirement, a new, young workforce is needed to take their place.

A large proportion of this workforce will be made up of apprentices and university graduates, providing enough young people are interested in a career in rail. Education and encouragement is key to bringing in the next generation.’

‘Tracks to Success’ showcases the various routes into rail. An interactive rail map highlights the qualifications and experience necessary for rail positions, providing a comprehensive vision of what a career in rail can look like.

With further backing for new railways in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement the race to recruit a new generation of motivated individuals has changed up a gear.

Combatting the perceptions of the rail industry, ‘Tracks to Success’ showcases the benefits of working in rail and provides a wealth of valuable information for new starters, apprentices and current rail workers.

‘With a number of major development projects on the horizon, such as Crossrail and HS2, there’s never been a more exciting time to join the industry,’ says Gary.

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RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

Phillips to head RSSB

First 11 at ACoRP

Mark Phillips has been promoted chief executive officer at RSSB, which he joined in February 2015 as director of research and standards. He was appointed interim managing director in May 2016.

In the run-up to Christmas Julie Townsend, new chief executive of the Association of Community Rail Partnerships, takes up her post at the head of a dedicated team of eleven staff. She will continue fostering successful relationships with those working in community rail as well as developing strong links with the wider rail industry. Townsend will be representing community rail at national and regional level, setting the strategic direction of ACoRP.

Phillips read Economics at York University and joined British Rail as a graduate trainee. Later he worked for Railtrack as head of operational planning and engineering, for Network Rail as regional director for Anglia, and as deputy managing director for the Greater Anglia franchise.

Mark is a Fellow of the Institute of Railway Operators and a Fellow of the Institute of Logistics and Transport. He is a board member of the British Transport Police Authority.

Says Paul Plummer, Rail Delivery Group chief executive, ‘During his time as interim managing director, Mark has worked hard to maintain the RSSB’s vital independent role in

ensuring that Britain continues to operate Europe’s safest major railway, and worked with the RDG and Rail Supply Group to bring greater clarity to the relationships between each organisation.

The RSSB’s valuable research and analysis and its processes for agreeing and developing industry safety standards help everyone in the railway to keep raising their performance and improve services for the benefit of all.’

Says Julie, ‘I’d like to say a huge thanks and best wishes to my predecessor Neil Buxton, who must feel extremely proud of all he has achieved, and the transformed and vibrant organisation he is retiring from after his thirteen years leading ACoRP.’ Julie Townsend joins ACoRP after serving more than 10 years at Brake, the national road safety charity. For the last five years she was deputy chief executive and campaigns director. Her work included building strong relationships with national policy makers, significantly growing the charity’s income and delivering numerous high profile

campaigns.

Julie has also lead communications at a pioneering programme to support families with young children, Better Start Bradford, and London housing association, East Thames Group.

In addition, Julie has undertaken a range of voluntary work.

She was chair of the founding committee of Streatham Common Community Garden.

Julie Townsend read English at the University of Leeds. In 2015-16, she took a career break to undertake a masters in political communication, also at Leeds, exploring in depth how civil society organisations can influence political and social change, achieving a sistinction.

New Team ACoRP appointments include: • Anders Hanson senior commercial manager • Nikolas Schofield communications and marketing manager • Alice Mannion tourism and heritage officer • Paul Webster operations manager South • Ian Davis operations officer • Gemma Langford administration assistant

Northern job for Hyde Ian Hyde has joined Northern Rail as head of new trains responsible for overseeing the 281 new carriages set to arrive on the Northern network from late 2018 onwards.

A career railwayman Hyde started out as an assistant engineer for British Rail. He has a BEng degree in mechanical engineering from Sheffield University. His career has taken him to HSBC Rail and Eversholt Rail where he was involved with the Class 395 project - better known as the Javelin or High Speed 1. Hyde was team leader of projects at Interfleet Technology.

Says Alex Hynes, managing director at Northern, ‘Ian has successfully managed rolling RAILSTAFF.UK | @RAILSTAFFUK | FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF

stock projects through their engineering design, construction, test and commissioning, on time and within budget. His skill at building relationships with stakeholders in a challenging environment has delivered project benefits across international clients, cultures and teams and we are really pleased to secure his services from our sister operating company Cross Country.’

Northern’s landmark modernisation programme – announced by Arriva Rail North as part of the new franchise – will see more than 280 new trains introduced across the network as well as the complete refurbishment of all other Northern carriages.

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

Procurement promotion for Haynes

New faces at SNC-Lavalin

Andy Haynes had been appointed as the new contracts and procurement director at Network Rail. It’s an internal promotion; Haynes has been with Network Rail 16 years and was project director on Network Rail’s Greater West Programme.

SNC-Lavalin has appointed Andrew Moore, principal consultant, and Eloise Callaghan, senior consultant, to the transformation team at its Transport Advisory division - formerly Interfleet Transport Advisory.

Andy has joined the Route Services senior management team and reports directly to Susan Cooklin. On his appointment she said, ‘Andy has had a prominent career in Network Rail and I am delighted

he is joining Route Services to manage our commercial contracts and build stronger supplier relationships.’

Network Rail manages over 1,500 different contracts on categories as diverse as ballast to business consultancy. Route Services supplies skills to all of Network Rail’s business units.

Based in SNC-Lavalin’s London office, the pair will be instrumental in expanding Transport Advisory’s expertise in railway operations, programme management and franchise bidding and mobilisation.

Andrew Moore has spent 25 years in the rail sector; most

Vernon's New Year's resolution Just back from a daring round the world yacht race, Vernon Barker is joining Siemens UK’s Rail Systems business as managing director. He takes up the position in early 2017 succeeding Steve Scrimshaw who becomes managing director for the power and gas set-up at Siemens UK. Keen runner and yachtsman, Barker’s involvement with railways resulted in an OBE in 2011 for services to the industry.

Originally from Southampton, his father was a police officer with BTP. Barker read accountancy at Stirling University, trained as an accountant in Manchester and worked for Arthur Andersen, a global accountancy firm out of Chicago. The job took him abroad to Canada and Bermuda – where

he took up scuba diving.

Back in England he was living in Macclesfield and working on short term financial projects when the first job in railways came up.

Like many before him Vernon came into railways on a temporary three month assignment with First North Western and never really left. He went on to become managing director of FNW, a role he reprised at Trans Pennine Express in 2003. In September 2011 he was appointed overall head of FirstGroup’s rail division.

Since 2015 he has been running his own consultancy working with National Express and Transport for the North.

This summer Barker helped crew the ship, Visit Seattle, completing the USA Coast to Coast and Atlantic Homecoming of the Clipper Round the World

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recently he was head of major projects at East Midlands Trains.

He has also worked for Northern Rail and Arriva Trains Wales.

Eloise Callaghan joined SNCLavalin from Arriva UK Trains, where she was programme coordinator for the bid team. She worked on the Northern Franchise bid and London Overground Concession bid. Originally from Australia Eloise was educated at Sydney University where she read English and spent a year at the University of Texas.

ORR-some promotion Graham Richards has been appointed director, railway performance and planning at ORR.

Yacht Race.

Back ashore Vernon says he’s looking forward to the new job.

‘It is an exciting and challenging time for our industry as we look ahead to major infrastructure projects such as High Speed Two whilst addressing current issues around capacity, connectivity and digitalisation. I am looking forward to bringing my experience from previous roles to Siemens and maintaining the momentum that has been achieved by Steve Scrimshaw and the entire Rail Systems team,’ he said.

Graham was previously acting as interim in the role. Richards is a chartered transport planner with experience working on a range of different aspects, including the delivery of road and rail projects; integrating major developments with existing transport networks; planning operational and maintenance budgets; and most recently the regulation of Network Rail.

He was previously deputy director, railway planning and performance, having joined ORR in 2009.

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RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

Merry Christmas Mr Lawrance!

Darlington driver celebrates 104 not out Working on the railways is good for your health - that’s the message from former fireman and engine driver, Albert Hawman who celebrated his 104th birthday on 25th November.

Mr Hawman told local reporters the physical work kept him fit and healthy. From Barnard Castle, County Durham, he joined the railway aged 14.

He eventually became a fireman and then a driver. ‘Driving steam trains was something I enjoyed, the driving wasn’t such hard work but being a fireman was –

it was so hot in there.

The work was hard but it kept me fit and I think that’s how I’ve lasted so long.’ A keen gardener he has worked on his allotment since the age of 14.

‘Not many people of today’s generation like hard work yet they will pay to go to a gym and exercise there. I’ve never had to go to a gym in my life. I always got my exercise through my work and I think more people should do that.’

Albert Hawman, who lives in a care home in Darlington, celebrated with family and friends.

Show Tyne for new apprentices The Tyne and Wear Metro has taken on five new apprentices at its train fleet depot in South Gosforth in Newcastle. James McHugh, Michael Fahy, Steven Armstrong, Joseph Wallace and Robbie May have started work after completing two year courses in rail engineering and general engineering.

Three of the five apprentices studied at Newcastle College’s Rail Academy in Gateshead. Opened in 2015, the multi-million pound academy houses all aspects of rail engineering under one roof. The apprentices will now spend one day a week at college learning key theory and spend the remaining four days with Tyne and Wear Metro, developing skills on the job.

Paul Johnson, Head of Engineering at Newcastle College said, ‘The apprentices really impressed us with their attitude and application when they studied at the college and now they’ll continue their development in an exciting time of growth for the company. We understand the need to be flexible when meeting the training requirements of employers and worked closely with Tyne and Wear Metro to tailor a programme exactly to their needs.’

Says James McHugh, one of the new apprentices, ‘From day one we were learning practical skills and working on real tracks that gave us a good idea of what it would be like to work in the industry. The college let us know about the opportunities available at Tyne and Wear Metro and I jumped at the chance to apply. Going into work was daunting but I realised once I started that I already had a solid understanding of the skills required in the industry, I can’t wait to continue my training with the company.’

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Congratulations to Resourcing Solutions which last month clocked up 20 years supplying top staff to the rail industry, construction and engineering.

The team, along with founder and CEO Richard Lawrance has been celebrating with clients, candidates and suppliers, including Rail Media’s director Asif Ahmed and sales executive Craig Smith, at a series of events in London, Derby and Reading.

Says Asif Ahmed, ‘The drama and determination of those working at the frontline of efforts to recruit people for the rail industry too often passes unacknowledged. From HR staff to engineering and executive search teams, a growing army of recruitment specialists is aiming to close the skills gap.

The rail industry owes a huge debt to these hard working ambassadors.’

Over the course of the past 20 years, Resourcing Solutions has found thousands of engineering and construction professionals permanent and contract opportunities within rail, power and the built environment, supporting some of the country’s most important infrastructure projects.

Richard Lawrance set the business up 20 years ago in Reading, and has since expanded the operation with offices in Derby and Uxbridge.

The company has grown from a one man band, to one of the

Left to right Craig Smith with Richard Lawrance and Asif Ahmed. highest ranking recruitment businesses, taking up position 87 in this year’s Thames Valley Top 100. The company currently turns over around £50 million a year.

What’s the secret of success?

It’s all down to team work, says CEO, Richard. ‘We owe the success of Resourcing Solutions to the hard work of our team, the strong relationships we have with our candidates as well as the loyalty of our clients with their ongoing need to attract talent to their organisations,’ says Richard.

Resourcing Solutions is certainly a fit, fast and committed team.

Lawrance and his colleagues have climbed mountains, run marathons, swam, cycled and boxed around the world. Resourcing Solutions has supported many charities over the years.

Nowadays in the main staff put most fund raising efforts into just two causes, in memory of two colleagues who lost their lives to cancer. These are Breast Cancer, in memory of Marie Cox and Prostate Cancer in memory of David Maynard. ‘Each year we have a Pink Friday (in October) to raise awareness and funds for Breast Cancer and a Blue Friday (in April) to raise awareness and funds for Prostate Cancer,’ says Richard.

The next 20 years spells good news for staff, charities and the rail industry in general. Many happy returns!

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RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

Murphy makeover for Gospel Oak - Barking Murphy is forging ahead with a £60 million rail contract to transform London’s passenger and freight transport network by early 2018.

The £133m Gospel Oak to Barking project heralds a new era for the historic 12-mile stretch of Victorian railway. Once electrified it will play an enhanced role in expanding London’s much needed cross-city rail capacity.

Engineers from Murphy are now well ahead with the job of lowering five stretches of track to accommodate OHLE. The team from Murphy has completed the majority of the 480 piled foundations and is now progressing well with the installation of 78 precast parapet beams. The team has completed most of the steel brackets, which fix to the walls of the Victorian

viaduct from Wood Grange Park to Leytonstone. Murphy carried out slope reinforcement works before lowering the track, upgrading signals and telecoms.

The project, which has involved close collaboration with London Underground Limited, has involved the laying of precast concrete slabs, as well as installing foundations for the electrification masts along the entire line.

Says Paul Mohan, director of rail at Murphy, ‘This major rail infrastructure scheme fits perfectly with Murphy’s strategy of working sustainably across our business, and projects, on behalf of our clients. The benefits from this work will be long-lasting and make a real difference to people who regularly use this train line, as well as those across the local areas.’

Uphill work at Bromsgrove Once again the Orange Army has pulled off a stunning preChristmas coup finishing a £100m upgrade to track and signalling at Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, ahead of schedule. The project complements the new station at Bromsgrove and will add to capacity in the West Midlands.

The scheme reconfigured track, points and crossings around the station, and has brought into use the new signalling between Five Ways, Birmingham and Ashchurch in Gloucestershire, in preparation for electrification at Bromsgrove next year.

Bromsgrove has a special place in the railway landscape and once had a flourishing locomotive works. The Institution of Mechanical Engineers was founded at Bromsgrove when James McConnell, chief engineer with the London and North Western Railway met with George Stephenson and Archibald Slate in 1846. The railway men were worried about high boiler pressure accidents occasioned by the Lickey Incline, the steepest sustained main-line railway incline in the UK.

Anniversary special

© Duncan Langtree

Next year, 2017, sees the North Yorkshire Moors Railway celebrate its fiftieth anniversary.

© Bob Green

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The charitable trust was set up in 1967 - two years after the line closed. The railway between Grosmont and Pickering reopened in 1973. Nowadays trains run regularly and NYMR provides services to Whitby.

To launch anniversary celebrations an historic steam locomotive, Royal Scot, will visit the railway. Royal Scot was built in 1927, the first in a new breed of steam locomotives made by the LMS for express services between London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow. She was rebuilt by British Railways in 1950 but was eventually retired in October 1962.

After a major overhaul, Royal Scot returned to steam in September 2015 thanks to the Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust. She hauled her first main line passenger train for over fifty years on 6th February 2016 from Crewe to Holyhead and will travel through the North York Moors National Park from Saturday 25th March 2017.

NYMR is one of the most historic lines in the North of England, taking visitors on picturesque journeys along an 18 mile railway line aboard steam and heritage diesel trains. The railway passes through stunning scenery, from wooded valleys to beautiful countryside, stopping at charming villages and spectacular seaside locations.

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16

NEWS

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

Patriot In memory of fallen railway employees REPORT BY PAUL DARLINGTON On 11 November, shortly after a ceremony to remember the fallen at 11am, Freightliner named one of its Class 66 (66418) ‘Patriot – In memory of fallen railway employees’ at its impressive new train maintenance facility at Basford Hall, Crewe.

Freightliner has also joined forces with model train manufacturer Dapol to honour Britain’s war dead and raise money to help ex-servicemen and women. Dapol will produce a detailed scale model of locomotive 66418 and for every model sold, a donation will be made to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

Troop trains Britain’s rail network and the people who worked on it played a crucial role during World War I. The railway enabled troops and equipment to be moved around the country to departure points heading for Europe. At the outbreak of the war in 1914, trains travelling to Southampton transported 118,454 army personnel, 37,649 horses, 314 guns, 5,221 vehicles, 1,807 bicycles and 4,557 tonnes of baggage in the first four weeks alone.

Of the 700,000 people who worked on Britain’s railways at the start of the war, more than 100,000 signed up, despite being ‘protected’ as the railway was a reserved occupation. By the end of the war, 20,000 of the railway workers who volunteered had lost their lives.

Project Railway Honour The project to name three locomotives, known as Project Railway Honour, was initiated

by Corporal Gareth Atkinson, who serves in the 1st Battalion of the Mercian Regiment. Gareth, who is himself a railway modelling enthusiast, wanted to find a way to commemorate those men who left their protected jobs on the railways to face the horrors of the trenches, and while doing this raise money for service charities to help those service personnel today that need support.

Talks are at an advanced stage with two other railway companies so that, in total, three locomotives will be named and three different models will become available for sale. The two remaining locomotives are to be named, appropriately, 'Valour' and 'Remembrance'.

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity (formerly the Army Benevolent Fund) is the national charity of the British Army and provides financial and practical support to soldiers, veterans, and their immediate family in times of need.

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Word on the wires The ceremony took place outside the new Crewe Freightliner locomotive maintenance facility and the invited guests were the first visitors to the site. The building is part of an initiative by Freightliner to bring all locomotive maintenance in house, and demonstrates their commitment to the industry and the Crewe area. Five roads and inspection pits are supported with an overhead gantry crane and storage facilities. The site incorporates safety by design and provides excellent facilities for all staff on site. The facility will mainly be used to maintain electric locomotives despite there being no overhead wires in the building.

The absence of wires is a cost saving to both the installation and maintenance of the site as well as having a safety benefit. Freightliner, with a total of 250 locomotives, which are predominantly diesel, is not short of suitable locomotives to move electric traction into the depot.

Wilfred Wood VC Invited guests to the ceremony included the family of Private Wood, who was one of only three railway workers to be awarded the Victoria Cross, and his medals were on display in the depot. Wilfred Wood was born on 2 February 1897 in Stockport and started his working life in 1914 as an engine cleaner at Edgeley shed at Stockport. Towards the end of 1916 he joined the Cheshire Regiment as a stretcher-bearer, later transferring to the 10th Battalion The Northumberland Fusiliers.

On 28 October 1918 near Casa Vana, Italy, when the advance was being held up by hostile machine-guns and snipers, Private Wood on his own initiative worked forward with his Lewis gun, enfiladed the enemy machine-gun nest and caused 140 men to surrender. Later when another enemy machine gun opened fire at near point-blank range, it was reported that Wood charged forward, firing his Lewis gun from the hip at the same time and killing the enemy machine-gun crew. Acting entirely on his own initiative, he advanced further and attacked a German-held ditch – three officers and 160 men subsequently surrendered to him.

He was awarded the Victoria Cross on 27

November 1918 and after the war, he returned to his pre-war job on the railways, first as a Fireman, then as an engine driver. He retired in 1960 as a supervisor and died in 1982. An LNWR Claughton Class locomotive was named after him in 1922 and when this was withdrawn from service, an LMS Patriot Class steam locomotive was also named after Wilfred.

To the fallen Crewe itself has its own memorial to the fallen railwaymen of Crewe, which is now located inside the first-class lounge at the top of the stairs to platform 5. One of the names is Sergeant Dykes, who was my wife’s great uncle. He too was an engine cleaner, but at Crewe South Shed which was located not far from the new Freightliner maintenance depot.

William enlisted at Litherlands Liverpool on the 29 November 1915 into the 3rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers as Private 37246. He was aged 19 years and four months and embarked for France from Southampton on S.S. Copenhagen on the 26 April 1916.

William was shot and wounded in the chest in the region of Rouen. He recovered and re-joined his unit on 5 August 1916 and was promoted to Sergeant in the field with the 9th Battalion on 12 March 1917. He was killed in action on 18 April 1918 in the fourth battle of Ypres, during the first battle of Kemmel Ridge, just seven months before the end. The photo shows a very worried William before he left for France and to become one of the 20,000 fallen railway employees.

‘Their name liveth forever more.’

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

NEWS

17

Hard crowd backs rail Soldiers have given a big thumbs up to the railway.

Servicemen who have successfully moved from the military to careers in the railway spoke at a careers fair aimed at people leaving the services.

Fighting Fifth honoured Northern Rail has named one of its trains, 156469, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (The Fighting Fifth) at Newcastle Central station.

The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers regiment was founded in 1674 as the Fifth Regiment of Foot, becoming a fusilier regiment in 1836. It served in many major conflicts including both world wars and the Korean War. In 1968, it was merged with the three other English fusilier regiments to form the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. However, this still retains an Army Reserve

Battalion in Newcastle, continuing the traditions of the 'Fighting Fifth'.

As well as carrying the name of the regiment, the train will include posters explaining the history of the regiment. Many locomotives and trains have previously carried regiment names.

The name 'The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers' was previously given to a member of a Deltic locomotive, D9011. It was named in a ceremony in 1961 and was in service until November 1981, being based at Gateshead depot. The nameplate can be seen today in the National Railway Museum.

If soldiers find Civvy Street daunting the Orange Army and railways generally could represent a better option.

Comradeship, a sense of identity and the prospect of working in an industry of national importance as well as environmentally and socially responsible echoes values that are the mainstay of every regiment, squadron and ship of the line.

The Rail Forum East Midlands joined forces with the Careers Transition Partnership to host the Armed Forces Careers Fair in Derby. Simon Higgens, chief executive, Infra Safety Services Labour Ltd, knows firsthand the challenge faced by ex-service personnel.

Says Higgens, who served 30 years with the Royal Engineers, ‘Everyone I spoke to, employer and punter, thought it a worthwhile event and got what they came for. The service leavers in particular were buzzing when they left and, believe you me, they are a hard crowd to please!’

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NEWS

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

Cleethorpes star steps down A loyal member of the Cleethorpes station team has stepped down after 44 years of service on the railway.

Paul Weston was customer service supervisor for TransPennine Express at Cleethorpes. Mr Paul Weston, who lives in Waltham, has spent his entire working career at the station, selling tickets and guiding passengers on concourse and platforms.

Says Paul, ‘I’ve loved working at Cleethorpes station and my favourite part of the job has always been meeting with and helping customers, whether regular commuters or visitors to the town.

I’ve had lots of memorable moments, but one highlight includes meeting Prince Charles when the Royal Train visited Cleethorpes in 2004.’

Although he will miss stationlife, Paul is looking forward to enjoying his retirement and spending time with his wife and grandchildren. Paul also intends to do some more travelling and plans to visit some of the many places he has sold tickets to and yet never been. But Cleethorpes Station hasn’t seen the last of him.

A keen gardener, Paul is still planning on making regular trips to the station to tend to the various plants and flower arrangements.

Winter is coming Each year we are all reminded about the increased risks associated with darker nights, colder weather and poor visibility. And yet, more accidents happen in the winter months as many of us forget the increased dangers when we’re in a rush.

On the railways, where workplace safety can mean the difference between life and death, it is even more important to look out for one another and stay alerted to any potential dangers.

WINTER DRIVING With icy roads, low winter sun and cars seemingly more prone to breaking down when it’s below freezing outside, it is more important than ever to take extra care when driving.

Day to day drama DB Cargo UK is to run more than 15 train services a week under a new ten year deal with Day Group.

Under the contract DB Cargo will be moving sea-dredged aggregates by rail from Cliffe in Kent to depots at Crawley, Purley, Tolworth and Battersea. The aggregates are used to make concrete and mortar.

Both the Battersea Power Station development and the Northern Line extension will benefit.

Charity climb Two intrepid station staff from Northern Rail have scaled Ben Nevis, for charity. Kim Thompson, station supervisor at Hexham, and Chynna Cochrane, general purpose relief in Northumbria, climbed Britain’s highest mountain, in aid of Breast Cancer Care.

Between them, they raised over £1,200 for the charity as part of a larger group of climbers which has raised £25,000.

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Allow for longer stopping distances Stopping distances increase by up to 10 times in the snow and ice. Make sure to leave a good distance between you and the vehicle in front.

Don’t make it harder for yourself It can be harder to see with poor visibility, winter sun and shorter, darker days; don’t make it harder for yourself. Allow time to de-mist your windscreen and clear all vehicle windows to ensure you have full visibility before setting off.

Look after your vehicle No one wants to stand out in the ice and snow waiting for a recovery vehicle. Make sure to carry out regular checks on your vehicle to reduce the likelihood of unwelcome breakdowns.

Check your tyre pressures and tread depth, ensure your wipers work, your antifreeze is topped up

and keep de-icer, an ice scraper and warm hi-vis clothing in your vehicle.

SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS At this time of year, wet or icy surfaces, fallen leaves and fewer hours of daylight can make even the most familiar environments hazardous. Take extra time, be extra aware of your surroundings, be alert to hidden dangers and alert your colleagues to any particularly slippery surfaces.

DRUGS AND ALCOHOL For many of us, the countdown to Christmas means festive parties and drinks with friends and family but that one extra drink on a night out can have serious consequences the following day.

Enjoy alcohol responsibly and remember that Network Rail’s policy and the Lifesaving Rules state that you must never be under the influence of drugs or alcohol whilst at work, or when travelling to and from work.

COLD WEATHER Make sure you stay warm when the temperatures drop whilst still wearing the appropriate PPE. Contact your sponsor if you are lacking the equipment you need to stay safe and warm.

At Advance-TRS safety is our number one priority. We are constantly taking steps in order to reduce the number of accidents and incidents in the workplace through regular communication of industry information, HSE updates, company policies and a thorough review of procedures.

You can read our monthly HSQE Briefings online at www. advance-trs.com and stay up to date with the latest rail jobs, news and career advice by following Advance-TRS on Twitter @ railwayjobs

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

NEWS

19

New Street Christmas senation Birmingham New Street is recording footfalls of a quarter of a million as people make the station the centre piece of pre-Christmas shopping expeditions, entertainment and visits.

The last weekend in November saw 650,000 use the station. The record figures were prompted by Christmas shoppers getting out on the last pay day for many before Christmas, the expanding German Market nearby and the equally successful Aston Villa playing at home - Villa beat Cardiff 3-1.

The aptly named Patrick Power, Network Rail’s station

manager at Birmingham New Street, said, ‘A quarter of a million people using the station in one day - the same as the population of Wolverhampton, Plymouth or Newcastle - is a huge figure and sets a new record…’

Patrick admits it all takes some managing. ‘Our careful planning, extra staff and focus on safety meant passengers were able to safely catch their trains and use the station. New Street will continue to be very busy in the build-up to Christmas and I urge everyone who is planning to use the station to plan their journey, check before they travel and always know their last few trains.’

Bridge of sighs Ebbsfleet shines with ellenor stars People at Ebbsfleet International Station can remember a loved one by hanging an ellenor star on the station’s Christmas tree during Advent.

Local charity, ellenor, looks after those suffering from terminal illness. The ellenor stars include a section to write the name of somebody the visitor is thinking about over Christmas, in return for a donation to the charity.

‘We received lots of positive feedback from our

customers about this initiative last year, so are proud to be supporting ellenor again during this festive period and hope the support we can offer will benefit many more families facing terminal illness,’ says Catherine Bridges, who works as a Customer Service Assistant on the station.

‘It is a perfect way for our customers to think about a loved one this Christmas by dedicating a star on our tree and we also found our team members here used it as a way of remembering colleagues who have sadly passed away,’ added Catherine.

The care which ellenor provides families facing terminal illness will continue 24/7 over Christmas - both at the hospice and out in the community. Last year Ebbsfleet helped raise awareness of the charity and £730.24.

The charity was founded by Graham Perolls in 1985 after the deaths of his mother Ellen and father Norman.

A war refugee who worked at the Great Western Railway Hotel in Paddington has had a new footbridge named after her.

Rosa Sigal fled Germany in the 1930s having lost her job as she was Jewish. First she slipped across the border into Italy where she worked in a hotel.

As war became imminent and Italy looked like throwing in its lot with the Third Reich, she moved to Britain with her sister.

She worked as a servant in Scotland in a castle before getting the job at Paddington.

Rosa Sigal worked at the hotel throughout the war rising to the position of head book keeper.

After the war, with compensation from the German government, she first bought a flat and rented it out. Eventually she bought the entire apartment block.

Rosa Sigal settled in Gomshall, Guildford, Surrey. As well as enjoying travelling with her sister, Rosa also enjoyed going to auctions and decided to buy land in Gomshall adjoining the railway at auction for her four greatnephews, who all adored her and still miss her now.

The new, fully-accessible footbridge was installed by Network Rail as part of its ongoing programme to improve safety at level crossings in Britain.

David Gould, Rosa’s greatnephew, worked closely with Network Rail to provide the land necessary to install the bridge.

The bridge was officially opened on Friday 25th November 2016 or 24th Cheshvan, 5777 in the Hebrew calendar.

The Great Western Hotel was opened in 1854 and was owned

by GWR. Brunel pioneered the hotel and was supportive of its ornate Second Empire style.

Today it still flourishes, a rendezvous and backdrop for dramas almost as compelling as Rosa Sigal’s.

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20

RAIL ALLIANCE

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

ROLLING STOCK SUPPLY CHAINS

AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCALE

NEW MEMBERS L.C. SWITCHGEAR LTD

What an amazing event! The Rail Alliance's latest networking meeting was held in Newcastle, and courtesy of our hosting member NewRail, the centre for railway research at Newcastle University, we were able to treat delegates to a stellar speaker line-up in a unique and inspiring venue.

The topic of the rolling stock supply chain always attracts a full house and this session was no exception. However, it was unique in that, thanks to the array of presentations, it gave a rich insight into the historical and contemporary importance of the rail sector to the North East, whilst also proving that rail really is a valuable diversification destination for many high value manufacturing companies.

We were delighted to be supported at the event by Business Durham with whom came a wide number of companies from oil and gas, automotive and other sectors for which diversification is key. Among a number of case studies, we heard how member and local firm Dyer Engineering Ltd, which specialises in precision machined, high integrity fabrications, is now a key supplier into Hitachi Rail Europe and the success that Romag has enjoyed since breaking into the sector in recent times.

The opportunity that the rolling stock supply chain offers to the region was echoed in the presentation given by Neil Ovenden of the Rail Delivery Group. From OEM to TOC, the region has and continues to grow in importance; Neil’s presentation gave a succinct but suitably detailed overview of the interplay between the ROSCO, TOC, OEM and T1 and where suppliers can find their niche(s). As stated

by Andy Sykes of Seymourpowell, ‘I have been working in rail for nearly 10 years, and Neil’s 20-minute presentation summarised the industry with great clarity and refreshing approachability.’

Overview then moved to real-time example and Alex of VTEC delivered an encouraging and motivating presentation that tackled the major challenge of obsolescence and the ever important Innovation in the Franchising programme.

VTEC was the first franchise with built-in innovation targets. Alex talked about the way in which the Virgin brand encourages innovation in all its businesses. We heard how Virgin Startup, its fast track innovation

(LCS are committed to satisfying ‘Whole Life Cost Effective Solutions’ for the Railways. The Product range is designed to provide low maintenance, cost effective, long life solutions for the Railway Isolation & Bonding requirements) www.lcswitchgear.com scheme, is actively seeking and bringing new products and companies into its supplier base. It was evident from the presentation that a supplier relationship with this particular franchise is never simply a transactional one and that VTEC really has nurtured its supply chain across the route and its own and others’ depots.

Nexus’ John Fenwick, director of finance and resources, followed with a brief history of the city’s metro before moving on to the system’s exciting new plans. The ambition of the 1970s, when the metro was first conceived and built, still runs strong today. John illustrated the need and economic viability for a new fleet – and the ways Nexus is working with the DfT and the public in relation to funding and vehicle design accordingly. This was a timely presentation given that the OGC review will take place by the end of the year, and subject to approval, OJEUs for new vehicles (with very location-specific specifications) are anticipated mid-2017.

What this session achieved was varied. To companies new to rail it really underlined the fact that there is real opportunity in the region, and not just at Newton Aycliffe. To established members it shone new light on a popular topic.

In all instances, every single presentation was realistically inspirational, giving encouragement and information without hyperbole.

During the networking breaks there was a palpable feeling of optimism in the room and a phenomenal level of interaction between delegates, speakers, members and newbies.

Rail Alliance would like to extend its thanks to NewRail of Newcastle University for hosting the session and to all speakers for taking part in the day. For details of Rail Alliance’s 2017 networking events, please go to www.railalliance.co.uk – our next event is the members-only meeting on 6 December in Birmingham.

Light after Dark - Railway Lighting Expo When: 1 February, 2017 Where: Quinton Rail Technology Centre, Long Marston, CV37 8RP Time: 14:00hrs to 1930hrs Who will be exhibiting: Temporary lighting solution providers, to fixed columns and lanterns, flood lighting, exterior platform/

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INDO LIGHTING (Pioneering manufacturer of Direct Drive® LED street lights and retrofit solutions) www.indolighting.com

CISCO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED (Worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. In the areas of trackside networks, stations and on-board communications for railways, Cisco is leading the transition to a network-centric technology environment) www.cisco.com

ELAND CABLES (Global supplier of cables and cable accessories to industries including Rail.

Offer Network Rail approved cables for next day delivery in the UK) www.elandcables.com

CECENCE LTD (Cecence have developed a portfolio of innovative materials with the focus on aerospace and rail interiors. They are able to satisfy the demand for lightweight shaped panels which pass FST standards, coupled with fast, uncomplicated processing.) www.cecence,com

station lighting, interior station lighting, interior lighting for rolling stock, specialist services and innovations, and CCTV services.

Free Entry Come and see a wide range of railway lighting, safety and security solutions being demonstrated in the environment they were designed for! Against the backdrop of a real-rail environment at our working site in Long Marston, taking full advantage of the moonless night.

For more information on exhibiting or visiting, please go to www.railalliance.co.uk/event/lightdark-railway-lighting-solutions-innovations

We achieve together Our Support Network for Operational Women in Engineering (SNOWE) is fully aligned with the wider Carillion desire to have a diverse workforce, where people are proud to work for our business, all contributing to “Making Tomorrow a better place�.

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22

HEALTH+SAFETY

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

EMBEDDING SAFETY INTO

4LM

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SARAH TACK, HEAD OF SAFETY AT THALES UK’S TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS SPEAKS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF MANAGING SAFETY ON THE LONDON UNDERGROUND’S 4LM PROJECT AND WHY A POWERFUL SAFETY MESSAGE MAKES BUSINESS SENSE.

M

anaging risk on a project isn’t just about being the safety police, says Sarah; it is much more important to support and encourage safe practice.

On something like the Four Lines Modernisation (4LM) project, probably one of the largest and most complex resignalling programmes in the world, that philosophy is being put to the test.

4LM is bringing a modern moving block CBTC signalling system to the District, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines, collectively known as the sub-surface lines.

The project will be commissioned in phases between 2019 and 2023. Once complete, it will allow 32 trains per hour to run at peak times, increasing capacity by more than a third.

As well as employing in-cab signalling equipment, new lineside infrastructure will be needed across the 250 miles of railway that makes up the sub-surface network.

Delivering this system of new cables, masts and sensors is a team of around 400 engineers.

Putting the size and complexity of the project to one side, it is the first time Thales has been the principal contractor, as defined by the Construction Design Management Regulations, for a London Underground project. In taking the lead, Thales has an even greater responsibility to ensure the project is delivered safely.

Embedding a strong safety message in terms of governance, compliance and leadership throughout the project and its supply chain is therefore essential.

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

VICTORIAN INFRASTRUCTURE 4LM has maintained a good safety record, with no major incidents since the project began and more than 3.5 million hours currently worked without a RIDDOR. The Underground’s Victorian infrastructure means asbestos and lead paint are an everpresent concern. There are also activities which require working at height or excavation - all of which have to be delivered within the limited working windows of an operational railway.

‘There’s also the challenge of getting pre-construction information - historical information on the network that we’re installing on,’ says Sarah, who understands London Underground’s infrastructure better than most, having worked for Transport for London (TfL) and its supply chain for several years before joining Thales.

‘One of the other challenges we face stems from the fact we’re not the only contractor working on London Underground - far from it. We’re constantly interfacing with other contractors, making sure that our works or their works don’t import risk or adversely affect safety so that we can work alongside them while keeping delays and issues to a minimum.’

HEALTH+SAFETY

23

BEHAVIOUR-BASED SAFETY AND WELLBEING Sarah is keen to talk about behaviourbased safety and what the approach tells the project about why incidents occur.

‘The railway industry is full of rules and regulations, but incidents still occur,’ says Sarah. ‘So it isn’t just about process, it’s about getting people’s behaviour and mindset in the right place. Bringing them on the continuous safety journey is essential. Thinking of ways to encourage them to look after themselves and their colleagues rather than just following the rules for fear of getting caught if they don’t is key to sustain the positive attitude in the long term.’

To help staff understand this risk, Thales brought in actors to help deliver interactive behaviour-based training workshops. The sessions were intended to show how someone’s actions, whether they’re on site or in the office, can influence safety. Footage was filmed in the field to show the potential consequences that decisions made miles away from a work site can sometimes have.

The wellbeing of staff has also come into focus through the delivery of 4LM. Thales employs what it calls ‘health surveillance’ and has introduced wellbeing programmes which offer advice on improving sleep patterns and

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24

HEALTH+SAFETY

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

diet. ‘Also there’s stress to think about too,’ says Sarah, who had studied sports ergonomics and human factors prior to becoming more involved in operational safety. ‘There are lots of people working with a challenging, fast-paced project, and it’s critical to look after the people who deliver it as much as we do with the milestones and direct project costs.’

COMPLACENCY Thales came into 4LM with the experience of successfully delivering similar radio-based CBTC signalling systems on the Jubilee and Northern lines. However, it’s important not to feel too comfortable, says Sarah who, in setting the safety strategy for the project, has put complacency at the top of the agenda.

‘We must do all the things to keep safety fresh and drive down that complacency because once you become complacent, the risk of injury and incident increases massively.’

The scale of resignalling the sub-surface lines, which accounts for around 40 per cent of the London Underground network, is also much bigger. ‘The vastness of this project has necessitated us bringing in a lot of new people,’ says Sarah. It has been a case of trying to address any potential skills gap without losing the knowledge gained on earlier projects.

A keen distance runner, Sarah compared managing complacency to completing a marathon; both require the same focus and determination to reach the end safely and on time. ‘Avoiding complacency on a long-term project such as 4LM is a continuous challenge which will be present for as long as the project programme is there. It takes tenacity and energy to keep focussed.’

SAFETY BY DESIGN Sarah’s role, like Thales as a business, is global in its nature. In fact, the design team for 4LM is based in Canada, requiring a close working relationship with the team in London to overcome the idiosyncrasies of the capital’s 150-year-old metro system. It is at the design stage that a focus on safety can reap some of the biggest rewards.

Sarah Tack.

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There are a number of examples on 4LM where early interaction at the design phase has engineered out potential hazards. The installation of the radio equipment requires a significant amount of excavation, which involves the inherent risk of striking buried services. By using a certain kind of mast and installation technique this risk has been largely removed. Road-rail vehicles have also been used to install the concrete bases for the masts, eliminating any manual handling risk.

It is also at the design phase that the whole lifecycle of the infrastructure is considered, allowing certain materials, which could be potentially hazardous when the asset is decommissioned, to be avoided entirely.

ZERO HARM FORUM Every three months, London Underground meets with Thales and its various subcontractors at the project’s Zero Harm Forum to proffer updates on the project’s safety performance and discuss any issues.

The last event was hosted by Thales at its 4LM office in Beckton.

‘Cast your mind back four years, there is no comparison,’ says Sarah, considering how much the industry’s health and safety culture has matured since she began her career as a HSE advisor in 1997. Even since taking on her current role in 2011, the perception of what health and safety can offer has changed, says Sarah.

‘One of the most powerful messages I think I’ve made is that by employing good safety practice you are saving money, you’re improving your reputation, you’re driving down delays, which again has cost

implications, and you’re lowering your risk of getting adverse publicity as a result of an incident. It really does have a huge impact on the bottom line.’

She added, ‘One of the things we’ve focussed on a lot, which has been successful, is making sure that safety isn’t seen as the safety police, it’s not seen as a bolt on, it’s seen as a real helper and facilitator for the projects… We’re not there to catch you out, we’re there to help you and also to be the conscience of the business.’

One way Thales is doing this is by sending senior managers out to site. Says Sarah, ‘That allows them to learn a lot but it also shows a massive commitment to the workforce that these senior people do go out at two o’clock in the morning and get on site.’

It’s a balancing act, says Sarah, who has worked to promote a blame-free culture where staff feel empowered to report incidents. Managers turning up with clipboards and red pens doesn’t do much for morale. ‘We’ve done a lot of training with our senior managers on safety engagement, safety tours and their accountability for safety, so that they go in with an open and collaborative attitude rather than I’m coming up to check on you.’

As 4LM progresses, Sarah looks forward to seeing the role of her team develop. Closer working and collaboration are areas where she’d like to see further improvement across the industry as a whole. The work on 4LM, however, demonstrates the way in which health and safety is now more involved at all levels, implementing ideas that will actually improve people’s lives and not just prevent incidents which could ruin them.

26

TRACK SAFETY

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

CROYDON TRAM 7 FATALITIES, 51 HOSPITALISED

S

REPORT BY COLIN WHEELER

70 kph into the 20 kph curve

adly this year will now be remembered for the passenger fatalities and injuries that resulted from this accident. I am in little doubt that the full report on this dreadful accident at Croydon will result in changes to the safety systems we build into the tram systems of the future.

I had hoped that this month we might celebrate the longest period we have ever experienced without an on track worker fatality. Maybe we still should.

It was dark and raining heavily at 6-07 am on the morning of Wednesday November 9th when the Croydon Accident occurred. The tram involved was number 2551, built by Bombardier in 1998. It consisted of two cars joined by an articulation unit providing the inbound service from New Addington to Wimbledon via Croydon.

After leaving Lloyd Park trams travel for 900 metres across open ground before entering the three short Sandilands Tunnels. These tunnels are closely spaced and have a total length of 512 metres. Trams emerge from the last of them at around 100 metres before the left hand curve where the accident occurred. Normal speed is restricted to 80 kph but the curve is protected by a 20 kph (12 mph) speed restriction.

Trams go into on street running after stopping at Sandilands.

On November 16th the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) issued their nine page interim report and unusually a request for “any other information you consider relevant to this accident”.

The report also stressed RAIB’s independence from “any investigation by the tramway industry, the British Transport Police or by the Office of Rail and Road”. Seven people suffered fatal injuries and a further 51 were taken to hospital, 8 of them with serious or life threatening injuries.

The interim report notes that no track defects had been found nor any malfunction of the tram’s braking system.

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It goes on to comment that braking was applied in the 180 metres before the 20 kph speed restriction but this only reduced the tram’s speed to 70 kph (43.5 mph) by the time the tram entered the restricted curve.

The tram derailed as a result on the 30 metres radius curve and overturned. It then travelled for a further 25 metres on its side before stopping in the vicinity of the junction.

The RAIB estimate that around 60 passengers were on the tram with its driver being the only staff member on board.

No warning or speed control systems Croydon trams operate on “line of sight” principles as is usual for city trams with drivers

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

TRACK SAFETY

27

Diagram of accident location.

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checking that the route ahead is clear.

Indicators are provided wherever conflict can occur at junctions and road crossings. The interim report notes that “there is no requirement for advance warning systems, neither is there any requirement for speed control systems to be fitted to trams”.

Tram 2551’s On-Tram Data Recorder (OTDR) was working on the day of the accident and provided the details of the tram’s speed but its internal CCTV was not. Maybe the full RAIB report will affect design criteria for the £144 million Glasgow Airport Project Tram Link, we will have to wait and see!

[On the same day a locomotive ran away at 10 am in Toton Sidings but details have yet to be released although the RAIB

has indicated that a Safety Digest on the incident will be published. Also on November 5th a chartered passenger train derailed at Southampton Eastern Docks. No details have been published but RAIB are to produce a Safety Digest about the incident.]

Level Crossing fatalities In its report on a fatal level crossing accident RAIB notes that since 2005 they have investigated no fewer than eleven such accidents involving either pedestrians or cyclists at passive level crossings.

Four of these crossings had skewed alignments and in each case the skew orientated the users view away from the approaching train: also two of the four involved “vulnerable users”.

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28

TRACK SAFETY

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

On November 21st RAIB released its report into the fatal accident that occurred at Grimston Lane level crossing at Trimley St Martin in Suffolk on February 23rd this year when at 1219 an elderly pedestrian was struck and killed on the crossing.

The pedestrian raised his arm A single car Class 153 DMU formed the Ipswich to Felixtowe passenger train that day. On seeing the pedestrian the train driver sounded his horn and the pedestrian raised his arm in apparent acknowledgement.

However he continued to cross the line. The RAIB has concluded that he was either unaware of the train when he decided to cross or misjudged the time he needed. They also comment that the health and age of the man (Mr Sawyer) means that he also qualified as a person that Network Rail’s guidance notes categorise as “vulnerable users”.

The branch line has 14 crossings with no fewer than 6 closely grouped between Thorpe Grove and St Martin, with only 133 metres between the closest ones. Of these six one is an automatic half barrier crossing, two are user worked and three are footpath crossings.

Pedestrian suffering from dementia

accidents. Safety Central describes an accident that occurred in the early hours of November 11th, the incident report was issued on November 28th.

A Liebherr A900 excavator derailed and overturned into the cess at Kingsbury Junction. The report advises that the machine was in rail mode at an access point and was slewing round prior to being coupled up to a trailer when it overturned. It also states that the machine had been “put into an overload condition”.

Overalls caught fire Back on September 25th this year members of Network Rail’s Orpington track team were injured during an “isolation irregularity” at Maxwell Bank Orpington!

They were working within what they thought was an isolated worksite using timber nips which came into contact with the third rail. The plan involved the shortening of a two part possession but it had not been planned within the usual timeframes.

Consequently safety briefings were issued late and when the conductor rail was partly re-energised the team were unaware of the change in isolation and the new hazard within their worksite. Resultant injuries included severe arc eye and a bruised ankle and fractured wrist whilst moving away from the flashover. Another team member’s overalls caught fire.

The report makes no mention of the trauma effects.

Network Rail’s monitoring of the crossings indicated usage at an average rate of 17 pedestrians each day. Mr Sawyer was 82 years of age and had been diagnosed with dementia in July 2014.

The train driver was accompanied in the cab by a Network Rail Supervisor who was “examining the railway for track maintenance purposes”. At 1207 a freight train had passed over the crossing.

After the passenger train driver sounded his horn his train struck the pedestrian by its front right hand corner and the train was brought to a halt 380 metres further on.

Back on 16th August, but not featured until October were the burns to both forearm and wrist suffered by a fabricator during bridge refurbishment work.

Molten metal had burnt through the palms of his protective gauntlets resulting in his burns.

The report says that the gloves were subsequently thought to be of “an inferior import version” but adds that they have been replaced by the company whilst further investigations take place.

Road/Railer overturned

Live fuse carrier

I am pleased to note that Network Rail’s own safety website continues to report significant incidents and

At Oxford Parkway a contractor received an electric shock whilst working on a Bussman Cam Master fuse carrier with a 32

Inferior gauntlets

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Amp rating. He was working on a lineside location case and had touched the fuse carrier which subsequently was found to have an elevated voltage of 300 volts on its surface.

This was the result of a breakdown of its surface insulation. Fortunately he was not injured.

Mobile telephones and other hand held devices Recent press reports have reminded me of a road accident over 20 years ago when a work colleague suffered major injuries when he attempted to answer his mobile telephone whilst driving and drove off the road into a tree as a result.

Arguably hands free usage is not much better even if it is legal. Now we equip some safety critical workers with mobile devices. Are the benefits worthwhile compared to the risks? Has our addiction to such devices had an effect on the ability of skilled personnel to remain focussed on the job in hand?

I recently had reason to drive between Bristol and Newcastle, fortunately delays were minimal and the only speed restrictions I encountered were of just 50 mph. However I was shocked by the number of HGV’s and light vans being driven by drivers holding mobiles to their ears. I will travel by train again next time!

It couldn’t cause an accident on our railway could it?

Tax efficient remuneration and insurances Low wages compared to Chief Executives are the news story as I am writing. Minimum Wage

and Living Wage rates have been given a lot of publicity recently as have zero-hours contracts, self-employment and the use of “tax efficient methods of remuneration”.

A vociferous reader who works in our industry wrote to me bemoaning the current situation. He tries he tells me to work safely and responsibly but is concerned that some of his competitors may not do so.

We have qualified principle contractors as well as subcontractors providing specialist services and workers.

Are all their insurance provisions robust?

Link up accreditation and the holding of valid Sentinel cards with details of rail skills used to be examined, not only on site but also by unannounced audit visits to suppliers' premises where detailed checks were made of rail employers.

Auditors made it clear that employers were responsible for training their people and providing them with the necessary personal protective equipment free of charge.

Checks were also carried out to ensure that individuals took adequate rest periods between shifts. My correspondent suggests that controls may now have been loosened. Is this your experience? I vividly recall situations when a failed Friday safety-audit that had not been expected resulted in a last minute change of contract supplier and the removal (at least temporarily) of that supplier from the approved list.

Is the current system working well? Does it need improvement?

30

ORR RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

THE ROLE OF THE

HEALTH+SAFETY

WHAT ROLE THE OFFICE OF RAIL AND ROAD (ORR) WILL PLAY IN THE FUTURE IS FAR FROM CLEAR.

S

peaking to RailStaff following the publication of his review last year, Sir Peter Hendy, referring back to his time at TfL, questioned its role in planning and determining major programmes of work.

Not long after that, the Department for Transport (DfT) launched an industry consultation into what the future role of the ORR should be.

By and large, the responses recognised a need for the ORR, both in terms of its role as a health and safety regulator and as an independent economic regulator.

Many didn’t feel the reclassification of Network Rail had changed that, particularly given the invitation of more private sector funding in the railway.

Regardless of these external pressures, the ORR will have to adapt. Technological innovations like ERTMS and the Digital Railway, for example, will have a profound effect on the way that the railway operates.

This month, we are looking at the functions of the ORR and how future challenges will shape its role into CP6.

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REPORT BY PAUL DARLINGTON

WHAT IS THE ORR? Put bluntly, the ORR is a non-ministerial government department run by around 300 staff located in six locations throughout the country. As well as regulating the railway, it is also responsible for some roads, operating within a framework set

by UK and EU legislation. With a budget of around £30 million each year, it is funded by the rail

industry, and the Department for Transport for highways, and is accountable through Parliament and the courts.

The ORR was established as the Office of Rail Regulation on 5 July 2004 by the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, replacing the Rail Regulator.

It became the Office of Rail and Road on 16 October 2015 following ORR’s appointment as Monitor for Highways England under the Infrastructure Act 2015.

They are responsible for making sure that railway operators comply with health and safety law, but the ORR also regulates Network Rail’s activities and funding requirements, regulates access to the railway network, licenses the operators of railway assets and publishes rail statistics. It is the ORR’s responsibility to ensure that those responsible make Britain’s railways safe for passengers and provide a safe place for staff to work.

What don’t they do? Well their responsibilities do not include highway safety, fares, franchise awards, passenger complaints, LUL funding, product approvals, and scheme approvals - although it once did.

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

One of the myths in the industry is that an inspector may arrive at site with a notice already part completed and that they have a target or quota of notices to issue. This is not the case and formal enforcement is the last thing that anyone wants. Inspectors will be visiting their parts of the rail system, getting to understand issues and working with duty holders to comply with the law. In many cases there will be informal and formal meetings, dialogue and correspondence where concerns will be identified and resolved without the need for enforcement.

IT’S THE LAW OF THE LAND The fundamental purpose of the ORR is to enforce health and safety (H&S) legislation governing rail activities for mainline, metros and heritage rail. The H&S role was one time undertaken by Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) but now HMRI inspectors are known as ORR inspectors, although warrant cards are still marked HMRI. Responsibilities include rail accident investigation for prosecution purposes, unlike the Rail Accident Investigation Board (RAIB) who only investigate accidents to establish root causes. This can result in witnesses being interviewed independently by ORR, RAIB, the police, together with the operator's own investigation.

If action is required relating to an H&S issue there are three levels of formal enforcement: improvement notice, prohibition notice and prosecution. An improvement notice will identify an issue and give the operator or infrastructure manager a specified period of time to put things right. If no action is taken, or the matter is dangerous, a prohibition notice may be issued, which “stops the job” and prevents the non-compliance continuing until the issue is rectified. The final stage is the issue being taken to court.

LEVEL CROSSINGS AND LICENSES

HEALTH+SAFETY

31

The ORR is a Health and Safety regulator and an independant economic regulator.

The ORR inspector is also responsible for issuing a level crossing order whenever a change is made at a level crossing. Again this is underpinned by law and any change made to a level crossing without a new level crossing order is an offence.

The ORR has a general policy of not agreeing to any new level crossings as these are recognised as a high risk part of the rail system, and misuse at crossings is common and difficult to militate against.

With the demand for rail increasing there is a corresponding rise in the demand for the reopening of crossings, with mothballed lines now needed for new services and heritage lines expanding.

This can be a challenging legal issue particularly if the crossing was never legally closed and the applicant claims it’s not a new level crossing, although the balance of risk could have changed since it was last in operation.

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32

HEALTH+SAFETY

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

Another ORR responsibility is the licensing of railway operators. Operating railway assets and providing passenger and freight train services are of national importance and the ORR safeguard the assets and service by placing obligations on the operators.

For example, Network Rail Infrastructure Limited has two licenses, one for the whole network and one for the stations it operates.

The network licence has a requirement for Network Rail asset management to develop the policies and criteria it will apply in respect of the maintenance, renewal, replacement, improvement, enhancement and development of the relevant assets.

PERIODIC REVIEW The funding for most of Network Rail activities are determined on a five yearly basis known as a Control Period (CP). CP5 will run out in March 2019, with CP6 starting in April 2019.

The Periodic Review (PR18) is the process by which the funding and the deliverables are determined for CP6. The timetable, which is subject to review and change, is for the Government to publish its high level output specification (HLOS) - starting what it wants

Network Rail to deliver - together with a statement of funds available (SoFA) in June 2017.

Network Rail will then have to respond with its strategic business plan by October 2017 which the ORR will review before publishing its draft determination in June 18, followed by its final determination in October 2018. Network Rail has a number of options but it could well issue a draft delivery plan in December 2018, with the final delivery plan in March 2019 ready for the start of CP6 in April 2019.

Of all the schemes to be delivered in CP6, ERTMS and the Digital Railway will have the most profound impact. The roles of train driver and signaller will obviously be affected, but so are those of station staff, guards, rolling stock, maintenance staff, track workers, timetable planners together with changes to the rule book and standards. Track access and Schedule 8 compensation payments might change as more control of infrastructure moves on to the train from the track. Funding for this will have to be found.

The CP5 determination included some funds for ERTMS together with statements of what that was to deliver. In CP5, the deployment on

ECML and GWML were treated as signalling renewals and hence included within the general funding budget for maintaining the railway at an acceptable condition.

This did not recognise the potential enhancements that ERTMS should offer and for CP6 it has not yet been determined if ERTMS funding will be treated as a renewal, an enhancement or possibly separated from the five yearly determination.

If there is more equipment on the trains and less on the track then it might be expected that a TOC becomes responsible for more train delay. Is this what the industry wants? But equally if ERTMS results in less equipment on the track should the track access charges be reduced?

Respondents to the DfT’s consultation did question whether the ORR was still in a position to hold Network Rail to account and whether the Government was now better placed to provide oversight on enhancements.

If you take ERTMS as an example, while the ORR does not directly determine these issues, it does have a duty to ensure that these issues are discussed and resolved fairly, something only a truly independent regulator can do.

Many thanks to Ian Maxwell of the ORR for his input into this article.

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EVENTS

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BIM Summit FOCUS OF THIS EVENT How are we currently using BIM?

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36

EVENTS

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

Railtex 2017 Reasons to be cheerful November gave the rail supply chain plenty of reasons to feel optimistic about 2017. As well as the chancellor’s Autumn Statement, which included funding commitments for the Digital Railway and the East West Rail link, the Government announced the preferred route for Phase 2 of HS2.

Confidence in the rail sector has been the story of Railtex in recent years. Next year will be the 13th event in the series and, five months out, stand space is already at a premium, with three-quarters of the floor plan now allocated.

More than 270 exhibitors have been confirmed so far for next year’s exhibition, which will return to the NEC in Birmingham from 9 to 11 May. As well as exploring the show, exhibitors and visitors will again have the chance to listen to keynote talks from industry leaders, technical seminars and project updates.

Says Kirsten Whitehouse from organisers Mack Brooks Exhibitions, ‘The Government is making it very clear that investments in the UK’s infrastructure, including improvements to the rail network, are essential to support economic growth. These latest plans join a list of many other big Network Rail and Transport for London projects in the pipeline.

‘For the industry’s suppliers Railtex offers a great opportunity for their products and services to be introduced to thousands of buyers from the UK and around the world. More than 7,400 engineers, managers and buyers visited the last Railtex in 2015, including nearly 10 per cent from overseas. We are now working hard to ensure an equally successful attendance at next year’s show.’

Registration will be available on the show website early next year.

The future depends on what we do today Whether it’s improving transport systems, designing energy infrastructure or master planning urban spaces, we are committed to creating a better society and shaping the future of the world we live in.

To find out more visit www.atkinsglobal.com

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Blown fibre Rail Day Emtelle has announced that its second Rail Day event will take place in London in January.

The event, which will be held at the Hilton London, Paddington, on 19 January, is an opportunity for rail professionals nationwide to meet and discuss the benefits of blown fibre within rail environments.

Emtelle held its first rail show-tell day in October this year at the National Rail Museum in York for Network Rail and suppliers responsible for delivering signalling and telecoms systems to the industry.

The event aimed to showcase alternative optical fibre systems for rail trackside deployment. Emtelle

experts listened to the perceived barriers and challenges facing the industry and then explained how Emtelle FibreFlowTM solutions can help solve these obstacles.

This was followed by a blown fibre demonstration delivered by an Emtelle technical expert to showcase just how simple, quick and cost effective the process can be.

The day provided an insight into what the rail sector needs and summed up how Emtelle can accommodate by engaging, investing and innovating.

To be a part of this day and join us in expert discussions on how to overcome the challenges the rail industry face, please contact simonw@emtelle.com

38

SUMMITS

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

Cathy Myatt presenting November's Rail Sustainability Summit.

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RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

SUMMITS

39

SENSE AND SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAINABILITY MAKES GOOD BUSINESS SENSE. THAT WAS THE MESSAGE FROM THE RAIL MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT.

A

ccording to the United Nations sustainable development has three elements: economic development, social development and environmental protection. Sustainability is only achieved when these aspects are in balance.

Specific sustainability guidance is provided

by CEEQUAL, BREEAM and PAS 2080. The Civil Engineering Environmental Quality scheme (CEEQUAL) is a sustainability assessment scheme for infrastructure projects that was launched in 2003 which has assessed hundreds of projects with a value of work exceeding £30 billion. BREEAM is more concerned with sustainable assessment of buildings. Since its launch in 1990, it has certified over half a million developments.

PAS 2080 is the British Standard which considers carbon management across the infrastructure lifecycle.

THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT Presentations at the summit included many examples of how sustainability was good business. Perhaps the strongest indication is how HM Treasury are promoting carbon reductions. RSSB’s sustainability specialist Michelle Papayannakos mentioned that its 2013 Infrastructure Carbon Review contains recommendations which aim to save up to 24 million tonnes of carbon (5 per cent of the UK total) and save £1.5 billion a year by 2050.

John Nyota, managing director of the Wesley hotel group, was clear that businesses should create wealth and jobs in an ethical manner without leaving damage in their wake. Clients increasingly favoured sustainability and were concerned about issues such as climate change. Moreover, in a digital age, corporate governance is under the microscope and transparency is a must. He explained how the hotel had improved waste management and created sustainable buildings to deliver significant savings.

The Wesley group measures its performance through the three sustainability pillars of profit, social and environmental impact. There is no doubt that this approach has proved successful as over a five-year period the turnover of their Euston hotel has increased from £2 to £7 million and a £100,000 loss has been transformed to a £2 million profit.

REPORT BY DAVID SHIRRES

SOCIAL BENEFITS Stephen Farrant is the director of environment and market solutions for Business in the Community (BITC), a network of over 800 businesses committed to continually improving their positive impact on society through corporate social responsibility. He noted the harm done to Volkswagen’s reputation from their emissions coverup, estimated to cost them £15 billion. He had no doubt that businesses need to be socially acceptable if they are to thrive.

Research undertaken by BITC had revealed that 75 per cent of those surveyed believed a company can be more profitable by finding ways to address social problems. It estimated that 30 per cent of a company’s value is at risk if it becomes disconnected from society, that meaningful brands can achieve 46 per cent more consumer spending than regular brands and that visionary companies deliver greater returns than those that are purely profit-driven.

To support this approach, BITC have produced a toolkit to help businesses develop purpose-driven brands.

Customers are increasingly expecting to see the purpose behind the brand as their expectation is that the product is not just ‘not bad’ but that it will actively ‘do good’.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Carillion’s head of supply chain, Paul Paddick, explained his company’s approach to community engagement. Without a long-term commitment to understand and help meet the needs of the communities in which they live and work, Carillion consider they cannot be effective or trusted. For this reason, each of their projects has a community needs plan.

Shamit Gaiger, the RSSB’s head of sustainability and innovation policy, mentioned how industry faced a skills shortage that was driving up costs. She noted that part of the solution was an improved social profile to attract people to the industry and to improve the gender balance as, for example, only 4 per cent of rolling stock engineers are female.

The Rail Sustainability Summit took place at the offices of Addleshaw Goddard in London in November.

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40

GEAR+TECH

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

WINTER WARMER

FROM BALLYCLARE AND GORE

F

or over 20 years, Ballyclare Limited has been designing, manufacturing and distributing a wide range of industrial workwear, corporate garments, high visibility and waterproof/foul weather garments, across multiple industrial markets, including rail.

Having worked in close partnership with Gore for many years supplying GORE-TEX® Technical Garments to the rail industry, both were delighted to announce during Rail Live 2016 the successful contract win to supply Network Rail with protective workwear.

This new contract is believed to be one of the largest-ever UK deals to supply GO/ RT rail-compliant workwear. This includes supplying Network Rail workers with hi-vis and waterproof clothing utilising GORE-TEX® Product technology, as well as flame retardant and arc protection clothing.

‘The extensive rail experience we have was obviously a significant benefit for us when it came to the very stringent tender process,’ explains Maggie Shaw, Ballyclare’s sales and service manager for the rail industry. ‘However, we certainly weren’t able to rest on our laurels as that process was both lengthy and challenging.’

The company had to adhere to the exacting specifications set down by Network Rail. A number of design and construction modifications took place during the tender process, with every single aspect of the garments closely specified and scrutinised. This included use of a very specific shade of hi-vis orange GORE-TEX® Fabric to ensure maximum safety for the end user when working trackside. In addition, extensive independent testing, wearer and laundry trials took place during this year-long process.

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RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

GEAR+TECH

41

customers to access the same high quality and durable PPE, with the option for garments to be individually branded if required.

Ballyclare is an accredited supplier under the Rail Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme. The company supplies a full range of workwear for the industry, all of which complies with high visibility GO/RT 3279 and EN ISO 20471 standards. It includes waterproof and flame-retardant garments, plus an extensive range of fleece and next-to-skin options, allowing the customer to create the perfect workwear solution for all employees, regardless of their role.

Visit: ballyclarelimited.com or gore-workwear.co.uk

Apprentices put new range through its paces Ballyclare is now supplying a wide selection of jackets, trousers, coveralls, body-warmers and underwear to 13,000 trackside workers based at over 700 different Network Rail locations throughout the country.

Jonas Andersson, Gore Workwear Associate comments, ‘Ballyclare is already trusted by other major rail industry names such as Babcock, Amey and Transport for London to provide durable and waterproof hi-vis GORE-TEX® Garments to end users.

‘Gore’s wide portfolio of technical fabrics help workers keep warm, dry, visible and comfortable even during foul winter weather conditions.

Ballyclare’s design and construction is of the highest calibre: the new rail garment range meets all national and international standards for safety, performance and quality.’

The new range can also be cleaned and maintained repeatedly, so that they continue to provide durable and outstanding performance. Ballyclare’s Maggie Shaw comments, ‘For the Network Rail contract, we are working closely with their independent laundry provider. Every garment we supply is assigned to the individual wearer and carefully tracked, so that Network Rail has access to all the up-to-date information they need to ensure that their workwear is maintained in prime condition.’

The GORE-TEX® Garments created for the Network Rail contract are now available as part of the wider Ballyclare portfolio and can be purchased directly from the Ballyclare website. This allows other rail industry

Gore and Ballyclare Limited were the proud sponsors of the Apprentice of the Year Award at the 2016 RailStaff Awards, deservedly won by Billy Welch from Costain.

Following this, both companies jointly launched an apprentice wearer trial programme in late November, inviting young men and women in the rail sector to step forward and take part.

The programme involves the supply of GORE-TEX® jackets and trousers manufactured by Ballyclare from its Rail Safety Range, free of charge, in exchange for detailed feedback from the test team.

A total of 15 rail apprentices, ranging from apprentice civil engineers through to junior electricians and apprentice technical officers, were selected to take part and are currently testing out the kit during their daily routine.

After three months of using their Ballyclare Garments, questionnaires will be issued to the test team and following apprentice feedback, RailStaff will be reporting on the key findings and outcomes in a later issue. With foul weather due in the coming months, feedback regarding the design, comfort and protective qualities of this kit is expected to be very honest.

Additional wearer trials are planned for 2017. If you think your organisation would be interested in taking part in further wearer trials of GORE-TEX® jackets and trousers manufactured by Ballyclare please get in touch in the first instance with Maggie Shaw at Ballyclare: maggieshaw@ballyclarelimited.com

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42

FEATURE

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

The Last Great British Pacifics REPORT BY COLIN GARRATT, DIRECTOR OF MILEPOST 92 ½

C

olin Garratt, photographer to the railway industry, continues a series of features derived from his 40 years of expeditions documenting the last steam locomotives of the world. The great British Pacifics supplied to India in the period between the wars and ended their working life half a century later.

Colin Garratt could not see them die without making a unique photographic record so, following in the footsteps of William Stanier, he travelled to India to witness their last sad journey.

AT CALCUTTA

Following fifteen months of close contact with the Eastern Railway’s H.Q. in Calcutta, regarding the status of the XCs, I departed for Burdwan in March 1981. The Eastern Railway’s Chief Mechanical Engineer had indicated that as the XCs were over fifty years old - and a non-standard class - their complete withdrawal was both desirable and imminent. The XCs were in fact the longest-lived of all British Pacifics having been introduced to India in 1928. No. 22226 – one of the original batch from the Vulcan Foundry Lancashire – was fifty-two years old. The Indian XBs had all been withdrawn leaving the XCs as the last big British Pacifics left in service anywhere in the world.

PURE MAGIC I was met off the train by Depot Foreman Bajpai along with the Depot Chargeman Santosh and Loco Inspector Anupam. We took a track trolley down to the shed where six surviving XCs eked out their existence.

In a moment of pure magic I went back 30 years to the Grantham shed where, as a small child, I had watched the A3s so many times.

The euphoria of being back in Burdwan was short lived, as the following morning Bajpai came to my quarters with a cable from the CME’s office. It instructed him to stable all XCs and despatch them to Jamalpur for auction. It was an incredible coincidence – I had arrived with only days to spare.

We had a conference about retaining one for possible preservation and decided to keep No. 22224, a Vulcan Foundry engine of 1929. She was the only survivor with a noncopper firebox; this was an attribute as it reduced the engine’s market value.

We put her into red livery and Bajpai assigned her to the Bolpur run. This enabled me to obtain valuable film of the last working example and also provided a breathing space to acquire the necessary preservation order.

IN THE LOOP We commenced our trips to Bolpur but sadly the pick-up freight has no prestige and is looped to allow other trains to pass. It was frustrating to have our finely trimmed Pacific play second fiddle to grimy American styled WP and WGs with their knocking axle boxes and banging bushes.

The first day was dogged by heavy rain but our Pacific was in lovely fettle and peasants paused from their labours in lineside fields to watch the red engine thunder by.

The event resembled a scene from ‘The Great Locomotive Chase’ and we charged through Bhedia at a speed RAILSTAFF.UK | @RAILSTAFFUK | FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF

which cannot be disclosed – suffice to say that the signalman who stood watching our passage from the steps of his cabin gazed in sheer disbelief with his mouth wide open. The Bolpur pick-up had never behaved like this before! We swept through Guskara station platform and drew up against the line of water columns at the south end of the yard.

Drained of nervous energy, everyone repaired to a nearby café for hot tea and Rasogolla – a celebrated local sweetmeat. As we sat around the table I told tales of other British Pacifics; how the Indians marvelled at Mallard’s 126 mph dash in 1938 and the 5 ¾ hour non-stop sprint of Princess Elizabeth between Glasgow and London in 1933.

ON THE FOOTPLATE As we talked I thought of Stanier’s Pacific Locomotive Committee which visited India in 1938 to monitor the performance of the XCs following initial design problems. It was fitting that almost half a century later my team should be working to ensure that a proper pictorial record be made for posterity.

The next day No. 22224 was stopped for repairs to the tender, after which we continued with her on the Bolpur diagram. Over those days all sister engines were withdrawn and dispatched light-engine or in pairs to Jamalpur. Although our engine performed superbly, there was a limit

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

XC Pacific 22224 the last working survivor.

The XC team on the last day at Burdwan.

FEATURE

43

upon how long she could be allowed to remain in main-line service. It was agreed that our last run would be on Thursday 26th March and afterwards the entire team would mark the event with a special dinner at Bajpai’s house.

However, on the day we experienced delays in section and in order to be on time for the dinner, it was decided that we should return to Burdwan by passenger train as the XC was likely to experience delays on the slow line. Within minutes of our getting down at Khana, the Rampurhat-Burdwan express came in behind a WP Pacific. I preferred to travel by footplate. “Scrap iron,” Anupam snapped as he jabbed his thumb towards the WP. “The XCs were a superior engine in every way.” As we pulled out, I moved over to the fireman’s side to watch us overtake the XC.

Shadows lengthen on the locomotive dump at Jamalpur, with Indian Railways HPS Class 4-6-0s and XC Pacifics awaiting scrap.

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44

FEATURE

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

My picture of an XC is a romantic one; decked in LNER blue she mesmerises a passing cattle boy sitting on the bank of the Ganges tributary.

LAST LOCO RACE Only one station lies between Khana Jnc and Burdwan and I always cursed it for breaking up a potentially fast run down the main line, but on this evening Talit – as the wayside Halt is called – was to provide an experience I will never forget. As we ran in, I saw that the XC had been held in the station. Our colour light flicked to green but before we departed, I noticed that No. 22224 had received the right away as well; the two green lights shining ahead of us.

The XC’s chime whistle rang high above the WP’s deeper tones as the two giants pulled out of the station side by side. No. 22224’s crew were certainly going to give us a challenge and issuing a throaty roar the XC quickly drew ahead of us. Our eleven-coach express hung heavy but Anupam grabbed the WP’s regulator and opened it wide, whilst the driver advanced the cut-off. The semi-streamliner responded with a forward lurch but the XC had the scent of the chase and to my sheer joy she remained ahead by several wagon lengths. The trails of smoke left by the two Pacifics as they did battle over the electrified main line were a spectacle within themselves.

With maximum effort we inched our way past the XC’s speeding wagons until we drew alongside her and as the two engines ran neck and neck their crews exchanged shouts and waves. I was mesmerised by the sound of the XC at speed and the sight of its 6’2” diameter driving wheels spinning gloriously; seldom had I been more excited. What an incredible way to end the British Pacific tradition – a tradition which began in 1908 when Churchward introduced his ‘Great Bear’ and ended that afternoon in Bengal seventythree years later.

THUNDERSTORM As speed increased the roar from the two engines became deafening, until after a couple of miles, the XC was eased and soon disappeared in our smoke trail. Upon reaching Burdwan it was explained that the driver was to refrain from any further thrills on account of No. 22224’s age and status.

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An hour later I heard the XC pass through the station en route to the shed. As her whistle died away the dynasty to which she belonged slipped into history and the terrible thunderstorm which broke out over Burdwan later that evening seemed eerily related to the event.

Next morning, the Pacific team assembled at the shed for official pictures with our engine. When the photographs were completed, No. 22224 dropped her fire and later that day, following an emotional farewell, Margaret and I left Burdwan on an overnight train to Jamalpur.

AN OLD FRIEND Our accommodation at Jamalpur consisted of an Inspection Saloon stabled next to the shed yard. We had barely settled in before a knock came on the door. It was the depot foreman, “Good morning Mr Garratt, we have an old friend of yours here,” he announced. “Who is that?” I asked in a surprised voice. “Follow me,” the

foreman replied and he led us a mere fifty paces along the shed yard. “See”, he said pointing. Before us stood a forlorn XC; it was No. 22226 still in blue livery. “An old friend indeed,” I replied, shaking my head sadly.

“She was one of four auctioned for scrap last week,” the foreman continued. “Once the contractor’s deposit has been received the works pilot come to place them in the scrapyard.” “Is there nothing we can do to save her?” a colleague asked.

There was nothing: Bajpai and I had drawn up elaborate plans to set by No. 22224 for preservation and we could not hope to keep two of the class.

An English dinner complete with Eve’s pudding and homemade custard did something to console us but still we cried over those engines for I knew far better than most of my Indian friends what the Indian XC represented. They were the last remaining link from a bygone age of passenger travel when railways were railways as they will never be again.

46

YOUNG RAIL PROFESSIONALS

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

S L A N IO S S E F O R P L I YOUNG RA IL A R F O S IC POLIT

T

his November, Young Rail Professionals hosted one of its most popular events, the London and South East region’s ‘Politics of Rail’. For the past three years, this event has been run by YRP vice chairperson Paul Case, to great acclaim, and this year was no different.

The third annual ‘Politics of Rail’ event offered members the opportunity to hear from and question industry leaders, politicians and rail experts about how politics and policy affect the railway, and what challenges and opportunities the industry faces over the next five years. The event aimed to offer the decision makers of tomorrow the forum to listen to and exchange thought leadership with the individuals currently shaping the industry.

In the run up to the event, Paul Case noted, ‘This has been a historic year in politics, and at YRP we recognise the drive within our membership to understand and interrogate the potential impact of recent economic and political upheaval on our railways, and how we do business in the UK and internationally.

‘This year’s event will take a focused look at the state of the rail networks serving London. Following a tumultuous year in politics and the rail industry, London has a new mayor, a new prime minister, a new rail minister and a new commissioner and managing director of Transport for London. Is London reaching breaking point with the network in crisis? Or can we expect a smooth journey ahead?’

The event was kindly hosted by leading multi-disciplinary law firm Stephenson Harwood, bringing together Valerie Shawcross, the Deputy Mayor for Transport; David Hughes, the director of strategy and service for London Underground, and distinguished industry journalist Nick Kingsley to chair the talk. Paul Maynard, Rail Minister, was invited to speak at the event but unfortunately could not attend due to short-notice parliamentary business.

All speakers paid tribute to the lives lost in the recent tragic events on the Croydon Tramlink, highlighting the devastating consequences that can take place when something goes wrong on an operational transport/railway system and the need to be constantly vigilant, to invest in safety and strive for constant improvement.

World class standard Following an introduction by YRP vice chairperson Paul Case, Nick Kingsley opened the talks. He highlighted the world class standard of railway within the UK, and how we are both attracting and generating international business.

As the current Deputy Mayor for Transport, Valerie has an abundance of experience that made her an ideal person to deliver a speech on London’s transport network.

Valerie served as Lambeth and Southwark’s representative on the London Assembly between 2000 and 2016. She chaired the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) from 2000 to 2008. Between 2008 and 2016 Val was the Labour Group’s transport spokesperson, alternating between being chair and deputy chair of the Assembly Transport Committee.

In recognition of the work of the Transport Committee, Val was jointly awarded the London Cycling Campaign’s ‘Cycling Champion of the Year’. In March 2016, she was also awarded for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Transport in London’ by Transport Times and for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Promoting Accessible Transport’ by Transport for All. Valerie gave YRP members a brief lesson on the political structures governing transport, both nationally and within London. She talked about the challenges that TfL faces with the most recent government spending review, with TfL having to become financially self-sufficient over the next five years. Valerie also highlighted that in London transport projects are fundamental for economic growth and regeneration.

New transport links invariably create new economic opportunities, wealth and prosperity in the areas they are built – a factor recognised in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy for London.

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© Shutterstock.com

Our second speaker, David Hughes, director of strategy and service development at London Underground, joined TfL in 2004 as chief of staff to the then MD of surface transport, Peter Hendy. He has held a variety of roles: head of TfL investment programme oversight; director of major programme sponsorship for London Underground and London Rail, and since April 2016, director of strategy and service development for London Underground.

In his current role, David is responsible for setting LU’s strategic direction, defining its short and long-term investment programmes through asset management and programme sponsorship, leading business transformation and championing improvements in customer service. In parallel, he was appointed by the Commissioner as the lead for the capital delivery element of the overall TfL change programme.

Through his presentation, David made the distinction between the micro/macro political interactions that anyone working within rail can expect to deal with. At the micro-level, dealing with stakeholders (councils, residents etc.) can be political discussions with large consequences. David talked about the importance of managing political consensus. He pointed to Crossrail as an example of a project that has spanned multiple governments and mayors of London but continues to be delivered successfully and with consensus.

Chairing the Q&A session was Nick Kingsley, managing editor of Railway Gazette. Nick joined Railway Gazette as a news reporter in 2006 and became industry editor of Railway Gazette International in 2008. In 2012, Nick was named senior editor and subsequently managing editor. As at previous events, YRP members were given the opportunity to ask questions of the speakers, and this year the audience posed a number of insightful concepts.

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

A huge thank you to everyone involved in making the third annual ‘Politics of Rail’ event a resounding success.

YRP Annual Dinner 2017 In other very exciting news this November, we are delighted to announce that Michèle Dix, managing director of Crossrail 2, has been confirmed as the keynote speaker for the YRP Annual Dinner 2017. Michèle Dix is responsible for developing Crossrail 2 and gaining funding and powers for it.

The YRP Annual Dinner will take place on Thursday, 6 April 2016, in London. The event will see over 600 rail professionals come together to celebrate the past year in the rail industry and the young professionals who continue to excel and drive the sector.

CPC Project Services has once again shown its commitment to developing and supporting young talent by exclusively sponsoring the event.

Sabrina Ihaddaden, national chair of YRP, said, ‘We are delighted to have Michèle as our keynote speaker for the YRP Annual Dinner 2017. Crossrail 2 will provide a step-change in travel across the city and will be vital in regenerating areas with new jobs and homes. Michèle’s experience and enthusiasm for transport will be a highlight for this great evening.”

Tickets or Tables of 10 are available for purchase at www. youngrailpro.com. For members buying their own tickets, a small number of early bird tickets are still available for purchase.

Also in November, in a YRP first, a quiz night was hosted by YRP East Midlands. YRP East Midlands

was the first region to launch monthly Networking Socials back in the autumn of 2014. Now two years down the line, they felt it was time to start to bring in a little variety to these regular events and what a better way to do things differently than with a traditional quiz night.

This was also the first Networking Social to be held since several new graduates started their careers at Bombardier in the region, so this event was perfectly timed to welcome them to the railway world and showcase what YRP has to offer.

The evening was held at the aptly railway-themed pub in the Alexandra Hotel in Derby and featured several rounds of general knowledge questions, with a few railway-themed rounds thrown in to keep some of the more seasoned members of YRP on their toes.

The event was a success with around 25 members in attendance; a record for an East Midlands Networking Social.

Remember to keep a look out on the YRP website’s events page for details of future Networking Evenings, both regionally and nationally. YRP Christmas parties will be happening across the regions so don’t miss out on these excellent networking and social evenings - just go to www. youngrailpro.com/events.

If you would like to become involved in organising future YRP events, performing outreach activities to promote the railway industry as a career choice, and developing opportunities for young people to be recognised in the wider rail industry, then please feel free to contact us at: getinvolved@youngrailpro.com

YOUNG RAIL PROFESSIONALS

47

April

06

YRP ANNUAL BLACK TIE DINNER AND DANCE Tickets are now on sale for the Young Rail Professional’s Annual Dinner 2017. The black tie event will be taking place at the famous Troxy venue in London and is proudly sponsored by CPC Project Services. Book your ticket now at www.YoungRailPro.com

YOUNG RAIL

PROFESSIONALS

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48

TRAINING

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

FOSTERING ENGINEERING EQUALITY

G

ender equality was an ever-present theme throughout the US presidential election. It was the first time a woman had been a genuine contender for the job - a significant moment in history.

The result will go down in history for very different reasons but it means the metaphorical glass ceiling will remain intact for a few more years at least. What’s more it has prompted a charged debate into what it says about professional gender equality and whether the treatment of women in certain maledominated professions has actually changed as much as we like to think it has.

‘The school I attended in Ireland - Laurel Hill, Limerick - encouraged girls to study STEM subjects.

There were no barriers presented to choosing engineering as a career,’ says Joan Murray, managing director of TPS Schal, Carillion’s consultancy business.

Less than 10 per cent of the engineering workforce in the UK are women; the figure for the rail industry as a whole is only slightly higher. The rail sector’s challenge may not be the same as putting the first woman in the White House, but the goal is ultimately the same.

A survey conducted by Women in Rail in 2015 calculated that around 16 per cent of the workforce is female. The balance is gradually shifting. More women now occupy senior management roles - Carillion Rail's head of engineering and professional head of civil engineering are both women, but the pace of change is slow. It is a sector which rather than smashing through the glass ceiling is choosing to carefully dismantle it piece by piece.

STEM Almost 40 per cent of Carillion’s 21,000 or so staff members in the UK are female. Within the construction business around 12 per cent are women and the rail division is hovering around 13 per cent, slightly below the industry standard.

Joan founded the Support Network for Operational Women in Engineering (SNOWE) RAILSTAFF.UK | @RAILSTAFFUK | FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF

programme within Carillion, which was set up shortly after she was promoted to managing director of TPS Schal in 2015.

The main objectives of SNOWE, which sits alongside Carillion’s pre-existing Women in Leadership and Working Mums Network groups, are to support women in operational engineering roles within the business and to promote the study of STEM subjects in schools.

The network, which is made up of both men and women, provides guidance and encouragement to women working throughout Carillion using a ‘buddy’ support system; it has also developed a teaching programme that can be delivered to schools. The aim overall is to aid staff retention and attract more women to the sector.

Says Joan, ‘Girls do not study STEM subjects in the same numbers as boys do. Without a diverse group of people studying then it becomes impossible to employ a diverse workforce.

‘We need more girls studying STEM subjects to improve the potential employment talent of the future. If we don’t improve the numbers of females studying STEM subjects we run the risk of never being able to employ a truly diverse workforce.’

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

TRAINING

49

RETENTION

FUN JOBS AND SERIOUS JOBS SNOWE has grown out of several similar initiatives undertaken by the business. In 2014, Carillion signed up to the Compact Pledge - a national campaign led by Women into Technology and Engineering Compact to increase the number of women training in technology and engineering. In all, 180 companies made the pledge. Carillion also backs the Your Life STEM education campaign.

Joan hopes through SNOWE she can replicate the kind of support that she received while at school. ’Girls with the abilities to tackle higher level maths and science were given every opportunity and support to achieve their very best. Girls were offered the same choices as boys and the freedom to follow paths which were not the traditional female career options. Such enlightened teaching created pupils who saw no restriction in what they chose to study and no barriers to entry in any chosen profession.

‘We need all schools to be like this, to give girls the opportunity to study both the sciences and the humanities. The learning experience should teach girls that they too can have the fun jobs, and the serious jobs, and the jobs in the boardroom. Nothing should prevent girls from becoming engineers if they want to do so.’

Joining Carillion as a graduate civil engineer, Joan has worked within the business for more than 19 years and became the company’s first female managing director. Engineering is out of kilter with society, says Joan. ‘Whether you’re going into a site meeting or a board room, when you sit there and you’re the only woman - no matter what happens you’re still different.’

It’s this imbalance, rather than some overtly discriminatory macho culture, which she believes can make it difficult for women to speak up and have their ideas listened to.

‘All my life, I have been part of a workforce where less than 10 per cent of the population are female,’ says Joan. ‘Being part of a minority brings its own set of unique challenges and so requires an innovative way to deal with them. There did not seem to be any obvious means to support those women engineers in the day-to-day challenges of working in a male-dominated profession. As a consequence retention of female engineers is an ongoing concern.’

She added, ’We are saying that we value their contributions and we want them to be part of the workforce. I most definitely feel that I should be a role model for more junior women.’

SNOWE is already showing signs of success. ‘We are on a journey to improve the rates and our commitment in Carillion is to increase the number of women in apprenticeships to five per cent over the next five years. We are in year two and working to achieve our target.

‘We have a number of fantastic female role models within Carillion as well as many STEM Ambassadors. Our website has a web page dedicated to inspirational women in our company working in operational roles leading the way.’

The next step, Joan hopes, will see the model for SNOWE replicated by companies across the engineering and rail sector.

Says Joan, ‘SNOWE came about from a very simple idea. It always seemed to me that something was missing in relation to how we supported female engineers in construction. Networks are hard to get up and running, but we have succeeded within Carillion and we are making a real difference.’

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50

TRAINING

RAILSTAFF DECEMBER 2016

YEAR OF THE APPRENTICE

I

n striving to raise the number and standard of apprentices, the rail industry has inadvertently made 2016 the Year of the Apprentice.

This first became clear at the start of the year with an announcement backing the creation of 30,000 apprentices in transport over the next few years and plans to write apprenticeship targets into procurement contracts.

In the months since, this magazine has led with stories of apprentice success and explored in some depth the approaches being taken by various companies in recruiting and training new apprentices.

Speaking at a Rail Exec lunch in May, Crossrail’s chairman, Sir Terry Morgan, estimated that around 550 apprentices were learning their craft on Crossrail, often described as Europe’s largest infrastructure project.

Last month, that story continued as Crossrail confirmed that it had now created more than 600 apprenticeship roles.

Announcing that piece of news, Sir Terry Morgan said, ‘Having started my career as an apprentice, I have seen first-hand what apprenticeships can deliver. I’m delighted that their significant contribution has been recognised. There are more opportunities than ever before for young people to build exciting careers in engineering and deliver the UK’s pipeline of infrastructure projects.’

WHEN THE LEVY COMES Everything suggests that 2017 will continue this trend. Changes to the way apprenticeships are funded and increased government contributions to rail engineering education, in particular, will make rail apprenticeships more commercially viable.

On 1 April, the Government will introduce its apprenticeship levy.

Employers with a wage bill of £3 million and above will have to pay into it. The levy will be collected through PAYE; companies will then be able to draw back funding from the Government which it can use to train apprentices.

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‘The levy will encourage more training than would otherwise be the case, there’s no question of that, so there will be more apprentices because of the levy and in that way rail will be the winner because rail needs apprentices proportionately more than other sectors,’ said NSAR chief executive Neil Robertson, speaking to RailStaff prior to the launch of the Rail Sector Skills Delivery Plan this month.

There will also be financial incentives for smaller businesses.

The Government has just agreed to provide up to £9,000 per candidate undertaking the Level 3 Rail Engineering Operative ‘trailblazer’ standard. This equates to £27,000 over the period of the three-year course compared to the £18,000 that had originally been specified. The hope is that these steps will help develop the 10,000 or so Level 3 technicians the industry will need in the next five years.

‘That’s a £90 million win for the industry,’ says Neil. ‘That contribution will make a difference, it won’t cover all the costs by any

REPORT BY MARC JOHNSON

stretch of the imagination but it will make a difference.’

Asked about whether this additional funding could attract ‘rogue trainers’ to the market, Neil said NSAR was continually taking steps to ensure standards are maintained and had recently set up a quality panel.

Network Rail, which runs one of the largest apprenticeship schemes in the industry, is also mindful of the changes being introduced.

‘The introduction of the levy next year will obviously see the apprenticeship landscape change in 2017,’ says Michelle Nolan-McSweeney, head of talent strategy at Network Rail. ‘We’ve been leading on the redesign of apprentice standards for the rail sector as a whole as part of

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What’s new for 2017 • Introduction of Apprenticeship Levy in April • Roll-out of ‘trailblazer’ apprenticeship standards • Government funding contribution for rail technician standard increased to £27,000 • Introduction of apprenticeship support and knowledge for schools (ASK)

the Trailblazer Group. We’re now focussed on increasing the diversity of applicants for our schemes.’

She added, ‘The Transport Infrastructure Skills Strategy set ambitious plans for businesses to create apprenticeships and 2017 will see the industry respond to this call. For us, it will mean more apprenticeship opportunities that we offer and indeed, we’ve already announced that we’ll be increasing the number of places available on our award-winning Advanced Apprenticeship scheme in 2017, expanding the scheme to two intakes of 140 apprentices each in March and September.

‘We need to get the message out there that university isn’t the only option for people who want to get a fulfilling and rewarding career.’

TRAILBLAZERS As well as these incentives, there are also now examples of apprenticeship quotas being written into franchise agreements and procurement processes. The new trailblazer standard apprenticeships are another change for 2017. As well as the engineering technician standard, a rail engineering design technician standard has been developed and an operations standard is on the way.

‘It covers more breadth,’ said Neil, when asked what weaknesses in the existing framework the new standard was addressing. ‘It brings in more digital into signalling, for example, it covers more commercial awareness because apprentices operate in a commercial environment.’

Another project, announced on the same day as the chancellor’s Autumn Statement last month, seeks to address a perceived lack of promotion for apprenticeships and traineeships within schools. The Government says it will work with teachers and career advisors to make sure they are providing impartial guidance on further and higher education options through what it calls the apprenticeship support and knowledge for schools (ASK) project. Apprentice Champions will also be recruited and placed within schools to promote the pathway to students.

With so many measures being put in place to realise the Government’s apprenticeship targets, this year’s achievements appear to just be the start. Welcome to the Age of the Apprentice.

Information about the levy and the trailblazer standards can be found at www.gov.uk/government/collections/ apprenticeship-changes

Welcome to the Age of the Apprentice.

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Wishing all RailStaff readers a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

We’d like to remind railway workers to stay safe as we approach the winter season. Wrap up warm and remember the ten lifesaving rules.

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