RailStaff June 2014

RailStaff

Stobart Railway Training 15,000m2 Training Facility

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Issue 199 | June 2014

Sunshine Greeting for New Trams in Edinburgh People flocked to ride on the new tram system in Edinburgh on its first day of operation far exceeding anticipated passenger levels. More staff and extra trams were rushed to work. ‘What an extraordinary day for everyone at Edinburgh Trams and for our new passengers,’ says Tom Norris, chief of Edinburgh Tram.

‘It was an absolute pleasure to welcome everyone on board. The sun shone and the people of Edinburgh came out in huge numbers to get on the tram.’

IN THIS ISSUE DERBY CELEBRATES 175 YEARS

BARONIAL BACKING FOR WOMEN

HIGHWAY MAN HEADS ATKINS

Bombardier commemorate manufacturing Page 4

Derby’s first Women in Rail event Page 6

Philip Hoare is the new Managing Director Page 8

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@StobartRailLtd

Jeff Broadhurst, Outstanding Training Manager Jeff Broadhurst joined Stobart Rail Training in 1999 after

successful completion of the Introduction to Leadership

spending the previous 13 years in the construction

Programme (ITL) in June 2013.

industry. Starting off as a construction trainer / assessor

Leading by example Jeff has successfully gained 64

before becoming the Plant Training Manager in 2004. In

credits in the QCF Edexcel Level 4 Diploma in Learning

2007 Jeff was promoted again and given the overall

and Development.

responsibility of Training Manager encompassing both Rail and Construction Training.

In the latest round of inspections carried out by Tribal on behalf of NSARE, Stobart Rail where Graded as

Continually driving and improving the department, Jeff

OUTSTANDING. If you'd like to book your employees on

was chosen to complete the Stobart Group flagship

to some of our OUTSTANDING training courses and for a

Leadership Development Programme (LDP) following his

list of courses we provide call our team NOW.

Stobart Rail 15,000m2 Railway Training Facility – you may or may not know…

Stobart Rail training department have been training railway staff for 15+ years. In that time we have trained 1000’s of railway people through track induction PTS Personal Track Safety, COSS (Controller of Site Safety), Engineering Supervisor, Plant & Small Tools Training, Lift Planner - Single and Tandem Lift, Machine / Crane Controlling & Tandem Lift Course, CPCS Excavators Courses, Dumper Courses etc. Completing their training within Stobart Rail has ensured 1000’s of railway people have gone on to some of the best positions within the rail industry.

Our 15,000m2 railway training ground on a former MOD storage facility near Carlisle is as close to real railway site conditions as possible whilst still maintaining a safe controlled environment.

We have over 500m of Track c/w Points, 150mm of cant, 1:25 gradient, platforms, rail to thimble and restricted overhead clearance where we practice for work we carry out.

If you need to book your employees on training courses, book them with an outstanding training facility by calling NOW.

Claire Bainbridge Training Facilitator t. 01228 882 300 e. claire.bainbridge@stobartrail.com Jeff Broadhurst Training Manager t. 01228 882 300 e. jeff.broadhurst@stobartrail.com

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COMMENT

June 2014 | RailStaff | 3

RailStaff Contact us: Publisher:

Paul O’Connor

Editor:

Andy Milne

Production and design:

Adam O’Connor

Senior Reporter:

Marc Johnson

Track Safety:

Colin Wheeler

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Church of England opposition to HS2 on the grounds that it may need to remove corpses in 100 year old graves along the planned route has been seized on with glee by the scheme’s opponents.

The line could damage churches and interfere with worship, bishops claim.

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Such a move does the church little credit. The railway industry has a long tradition of competence and kindness when it comes to the dead. Sadly, the railway has protracted experience in this hallowed field. 300 railway suicides a year and a series of fatalities and horrific railway disasters down the years have built a sympathy for the departed and those who mourn.

High speed rail polarises whole sections of the country. Scotland argues it is not being built far enough,

HS2 will open up more opportunities for older people on second careers, young people starting out in life, as well as the bold and the enterprising nor fast enough. In the home counties many say it shouldn’t be built at all.

HS2 is for the benefit of all Britain.

It will unify a country facing a deep existential challenge, bridge the economic disconnect between north and south and spur our economy on to greater heights. All the major parties agree this. HS2 will open up more opportunities for older people on second careers, young people starting out in life, as well as the bold and the enterprising.

In this issue we review the work of the Railway Mission and the continuing witness of the wider church in our

sidings and depots, platforms and waiting rooms. Superficially it is not a glamorous charity but it meets people, of all faiths and none, in their place of greatest need.

Let the dead bury their dead. HS2 meets Britain with an economic engine that will help power growth and prosperity. This rail beatitude cuts across class and race with a message of hope and confidence. Our lord bishops would do well to ponder this and drop their opposition to the greatest project of our time. andy@rail-media.com © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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Health & Safety Focus in July

Iarnród Éireann

On A Mission From God

The biggest asset of any company is its people. Their Health & Safety is therefore paramount. Find out what new Rail Health & Safety initiatives are out there and keep in touch with On Track Safety with our resident expert Colin Wheeler. Has your company any new H&S initiatives? Call Jolene on 01530 816444 to discuss.

With the Minister of Transport talking hard ball about the cost of running Iarnród Éireann, Tim Casterton asked David Franks, the company’s CEO.

The Reverend Miles Mitson was one of a team of railway chaplains charged with looking after all staff, track workers and, on occasion, passengers.

NEWS

4 | RailStaff | June 2014

Tram Surprise for Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s smart new tram system has confounded its critics by selling over 40,000 tickets on its first weekend in business – far more than anticipated.

‘We could not sell tickets quick enough,’ says Tom Norris, director, Edinburgh Tram. Extra staff were rushed to work as local people and tourists boarded trams on the new city

centre – airport route.

‘My team pulled out all the stops under pressure and did a fantastic job - there’s not much more I could ask for and I’d like to thank them for their

massive effort,’ says Tom Norris.

‘I’m pleased with how the team handled things behind the scenes, on the trams and on the streets. There was a point when demand for tickets reached extremely high levels and this meant we could not sell tickets fast enough.’

Three extra trams were brought into service. The trams were built by CAF and are hard at work on the ten mile route.

Derby Celebrates 175 Years Staff and supporters at Bombardier Transportation’s Litchurch Lane works in Derby have been commemorating 175 years of train manufacturing in the city.

Renowned heritage locomotives designed in Derby, such as ‘Midland Compound’ and ‘Tornado’ were reunited at the Derby site. Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McCloughlin and Mayor of Derby, Fareed Hussain attended a special event celebrating the city’s continuing rail engineering excellence.

The future of the Bombardier facility was secured earlier this year when it won the contract to build the new Crossrail fleet at Litchurch Lane. Staff at Litchurch Lane are looking forward to working on the new Aventra trains for Crossrail. The Aventra is Derbydesigned and built.

Says Francis Paonessa, Managing

Director of Bombardier Transportation in the UK, ‘With the award of the Crossrail project in the 175th year of train manufacture in Derby, we are immensely proud to continue the tradition of designing and manufacturing high performance trains for the UK.’ The success of the works is in no small measure down to the efforts of the workforce. Added Mr Paonessa, ‘Winning Crossrail was a resounding endorsement of the Aventra and a credit to the efforts of our entire

we are immensely proud to continue the tradition of designing and manufacturing high performance trains for the UK workforce in the UK.’ Visitors were able to see historic carriages on display alongside new London Underground cars and an exhibition of trains to come –among them the Aventra. The inspiration for celebrating the 175th anniversary

originally came from Kevin Owen, who works as a welder at Litchurch Lane.

Says Kevin, ‘It was a great event and amazing to see some of the old trains back at the place where they were first built.’ Bombardier also held a special Family Day for staff.

NEWS

June 2014 | RailStaff | 5

Local staff at Derby dressed up in Victorian costume to toast off ‘Midland Counties Railways’ - the special train run in commemoration of the 175th anniversary of the opening of the railway between Derby and Nottingham.

The Midland Counties Railway officially opened on Thursday 30 May 1839. To celebrate passengers and guests at Derby were treated to music by the Melbourne brass band and tucked into complimentary Bakewell tarts.

Derby’s Mayor, Fareed Hussain, unveiled a commemorative plaque.

David Horne, Managing Director of East Midlands Trains, who with his staff also donned Victorian costume, said, ‘Today is a double celebration as we are marking 175 years of Derby’s railways and the 175th anniversary of the first ever train to run between Derby and Nottingham.

Today this route provides a crucial link for millions of our passengers

Rail Pioneers Remembered and it’s important that we reflect on the success of the past 175 years and look ahead to the exciting improvements planned for the future.’ Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Ian Malcolm, welcomed the special train.

‘There’s a great deal to celebrate about the train service between our cities, with Nottingham

station undergoing a magnificent transformation that’s almost complete and which, among many other improvements, returns the original buildings to their former glory. I’d like to think the rail pioneers of the Victorian era would be proud of this, whose legacy of ongoing investment in public transport is more important than ever.’

East Midlands Trains’ staff dress up in Victorian dress to mark the 175th anniversary of the first train from Derby to Nottingham. Pictured from left are Rob Burton, Station Manager for Derby, Keith Blackshaw, Train Service Manager, David Horne, Managing Director, Paul Mobbs and Ariane Pradel, who are both Customer Service Managers for Derby.

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NEWS

6 | RailStaff | June 2014

McLoughlin praises local engineering firm Royal Backing for Rail The Queen has unveiled a plaque at St Pancras International marking the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Channel Tunnel.

With the Duke of Edinburgh she then set off for a state visit to France. The visit marks the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings. Units of the United States, Canadian, British, Polish and Free French forces landed in Normandy on 6th June.

Just ahead of the visit to St Pancras Buckingham Palace announced that

Collis Engineering, based in Alfreton, Derbyshire, recently welcomed Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin and local MP, Nigel Mills.

the Queen will officially open the expanded and revamped Reading station in July. It’s the second time Her Majesty has opened Reading and the royal return marks a triumph for local MP, Rob Wilson.

‘I met the Duke of Edinburgh at a Buckingham Palace reception last year (and) I did ask him whether he would be coming back for a return visit after all the intervening years, to which he jokingly replied: You don’t want us again!’ The station has undergone a £897m upgrade with four new platforms, two entrances and a new link bridge.

Staff and directors at Collis Engineering are right behind the High Speed 2 project and were able to reaffirm their support in discussions with McLoughlin. Says Collis Engineering’s managing director, Peter Roberts, ‘We were delighted to receive a visit from our local MP accompanying the Secretary of State for Transport.

As an SME (small to medium enterprise) it is encouraging that the Secretary of State took the time to listen to our views and was interested in what we can offer the railway. The UK has a long and proud tradition of leading innovation in the global railway sector and this can only continue through sustained investment in our own

opportunities and support for all women in the rail industry. Organisers decided the conference, titled ‘Women in Engineering: What’s Holding You Back’ should be held in Derby in recognition of this year’s celebration of 175 years of Derby’s rail industries.

One challenge is the lack of role models for women contemplating a career in railways. Students at school and university often do not consider railways when searching out career options.

Says Clare Burles, HR director at East Midlands Trains, ‘The best way we can help to encourage more women to work in rail is by working hard to get into the mindset of our future engineers from an early age. By influencing girls whilst they are still at school and college and helping them realise there are lots of exciting opportunities waiting for them out there, we can help provide a more diverse and skilled workforce.’

The industry generally is keen to

network.’

Collis Engineering Ltd makes railway signalling components and also designs and builds signalling installations.

The HS2 project will drive forward economic growth and provide a catalyst for innovation and training in the rail industry.

During the visit Patrick McLouglin and Amber Valley MP, Nigel Mills, chatted with several of Collis Engineering Ltd’s apprentices and staff. The Secretary of State was able to check out many of the firm’s innovations including the new hinged lightweight signal post.

The Secretary of State enjoyed the visit and said, ‘It was good to visit Collis Engineering with local MP, Nigel Mills, today. I was thoroughly impressed by their technological advancements, which have brought some great products at cheaper prices to the rail infrastructure.’

Baronial Backing for Rail Women Women from across the rail industry were joined by Baroness Kramer at Derby’s first Women in Rail event at East Midlands Trains Academy.

Minister of State for Transport, Baroness Kramer, said, ‘We need the industry to encourage more women to come on board and make the most of the opportunities on offer. The Women in Rail group has done a great job in raising awareness of careers in rail and I am determined to help them break down the barriers that prevent women from joining the industry.

It is an incredibly exciting time to work in rail, especially as we are currently investing in the biggest programme of rail modernisation since Victorian times.’

‘Women in Rail’ was created in April 2012 to provide networking

encourage women applicants for all jobs in a bid to close the skills gap.

17.8% of people working in the rail sector are women but only 4.4% of the railway’s engineering workforce is female.

L-R: David Horne, Managing Director, East Midlands Trains; founder of Women in Rail, Adeline Ginn, General Counsel at Angel Trains Limited and Baroness Kramer, Minister of State for Transport.

PEOPLE

8 | RailStaff | June 2014

Highway Man heads Atkins Rail Philip Hoare is the new managing director of the Atkins UK rail business. He was formerly in charge of the company’s Highways and Transportation business in Britain.

Douglas McCormick moves from running the rail business to a new role heading an international sales push as Atkins seeks to maximise a strong position in the rapidly growing international rail market. Atkins is involved with a wide range of rail projects – from signalling and electrification to station design and project management – across the UK and Scandinavia, as well as Asia, America and the Middle East.

As well as Highways and Transportation in Britain, Philip Hoare was also responsible for the company’s business in Poland, Ireland and Portugal. A chartered civil engineer with 20 years’ experience in the highways and transportation sector, Philip began his career with Hyder Consulting working on major highways schemes in the UK and Thailand before a two-year spell on site with Costain on the M5 Widening scheme between junctions 18-19.

Philip joined Atkins in 1997 working on highways

maintenance capability. He moved up to be its business development director and managing director of the Highways Services business. He was appointed managing director of the UK Highways and Transportation business in 2011.

Philip is the chairman of the Operations and Maintenance JV on the M25 and was the chairman of the Highways Term Maintenance Association from 2010 to 2012. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering from Cardiff University.

Says chief executive David Tonkin, ‘The UK and international infrastructure markets, in particular rail, continue to be seen as vital to economic growth as well as improving people’s lives. We have many talented people with great experience and skills working on projects across the world and we want all our clients to benefit from this broader capability.

I am confident that Douglas and Philip will help us achieve this.’

Surveyor joins HS2 HS2 Ltd continues to expand its top team with the appointment of Jim Crawford as Programme Director – Phase One. Crawford joins from Network Rail where he was a major director of the £6.5bn Thameslink upgrade.

Jim Crawford, 48, holds a BA in management systems and a BSc in quantity surveying. He is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. Crawford joined the rail industry in 1994 as a consultant with

Turner & Townsend.

In 1997 he went to work for London North Eastern infrastructure projects at Network Rail, leading the acclaimed refurbishment of the Grade I listed Newcastle Central station.

From 2000 to 2002 he took over the Leeds First project. Between 2002 to 2004 Jim worked on the upgrade of cross country routes before moving on to become director of projects for signalling, telecoms, electrification and plant.

In CP3 this amounted to £2.5bn of projects and in CP4 £3.5bn. Jim took over the Thameslink programme in 2009 and was responsible for the rebuilding of London Blackfriars and Farringdon stations.

Says HS2 Ltd construction chief executive, Simon Kirby, ‘Building Britain’s much-needed high speed rail network will be a major undertaking and we need the best people to help deliver it on schedule and within the budget we have been set Jim Crawford‘s experience speaks for itself but I know just how capable he is from our time together at Network Rail working on the multi-billion pound investment in Thameslink. I am very pleased that someone of Jim’s calibre is joining us as we have much to do between now and when we expect to have spades in the ground in 2017.’

Continuous Development Call Jim Spittle, new president of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, has emphasised the need for continuous professional development.

In his inaugural address he also pledged to increase membership and expand the Institute’s mentoring scheme. Supply chain expert Jim Spittle FCILT takes over the one-year post from Jim Steer.

Nicola Shaw, Chief Executive, High Speed 1, backed his plans. She argued that training and professional development, ‘keeps motivation and retains staff through common teachings and skills.’ Jim Spittle is chairman of GS1 and a board member of Cranfield University’s Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

PEOPLE

June 2014 | RailStaff | 9

Surface Role for Howers

Safety Award for Jurgens

Nick Howers has joined FrazerNash from London Underground and will be strengthening the engineering consultancy’s rail capability.

Jurgens Kroese, a specialist in rail safety recruitment at CDI AndersElite, has won the prestigious Beacon Award from Tube Lines – on the London Underground.

Howers started work on the London Underground system as a new graduate. Nick has worked at London Underground since joining Tube Lines in 2006 as a fleet engineer based at Golders Green. More recently he spent three years as fleet assurance and maintenance engineer

at Stratford.

In this high profile role he managed the logistics of the Jubilee Line fleet during the London Olympics. This involved strategic planning in the run up to the event along with dedicated support throughout the games.

Says Richard Jones, Rail Business Manager at Frazer-Nash, ‘I am pleased to welcome Nick into our team; he joins at an exciting time for the rail industry in the UK and will play a key role at Frazer-Nash as we continue to expand the business.’

I am pleased to welcome Nick into our team; he joins at an exciting time for the rail industry in the UK and will play a key role at Frazer-Nash as we continue to expand the business

The Beacon Site Scheme helps ensure all work at project sites and maintenance depots is undertaken safely and considerately.

It is based around the Considerate Constructors Scheme. Jurgens Kroese has a decade of experience, specialising in labour provision for the rail industry.

Says Jurgens, ‘I am delighted to have been given this award which I was proud to accept on behalf of my team at CDI AndersElite.It is a positive endorsement of our commitment to meet Tube Lines expectations, both in terms of service and delivery, whilst always ensuring that safety is of paramount importance.’

L-R: Konrad Marciniak (Tube Lines Field Engineer), Jurgens Kroese (CDI AndersElite LUL Consultant), Andrew Elliott (Tube Lines Senior Construction Manager), John Dignam (Tube Lines Senior Field Engineer)

International Ambassador Andy Harrison has been appointed director of signalling and control systems at fast-growing Network Rail Consulting. NRC aims to demonstrate British expertise overseas and act as a handson international ambassador for Britain’s rail industry.

As a chartered engineer, Andy has spent the last system and software engineering. thirty years working for international companies In 2004 he was appointed chief executive officer of such as Invensys Rail, Ansaldo STS and Praxis Critical Ansaldo STS which specialises in signalling systems.

Systems, delivering large-scale projects for a varied In 2009 he spent a year with Invensys Rail moving array of clients including government departments, on to TPD Ltd, an engineering consulting company rail authorities and major contracting companies. before a two year stint at MimConsult Ltd. Andy is Andy Harrison joined British Rail’s Signal and a fellow of both the Institution of Railway Signal Telecommunications Engineering Group, Eastern Engineers and the Institution of Engineering & Region in York after graduating from Durham Technology.

University with a degree in Engineering Science in Says Nigel Ash, Network Rail Consulting’s 1988. Later he worked for Railtrack and joined Praxis managing director, ‘Andy brings a wealth of recruitment-lg_Layout 1 09/01/2014 12:49 Critical Systems, now Altran, in 1997, working on Page 1experience and is very well regarded in the industry.

Ganymede has a long heritage of providing contingent labour to safety critical aspects of the rail industry. As a Link-Up approved supplier, we provide semi-skilled and

He is passionate about railway systems and a dynamic leader. I am delighted to have him on board and have no doubts that he will assist in adding further success to Network Rail Consulting.’

To find out how we can help to fulfil your labour supply needs, contact us for further information:

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RAIL ALLIANCE

10 | RailStaff | June 2014

Join the Rail Alliance now Rail Alliance membership starts from just £500 per year

log on to www.railalliance.co.uk email info@railalliance.co.uk or call 01789 720026.

The Fight Against Cable Theft SmartWater, the UK based international crime fighting company, has been working with Network Rail and the British Transport Police (BTP) across the London North Western railway, making a sustained impact on live cable theft.

Developed by brothers Phil Cleary, a former West Midlands policeman, and Mike Cleary, a renowned chemist, SmartWater combines the use of cuttingedge forensic marking technology and intelligence-led tactics to detect and deter crime.

SmartWater protects hundreds of thousands of homes across the UK. Its commercial clients include Openreach (a BT Group Business), Network Rail and G4S. SmartWater has gained widespread recognition for its crime fighting work and is a recipient of the Prince of Wales Award for Innovation.

Having successfully tackled crimes ranging from domestic burglary to metal theft across the UK, North America and Europe, SmartWater is now helping to protect Britain’s railway.

Cable theft costs Network Rail and British taxpayers £16m every year and is responsible for significant delays and disruptions to the railway. A lack of traceable evidence, i.e. the means to link cable thieves to the crime, has traditionally hampered the police’s ability to arrest and prosecute.

Criminals are all too aware of this which perpetuates the problem.

SmartWater’s tried and tested strategy, known as The SmartWater Strategy™ uses forensic marking technology and identifies threats, targets crime hotspots and helps track thieves and handlers of stolen goods. This approach directly targets the criminal fraternity, ranging from local petty thieves to highly organised gangs.

This strategy has had a significant impact on the LNW area, which was being severely affected by live cable theft prior to the introduction of SmartWater, with overall minutes lost totalling 119,540 in 2009.

SmartWater identified that preventing live cable theft was intrinsically linked to the ability to detect those responsible for its theft. The company formed a dynamic, highly proactive partnership with Network Rail and BTP in order to deliver traceability of live cable and heighten accountability amongst thieves. Targeting criminals in this way influences their behaviour and ultimately creates fear and fuels deterrence.

SmartWater’s unique forensic marking technology was strategically applied to trackside cable within identified hotspot areas, with every kilometre of Network Rail cable receiving a different SmartWater forensic code, thus allowing stolen cable to be traced back to the nearest kilometre. SmartWater, Network Rail and BTP then collaborated on a series of innovative tactics, including awareness campaigns, covert operations and police-led scrap yard raids, to maximise the impact of SmartWater as a deterrent.

As a result, over a three year programme, overall live cable thefts were reduced by 54.7% whilst delay minutes have been slashed by 54.9%. Since the introduction of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, Live Cable Thefts have been further reduced to 63.4%. Additionally, a total of 58 arrests have been made to date in relation to attempted cable thefts as a result of the SmartWater project.

For more information about SmartWater, please call 0800 521 669 to speak with our Customer Services Team or visit our website at www. smartwater.com. Alternatively come along to Rail Live 2014 at Long Marston 18/19 June (see www.raillive2014.com for details) and meet our experts to learn how SmartWater can help you to fight crime.

New Members WMG Centre HVM Catapult (Working collaboratively with business to transfer cuttingedge research on Lightweight Technologies and Energy Storage & Management into the marketplace) www.wmghvmcatapult.org.uk Silver Fox Ltd (UK-based labelling solutions manufacturer for electrical, instrumentation and data) www.silverfox.co.uk Grayson Thermal Systems (Design, manufacture and supply of engine cooling systems and HVAC products for bus, coach, rail and specialist vehicle industries) www.graysonts.com E-T-A Circuit Breakers Ltd (Work with companies in the rail sector providing a wide range of circuit breakers and bespoke power distribution solutions from design through to manufacture) www.e-t-a.co.uk Marlec Engineering Co Ltd (Providers of renewable energy products for professional applications such as small scale wind and solar energy systems) www.marlec.co.uk Link2 Ltd (Providers of research and development of monitoring systems, remote visualisation and data capture) www.link-2.biz Step on Safety Ltd (Providers of anti-slip flooring) www.steponsafety.co.uk

Alifast Ltd (Manufacturers and installers of aluminium windows, doors and security products) www.alifast.co.uk GLS Coatings Ltd (Specialists in specifying and applying protective spray coatings from protecting the chassis of rolling stock against damage from flying ballast to coating platforms and under-passes in an anti-skid surface that lasts for decades. GLS Coatings use the same polyuria that was used to coat 12 million m2 of the Beijing to Shanghai High Speed Rail network) www.glscoatings.co.uk Emtelle UK Ltd (A world leader in the provision of ducted network and blown fibre solutions, offering the most wideranging line of products and services for organisations building fibre telecommunications access networks) www.emtelle.com Intertrain (Intertrain is an established professional Railway Safety Training and Assessment provider delivering NSARE, City and Guilds, Link-Up and NVQ approved training at venues across the UK. Intertrain delivers a wide range of consultancy and railway professional services. They work with partners and employers to offer an 18 month Apprenticeship scheme helping employees gain the necessary qualifications to start a career in the railway industry) www.intertrain.biz CCS/Complete Composite Solutions (Provider of composite solutions)

NEWS

12 | RailStaff | June 2014

GBRf Orders Capacity Boosting Train GB Railfreight has secured a five-year lease with VTG Rail UK Ltd for 18 of its new Ecofret triple-platform wagons. These triple-platform wagons are designed to maximise the number of 40-foot boxes that can be carried within a given train length, with the outer platforms being able to carry one 40-foot container each, and the inner platform being able to carry either one 40-foot container or two 20-foot containers.

An Ecofret container wagon can carry 40-foot and 20-foot boxes on W10 gauge cleared routes, accommodating more boxes on shorter trains. The wagons maximise the number of boxes that can be carried within a given train length. Semi-steering wheels make for a track friendly ride and a predicted 60% reduction in wheel wear.

The order follows a successful 18-month trial of the new train by GBRf. Delivery of the other 17 triple wagon sets will start this November with the first 12 arriving across a six week period at a rate of two per week.

The last five units will be delivered

from January 2015 onwards.

Container traffic continues to rise with expansion at Felixstowe driving up demand. Says GBRf managing director, John Smith, ‘The growing dominance of 40-foot containers in the deep-sea market, infrastructure improvements at the Port of Felixstowe and changing train length regulations all mean that freight transportation demand is changing in the UK. We want to make sure we adapt to this changing environment and improve our productivity.

Nevertheless, the freight industry as a whole still needs support from

the Government if it is to effectively capitalise on these developments.

Further improvements to the

Link With Old Thames The Thameslink Project is proving a treasure trove for archaeologists and historians. Hundreds of artefacts including medieval floors, 16th century tobacco pipes and thousand-year-old timbers have been unearthed as Network Rail pushes ahead with the £6.5 billion Thameslink Programme.

Archaeological work during the building of the new Borough viaduct threw up extensive remains from Roman, Saxon, and Tudor London. A 14th century flagon, thought to have been used to serve ale at the Abbot of Waverley’s town house, is now on display in the Wheatsheaf Pub in Stoney Street.

‘We believe from its distinctive white clay that it was made in Cheam between 1350 and 1440,’ said Jackie Keily, curator at the Museum of London, which gave permission for the jug to be displayed in the Wheatsheaf.

Meanwhile London Bridge is still serving 52 million passengers a year as engineers build a brand new concourse

Felixstowe-Nuneaton route are particularly vital if the maximum level of service efficiency is to be achieved.’

Mail Order the size of Wembley Stadium. Locals have wisecracked that much of the work is long overdue.

During the excavation of the original brick arches at London Bridge station timber piles from trees felled between AD59 to AD83 were discovered. The finds are being used to deepen understanding of Roman London, Boudicca’s revolt and the medieval defence systems used long ago.

All the finds and records will be deposited with the Museum of London at the completion of the work.

A £4.5 million lottery grant should put Mail Rail back on track. The British Postal Museum and Archive has been granted the money by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

It will go towards building a museum charting almost 400 years of Britain’s communications history. The Postal Museum and with it Mail Rail should be open for business by 2016.

BPMA has now secured 95% of the funding it needs to complete the project. Mail Rail will provide a unique subterranean ride beneath the streets of London on the old Post Office Underground Railway.

NEWS

June 2014 | RailStaff | 13

Viking Kids Take the Train Getting the rail staff of the future into the industry starts young at Virgin Trains. Sir Richard Branson responded quickly when he received a flurry of letters from primary school pupils at Holme Slack Community Primary School in Preston.

Teacher, Simon Rusling, suggested writing in, when it emerged the school could not afford transport for a trip to the British Museum in London.

The children wrote to Sir Richard who contacted the school offering to organise the whole trip.

The children are studying the Vikings and one of the pupils found out about the Vikings: Life and Legend exhibition at the British Museum. Virgin Trains also arranged a bus from Go Ahead in London to give the kids a tour of the capital.

Work is progressing at the new rail factory in County Durham.

The steel frame has now been erected at the Hitachi Rail Vehicle Manufacturing Facility in Newton Aycliffe.

Work started on the £82 million development in November 2013 and is expected to be completed by mid-2015. Hitachi Rail will assemble new trains under the Intercity Express Programme for use on the Great Western Main Line and the East Coast Main Line.

The ceremony was hosted by Keith Jordan, Managing Director of Hitachi Rail Europe.

Over Anglia Sir Richard Branson responded quickly when he received a flurry of letters Says Stuart Davison of Virgin Trains in Lancashire, ‘We’re really pleased the kids got in touch and we’ve been able to help them out. Our staff are really looking forward to welcoming them on board and giving them a day to remember.’

London Overground Rail Operations Ltd is to take over several suburban services out of Liverpool Street Station to north east London from 31st May 2015 for 17 months.

The services - currently managed by Greater Anglia – include those between Liverpool Street, Enfield Town, Cheshunt and Chingford, and those on the Romford-Upminster line.

LOROL will run them until November 2016 when the current London

Overground concession ends. The London Overground concession, including these latest additions, will then be re-let following an established bidding process.

Says Peter Austin, Managing Director of LOROL, ‘We are obviously delighted at TfL’s plans to appoint LOROL to run these new services. This recognises the efforts of the LOROL team in making the London Overground such a success and is an exciting development for us all.’ LOROL is a 50/50 joint venture between Deutsche Bahn AG (DB) and the MTR Corporation of Hong Kong.

Hitachi Raises Roof

From left to right: Geoff Hunton, Director, Merchant Place Developments (MPD), Benjamin Mawby, Project Manager, Hitachi Rail Europe (HRE), Phil Wilson MP, Steve Joyce; Regional Manager: Shepherd Engineering Services, Darren Cumner, Manufacturing Plant Manager, HRE, Andrew Constantine, Shepherd, Keith Jordan, MD, HRE, Julie Finley, MD, Finley Structure, John Finley, Finley Structures, Neil Matthias; Project Manager; Shepherd Construction Ltd, Michael Chicken, MPD)

The fastest growing membership charity in the public transport industry. Just £1 a week covers you, your partner and dependent children. & 0300 333 2000 8 www.tbf.org.uk e help@tbf.org.uk

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02/05/2014 11:47

FEATURE

14 | RailStaff | June 2014

Report by Andy Milne

One summer’s evening amidst the confused crowds and staccato announcements at Euston a man in PPE strode across the concourse.

On his back was stencilled the word Chaplain. Wires down at Camden Road had all but paralysed the throat at Euston and no trains were running. Instead of sitting out the crisis in the Exmouth Arms across the road I followed this tall figure as he parted the crowds like the Red Sea. The Reverend Miles Mitson was one of a team of railway chaplains charged with looking after all staff, track workers and, on occasion, passengers.

‘We’re here for all faiths and none,’ said Miles as we sat in his small office below the station drinking tea. The railway chaplains are among a number of hidden strengths the rail industry can call on.

Addressing insecurities Arguably the railway is better than most industries at addressing human insecurities. Such skill has arisen more by luck than judgement during the tortuous evolution of the system. Put basically a passenger boarding a train puts her safety in the hands of the driver, train crew, signaller and track worker. The safety-critical nature of the industry makes for a very different working relationship between railway staff and the people they serve.

Often unremarked by the wider public the railway, over the years,

has become adept at helping its people with appropriate counsel and guidance. It took a long time to evolve but the modern railway, often unwittingly, uses tried and tested leadership techniques, safety specialists, its own police force, local union branches, welfare organisations and initiatives like the Samaritans.

Among this the railway chaplains sit right in the brickwork, an essential mortar in the industry’s emotional architecture.

The National Rail Chaplaincy Crevice has 24 chaplains covering the entire network. Eight of them are funded by the London City Mission. Similar organisations exist in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. Nicola Goncalves, Scottish railway chaplain based in Edinburgh, attended a conference in Hungary last August, designed to encourage international versions of the railway mission.

You’re too thick Current chief executive is the Reverend Liam Johnston, a genial Yorkshireman, of Scots blood, brought up largely in Catterick Garrison - his father was in the army. Liam, who is dyslexic, became a Christian as an eight year old.

Aged 18 he felt called to enter Christian ministry but was told by his local vicar that he was too thick.

Liam, a practical man, became a baker instead. At the age of 21 he was working for Tescos and attending an Assemblies of God church. Every little certainly helped Liam.

Encouraged by his wife he revisited the idea of ministry. Local Pentecostal minister, David Rivers, proved much more encouraging and Liam subsequently read a three year degree at Sheffield University. To start with he pastored a small church part time and came upon the Railway Mission quite by chance.

The Railway Mission works in partnership with the London City Mission, founded in 1835, and together they provide the National Rail Chaplaincy Service. The Mission is a registered charity (number 1128024) and is overseen by a voluntary group of directors. Executive Director, Liam

Johnston, is responsible for coordinating the work of the Mission’s chaplains and maintaining a close link with leaders across the rail industry.

Pastoral care Railway chaplains provide pastoral care for rail staff. It is complementary to the well-organised services of railway HR departments. ‘We’re able to bridge the gap,’ said Liam. He recounts the sad story of two girls who died on a railway line in west Wales. They and their families had been trespassing on the railway and were hit by a train.

The trespass was the subject of a court case. Reaching agreement to erect a memorial to the girls near the site was difficult. It was Dick Fearn, at the time in charge of Railtrack’s midland zone, who suggested bringing in the railway chaplain. Liam was able to talk to all parties as a neutral cleric and agreement was reached. It is a resource that is available 24/7 to railway staff and managers.

Jobs range from helping deal with the results of industrial injury, coping with the gruelling aftermath of a railway suicide to holding memorial services and accompanying a lonely member of staff taking his dog to be put down.

Railway chaplains work on site alongside

FEATURE

June 2014 | RailStaff | 15

Railway Chaplains

On A Mission From God the police and incident officers at major rail disasters. The real value of the railway chaplains lies in their extensive knowledge of the rail network and the people who work on it.

Chaplains spend much of their working day out visiting mess rooms, control centres, stations and bookingon points just getting to know staff.

Familiarity means when problems occur talking to railway chaplains, whatever your background, does not feel like talking to a stranger or management. Faith is not the issue.

Knowing what is said goes no further and that you’re being listened to without one eye on the clock is of immeasurable value to railway staff.

Drinking and gambling The origins of the Railway Mission date right back to the start of the railway age. The railway was built by gangs of men often living in huge camps. For many years the emerging railway was a huge consumer of men and boys. Think of the Victorian railways and a picture of a bewhiskered station master comes to mind or a smart conductor flagging off his train.

Alongside these doyens of the industry was a hidden army of track workers, navigators, carpenters and bricklayers.

The sheer physical labour needed to keep the railway operational in a world without mechanical diggers and motorised road vehicles is hard to imagine.

Safety standards were abysmal; accommodation often appalling.

Downtime for many of these men was spent drinking and gambling.

Prostitution was endemic in railway towns. Drunkenness and crime bedevilled the new industry.

The efforts of early Christian missioners were widely supported by railway company bosses with a

commitment that may have surprised their detractors. Railway missioners were greeted with no less relief by the local constabulary. Railway chiefs, many of them practising Christians, were happy to give small parcels of land for the building of chapels and meeting halls. The Railway Mission itself was formed in 1881 amalgamating various groups and with more coming on stream later.

It’s a non-denominational organisation and is not meant to supplant local churches. At its peak, just after the First World War, the Railway Mission had 270 branches often operating from rooms or buildings put up on railway land.

Railway Signal Many of these buildings survive – often simple structures made of corrugated iron. The tin tabernacles

have become a railway feature in their own right. Other chapels, more solid structures of brick and mortar, are still in operation.

Gresty Road Chapel in Crewe is now run by an independent evangelical church.

The last chapel still owned by the Railway Mission is in Brighton. The Railway Mission itself was set up in 1881. A year later it started publishing a magazine, ‘The Railway Signal’ running out 12,000 copies – railway staff were thought to total 400,000 at the time. Meetings were advertised and circulation grew.

The high level of injuries on the railways led the Railway Mission to open special homes for recovering staff. In pre-NHS Britain these were heavily oversubscribed. Back in the 19th century the answer might have been to physically build buildings to accommodate men and women

anxious to meet together and practise their faith. Many were in any event far away from the home and such places provided a measure of comfort – beyond the bar and pool hall.

Railway missioners back then were ahead of their time in an awareness of the evils of alcohol abuse. Long before the British Railways Board outlawed drinking at work altogether, the Temperance Movement was at work urging railway staff to renounce the demon drink. Accidents caused by alcohol were a tragic part of the industrial landscape.

The situation of the Railway Mission changed radically after the Second World War. Branches dwindled to 80. The focus of the Railway Mission changed from a building-based ministry to the idea of getting out and meeting staff at work.

FEATURE

16 | RailStaff | June 2014

A psychological cuddle British Rail in the 1970s with its growing fear of offending the treasury had a different relationship with the railway missionary society than the bosses of yester-year. Permission was only granted to talk to staff in the place of work in 1976. Then in 1982 the then chairman, Robert Reid, met the Railway Mission and discussed what they did.

At the time BR was anxious to make cost savings on welfare provision. Reid knew a good resource when he saw one and, a compassionate man, realised the continuing work of the railway chaplains was of direct benefit to staff.

After the meeting he wrote to the five BR Regional General Managers commending the work of the Railway Mission and asking them to make sure staff were able to speak with chaplains any time they liked. This was important at the time as BR terms and conditions prohibited staff from talking about their work to third parties - namely the press.

Nowadays the emphasis at the Railway Mission is on building relationships with staff, meeting them, talking and listening. No attempt is made to proselytise; that only comes later if asked to do so.

Railway chaplains provide an ear – a psychological cuddle.

Privatisation might have spelled the end for the Railway Mission. However the trauma surrounding the whole enterprise meant the chaplains were sought out all the more by railway staff at all levels. The work continued and rail chiefs realised its value.

Quite unwittingly the railway tragedies of Ladbroke Grove in 1996, Southall in 1997 and Hatfield in 2000 threw a media spotlight on the railway chaplains. This further reinforced industry support for the Railway Mission.

Funding Challenge Funding has always been a challenge.

A third of the Railway Mission’s funding comes from private donations by staff and Christian fellowships. Quantifying the benefit of the chaplains to the industry is difficult.

In 2002 the Railway Mission made a presentation to a meeting of the board of the Association of Train Operating Companies. Adrian Shooter, the head of Chiltern Railways, stood up and said

they’d back the mission and promptly pledged money.

The rest followed suit and it was agreed to support the railway chaplains. Is it a proviso of franchise operation, I ask in my naivety? No, says Liam, but, with a grin, it was minuted. ‘And we remind them now and again.’ Network Rail then matched the train companies. Recently budget constraints have reduced Network Rail contributions.

All chaplains at the Railway Mission are de facto police chaplains and have police identification. They enjoy great relations with local and railway police. Most important the chaplains are accepted by railway staff – and passengers too.

It is a strange job and their value defies definition. In one picture on the web site a chaplain is walking alone down a safe path across a depot.

Even amidst rush hour Euston that afternoon Miles Mitson cut a lonely figure.

However that picture mirrors the loneliness of the driver, the guard and track worker. In fact it is perhaps good to know we are not alone. The Railway Mission quietly backs up the cause of railways and all who work in them.

They are as disparate as the people they work with.

Great Train Robbery The Reverend Dr Richard Cook, railway chaplain in the north west, worked for many years as a railway guard. After attending a Billy Graham rally at Liverpool’s Anfield Road stadium he became a Christian and is now an ordained minister.

Cook once officiated at an on-board wedding staged on a TransPennine Express service. Last year he presided

at a special service for staff. The 50th anniversary of the Great Train Robbery may have grabbed headlines but less widely known was the Memorial Service held at Crewe on 8th August 2013.

Crewe was the home depot of driver Jack Mills, coshed by the gang, and his second man, David Whitby. The romanticism built up around the train hijack has appalled drivers and staff.

Mills and Whiby both died long before their time.

Richard Cook held the service in the old drivers mess room on platform 12 at Crewe. It was the rail industry’s way of stating what is important and emphasising that it stands by its own.

When the media has lost interest and the klieg lights are taken down the chaplains are still there for those who mourn.

Byron Lewis, a railway chaplain in the south east says, ‘Once someone realises I am the chaplain they might tell me about a colleague who is ill or has suffered a bereavement or emotional upheaval. Or they’ll open up with concerns of their own in the knowledge that I’m here to help, not to judge... I can then arrange a hospital or home visit or to meet at a station for a chat to try and talk through any problems.’

The Railway Mission is an example of the out working of the historic commandment – common to all major faiths – love your neighbour as yourself. ‘People are often inquisitive about why I have chosen to share my life with Christ and I am happy to explain more,’ says Byron. ‘But I am also here to provide non-religious as well as religious support. It’s that mix of pastoral and spiritual care and being able to meet people from all walks of life that I enjoy.’

Lucky to survive Practical assistance is important.

One chaplain, Andrew Hall, in the Midlands, knew a track worker who was electrocuted working on OHLE. ‘He was lucky to survive,’ says Andrew.

‘I was at the hospital 15 minutes after he arrived.’ The chaplain stayed with him at the hospital. The man was from the north but had been working in the Midlands.

‘Later when he was transferred to hospital nearer home, I arranged for a railway chaplain to visit him.’ It is unusual for anyone to survive an OHLE incident.

But this man did and is now back at work. Clearly having a railway chaplain by your bedside is a good way to boost the efforts of professional medics.

Chaplains also help reconcile the industry with the public it serves. Miles Mitson ran the Memorial Service for Hatfield at St Albans Cathedral in 2001.

For passenger welfare is all part of the job. Cook recounts a train journey where he saw a woman crying in a carriage. He approached her and she told him her mother was dying. She’d been to see the local vicar who gave her a bible and shooed her out the door with a brief, ‘the answer’s in there,’ salutation. Ultimately the bible may be a help but the lady on the train needed the word made flesh.

The chaplain was able to listen, to lend a sympathetic ear and to be there for her as long as he was needed. It’s a concept time-obsessed modern man finds difficult but in a faith where a thousand years are like the blink of an eye, railway chaplains don’t worry over much about real time chronology.

My thanks to Liam Johnston, Dudley Clark and Andrew Hall for their help with this and the staff at Virgin Trains, Birmingham New Street passenger lounge.

NEWS

June 2014 | RailStaff | 17

Daff Trains Boost Charity Steve names Crown Point A long-serving engineer has named a locomotive after his depot. Steve Woodcock named Abellio Greater Anglia 90001 ‘Crown Point’ at the train operator’s Norwich Crown Point maintenance depot.

Mr Woodcock has completed 39 years’ service in the rail industry.

Steve, a fleet systems engineer, was accompanied at the naming by colleagues from the depot, including many who have worked there since it opened in 1982.

Locomotive 90001 Crown Point has recently returned from a maintenance overhaul at Crewe and is now resplendent in Abellio Greater Anglia new livery. Crown Point depot was

opened in 1982 and was modified for electrification when the GEML was fully electrified in the mid-1980s.

Initially Class 86 electric locomotives operated the Norwich – London services and ‘86235’ proudly carried ‘Crown Point’ nameplates, reflecting the professionalism and dedication of the workforce at the depot. The tradition continues.

‘Our employees in the engineering team at Crown Point take great pride in their work and naming a locomotive ‘Crown Point’ reflects their dedication and professionalism in providing a high quality level of engineering and service delivery day-in, day-out across our intercity mainline and rural routes network,’ says Kate Marjoribanks, Engineering Director.

Staff and passengers at Northern Rail have raised more than £15,000 for this year’s Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Great Daffodil Appeal.

50 ‘Daff Trains’ helped boost the appeal and reminded people to wear a daffodil. Northern Rail staff donated an hour of their time to wear bright yellow

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hats and tabards and collect cash from commuters.

A unique ‘Text to Donate’ number was also set up for Northern Rail and promoted on posters at 150 stations and on 300 trains.

The Northern Rail team at Leeds station collecting for the Great Daffodil Appeal.

NEWS

18 | RailStaff | June 2014

ASLEF in Pension Warning © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

ASLEF has joined the debate about the Scottish independence vote coming up in September. The train drivers’ union has warned about the effect on pensions of leaving the UK.

© SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

In a statement ASLEF said pension schemes that cross borders of two or more European Union states are covered by extremely strict legislation.

Essentially, they must be fully funded at all times.

Says General Secretary Mick Whelan, ‘Markets are cyclical and it is simply a matter of fact that pension schemes will occasionally go into deficit. Whilst UK law asks that shortfalls are dealt with as soon as possible, it allows deficit recovery plans to be affordable and therefore to be spread over a number of years. This allows schemes to remain open.’

Should schemes become cross

Peter Launches New Station

Breakfast Show Rail staff across the network treated passengers to free breakfasts and impromptu flash mob dance routines in a bid to raise money for the Railway Children in May. The charity organised ‘The Big Breakfast’ and staff at East Coast Trains, East Midlands Trains and Virgin Trains held events at stations across the country and on board trains to help support the cause. Creative cooking and ingenious fundraising raised close to £15,000 in just a few hours for some of the world’s most at risk children.

Eggs, croissants and song and

A new railway station near one of the Tees Valley’s busiest hospitals has opened. James Cook Station on the Esk Valley Line between Middlesbrough and Marton has an hourly service and is already popular with patients, visitors and staff alike. Trains are run by Northern Rail.

Conductor, Peter Forster, crewed the first train to call at the station. The local enterprise partnership, Tees Valley Unlimited, secured essential funding from the Department for Transport.

Says Steve Payne, transport manager, Tees Valley Unlimited, ‘The opening of the station is an important milestone in the drive to improve transport

infrastructure across the Tees Valley. It will fill a significant gap in the existing rail network and provide an alternative means of access to one of the area’s largest employment sites.’

Northern Rail’s conductor, Peter Forster, celebrates the arrival of the first ever train to James Cook University Hospital station.

border whilst they are in deficit, contribution rates for employers and employees could jump enormously, putting benefits and the schemes themselves at risk. Scottish Regional Organiser Kevin Lindsay agrees.

‘There are so many things to consider ahead of the referendum in September, however this is an enormous factor for ASLEF members.

Many of our members in both passenger and freight operators could be affected by this European legislation and I would call upon all of our members to do what they can to protect the pensions that they have paid into for so many years.’

dance routines sparked passenger generosity on the 9th May Big Breakfast.

Says Anne Grant, Virgin Trains Group Station Manager for the West Midlands, ‘Railway Children deserve great credit for making the Big Breakfast happen, an event Virgin Trains had no hesitation in supporting.

We certainly shared a laugh or two with colleagues and customers who joined in with the spirit of the morning.

As well as raising close to £4,000, it helped highlight a very serious issue and the fantastic work undertaken by Railway Children.’

Railway staff get behind Big Breakfast in support of charity Railway Children

NEWS

May 2014 | RailStaff | 19

© ASIF AHMED

Scale and Diversity at Earls Court Infrarail 2014 at Earls Court in London saw railway staff, engineers and industry leaders rubbing shoulders with designers, suppliers and politicians.

‘Infrarail is a great show and of real value to suppliers and customers alike,’ says Tom O’Connor, managing director of Rail Media, exhibitor and organiser of the rail engineer seminars at Infrarail 2014. ‘For us at Rail Media it is a good chance to meet the people we’re working with - across the rail industry - face to face in stimulating and inspired surroundings.’

The show has proved a firm favourite with the rail industry and its leaders. Baroness Kramer, Minister of State for Transport, paid tribute to the unstoppable confidence of the industry. ‘The scale and diversity of the event is truly impressive. From the largest infrastructure companies, to the most specialised technology providers, this is a showcase for the UK rail industry. And on this evidence it’s a confident, forward-looking, thriving industry,’ she said.

Presentations at the rail engineer seminars stimulated further interest in the future of the industry. Head of the Northern Line extension project, Graeme Shaw, speaking at Infrarail 2014, said that a rapid planning and consultation period could see the line extension to Battersea and Nine Elms completed before Crossrail, which will become fully operational in December 2019.

The project, which is currently awaiting approval from the Secretary of State, will create a new station at Battersea Power Station, which is at the centre of a major redevelopment programme.

Shaw said Transport for London is hoping to announce the winning contractor at the end of July. If the government approves the extension, work could start on site this autumn and be complete by 2020, possibly sooner. ‘It’s on but it’s still a bit tentative, said Shaw. TfL will initially operate 10 to 16 trains an hour on the new line. Eventually, 28 trains an hour will work the extension.

HS2 needs to get ready for delivery, says Tim Smart, Head of Engineering and Operations, HS2 Ltd. It is ‘paramount’ that HS2 gets itself organised, said Tim at

Directorship for Rail Welder Bob Donaldson has been appointed SQE – safety, quality and environment - Director at ISS Labour, the fast-expanding rail support services business.

Bob has worked for leading contractors providing services to both Network Rail and London Underground. He started out as an

ISS Labour Pway | Civils | Welding OLE | Trackside Lighting

aluminothermic welder and gained deep experience of railway operations and safety critical labour supply becoming a specialist in SQE. Bob Donaldson was educated at Marr College in Troon, Ayrshire and the University of Paisley where he read for an HND in Management.

Later he studied safety and risk management at the University of

Infrarail 2014. ‘What has to be done in a short space of time is it [HS2] needs to get itself in shape for delivery.’

Britain’s first high-speed railway was completed in 2007 at a cost of £5.2 billion. Smart, who led the delivery of HS1, believes the approach taken with that project will benefit HS2.

Lessons learned from developing a strategy for passenger and freight operation, as well as collaboration and alliancing models used throughout HS1, will be central to the successful delivery of HS2, according to Smart. Although there are parallels between the two projects, unlike HS1, the new Y-shaped network connecting London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds will utilise new technology such as ERTMS and regenerative braking.

Strathclyde.

Mr Donaldson was a welding manager at Genweld, before becoming Operations Manager at GPX Engineering Ltd in May 2007. He was promoted HSQE manager at GPX in 2010.

Says Bob, ‘I am delighted to be joining ISS Labour with their strong emphasis on client relationships. I am looking forward to working with the board to enhance the safety culture, drive business growth and take the

business to the next level as we demonstrate our status as partner of choice for the rail industry.’

Bob’s appointment is part of the strategic growth plan for ISS as it expands to meet the challenges presented by CP5. Derby-based ISS now has over 600 staff involved in track, civil and electrical engineering, welding and rail grinding, inspection, trackside lighting and safety fencing.

ISS has new offices planned for the South West and London.

ISS Labour are a dynamic and expanding supplier of rail support services across the Network Rail and Light Rail infrastructures, providing hundreds of staff each day around the country to maintain and enhance our rail networks.

We are looking for reliable and experienced rail staff of all competencies to join our growing business.

To find out more call us on 0800 7833382 or email info@isslabour.co.uk

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NEWS

20 | RailStaff | June 2014

Sacha Baron Cohen in da Train Blackbridge Sea Defences © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Sacha Baron Cohen has been hard at work on his new movie, ‘Grimsby’ - part of which involves a train.

Plans to further strengthen the sea defences at Dawlish are underway. The Orange Army is on the march again, this time raising the sea wall in front of the site of the main breach.

In the spy comedy Mark Strong plays a black-ops special agent who has to go on the run with his brother – a football hooligan – played by Cohen.

The rail shots were filmed at the Epping and Ongar Railway using North Weald station. © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

A Little Bit More Jessica Crossrail’s Tunnel Boring Machine, Jessica, has started a short tunnel drive from Limmo Peninsula, beside Canning Town station, towards Victoria Dock Portal in east London.

Says Andrew Wolstenholme, Crossrail Chief Executive, ‘The end is now in sight for Crossrail’s tunnelling marathon. We wish those operating Jessica a safe and speedy journey through to Victoria Dock.’

The 900m tunnel will form part of the south-east spur of the new railway line.

The tunnel starts from a 35 metre deep access shaft alongside the mouth of the River Lea, and will run to Victoria Dock Portal, where the Crossrail tracks reach the surface at Custom House station.

It is Jessica’s second tunnelling mission. She completed the tunnel from Pudding Mill Lane, near Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, to Stepney Green over the winter.

A 340 metre stretch between Coastguards Footbridge and Rockstone Footbridge, more usually known as Blackbridge, is lower than the rest of the wall. This section was lowered at the request of a local landowner when the railway was built.

Thanks to the team the footpath will run at the higher level along the whole section. This will offer greater protection and local people will be able to use the footpath continuously quite often it floods at high tide.

Says Julian Burnell from Network Rail, ‘Many residents suggested this solution when we were dealing with the original damage in February and March. Now is the perfect time to raise the footpath and give the sea wall extra

protection. We need to complete this work before next winter, so we will need to work across the late summer and autumn. We’ve been here long enough to know how important the tourist season is, so we’ll be making sure we cause as little disruption as we can. Wherever we can we will be bringing in material by sea.’

RailStaff Awards RECOGNISING THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP THE UK RAIL INDUSTRY MOVING

www.railstaffawards.com

Awards Party: 25th October, Ricoh Arena Coventry

The Hardest word?

Nominations are open now for the new, expanded RailStaff Awards 2014. The big thank-you-to-staff event of the rail industry is moving to the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. Like the rest of the industry the move has been driven by the need for greater capacity. It’ll be a bigger event with dancing and music, an expanded party. The RailStaff Awards 2014 looks like being an all-nighter on 25th October with extra bars, cafés and a casino.

It’s a thank-you, and saying thanks is important. In a materialist world fixated on the next bonus and pay raise, too often saying thank-you gets overlooked. The words ‘thank you’ don’t fit easily in a pay packet. Try typing ‘thanks’ onto a bank transfer and the word will confuse the whole process almost irretrievably.

Yet one trick of great leaders is to use the word; to take a second or two and say: Thanks, went well didn’t it? Should this be the preserve of the boss or manager?

With its lisping ‘th’ sound we’re even using a word that’s difficult to pronounce. The British, as a culture, find tactile affection difficult and displays of emotion hard to bring off with confidence.

However the railway is different. RailStaff runs stories regularly of staff proposing marriage on trains and of flash mobs forming up at stations to sing and dance, an enthusiastic choral background to an advancing romance.

Thousands of pounds are raised for charity by an industry which rallies around its staff and however formal and correct it might appear, is wildly passionate about the children and people staff members elect to help.

Yet every pound spent pings out an eternal echo – acts of kindness in the mess room, out in the pouring rain, in the ticket office - that often go unrecorded. Respect, appreciation and friendship are important. Doing something practical to show our thanks is difficult.

However we do have an emotional passing loop, a remotely operated signal, to help. This is what the RailStaff Awards are for. Nominate that special work colleague.

On the night itself the best part of the awards is the sheer look of surprise on the face of the winner. It doesn’t stop there. What lasts longer is the nomination of a colleague or team itself; it’s a testimony, an award, in itself. Every single nomination is important because, in its way it’s a thank you – a valid authority to travel in its own

NOW OPEN FOR

NOMINATIONS www.railstaffawards.com

right. The nomination can be printed off, displayed, put up on a web site.

There for all to see is this proof of delivery – a thank you like no other. Nominations are open now and there’s a helpful page outlining how to write a nomination at www.railstaffawards.com Thanks!

RAILSTAFF AWARDS

22 | RailStaff | June 2014

Rail Team Role for CDI AndersElite CDI AndersElite, the rail and safety critical recruitment experts, are proud to be sponsoring Rail Team of the Year at the 7th annual RailStaff Awards 2014. This prestigious award ceremony will be held on 25th October at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry. Eligible teams for nomination range from trackside to telecoms and on-board train crew to T&RS and training, development and recruitment teams.

Scott Siwicki, Client Relationship Director at CDI AndersElite, says, ‘We are delighted to be sponsoring Rail Team of the Year once again. Having specialised in the rail industry for the best part of my career, I know team work is essential.’

Rob Enright, Safety Critical Manager at CDI AndersElite adds, ‘We have in excess of 500 rail contractors working with us at any one time and many of these are people I have worked with throughout my ten years with the company. We are part of a broad team and our people are integral members of winning teams up and down the network.’

Scott Siwicki further comments, ‘This industry is tasked with expanding, growing and catalysing Britain’s economic recovery, therefore, team work is the precursor of success. My own team is involved at all levels, identifying client requirements and sensitivities, playing an essential and active part in the success of the emerging rail industry.

We understand the importance of team work throughout the rail industry and that is why Rob and his team are supplying more and more successful gangs to major contractors within the

market. These gangs work cohesively to help ensure delivery is on time and on budget.’

CDI AndersElite works with many leading names in the rail industry on both routine and prestigious projects, engaging with clients from conception level through to build and maintenance. Their diverse portfolio of services supports a number of major rail projects including the upgrade of the London Underground, through to the expansion of Network Rail projects including Thameslink, Northern Hub and Great Western Electrification as well as Crossrail.

As one of the UK’s leading recruitment consultancies, disciplines comprehensively covered include rail designers, rail engineers, quantity surveyors, technicians, rail safety experts, document controllers, quality assurance systems managers, civil engineers and executive management.

Their dedicated rail teams are currently involved in recruiting safety critical management and labour (including track gangs and protection experts), through to professionals

Scott Siwicki and his team.

working on track renewal and maintenance projects.

This year brings exciting prospects and new opportunities for CDI AndersElite.

With planned moves to larger premises for the Bristol, Newcastle and Rob Enright meets a candidate.

Southampton offices to meet current business growth, the future is certainly looking bright.

Says Tom O’Connor, managing director of Rail Media, ‘Rail Team of the Year is an important category. A core value of the rail industry is the importance of team work – both to get the job done and also from a safety perspective. We are dependent on good, competent teams. I am delighted CDI AndersElite is sponsoring the Rail Team of the Year Award. Teams from all disciplines deserve better recognition for the challenges they face together.’

Covering permanent, temporary and contract positions, CDI AndersElite is a specialist in resourcing and placing thousands of technical personnel equipped with good expertise and relevant knowledge across a wide range of Rail and Safety Critical clients.

CDI AndersElite is a subsidiary of CDI Corporation, an integrated marketleading Engineering and Technology Services organisation providing differentiated client-focused solutions in select global industries.

RAILSTAFF AWARDS

June 2014 | RailStaff | 23

Network Rail is proud to sponsor the RailStaff Awards 2014 It’s the hard work of individuals and teams within our industry that’s helping us build a better railway for Britain. From pioneering investment and development projects, to innovations that make everyday services faster, smarter and safer, we believe in recognising the excellence that’s enabling the transformation of our network.

That’s why we’re very proud to once again sponsor this year’s RailStaff Awards.

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS

24 | RailStaff | June 2014

TBF backs Station Staff of the Year

The Transport Benevolent Fund is backing the Station Staff of the Year Award at this year’s RailStaff Awards. With a membership at over 43,000, the TBF enjoys a unique and central place in the railway community.

Says Andy Milne, editor, RailStaff, ‘The rail industry is a public service like no other. Railway staff are in daily contact with passengers on trains and on stations in a safety critical environment. Passengers can see the driver and talk to the guard but before they get on the train their journey effectively starts at a ticket office, on a railway concourse or platform.

Station staff handle a variety of situations with competency and kindness. Their professionalism underpins the continuing good fortune of the railway industry. It is highly appropriate that the TBF which has helped so many railway staff since its foundation in 1923 should be backing this award.’

The Transport Benevolent Fund (TBF) is a registered charity (in England and Wales no. 1058032 and in Scotland no.

SC040013) and offers a wide range of

benefits including health, legal advice, convalescence and cash help to its members and their dependants. The TBF is run by Trustees who understand the industry and the needs of staff.

TBF is here to support those who work in the public transport industry when they are in need, hardship or distress. Almost anyone who works in the industry may join TBF. If you are a member of the TBF, you may choose to continue your membership in retirement. It is not possible to join once you have retired.

Contributions to the TBF are just £1 a week. Please contact TBF for more details. If you pass away while in service, and have 5 years’ worth of TBF contributions, your family will normally continue to be treated as dependants in accordance with TBF rules.

Says Rupert Brennan Brown, Rail Network Development lead at TBF ‘I have heard stations described as the cathedrals of the new railway which sounds wonderful but the real heroes are the thousands of frontline men and women who work on our stations, looking after the public, expediting journeys and helping out when assistance is required.’

The Transport Benevolent Fund was originally established to help families of London public transport workers serving in the First World War. A permanent trust was set up in 1923. TBF has been helping public transport workers for over 90 years. In recent years TBF has shown extensive growth nationally and now has over 43,000 members throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

Post-Beeching railway stations often became depressed, grimy places with their buildings boarded up. Many staff were withdrawn. Much of this is changing now as the rail industry powers up to answer the upsurge of passenger volume. Stations are being modernised and expanded. Major stations are being re-defined as light, friendly places full of shops, cafés and restaurants.

The rail industry has worked out that the huge footfall through its stations presents a real commercial opportunity. The essential element in making stations work are the staff from every quarter of the station, from barista to dispatcher. Thanks to railway staff, stations are once more becoming inspired statements of faith in the future.

RAILSTAFF AWARDS

June 2014 | RailStaff | 25

The Rail Alliance are proud to be associate sponsors of The RailStaff Awards 2013

The Transport Benevolent Fund is proud to sponsor the Station Staff of the Year award for 2014.

With the help of the TOCs, Network Rail and other employers throughout the public transport industry we now have nearly 43,000 members.

For just ÂŁ1 a week a variety of benefits are available to you, your partner and dependent children.

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Transport Benevolent Fund

The Transport Benevolent Fund (known as TBF) is a registered charity in England and Wales (1058032) and in Scotland (SC040013)

RAILSTAFF AWARDS

26 | RailStaff | June 2014

Westermo Backs Signalling and Telecommunications Engineer of the Year

Westermo Data Communications is sponsoring the Signalling and Telecommunications Engineer of the Year award at this year’s RailStaff Awards. The award aims to highlight pioneering work developed by the rail industry’s signalling and telecommunications specialists as new projects and renewals crowd the rail industry’s expansionist agenda. 2014 is proving a busy year for Westermo as it launches a new training programme at Network Rail’s York centre and prepares to take part in Rail Live 2014.

Says Phil Mounter, Rail Projects Sales Manager at Westermo, ‘It is important to recognise the contribution made to railways internationally by railway signal engineers. The growing signalling and telecommunications sector is sometimes overlooked but it makes a huge contribution to the new rail industry.’ In an industry where timing is crucial and every second counts, top-performing signalling installation engineers are an integral element of rail engineering dynamics.

‘Signalling and telecommunications engineers are out there whatever the weather and wherever the project takes them. They work with quiet professionalism and concision to get the job done – often within the parameters of a tightly-timed possession or total blockade,’ says Phil. ‘We want to recognise these men and women and this award is a big thank you to all our customers, suppliers and staff,’ Phil adds.

Says Tom O’Connor, managing director of the Rail

Media Group, ‘Westermo is at the heart of developing new technologies that underpin the signalling and telecommunications sections of the industry. Phil’s quite right – we don‘t hear enough about S & T engineers and this award will go some way to redressing that. I’d like to thank Phil and wish all signalling engineers well at the RailStaff Awards 2014.’

Military-grade components The RailStaff Awards is a cross-industry exercise in getting together and uniting the industry. Says Phil, ‘Getting together is important. Part of our approach is to communicate directly with signalling and telecommunications designers, installers, maintenance technicians, engineers and managers.

We believe we are all in the communications business. For us, talking, discussing and refining what we do is essential and gives us the edge. Top S&T engineers choose Westermo when building missioncritical communications networks.’

Westermo products are built using high quality, military-grade components with low power consumption and data integrity in mind. Westermo offers some of the most reliable, secure and energy efficient products on the industrial market today.

Founded in 1975 in Sweden, Westermo now has a global reach. In Britain Westermo has been supplying Ethernet and serial industrial communications devices to the rail industry for many years. New ideas, top quality equipment and listening to the concerns of the engineers themselves has placed Westermo among the market leaders in signalling and telecommunications.

Westermo has recently signed a contract with Network Rail to provide training for personnel in Industrial Data communications at Network Rail’s brand new training facility in York. The training, as well as covering current and emerging technologies, will also include older legacy equipment which is still very much part of the Network Rail Infrastructure and will be for some time to come.

For the first time and new to 2014, Westermo will be rolling out its new Road Train vehicle at Rail Live 2014. Says Phil, ‘Our Road Train vehicle is a mobile demonstration and training centre for delivering both product training and technology workshops to engineers and managers of all disciplines.

On show inside the vehicle will be the Wireless Distant Signal, a collaborative joint venture between Network Rail’s Modular Signalling group, Westermo and others which is developing ways of renewing signalling on secondary routes at a substantially lower cost than could be achieved by the usual techniques. Also participating and forming part of our technology workshop will be Atkins and Schneider Rail.’

‘Rail Live 2014 at Long Marston, Warwickshire on 18th and 19th June will be a great opportunity to meet customers and suppliers,’ says Phil. ‘Both because of its location and thanks to Network Rail and the Rail Alliance it is right at the heart of the rail industry. We look forward to seeing Westermo customers there and amongst them, who knows, maybe a future winner of this award.’

For more information about Westermo see http:// www.westermo.co.uk

RAILSTAFF AWARDS

June 2014 | RailStaff | 27

Proud Sponsors of the Railstaff Awards 2014

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INTERVIEW

28 | RailStaff | June 2014

Iarnród Éireann

A Crisis to be Overcome An interview with David Franks – CEO of Irish Rail

Report by Tim Casterton

With the Minister of Transport talking hard ball about the cost of running Iarnród Éireann, Tim Casterton asked David Franks, the company’s CEO, how he would seek to manage the situation and what positive steps could be taken to bring Ireland’s rail network through the current financial crisis.

In May Ireland’s Transport Minister, Leo Varadkar, said he would consider imposing financial cuts on Irish Rail as the company’s current drain on the public finance was unsustainable (this despite a 30% reduction in PSO funding since 2008). Talk abounded of a mass closure of rural routes and services being cut back on main lines.

Are these simply a means of focusing thoughts on future requirements for the railway and what Ireland is prepared to pay for? Or is there a deeper agenda? Is there a way through this that could bring a stronger company out the other side?

David started off by explaining the background. ‘Iarnród Éireann just has to cut costs as there are not the funds available to continue with operational costs at current level. Key to this has to be the pay deal.’ Staff and managers are currently being asked to accept pay cuts. ‘It’s a hard thing to ask of your loyal work force at any time. They are being asked to accept a reduction of 1.75% while the deal for management is up to 6.1%.’

It’s obviously a very difficult situation to sell. Franks is certain that staff are aware of the current financial disaster that has hit Ireland. ‘I see an overall positive approach within the country to get on and try and resolve the issues rather than going down similar routes to countries such as Greece or Portugal.

The Public Sector employees in Ireland have been forced to take cuts.

However we are considered to be ‘semi-state’ and the government isn’t able to enforce cuts. We are fortunate that the 2008 levels of pay remain in force as well and this has greatly © WILLIAM MURPHY

helped.’ As in other railway companies such as Network Rail, voluntary severance has been used to help reduce the Iarnród Éireann pay bill.

Consultation and negotiation with the Trade Unions has been a priority in recent months. David explains, ‘The proposals have been referred to the Labour Relations Commission for a recommendation to be made - that’s the Irish equivalent of ACAS. Historically, with other industries once this process was done, the recommendation was put to the unions and accepted, but last year both Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus were given recommendations by the Labour Court and in both instances, the situation ended up with an industrial dispute and short strikes. I’m doing the utmost to avoid this with Iarnród Éireann as it would cause even further damage.’

Regrettably for Iarnród Éireann, a few days after my conversation with David around 1,700 members of the union SIPTU participated in a ballot and very narrowly voted to reject the Labour Court recommendation with a 51% to 49% split. SIPTU has now advised that their Iarnród Éireann members will be balloted on strike and industrial action

INTERVIEW

June 2014 | RailStaff | 29 © WILLIAM MURPHY

which will be undertaken if any attempt to implement changes to workers’ terms and conditions of employment without agreement is made.

TSSA voted 72% in favour of accepting the Labour Court recommendations, whilst at the time of writing, members of two other unions have still to conduct ballots.

Both Iarnród Éireann and Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, have expressed disappointment with the outcome of the SIPTU ballot and advised that failure to reach agreement is likely to result in redundancies within the company and possible line closures.

Says David Franks, ‘Although the pay deal within Iarnród Éireann was crucial, it alone wouldn’t resolve the financial situation as the gap is just simply too great. It’s a part of a package which includes constraint, other efficiencies, service levels and of course the level of subvention we get from the Government.”

Track Record ‘Last year we delivered on our budget. It was tough, but we did it.

The targets we’ve been set for this year will be even more demanding. Several

types of grant have now been removed and this makes setting the budget even more of a challenge. At present I’ve a huge headache to try and find funding to cover some of the operational and maintenance expenditure required this year.’

With all this talk of financial crisis abounding, it is worth looking at the Iarnród Éireann annual report for 2013 to see how the company performed and despite the doom and gloom, it’s actually quite impressive to see what has been achieved on the financial front.

Costs were reduced by €25 million on a ‘like for like’ basis (excluding ‘one off’ savings achieved in 2012).

Train kilometres operated increased by 0.5 million km despite a reduction of €8.7 million in Public Service Obligation (PSO) payments and a 6.1% reduction in staff (261 fewer) – this being the lowest ever staff numbers.

The train operating costs have been reduced by an impressive 16.6% per kilometre.

Passenger numbers remained about static, but freight tonnage increased by 4% and revenue across all operations increased by €8.3m (4.4%).

Both the safety and PSO targets were

achieved on all routes.

The wholly owned port of Rosslare Europort increased its surplus to €2.1 million, with an increase in freight units of 4.5% These achievements are certainly impressive, particularly bearing in mind that the economy has been in recession.

having left. I saw that one ‘quick fix’ would be to reduce ticketless travel so I set about getting resources reallocated to re-build the Revenue Protection team and, on regular occasions, getting the office-based staff out supporting them. Ticket checks are now up by 25% and around 40% more Penalty Fares are being issued. An independent

When I started here I soon appreciated that we were very good at cost controls, but not as good at growing revenue Taking up the challenge David Franks was appointed as CEO at Iarnród Éireann in February 2013. ‘When I started here I soon appreciated that we were very good at cost controls, but not as good at growing revenue. Previously voluntary severance had in many instances hit the wrong areas of workforce – revenue protection being one with many ticket office staff and revenue protection staff

survey was recently undertaken and it shows a big decrease in ticketless travel. I can feel that the first green shoots of a recovery are happening – we can see slight increases in passenger numbers now with the last quarter of 2013 being up. The first quarter of 2014 showed a 2% revenue increase.’

‘The fortunes of the different sectors within the company vary with

INTERVIEW

30 | RailStaff | June 2014

Commuting, which includes the DART, taking the lead with improving results.

I’m not sure why we still refer to the DART separately! There are clear signs that people are starting to ‘get back to work’ with some revenue increases, but the income is still a bit up and down.

One thing that we are particularly good at is getting people to and from events.’

David’s comment here is borne out by the recent popular ‘One Direction’ concerts held in Dublin which saw services being very well utilised and bringing in that vital boost to the fare box. Sporting events also generate additional revenue for the company with travel to the huge Dublin stadia.

Whilst most of this is Dublin-based, a side line that is paying well in Cork is the increased numbers of cruise liners calling into Cobh. With the port being adjacent to the station the use of rail to access Cork city centre is generating opportunities with additional services being provided on the commuter branch.

‘Inter-City hasn’t been performing so well and this is mainly down to competition from the new motorways constructed during the ‘Celtic Tiger’ years when money seemed to be no problem. Although we attracted investment in the rail network at the same time, it was mostly concentrated on new routes rather than improving the line speeds on the Inter-City routes to make them compete more effectively.

Another priority I had here was to get passengers back onto services and this has been achieved with special promotional fares. On the Cork to Dublin route recently a €9.99 offer resulted in a 40% passenger increase.

However what we have to ensure now is that having tempted these customers back to retry the service, they keep an interest in travelling by rail. Our passenger fleet is now one of the most modern in Europe with Wi-Fi being available on all trains so that passengers on the journey can use the time for working, catching up on e-mails or simply just to browse the internet.’

Freight Having been for many years the poor relation on IÉ, freight is now becoming the rising star. ‘During 2013 we recorded a 4% increase with freight

tonnage. I see freight as an opportunity that we can use to claw in additional

generates three weekday trains on the Northern Line.

require a regular source of fuel to operate.

revenue, especially as much of the network is controlled centrally and there is rarely cost involved in opening up lines for an additional train path.

On the (main) network I see passenger trains as covering all the network costs and freight should only be charged on a marginal basis; however on the few freight-only lines such as Drogheda to Navan, the costs must be covered. Freight must pay its way. To improve the viability of freight we are currently looking at how access to the network is charged, as at present all are charged the same rate. I don’t consider that the charges that we apply to passenger services are also right for freight and we may be able to reduce them.’

Another long time issue with freight customers has been the relatively short formations permitted on the network with 18 bogie container wagons being the current maximum. The problem with much of the network being single track is the length of passing loops.

Even on double track routes, passing loops may not be of sufficient length.

Says David, ‘I’ve asked the team to look at where train lengths could be significantly extended. Freight train paths could be designed to give a through run so that the use of loops isn’t required.’ One possible solution here could be operating overnight when passenger trains are not running.

One key bulk freight flow is the zinc ore from Navan to Dublin Port. Franks had good news. ‘The Tara Mines have now had their licence extended so that traffic will continue.’ The traffic

Intermodal trains on the network are buoyant and currently centre on County Mayo with the Ballina freight yard handling nine arrivals and departures each week. International Warehousing and Transport (IWT) now operate seven weekly services in each direction to and from the Dublin Port private sidings now that agreement has been reached to operate an additional service on Saturdays. DFDS runs two trains to and from Waterford Port each week to connect with its Rotterdam-bound container ship. Ballina and Westport also handle timber trains that operate to Waterford.

‘In the future we are also keen that with biomass becoming important, freight can transport it.’ At present a new biomass electricity generation plant is under construction in Mayo a few miles from Ballina and this would

‘We are also currently carrying out a study to look at opening up the long time mothballed Foynes branch for the Shannon Foynes Port Company on a ‘cheap and cheerful’ basis. At some future point it is also likely that the mining of zinc ore in the Limerick area could commence and that, similar to the ore from Navan, would be an ideal source of freight.’

David’s Message David Franks’ message to staff and stakeholders is uncompromising but optimistic. ‘It’s going to be tough, but Iarnród Éireann can get through this.’

It is clear that there really is a financial squeeze greater than seen for a long time, but with the outlook for business in most key areas of the network looking quite positive at present, I think the CEO is right and Iarnród Éireann will get through and come out all the stronger. © WILLIAM MURPHY

W O N T OU

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engineer by rail engineers for rail engineers

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FREIGHT

32 | RailStaff | June 2014

© SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Rail Freight Rises Rail freight is continuing to expand. Recent data published by the Office of Rail Regulation shows freight carried by rail rose by 5.8% in the year 2013-14 compared to the year before.

A report commissioned by the Rail Delivery Group says British businesses are saving £1 billion a year by using rail freight. The report, ‘Keeping the Lights on and the Traffic Moving’ is based on analysis by KPMG. Government and private sector investment has helped rail freight in Britain grow by 70% in the past 20 years. British rail freight has increased its share of the market for transporting goods, in contrast to some still largely European state-run railways.

Sustainable answer Welcoming the report, John Smith, managing director of GB Railfreight and a member of the RDG, said, ‘This report reiterates the vital contribution that rail freight makes to the UK economy: delivering goods, helping to build new infrastructure, servicing our railways and removing lorries from the roads. The opportunity is there to double the size of the sector over the next three years and we are committed

to delivering this growth. At a time when the roads are congested and the Government is investing heavily in our railways – including HS2 – rail freight is a sustainable answer to keeping the UK’s economy moving for decades to come.’

Philippa Edmunds, Freight on Rail manager, urged the government to continue its support for rail freight as the recession recedes. ‘Rail freight, which grew by almost 6% last year, is integral to the productivity and efficiency of many sectors of the UK so it is crucial that the Government continues to invest in rail freight access © JOSHUA BROWN

to the network,’ says Philippa Edmunds.

‘The economy relies on rail freight which carries goods worth £30 billion per year ranging from whiskies and luxury cars to steel, cement and coal.’ The sector is now seen as vital to energising Britain’s economic competitiveness. In fact over half the fuel delivered to power stations to generate electricity is carried by rail.

Says Peter Maybury, chairman of Freightliner and the RDG freight group, ‘High levels of private sector investment and innovation matched by significant infrastructure improvements are now helping rail freight to bring

£1.5 billion a year of benefits to Britain’s businesses and the wider economy.

Rail freight helps keep shop shelves stocked and the power on while taking thousands of lorries off the roads, reducing harmful emissions and keeping Britain competitive in the global economy. Rail freight has been transformed over the past two decades and is set to keep growing.

By continuing to drive efficiency and improve performance, operators could help more than double the size of the sector over the next three decades and increase the economic benefits of rail freight to over £4 billion a year.’ © JOSHUA BROWN

NEWS

June 2014 | RailStaff | 33

Heritage Garden for Uttoxeter Station

Anna Walker, Chair, Office of Rail Regulation, has opened a new garden for passengers at Uttoxeter. The Heritage Garden, formerly an overgrown area and part of the former station platform, has been transformed through an award of £13,000 from Network Rail’s National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP).

The project was developed by staff and volunteers from East Midlands Trains and the North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership. Uttoxeter station volunteers created the garden in just three months and planted lots of poppies in recognition of the centenary

Double Marathon Triumph Marathon man, Paul Atherfold, has successfully completed two marathons just three weeks apart, raising funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK. Paul is an Operations Standards Manager at c2c. Always a keen runner, Paul raised the money in memory of a friend with a young family who recently passed away from the disease. He ran the London Marathon in 3 hours 45 minutes and three weeks later the Milton Keynes marathon in 4 hours 17 minutes.

To date his efforts have raised over £1,250 for the charity. ‘This was a

real challenge for me, and while I’m delighted to have achieved my goal, I found the end of the second marathon in particular a real struggle! It was only all the support I’ve received from everyone who’s sponsored me that kept me going.

Thank you to all of them for their donations towards this fantastic charity.’

Frequent Flyer The relaunched Flying Scotsman express service from Edinburgh and Newcastle to London King’s Cross marked its third birthday on 23rd May.

of the start of the First World War. Network Rail put up new fencing.

Says Anna Walker, ‘The revived heritage garden at Uttoxeter station... is a great example of how collaboration between the rail industry and the communities they serve can improve our railways.’

East Coast confirmed the flagship service has carried over 160,000 passengers since its launch – with usage growing by around 25 per cent over the last three years.

East Coast’s ‘Flying Scotsman’ departs Edinburgh Waverley at 05.40 each weekday, stopping only at Newcastle at 07.03 and arriving at London King’s Cross at 09.40.

inspired by the teachers, staff and friends he has made there. I applied for the charity donation because over the past few years funding has been cut as people tighten their belts

and the organisation has found itself struggling for funds. This donation will be used to put on a summer production of Cabaret and to update the theatre building itself.’

LOROL Comes to the Cabaret Young actors in Croydon will benefit this summer from a donation made by London Overground Rail Operations Limited. The Croydon Youth Theatre Organisation, based in South Norwood, close to Norwood Junction, runs theatrical workshops for young people aged 13 - 25 and stages concerts, plays and musicals.

LOROL has given £1,000 to the theatre group. Says London Overground Driver Instructor, Richard Baker, who applied for the funding from LOROL’s Charitable Donation Fund, ‘My son has attended Croydon Youth Theatre Organisation for six years in which time he has been

The LOROL Charitable Donations Fund, launched in November 2013, offers employees the opportunity to apply for funding for charities or good causes that are important to them.

NEWS

34 | RailStaff | June 2014

Corporate backing for PWI Network Rail and London Underground have taken out corporate membership of the Permanent Way Institution.

They are the first two corporate members. PWI President, Steve Whitmore, presented Corporate Membership certificates to Steve Featherstone, Network Rail’s Programme Director, Track Infrastructure Projects and London Underground’s George McInulty, Programme Director of Infrastructure and Andrew Jinks, Head of Asset Strategy & Development at LU. Says Mr Whitmore, ‘The Permanent Way Institution has existed since 1884 providing technical advice and best practice to track engineers and project

managers. This is as relevant today as it has been for the past 130 years.’

Corporate Members will be represented on the PWI’s Technical Board. The PWI has already had a number of enquiries from other potential corporate members and is keen to ensure these are representative of the whole rail infrastructure sector.

The PWI is also pressing ahead with plans for professional registration of rail infrastructure engineers.

L - R: David Packer CEO PWI, Andrew Jinks, LU Head of Asset Strategy & Development, Steve Featherstone, Network Rail’s Programme Director, Track Infrastructure Projects, George McInulty, LU Programme Director of Infrastructure, Steve Whitmore, President PWI, Alison Stansfield, Communications Director PWI

Proposal on 86th St

A major expansion of the New York subway system is already proving lucky for love. Adam Meagher, a designer with New York City’s Economic Development Corporation, proposed to his long-term girlfriend, Carolyn Grossman, in the new 86th Street station on the Second Avenue Subway – which is currently under construction.

The pair were on a special tour of the vast new caverns underground. Both are interested in architecture and railways and had joined the tour. Unbeknown to Carolyn, her fiancé, Adam, had arranged with subway chiefs at MTA to pop the question 100 feet below 86th street - well away from the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps.

Adam, much to the surprise of the rest of the party, got down on one knee and said, ‘Just like New Yorkers, I’ve

Rail Safety for White Van Man Network Rail has launched an awareness programme aimed at people who drive for a living. Safety specialists want to reduce the number of accidents at level crossings involving professional drivers.

A fifth of the 142 near-misses at level crossings last year involved vehicles driven in a professional capacity – such as a lorry, van, bus or taxi. The plan is for over 100 level crossing managers to meet local employers whose workforce includes a significant number of drivers.

The programme is being rolled out among Network Rail’s own driving fleet of 7,400

road vehicles. Presentations by railway staff will remind drivers that although it may be inconvenient to wait at a crossing, especially when they are trying to meet delivery deadlines, the stop signs are in place to save lives.

This year has seen several successful prosecutions of drivers for careless or dangerous driving at level crossings. For example, in Cornwall a delivery van driver was prosecuted and suspended from his job pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

In Rossington near Doncaster, a driver found guilty of dangerous driving lost his licence for 12 months. In the past four years, Network Rail has invested £130 million in improving level crossing safety. During this time it has closed nearly 800 level crossings and plans to shut another 500 over the next five years.

been waiting a long time for the Second Avenue Subway. I have also been waiting a long time to ask you this question, which is: Will you marry me?’ Carolyn said yes adding ‘One hundred per cent.’

The Second Avenue Subway marks a major expansion of the New York underground system – the first in 50 years. Adam Meagher chose the soonto-be station under 86th Street because Carolyn grew up in an apartment building right above.

NEWS

June 2014 | RailStaff | 35

World Class Hub for Nottingham Nottingham station’s brandnew Southern Concourse has been officially opened to the public. The glass-fronted building marks a new era for the 100 year old station.

The station now connects with a 950 space multi-storey car park and will incorporate Nottingham’s tram network, when construction of two new tram lines to Chilwell and Clifton is completed.

Completely glass-fronted and with lift and escalator access, the new Southern Concourse is in light contrast to the Edwardian Baroque Revival building designed by local architect, Albert Edward Lambert.

The redevelopment is sited in what was the old car park alongside Queens Road and is part of a £50 million transformation of the station. A new pedestrianised area and a cycle hire

and stabling hub confirm the station as an exemplar of integrated transport.

The world class-station will help power up local economics: Says city councillor, Jane Urquhart, ‘It’s exciting to see Nottingham Station being transformed into a top European railway station offering world-class transport links... The transport investment in the city and regeneration plans around the station and Broadmarsh area put Nottingham, our citizens, and our business community in a prime position to attract further investment, jobs and growth.’

L-R Justin Page, Area Director for Network Rail; Lilian Greenwood, MP for Nottingham South and Shadow Rail Minister; Councillor Jane Urquhart, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation for Nottingham City Council and David Horne, Managing Director of East Midlands Trains.

Exciting News at Essex Medical Testing In June and July we are pleased to be offering new services at Essex Medical Testing. In June, to add to our existing PTS Railway Medicals and Alcohol and Drugs Screening, we are now approved to offer the same professional and efficient service to London Underground contractors.

From July we will be opening our new Woman and Man Wellness Clinic days at Essex Medical Testing and we welcome on site full day bookings for groups of 12 to 14 people.

We are pleased to offer our

comprehensive Mini Health Check for individuals or workplace groups for health awareness which we are confident will be of significant benefit to yourself or your employees.

This includes a list of health

checks being conducted and the patient will receive their individual health check results containing a Lifestyle Assessment along with a 12 month action plan including Health Promotion & Awareness literature.

We fully support Network Rail’s ‘Everyone Fit For The Future’ campaign. Please see our advertisement for more information or contact Martine on the telephone number 01245 426042. © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

RDG Launches Charge Probe The Rail Delivery Group is to conduct a detailed cross-industry review of track access charges.

Currently track access charges are determined by the Office of Rail Regulation every five years.

Train operators pay to use the railways and the charge is set bearing in mind the cost of renewal and maintenance of the network. The review enables the rail industry to take a fresh look at how rail operators are charged. Optimists believe it will help reduce red tape and align the industry’s efforts to improve value for money.

Rail freight companies, train companies, passenger transport executives and Network Rail will work together on the project. Richard Brown’s rail franchising review, published in 2013, recommended a full review of track access charging. Brown, with trademark candour, advised that current incentives need revisiting.

TRACK SAFETY

36 | RailStaff | June 2014

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY SUPPORTED BY MANY MORE UNEXPECTED SITE VISITS BY CHIEF EXECUTIVES SAFETY Colin Wheeler colin@rail-media.com

Sadly I must begin by reporting a fatal accident that occurred on May 1st on the new Borders Railway Project. A 54 year old Bam Nuttall employee was driving a tractor and trailer south on the A7 just north of Galashiels when a lorry ran into the back of his trailer; “the tractor driver was injured and was subsequently reported deceased at the scene”.

My thoughts and prayers are for his family and friends.

An HOBC near miss On Wednesday 23rd April this year there was a near miss at Tollerton on the East Coast mainline on a High Output Ballast Cleaner (HOBC3) worksite whilst the team were being protected using LOWS (Look Out Warning System) equipment.

Investigations are ongoing.

With the letting of new track renewals contracts for both plain line and switch and crossing renewals, it was also announced that when the existing high output renewal contracts run out (March 2015) Network Rail will take direct control of their national high output track renewals. Their objective is the simplification of their organisation.

Around 1,200 people work on these contracts at present.

The injured car driver reported his accident At 0310 in the early morning of Friday May 31st this year a car driver was forced to swerve into metal fencing to avoid colliding with an engineers’ train equipped for weed spraying as it passed over Balnamore Level Crossing (between Coleraine and Ballymena).

The crossing is equipped with automatic half barriers that are normally operated by approaching trains, but with a possession of the line having been

taken the crossing should have been under “manual local control”. When the engineers’ train passed over the crossing the half barriers had not been lowered and the road traffic signals were not operating.

After the accident the crew of the engineering train spoke with the car driver (who like his passenger had suffered minor injuries) before continuing with their work. They did not report the accident but the car driver did by contacting Northern Ireland Railways later that same day.

No checks on weedkilling Northern Ireland Railways require “safety checks to be performed on a periodic and random basis to include visits to sites of work”. Their safety professionals and heads of department are to undertake these checks but the latter often delegate this work.

The investigators found no evidence of any safety checks on weed-killing during 2013. The RAIB report found that the weed-killing team were “routinely not complying with the rules relating to the operation of half barrier level crossings

within possessions”. It goes on to say that they found a “low perception of risks” a “desire to complete the weed killing work more quickly” and that “non-compliance was not detected or corrected by safety checks”. Whilst not within RAIB’s remit one wonders about the management responsibility for the work.

Did the Conductor forget?

A year ago there was a near miss at Llandovery Level Crossing between Shrewsbury and Swansea. At 0556 in the morning of Thursday June 6th a van drove over the open crossing immediately in front of a passenger train.

A witness working in a garage adjacent to the crossing saw it happen and reported the incident to the police. The train conductor is supposed to operate the crossing using the control panel provided on the platform at Llandovery Station. This had not been done.

The RAIB report comments that the “opportunity to integrate the operation of Llandovery Level Crossing into the signalling arrangements was missed when signalling works were planned and

commissioned between 2007 and 2010.”

I assume the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) approved those plans.

Heavy concrete trough units Following its concerns during the Bristol/Swindon area re-signalling works last year the ORR has issued a Prohibition Notice in respect of the manual lifting and carrying of the big C143 concrete troughing units. This process began following an ORR site inspection of those works.

On May 19th this year Mace who are working on the Birmingham Gateway Project issued their own Safety Alert after three separate incidents when ducting had slipped from the forks of either fork lift trucks or Genie Lifts.

In two of the incidents (none of which fortunately resulted in any injuries) the safe working loads of the machines had not been exceeded and the cause was the size of the ducts. In the third incident the safe working load was exceeded. The bulletin admits that there were “issues with the lifting plans and those operating the equipment outside its capacity”.

TRACK SAFETY

June 2014 | RailStaff | 37

Who is responsible for visually checking for potential landslips each year?

The RAIB has recently issued a report on landslips on Network Rail’s infrastructure. This is in reaction to the six landslips which occurred between June 2012 and February 2013. The investigation focussed on land adjacent to the railway, adverse weather and on risk management.

The findings and five recommendations highlighted the fact that expert examinations may be carried out at frequencies of ten years and concluded that meanwhile there was a “lack of clarity about who should carry out visual checks” between examinations.

Why had no-one discovered the problems with radio messaging and TPWS? On March 20th this year a freight train passed Greenford Junction in the south east. The following passenger train then passed two signals at danger. It passed the first red signal at 20 mph and then went through the second one that was only 142 yards further on. It then proceeded over the junction onto a single track section as it headed towards South Ruislip and the freight train.

Eventually the driver responded to an emergency phone message and stopped his train 1.75 miles past Greenford Junction. The investigation is proceeding but has already established that the Train Protection Warning System (TPWS) had self-isolated, and the Greenford Signaller was unable to send a radio message to the driver, so the Greenford Signaller had to call on a Marylebone Signaller to do so.

Tight curve and no check rail but other factors too An RAIB report was recently released about the derailment at Ordsall Lane Junction in northwest England of a Class 47 locomotive that subsequently caught fire. The locomotive derailed on a small radius curve whilst being hauled at the end of an empty train of five coaches.

The hauling locomotive was also a Class 47. It ran on derailed for 70 metres before coming to a halt when a fire broke out on the locomotive. The leading right hand wheel had climbed the unchecked outside rail whilst travelling at just 14 mph.

Although the arrangements for rail lubricating had just been modified the outer rail face was dry and clean and the locomotive had just left Ardwick Depot following wheel re-profiling after it had been found to have wheel flats. There was also some gauge widening on the curve.

It was concluded that the fire was caused by a fractured fuel pipe near to a severed electric cable. At 178 metres the curve was below the minimum radius of 200 metres which is the standard below which check rails should be provided, but it was 192 metres at the point of derailment in the transition curve.

when he has left too long a time between his site visits by the ease or

was going on. But surely patrollers have commented about potential

otherwise with which his employees speak up when he meets with them.

The recently published Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) report into a level crossing incident in Northern Ireland illustrates an extreme case of the results of too few site visits and management being unaware of what

landslips, mess room talk has identified difficulties with bulky concrete troughing; and had none of Greenford’s Signallers discovered the problem with using driver radio communication?

Maybe you know the answers to these questions? If so I will be pleased to hear from you.

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Many rules, standards and instructions – but personal accountability?

The majority of this month’s selection of safety related events reflect errors of judgement by individuals or are examples of motivated people taking short cuts to get jobs done as they see it more easily.

More worryingly I suggest are the findings or probabilities that incidents really occurred because no one individual was fully and personally responsible for the safety of the infrastructure or the equipment that was in use. This responsibility ultimately goes to the top.

The importance of unannounced site visits by the boss At the recent annual Rail Safety Summit a number of speakers rightly emphasised the importance of unannounced site visits by senior managers and chief executives. One specifically commented that he knows

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NEWS

38 | RailStaff | June 2014

Apprentices Way Out West © ANDREW PM WRIGHT

A team of 20 apprentices from Siemens and the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance was able to practice engineering skills on the Swanage Railway recently.

The two-day team-building event involved dismantling a Class 101 DMU (diesel multiple unit). The ex-British Rail unit from the 1950s last saw service in 2000. Salvaged parts will form a valuable source of spares for DMUs that will be used on train services between Swanage and the main line at Wareham from next year.

Says Siemens apprentice and director at the Swanage Railway Trust, Nathan Au, who came up with the idea, ‘We are lucky enough to learn about and work with modern fleets such as the Class 444 and 450 Desiro units for South West Trains in our apprenticeships, and this gave us a chance to practise our mechanical skills and techniques on older rolling stock while also helping towards a bigger railway project.’

After spending two days removing everything they could including

Evans Sent Rescue Star Visits No 10.

A railway conductor who helped out with the local fire service during recent flooding has been invited for a special thank you at 10 Downing Street.

doors, engines and a speedometer, the apprentices spent time behind the scenes of the steam railway. Says Matt Jolly, one of the twelve Siemens apprentices, ‘We’ve not been able to do anything like this before. It was a good experience and I’ve been able to help out some of the other apprentices which helps my own development.’

Shannon Fox, a 1st year apprentice, agrees. ‘I only joined in August last year and so this has been a lot to take in but it’s been good getting to work with Siemens and also seeing behind the scenes.’ Apprentices and employers plan to organise a similar annual event from now on.

James Evans, who works for Abellio Greater Anglia, regularly volunteers with the Essex County Fire & Rescue Service as part of its safe communities team.

While Britain endured months of flooding James and his team were out all hours working to clear water courses and helping local residents with flood

defences. His work centred on Maldon in Essex and exposed coastal areas.

In one incident James was one of several volunteers who worked non stop for two days as disaster threatened flooded family homes.

Earlier he assisted the army and emergency services with large scale evacuations in Jaywick and Maldon, Essex.

James regularly works to improve community resilience and in recognition of this work was nominated to attend the reception at No.10.

reclining seats that can be repositioned as flat beds, and a brasserie-style Club Car. Serco runs luxury sleeper services in Australia.

Albert Roux, 78, will produce a new menu of Scottish–based food and drink. Although French, M’sieur Roux is a long time visitor to the Highlands. A

keen fisherman, he can often be found fishing a succession of lochs and rivers.

Says Roux, ‘For me, the Highlands and Islands of Scotland are paradise. I can have whole days where I catch nothing, but I still enjoy every second. I am a lover of nature and fishing.’ Look out for fresh fish on the menu a la - écossaises.

Wake Up Call for Auld Alliance The Auld Alliance looks set to ride again with the appointment of top French chef, Albert Roux, to spearhead Scots cuisine on the new Caledonian Sleeper. A fleet of 72 new carriages, divided into four trains with up-market cafés, couchettes and showers has been promised by Serco, new operators of the 15 year franchise.

Let by the Scottish Government, the new Caledonian Sleeper will offer a real sense of Scotland and be used to boost Scottish businesses.

The Caledonian Sleeper operates four trains a night – two in each direction. The first runs between London Euston and Edinburgh and Glasgow Central. The second runs between London Euston and Inverness, Aberdeen and Fort William.

This, the Highland Sleeper, is divided into three, to ensure direct service to the three Scottish destinations. The other sleeper, the Lowland, is divided at Carstairs before continuing to Edinburgh and Glasgow respectively. The system

operates in reverse every night.

Aberdonian-based FirstGroup currently operates the sleeper as part of its ScotRail franchise. Sleepers carry 270,000 passengers a year. Originally, at privatisation, the fate of the Scottish sleeper services was thought parlous.

However hard work by ScotRail staff – both on-board and marketing - has ensured its survival. Happily the sleeper is a popular feature in many tourist and business travel plans.

The new fleet will be built by CAF in Spain and leased through Beacon Rail – based in Boston, Massachusetts, London and Rotterdam. The trains will include en-suite berths in first class,

NEWS

June 2014 | RailStaff | 39

AmeySersa plans to transform track works

A joint venture between Amey and Sersa has been named as preferred bidder for a contract to renew Switches and Crossings (S&C) across two thirds of Britain’s rail network. The scope of the contract includes Scotland, the north of Wales, East Midlands, London North East, and London North West.

Network Rail’s S&C Northern Alliance contract will be delivered by AmeySersa, marking a transformation in the way that track works are delivered. The core contract is worth up to £400m over 10 years. Pioneers at AmeySersa plan to provide a stepchange in the industry by bringing the most efficient, sustainable and innovative track renewal methods

from Continental Europe.

Teams at AmeySersa will combine this with British engineering excellence and network knowledge.

This new approach – which will see S&C renewals delivered in only eight hours and with far fewer workers on-site – significantly reduces risk and the duration of network possessions.

As a result AmeySersa will minimise disruption and deliver unprecedented savings.

Says Amey’s chief executive, Mel Ewell, ‘We are delighted that Network Rail has selected AmeySersa as preferred bidder for this significant contract. By working in alliance with Network Rail and our partners we can tailor European best practice to suit the UK’s rail network. Working collaboratively and introducing innovation we will provide a safer, more efficient and reliable rail

network.’

As well as traditional rail industry professionalism, the partnership will draw on the dynamism and enthusiasm of the next generation of rail workers through a dedicated Apprenticeship Scheme. A minimum of 3% of the workforce will be apprentices, drawing in young people who are currently not in employment, education or training.

Says Hubert Rhomberg, chief executive of Austria’s Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group, ‘For several years we have successfully delivered Switches & Crossing renewals in an innovative and revolutionary way throughout Europe. Therefore, we are extremely happy to implement this core competency in alliance with Network Rail and our partner Amey in the UK, which allows us to sustainably contribute to increased efficiency.’

of the T68 tram. All the money raised from sales of this book will go to Bury Hospice.

For details of the T68 book written by Andrew Coward and John Henderson, visit www.buryrossendalerails.com

Chris and Dave in Tram Ta-rah Two of TfGM’s tram drivers, Chris Allen and Dave Weaver, turned out in their original uniforms to pilot the last of the Metrolink system’s original T68 trams. Hundreds of enthusiasts gathered at the Piccadilly Metrolink stop to bid farewell with a special charity event.

Setting off from the stop the T68 made a final journey along the network’s classic route - Piccadilly, Eccles, Bury and Altrincham. It has now been donated to the Heaton Park Tramway. Limited edition tickets raised over £3,400.

Says Keith Whitmore Chairman of Heaton Park Tramway Trust, ‘Over the past two decades, T68s have served the region well, transporting tens of thousands of customers every day, so it’s very fitting that they are donated to the

heritage tramway.’

The T68s were constructed by the Italian manufacturer AnsaldoBreda in Naples, Italy. The first entered service in 1992. Six modified variants, known as T68As, were introduced to the network seven years later in 1999 for use on the Eccles line.

Control Room operators, Andrew Coward and John Henderson, were also present, selling and signing copies of the 200-page book they wrote on the history

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Road Rail Vehicle (RRV) Operators London, within M25 Catchment area Balfour Beatty Rail is an international leader in the design, construction, maintenance, management and renewal of rail assets and systems. We own, operate, maintain and supply a diverse fleet of On Track Plant and equipment to support our contracts and we currently have a number of interesting and challenging opportunities for suitable candidates to join our Road/Rail team. We are flexible on location providing candidates live within travelling distance of the London Underground network, where most of the work is based. We would also consider applications from candidates who live further afield but willing to lodge in the work area.

The roles involve the safe operation of a range of Road/Rail machines that support our track maintenance and renewal activities on both the underground and overground rail networks in the London area.

Candidates will need to possess some or all of the following key attributes, skills and experiences: •

Qualified to operate 360 Excavator/Crane – Tracked and wheeled dozer (Laser experienced)

•

A minimum of 2 years rail experience with various rail attachments

•

Hold LU BTA/Lucas tickets – although training can be given

•

A good record of safe operation

•

A flexible approach to work and work location

•

Willing to travel throughout the London area and the South East of England as the role requires.

Road Rail Vehicle (RRV) Fitters Hither Green, South East London Balfour Beatty Rail is an international leader in the design, construction, equipping, maintenance, management and renewal of rail assets and systems.

We currently have an interesting opportunity, within our Track Renewals business, for a Road/Rail Maintenance Fitters to join our small dedicated team based at Hither Green Depot in South East London

The role involves a combination of depot based maintenance and on-call work within the South East of England so applicants must have a clean driving licence, an ability to deal with conflicting priorities and a flexible approach to working hours. Weekend, night and bank holiday working will be required on a regular basis.

Applicants must have served a recognised engineering apprenticeship, have proven fault finding skills and knowledge of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, preferably gained on civil engineering plant and equipment.

As much of the work is dealing with in-service faults and failures an ability to work on own initiative is also important.

An ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing is also required.

In return we offer a competitive salary and benefits package for candidates who meet the above criteria.

You can find out more or apply online at www.bbrailjobs.com or in writing to: Dave Brewin, HR Advisor, Balfour Beatty Rail Plant, Old Station Yard, Sandiacre, Nottingham NG10 5AG. or email David.Brewin@bbrail.com

RAILWAY CHILDREN

June 2014 | RailStaff | 41

© ADAM O’CONNOR

Triathlon Training for Three Peaks A team from Resourcing Solutions has been training hard for this year’s Railway Children Three Peaks Challenge. This June teams from all over the rail industry will travel by special train between the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales.

The hard part is charging up mountains, often in difficult weather – the equivalent of running a half marathon a day for three days. Richard Lawrance, who set up Resourcing Solutions in 1996, is helping coach the team and is a great believer in using open country, lakes and mountains to combat stress and increase personal effectiveness.

Lawrance is actually competing in the Windsor Triathlon on 15th June – just four days before the Three Peaks departs Euston. Windsor is an Olympic Triathlon with a 1.5 km swim, a 42 km bike ride and a 10 km run.

Says Richard, ‘I’m doing it to stave off old age and I’m in total denial that I have a big birthday this year.’ Inside sources at Resourcing Solutions claim he’s coming up to 50. ‘That’s right, but really I run to manage daily stress. I get out there and I run it off and smell the daisies.’

A regular marathon runner, Richard ran his first two marathons in memory of a staff member who had lost her life to breast cancer. He raised £15,000 for Breast Cancer Care. To prepare for the triathlon he swims in a lake every Monday night completing two 1.1 km circuits.

Five World Majors By day he cycles to work – a round trip of 40 miles. ‘I dress in bright clothes and have flashing lights so all the commuters in their cars can miss me.’ Lawrance has done eight marathons incorporating the Five World Majors – London, New York, Boston, Chicago and Berlin.

The keep fit and compete philosophy has direct business parallels for the one-time boxer turned recruitment executive. Resourcing Solutions has

offices in Reading, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Middlesex and Dubai.

People recruited by Resourcing Solutions work on a wide range of engineering and construction projects worldwide, including Crossrail, Olympics, Stalybridge re-signalling, Birmingham New Street Station and Hong Kong Metro. The company employs 90 people.

Training programme Preparation and persistence are the watchwords of every successful business phenomenon and they are to be found right there out in the mud and rain of a training programme.

‘Whether training for a marathon, triathlon or Three Peaks, the amount of training and conditioning required is often under-estimated,’ says Richard.

‘For example, to run a marathon I needed to run over 500 miles over a four month period in order to be able to do the 26 miles on the day. This requires having to work out a training programme as rigorous as a train timetable and stick to it – whatever the weather, and however you feel.’

Persistence and sheer stick-ability have paid off and Resourcing Solutions has a turnover of around £37 million a year. ‘It is hard being in business and you have to roll with the knocks, keep going no matter how steep or difficult, but it’s been worth it.

Railway Children is our charity of choice at Resourcing Solutions and we are determined to support it by conquering all Three Peaks,’ says Richard. To support the team go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/rsl © ADAM O’CONNOR

CAREERS

42 | RailStaff | June 2014

Our experience… …is your future 1st Step Solutions Ltd is in the Recruiter Fast 50 for growth within 2014.

It is through this rapid expansion that we are recruiting a Compliance Manager to oversee existing and new rail business.

The ideal candidate will have a proven history in compliance and be self-motivated.

In addition, we are looking for PTS individuals to work on a number of national contracts providing:

We are offering an excellent package and career prospects. Ideally based in our Nottingham branch but can also accommodate the position in our Dartford (Kent) branch.

QUOTE REF: CM001

Site engineers

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Foreman

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Fixers and joiners

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Ground workers

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Electricians

QUOTE REF: STEP005

Plumbers and pipe fitters

QUOTE REF: STEP006

Candidates must: • Hold current Sentinel competency • Be prepared to travel and work away from home • Be prepared to work nights, weekends, bank holidays and respond to short notice change in plan • Hold a valid UK driving licence Closing date for all applications: 14th June 2014 To apply, please send your CV to: careers@1ststepsolutions.co.uk

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Generates and applies new ideas; identifying alternatives to traditional methods.

To apply to any of these role email, recruitment@theclancygroup.co.uk

CAREERS

June 2014 | RailStaff | 43

advance Training & Recruitment Services are international recruitment specialists with more than 15 years’ experience within the rail sector. We currently have vacancies for the following roles:

HOW TO APPLY To apply for an advertised position, please e-mail your CV to the relevant consultant, with the job title followed by the word ‘RailStaff’ in the subject field.

FIND YOUR NEXT CAREER MOVE

advancerailwayjobs.com

PRINCIPLE DESIGN ENGINEER £60,000 - £67,000 per annum Birmingham Must have experience in design of low voltage auxiliary systems, signal power supplies, points heating, lighting applications, building and station distribution.

Contact James Culshaw on 07931 815066 or jc@advance-trs.com GRADUATE ESTIMATOR - £20,000 - £25,000 per annum Heathrow Graduate Estimator required to assist in compiling estimates of costs for client or potential client. Must be degree qualified and have one year’s experience in civil engineering.

Contact Sian Jones on 07956 164784 or sj@advance-trs.com OLE SENIOR DESIGN ENGINEER - £300 - £400 per day Manchester / Liverpool Must have at least 5 years’ experience in a similar role. Experience in checking and verification would be an advantage.

Contact Daniel Forth-Rumley on 07572 533260 or dfr@advance-trs.com

JOIN THE UK RAIL JOBS LINKEDIN GROUP

PERSON IN CHARGE OF TESTING (PICOT) - £350 per day / circa £50,000 per annum

The ‘UK Rail Jobs’ LinkedIn group is a platform to link up and

Contact Paul Merton on 07932 076272 or pm@advance-trs.com

network with hundreds of rail industry professionals, find the latest job opportunities, discuss upcoming projects and read

SIGNALLING DESIGNERS

up-to-date industry news.

Join today: http://bit.ly/ukrailjobs

Contact us.

Telephone E-Mail Twitter

01483 361 061 info@advance-trs.com @railwayjobs

UK Wide We have a number of opportunities for approved PICOTs throughout the UK on SISS and Operational Telecommunications projects.

UK Wide We are currently looking to speak with IRSE licensed Design Engineers, Design Verifiers and Principle Designers for permanent and contract opportunities all across the UK. Contact James Ayres on 07951 977991 or ja@advance-trs.com

together, we can all advance.

CAREERS

44 | RailStaff | June 2014

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER - RAIL PROJECTS

Various Locations Salary - £50,000 - £65,000 per annum + excellent benefits package

GLOBAL REACH, LOCAL DELIVERY

Our client is a major Rail contractor who due to recent and significant growth within the Rail sector, are now urgently seeking an experienced senior level project manager to lead a key project within the South East. This exciting opportunity is open to an established project management candidate with significant experience leading major projects within the Rail sector.

SENIOR QUANTITY SURVEYOR – CIVIL ENGINEERING – RAIL INDUSTRY WWW.ATA-RECRUITMENT.CO.UK

F in d m o re jo b s at

Swindon Salary: £40,000 - £55,000 + Car Allowance + Company Benefits An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Quantity Surveyor to join a Civil Engineering Contractor based out of their Swindon office. The SQS is required to work on multiple Bridges and Earthwork projects/frameworks within the Rail sector, covering the Western region.

SIGNALLING OPPORTUNITIES

UK Wide Salary - £35,000 - £70,000 ATA Recruitment is currently assisting a number of clients in regard to their requirements for Signalling Design staff.

Some of the roles we are working on include: • Signalling Designers in Derby, York, Doncaster, Bedford, Swindon, Crewe, Birmingham and London • Signalling Design Managers in York, Swindon and Birmingham • The salaries offered range from £35,000 - £70,000 depending on experience and licence for permanent staff For further information on the above roles or to enquire about other vacancies with ATA, please contact the Rail team on 01332 861326 or email your details to civils@ata-recruitment.co.uk referencing RAILSTAFF + Job Title

ENGINEERING INGENUITY AND SOLUTIONS; REALISTIC, HONEST ANSWERS. CEI Collins Engineers Ltd is a civil, structural, rope access and underwater engineering consultancy company based in the Greater Manchester area and Ireland. Due to a major opportunity on the CP5 CEFA contract for Network Rail in England and Wales, we wish to recruit candidates for immediate employment on both a permanent and contract basis. Collins is hiring for the following positions: • Senior Project Manager • STE 4 and STE 7 Bridge Examiners • Level 3 Rope Access Technician with STE 4 Competency Please e-mail jbryans@collinsengr.com with your CV. Due to the urgent need, ideal candidates will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis. Copies of the job specifications can be obtained on our website www.ceicollinsengr.com.

For more detailed information about these employment opportunities, please visit our website: www.ceicollinsengr.com.

Equal Opportunities Employer

CAREERS

June 2014 | RailStaff | 45

We’re Growing.

Want to Grow with Us? We are winning more and more long-term, challenging rail contracts across the UK. We want you to join us and be part of a team which makes a difference to our industry. Help us to keep growing as a business and we’ll help you to grow your skills and career.

Roles available throughout the UK now: • Project Managers • Construction Managers (Civils) • Project Engineers (Civils) • Project Engineers (Electrical) • P6 Planners • Design Managers • Senior QS, QS and all grades of commercial staff • Electricians Contact our HR Team on +44(0)20 8953 4144 or Recruitment@McNicholas.co.uk Apply online at McNicholas.co.uk/careers

www.trsstaffing.com 30th year of successful engineering partnerships

UK Strategic Accounts Manager – Rail

Location: Woking, Surrey Salary: £Negotiable

An exciting opportunity to play a key role in developing sales opportunities in an industryleading business.

Multipulse Electronics, based in Woking, Surrey, is an industry leader in the Electronic/Electromechanical Contract Engineering sector, specialising in the rail sector.

For 30 years, we have had strategic roles in key rail programmes including the Train Protection Warning System, London Underground Connect, GSM-R, RETB & ETCS programme deployments, working alongside prime contractors and train operating companies.

A strong Sales Manager / Account Manager is needed to drive new business that makes the best use of our extensive skills and expertise.

We expect the successful candidate to come from within the Rail sector and be familiar with the industry; have a good electro-mechanical technical approach and be skilled at communicating directly with our customer base at all levels.

Key Skills Required: • Proven experience in a UK Rail market related sales role • A natural, self-starter with the drive to secure new business • The ability to manage existing strategic accounts whilst generating new leads and opportunities • Good communication and presentation skills • A flexible, professional approach to business and responsibilities • Technical appreciation of electro-mechanical systems and solutions • Good PC skills including Outlook, Office: Excel, Word & PowerPoint • Clean driving Licence To be considered for this vacancy, please send your application to neil.ramsey@multipulse.com

www.multipulse.com

Rail and Infrastructure Vacancies

TRS Staffing Solutions are international engineering recruitment specialists. We recruit for major National and International projects for leading National Rail organisations, main contractors and consultancies. Currently we have vacancies for the following:

Senior Civil Engineers Drainage and infrastructure

P6 Planners

London, North West & South West £35K – £55K or £250 - £350/day Mainline Rail experience

London, Midlands & Swindon £40K – £50K or £300 - £400/day Experience of Network Rail Projects, Primavera experience essential

Telecoms Project Manager + Engineers

Rail Project Managers (CRE), Site Agent & Sub-Agents

Milton Keynes & London £40K - £60K or £300 - 550/day Various roles in CCTV, Systems, Security, IP & Analysts

Regional £35K - £55K or £250 - £400/day Experience on rail Civil works – Bridge Refurbishments & Earthworks.

Electrical Design Engineers

Senior Structural Engineers

London & Manchester £300 - £400/day LV / HV General rail infrastructure improvements experience

Bristol, Birmingham, London £300 - £350/day or £30K – £60K Bridges, Station and Buildings - Rail Project Experience

Please send your CV or if you’d prefer to discuss a role in more detail and in confidence, please contact one of our specialist consultants on

+44 (0)20 7419 5800 or email rail@trsstaffing.com

Rail, Infrastructure & Construction

CAREERS

46 | RailStaff | June 2014

Depot Manager Located Birkenhead North Depot - Salary Circa £60,000 per annum Merseyrail Electrics 2002 Ltd is the leading suburban passenger train operating company for Merseyside, employing over 1200 staff. We operate around 800 train services per day. With trains in and out of Liverpool City Centre every 75 seconds, we operate one of the most intensive rail services in the country, delivering a reliable journey for more than 100,000 passengers per day.

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced engineering manager with excellent interpersonal skills to lead our maintenance and train presentation teams. As Depot Manager your prime responsibilities include the continuing improvement in delivery of high standards of train performance and cleanliness. This includes meeting the quality, safety and reliability requirements of the fleet whilst meeting productivity and budgetary targets.

As a direct report to the Engineering Director, and member of the Engineering Senior Management team, you will have responsibility for delivering both light and heavy maintenance programmes to meet reliability and availability targets. You will also be responsible for delivering the train cleaning programme to ensure Curser scores meet the required standards.

You will be required to work with key stakeholders including Merseytravel and Angel Trains. In the latter case this will be in your role as responsible manager of Merseyrail’s heavy maintenance activities.

Your interpersonal and communication skills will be put to good effect to improve the level of engagement of employees in the engineering department. This will include leading and participation in communication

Civil Engineer/Design Manager Leeds • Salary £35K-£45K

CML are a long established and highly successful civil engineering contractor specialising in railway engineering.

We now have a superb opportunity for an experienced Design Manager to deliver a 5-year portfolio of varied civil engineering projects spread across the London North East Region coordinated from our head office in Leeds.

Our ideal candidate will be a Chartered Civil Engineer and must have a strong background of earthworks stabilisation design and construction projects, and experience of structural repairs.

This is a great opportunity to join a dynamic and growing company who genuinely value their people and will offer you great opportunities to develop your career.

and briefing sessions, requiring excellent presentation skills.

You will have an understanding of what comprises best practice in the field of train maintenance and depot management. This includes the application of lean manufacturing, visual management and associated continuous improvement tools and techniques. You will play a leading part in developing new and improved processes and procedures to optimise maintenance activities and improve vehicle downtimes.

As Depot Manager you will possess significant experience in rail vehicle engineering in a production management capacity. This will include the ability to lead by personal example, motivating and engaging with employees and colleagues at all levels within Merseyrail. Strong, engaging interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to liaise with and influence key stakeholders are essential. You will be apprentice time served and/or qualified in an engineering discipline.

To apply, please send a copy of your CV in addition to a covering letter explaining why you feel you would be suitable for the role, to Merseyrail, HR Support Centre, 9th Floor, Rail House, Lord Nelson Street, Liverpool, L1 1JF or via email to jtalbot@merseyrail.org Those shortlisted to go forward to the next stage will be invited to attend an interview.

For further information please contact the HR Support Centre Team on 0151 702 2416.

Key Responsibilities will include: • Undertake site inspections and produce remits for design engineers • Instruct design works with both internal design teams and sub-contract design consultants • Review design submissions – check and approve for submission to clients • Provide technical support to the site teams during the planning construction phase • Act as CRE for the LNE route • Maintain design trackers / programmes and progress reports Ideal Qualifications • Bsc/BEng in Civil Engineering • Incorporated / Chartered Civil Engineer (Minimum IEng MICE) • PTS essential. SMSTS desirable To apply please send your CV and covering letter to recruitment@cml.uk.com

We are also currently recruiting for the following roles to work in our Yorkshire and East Anglia based operations: Site Engineers • Site Managers • Project Managers To find out more about all of these opportunities please visit our website at www.cml-civil-engineering.co.uk Please note candidates must have PTS and be eligible to live and work in the UK.

SIGNALLING SOLUTIONS OPENS NEWPORT OFFICE AND IS RECRUITING Due to our growing reputation within the industry for delivering major projects we continue to win new and exciting contracts UK wide.

We have a number of exciting Design opportunities in our Newport office: Assistant Designers Designers Design Engineers Design Verifiers Principle Designers If you are looking for a new challenge and are keen to develop your skills then we can provide you with a unique opportunity to get involved in and trained on the latest cutting edge technology, such as Smartlock, Modular Signalling, ETCS and next generation signalling.

Signalling Solutions is a company formed by combining the complementary signalling resources and products of Alstom Transport Information Solutions UK and Balfour Beatty Rail Projects.

We provide individual products and complete solutions to any customer requiring design, installation, testing, commissioning and product support for signalling, power and telecommunications applications in the UK. If you are interested in joining a forward thinking company where you can make a real contribution to the success of our business and feel part of a growing team then please find out more about our opportunities on our website: www.signallingsolutions.com

All the above positions have the following benefits: We offer a competitive salary plus a range of benefits including a contributory pension and 25 days holiday.

excellence in train control

A Balfour Beatty and Alstom Company

+44 (0) 1923 635 089 recruitment@signallingsolutions.com www.signallingsolutions.com Signalling Solutions Limited, Bridgefoot House, Watling Street, Radlett, WD7 7HT

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