RailStaff May 2016

MAY 2016 | ISSUE 222

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CONTENTS MAY 2016 | ISSUE 222

SAFETY SUMMIT | 7 The Rail Safety Summit returned to the Royal College of Physicians on the 5th May.

THINK SAFETY, ACT SAFELY | 20 7

The story behind Stobart Rail’s new safety vision.

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS | 29 We continue our build-up to RailStaff Awards 2016.

FROM INTERFLEET TO SNC-LAVALIN | 42 Richard George, group managing director of SNC-Lavalin Rail & Transit, talks about what the future holds for the engineering consultancy.

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING | 54 Paul Darlington explores the opportunities available to engineers through the IET.

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ISE | 5a0worksite near you M O R P PINKY boots coming to k The pin

NINJAS OF THE YELLOW TRAINS | 58 What does it take to be a Mobile Maintenance Train Manager?

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Oliver Bales down in the south-west lost 25 stone by a combination of hard work, commitment and determination. Mr Bales has much to celebrate. Martin McManus, a ScotRail driver, is self effacing about his rescue of a tearful toddler on the Edinburgh Glasgow main line. What an achievement.

The example of both men and the hundreds of other success stories we run, inspire the actions and aspirations of us all.

The wider railway industry has much to celebrate. More people ride trains now than at any point since 1948. The railway accommodates them - or tries to - on half the amount of track we had back then.

Mainstream media might focus on what goes wrong, but the railway is a modern fable for what can go right. Put together new © Shutterstock.com

More people ride trains now than at any point since 1948 - on half the amount of track we had back then.

The future belongs to those who have the confidence and daring to grasp opportunity. ideas, inspired investment and the personal conviction of a swathe of people that this is the best industry in the world and the result is a lean, brave and fortuitous dynamic. The railway is part of the economic catalyst of a new and confident Britain. Its achievement serves our wider community.

The United Kingdom was once derided as a lack-lustre imperial state, an economy of losers, a tired and cowardly culture unsure of itself. This is subjective nonsense.

Modern Britain is a success story, the fifth strongest economy in the world. The place people look to for fairness, justice, democracy and freedom of expression. The London Olympics saw British athletes coming third in the tally of gold medals won. Best of all was the success of the Paralympic Games - illustrating British values of fair play and compassion.

Immigrants taking British nationality queue up to have their picture taken alongside a lifesize portrait of our longest-serving monarch.

Together their contribution sustains a vibrant and healthy culture.

The future belongs to those who have the confidence and daring to grasp opportunity.

This summer celebrate. Raise a glass to Her Majesty on the occasion of her 90th birthday.

Take that job, buy that house, start a family, begin a training course. There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Take that step, cast off. Fortune favours the bold. andy@rail-media.com FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF | @RAILSTAFFUK | RAILSTAFF.UK

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RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

May day magic for Orange Army Over 11,000 members of Network Rail’s orange army turned out over the long weekend, 30 April - 2 May, pushing ahead with Britain’s £40 billion Railway Upgrade Plan.

In London, Crossrail electrification work went ahead on the Great Eastern Main

Line around Gidea Park and also at Paddington. East Kent resignalling progressed between Faversham and Sheerness.

There was also major resignalling work on the northern part of the Midland Main Line around Sheffield. Work on the West Coast Main Line focused on Stafford and the line north of Lancaster.

Property box Network Rail has beefed up its property business by creating a new company: Network Rail Property.

Under its managing director, David Biggs, NRP will generate income from property assets and develop land for housing and business.

The new board will be chaired

by Chris Gibb, a non-executive director of Network Rail since 2013, who has worked in the rail industry for more than 35 years.

Says David Biggs, ‘Our new property company will have greater powers to unlock land for homes, drive economic growth in towns and cities and reinvest

Oliver wins slim chance An onboard catering host has managed to lose 25 stone and become slimmer of the year.

Oliver Bales, 24, tipped the scales at 39 stone when he decided to seek help through a scheme run by Slimming World magazine.

Oliver who has a degree in international business from Portsmouth University, suffered a growing obesity problem as a student. Teased by other students and unable to attend some lectures because he could not sit in the chairs, Oliver decided to lose weight after being inspired by a friend’s weight loss on social media.

Oliver has almost halved his waist size - down from 64 inches to 34. Even his feet are two shoe sizes smaller. A diet and exercise plan helped. As the weight came off he needed new clothes.

Oliver joined the rail industry last

© Twitter/@Slimmingworld

February in Portsmouth and works for Rail Gourmet on SWT services.

‘Being overweight has affected my entire life – until now. I finally know what it’s like not to feel like an outcast, to be able to walk down the street without people laughing, pointing or calling you names, to not take up two seats on a train, to not be in constant pain,’ said Oliver. He thanked the magazine and friends who had given him support. ‘My only regret is that I didn’t do this sooner. I hope my story will inspire other people to know that it’s never too late to get support and even if they don’t know it, there is help just around the corner.’

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money into the rail network to help fund the Railway Upgrade Plan. It will mean that investment or asset disposal decisions can be made at the right level within the organisation in a timely way while ensuring appropriate oversight is in place.’

The move marks a personal triumph for David Biggs, a chemist - he read chemistry at City University London. Biggs joined Network Rail and became finance director, property, in 2002. Before that, he spent six years with Touche Ross. The new team will bring a certain alchemy to what has been described as one of Britain’s largest property portfolios.

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

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Essential focus on safety

The dramatic growth in rail passenger numbers in the UK is presenting a fundamental challenge to the industry’s safety performance, says Network Rail safety director Graham Hopkins.

Speaking at the Rail Safety Summit on 5 May, Hopkins said that the need to operate more services was shortening the window for Network Rail to carry out maintenance and renewal works to a point that there was a risk projects could be ‘rushed’.

Graham was appointed group director for safety, technical and engineering, in June 2015. Previously, he had been executive vice-president of engineering and technology, aerospace component engineering at Rolls-Royce. He said, ‘That is the environment that we’re living in… that happens everywhere on the network and it’s only going to get worse.’

Currently, 1.7 billion passenger journeys are made on the British rail network every year - 34 per cent more than five years ago.

That number is expected to double over the next seven years. ‘How do we live with that increase safely?’ he challenged.

‘Although there have been no workforce fatalities on the railway so far this year, the number of people being injured on the railway remains a concern. On average, every month 50 employees are involved in an incident which prevents them from being able to return to work the following day,’ said Graham.

Graham was, however, upbeat about Network Rail’s performance as a whole, confirming that the organisation was meeting its safety objectives and was on course to achieve its CP5 target on level crossing closures. Network Rail is currently in the process of closing its 1,000th crossing. ‘We can never give up on achieving that zero number,’ he added.

The Rail Safety Summit was held at the Royal College of Physicians, London, on 5 May. The morning session focussed on fatigue. Speakers included Mark Young from RAIB, Jill Collis from Transport for London (TfL) and Johnny Schute OBE, a former chief environmental and safety officer in the British Army, from ORR. Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, and Atkins’ David Nancarrow spoke about how their respective organisations are addressing health and wellbeing issues within the industry. Finally the afternoon sessions, which included speakers from AECOM, Colas Rail, TRL, ABC Electrification, HS2 and Bridgeway, dealt with the topics of road risk and highlighted the innovative approaches that are being used to address workforce safety issues.

Look out for Colin Wheeler’s full conference review in next month’s issue.

Graham Hopkins.

All photos© High Viz Media

Mind the gap man stands clear Voice-over artist Phil Sayer, 62, known to millions of passengers as the ‘we’re sorry to announce…’ or ‘mind the gap’ man, has died after a sudden illness.

Phil had a career as continuity presenter for the BBC in the North West.

However, he will be remembered as the voice of the railway gently consoling commuters with information and advice much of it pre-recorded.

Elinor Hamilton, his wife and business partner, issued a statement. ‘Phil Sayer - voice of reason, radio, and railways. A dearly loved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. We are sorry to announce that this service terminates here. 18.5.53 - 14.4.16.’

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May debut for New Street trams Staff at Midland Metro are getting ready to run trams to New Street station in Birmingham city centre from 22 May. Trams will begin operating a full passenger service on the extension between Snow Hill station and New Street station via Bull Street

and Corporation Street.

The development comes following electrical safety checks and test runs in the early hours of Sunday morning, 24 April.

On-street driver training looks set to go ahead. Trams returned to the streets of central Birmingham for the first time in more than 60

The Metro tram makes its first run down Corporation Street as engineers monitor its progress.

years last December when Midland Metro started running to the new stop in Bull Street.

The extension is part of a £128 million project which has seen the introduction of a new fleet of 21 Urbos 3 trams, a refurbished depot at Wednesbury and a new stop at Snow Hill station.

Borders award

Rail backing for Britain's bravest

Borders Railway has been named Scottish infrastructure project of the year by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

The rail industry is continuing its backing for Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI).

Says Stewart MacPherson, Network Rail Infrastructure Projects route delivery director for Scotland, ‘With passenger figures exceeding expectations, the investment in the railway is really paying dividends, and it’s great to see the positive impact it’s having socially and economically for the local communities along the route.’

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Network Rail purchases over 100 signs a week made by ex-servicemen and is keen to support RBLI’s new social enterprise, Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company (BBMC).

Launched on 20 April 2016, BBMC provides signs, wooden pallets, print, mail and other services to Network Rail and other infrastructure companies. The work offers injured veterans a chance to put to use skills learned in the Armed Forces.

Importantly it provides independence.

‘We are proud to purchase signs from Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company,’ says Nick Elliott MBE, managing director of Network Rail’s National Supply Chain.

‘By doing so, we know that we are not only investing in high-quality, competitively priced products for our network, but that we are also investing in the continued employment of ex-Forces personnel. We are delighted that, as a business, we can give back to those who have given so much for their country.’

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Elite move for Brookes David Brookes has joined Elite KL as business development manager - expanding the Tamworth-based company’s growing rail portfolio.

Historically the company has an automotive background, specialising in heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

Now bringing transferable technologies to the rail industry, Elite KL Ltd supplies systems for refurbishment programmes including the much appreciated driver’s cab air-con.

Brookes joins from Dellner the Swedish train couplings firm

- where he was responsible for repairs, overhauls and spares for rolling stock in Britain and Ireland. The six-year stint was preceded by two years at Axiom Rail - the rail vehicle maintenance company which is now part of DB Schenker. He has also worked for Sabre Rail.

David Brookes studied at the Noel Baker School - motto: ‘Excellence in all things’ - in Alvaston, Derby. He joined the railway from school as an apprentice at BREL in Derby and spent 11 years at Litchurch Lane - now part of Bombardier Transportation.

Brookes has a degree from Derby University. In his spare time, David, a keen soccer player, is chairman and manager of Mickleover 95 Football Club which provides opportunities for boys and girls aged five to 18 to learn how to play the Beautiful Game and to compete against other local teams.

High role for triathlete Tara Deller-Hoy I started out as a driver in 1997...

A former Heathrow Express driver, Tara Deller-Hoy, has joined South West Trains as head of drivers - looking after almost 2,000 drivers across 13 depots.

She joins from London Overground (LOROL) where she was also head of drivers, covering 500 drivers over five depots.

Tara has had a long career in driver management, starting out as a train driver with Heathrow Express in 1997. After 12 years

with Heathrow Express, she joined LOROL as a training manager. Quick promotion to train crew management followed and she rose to the driver manager position in 2012.

‘With the new fleet of Class 707 trains coming in during 2017, it’s important that our team of drivers are ready and prepared,’ says Tara. ‘I started out as a driver in 1997 and have also got experience of developing the designs for a new fleet of trains at Crossrail, which I think will be a great help as we prepare for the future.’

Tara lives in Chesham with her husband. In her spare time, she enjoys swimming and has recently joined a triathlon club.

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Dobell prize for CPC

CPC Systems, which delivers technical advice to London Underground, DLR and Network Rail, has appointed Malcolm Dobell as nonexecutive director.

Malcolm brings more than 45 years of rail industry expertise to the team. He was formerly head of train systems for London

Underground. As part of the CPC Systems team, Malcolm will provide strategic support as the team moves towards becoming the ‘go-to’ technical consultancy provider for capacity and performance solutions.

Malcolm Dobell is a chartered engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and writes for Rail Engineer magazine. He is a past chairman of the Institution’s Railway Division. In his spare time, he is the chairman of the governing body of a large secondary academy in Milton Keynes.

Says Joe Little, CPC systems director, ‘Malcolm’s vast industry knowledge and experience will further add to the extensive rail systems engineering capability of CPC Systems. This will allow us to continue to assist our customers in discovering efficient solutions to unlock their capacity and performance potential.’

Green drumbeat for FirstGroup FirstGroup has appointed Jim Harbidge as group head of environment.

Jim Harbidge joins FirstGroup from Virgin Trains where he was environment and sustainability manager.

Jim will lead the formulation of FirstGroup’s new long-term environmental strategy. The job covers all FirstGroup’s UK and North American businesses.

Before joining Virgin in 2011, he was sustainability manager

at Carillion. Harbidge has also worked in similar roles as sustainability business development manager at Grontmij, an environmental and engineering consultancy, and Leeds City Council where he was head of environmental management.

Jim Harbidge read geography and environmental science at the University of Leeds. Away from work, he enjoys drumming, running and snow sports.

Directorship for John MacArthur John MacArthur has been appointed to Story Contracting’s board of directors.

John joined the company in February last year from Balfour Beatty with over 26 years’ experience in civil engineering.

As rail director for Scotland, John will set, lead and manage the strategic direction and delivery of a safe, profitable and sustainable rail business in Scotland. John will also be accountable for creating and embedding a culture of high performance, client satisfaction and continual improvement.

Announcing the appointment, Story said, ‘This is a great opportunity and well deserved recognition based on the

performance and growth of Story Contracting’s Scotland Rail business over the last 12 months.’

Story Contracting is a family-owned, award winning, infrastructure company based in the North of England. The business provides construction, plant and rail solutions.

Aviation man for Greater Anglia Colin Dobson is Abellio Greater Anglia’s new engineering director, heading a team of 500.

He joins the railway after a successful career in aviation working for British Airways and as a consultant for Virgin Atlantic, BAE systems and the Canadian Helicopter Corporation.

Colin is married, lives in Bedfordshire and enjoys walking, travel and music. He is a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Institute of Directors.

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Call of the wild Mark Wild, former leader of the public transport network in the Australian state of Victoria, has been named as the new managing director of London Underground.

Mark Wild will join Transport for London in June, leaving his current role as special adviser to the government of Victoria. Until recently, he was chief executive of Public Transport Victoria, the integrated transport authority based in Melbourne serving a population of six million.

An MBA graduate of the University of Leeds, he initially read for a degree in electrical and electronic engineering at Newcastle Polytechnic. His near 30-year career in transport has included running tram networks, suburban railways and bus services. He also formerly worked on a number of major projects in London, including the introduction of modern signalling on the Jubilee and Victoria lines.

Says London’s Transport Commissioner, Mike Brown MVO,

‘We look forward to welcoming Mark Wild, who will help us continue the vital modernisation of London’s transport network.

With our city’s population rising sharply, we need to continue to drive forward change and deliver new and better services so that we can support London’s new homes, jobs and economic growth. I would also like to pay tribute to Nick Brown, our departing interim managing director. He has made a remarkable contribution to London Underground at a crucial time.’

Directors for ACoRP Sally Buttifant and Michael Willmot have been appointed to the board of ACoRP. They replace Chris Austin OBE and Paul Salveson MBE, who both laid the foundations of the community rail movement as we now know it.

Sally Buttifant is Mid Cheshire CRP rail officer and a long-term supporter of community rail. She

plays a key role in Women in Community Rail. She is publicity officer for her local branch of Samaritans.

Michael Willmot is chair of the North Staffordshire CRP which covers the Derby to Crewe line.

He has a particular interest in stations as community hubs and has put this into practice through the Helmsdale station project on the Far North Line in Scotland.

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Bridgework starts at Ufton Nervet Network Rail engineers have begun work on a bridge that will replace the level crossing at Ufton Nervet, Berkshire.

The bridge will completely separate road and rail traffic at the site, which has experienced several incidents of deliberate misuse. These followed a collision between a train and a car on the crossing in 2004 in which seven people died and 71 people were injured.

A ceremony to mark the start of work was attended by members of the Ufton Nervet support group - set up after the 2004 collision. They were joined by members of the construction team and Mark Langman, Network Rail’s managing director for the Western route.

‘This is an emotional day for everyone affected by the 2004 collision and marks an important step towards our goal of improving the safety of passengers and the public at Ufton Nervet,’ said Mark.

‘By building this bridge and replacing the level crossing, we can significantly reduce the risk of a tragedy like this happening again, helping to ensure that everyone gets home safe, every day.’

Construction of the new bridge is likely to be completed by the end of the year.

Summer tunnel job gathers pace Engineers are removing the track through Glasgow Queen Street tunnel as work on the £60 million electrification project gathers pace.

Since the high level station closed to trains on 20 March, engineers have been working around-the-clock to renew track and key junctions to the north of the tunnel near Cowlairs and to

begin lengthening and rebuilding platforms and track layouts within the station.

Trackbed will be lowered to allow the installation of equipment to carry the overhead conductor bar system to electrify the railway through the tunnel ahead of the introduction of faster, greener trains from December 2016 as part of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP).

To find out more about our work at Blackfriars visit railsignage.com

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Marathon triumph for Advance-TRS Three senior staff from rail recruitment consultancy Advance Training & Recruitment Services (advanceTRS), successfully completed the London Marathon last month, together raising just under £10,000 for children’s charities Railway Children and Action for Children.

ANDY RIDOUT MANAGING DIRECTOR, ADVANCE-TRS

Harrison punches ticket for Samaritans

Olympic champion Audley Harrison has helped launch a new plan in support of the Samaritans ‘We Listen’ campaign.

The rail industry has offered to feature Samaritans contact details on the back of train tickets for free. The reverse side of paper tickets will feature the Samaritans logo and freephone number, 116 123, plus the campaign strapline line, ‘We don’t just hear you, we listen.’

The aim is to encourage anyone going through a tough time to contact Samaritans.

Former Olympic champion boxer Audley Harrison MBE, who is fronting the campaign, was given the very first ticket - a giant-sized version to match his heavyweight status.

Says Audley, ‘It’s a strength, not a weakness, to reach out

for help. Let’s all get behind this campaign and let people know that they don’t have to go it alone with their problems. If you don’t want to talk to friends or family, or feel you have nowhere to turn, Samaritans will listen. They’re free to call and it won’t even show up on your phone bill.’

The sports star was presented with the oversized ticket at his old boxing club, the historic Repton Boys Club in Bethnal Green in London’s East End. Paul Plummer, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, said, ‘Millions of rail tickets are sold every day, so we’re only too pleased to support Samaritans’ We Listen campaign and help make sure people know where to turn when they’re finding life tough.”

You can call Samaritans for free any time from any phone on 116 123.

Operations director Paul Merton, managing director Andy Ridout and signalling division manager Sam Jennings each completed the 26.2-mile run following months of intensive training and preparation.

The guys joined around 38,000 other runners including Dame Kelly Holmes MBE and Top Gear’s Chris Evans at the marathon’s starting point on 24 April. The famous route sends runners up to Woolwich and along the River Thames before circling the Isle of Dogs, looping back towards Westminster where the final stretch culminates at St James Park.

Andy Ridout ran in aid of Railway Children, the international children’s charity that aims to change the lives of children living on the streets of the UK, India and East Africa.

Raising more than £6,400, Andy adds to an already impressive fundraising total, having raised money for the charity since 2011.

PAUL MERTON OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Paul and Sam both ran in aid of Action for Children, a UK-based charity that operates a number of different services for children and their families, ranging from intensive family support, to fostering and adoption. Combined, the two raised more than £3,000 for Action for Children, an outstanding achievement.

Signalling recruiter Sam completed the marathon with the fastest time, clocking in at just under four hours. His incredible journey started last year when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a game of Sunday football.

After months of tireless recovery, Sam began training again and set a target to enter and complete the London Marathon in 2016.

Says Sam, ‘Entering the race was the easy part. The reality quickly came crashing down once I began training five days a week at 6 am in freezing weather. I was also struggling with constant niggling injuries that hampered my rehabilitation.

It’s been a tough road to recovery to get to where I am now but it’s all been well worth it to raise money for a worthwhile cause.’

You can find out more about their journey to the London Marathon by visiting www.advance-trs.com/news

SAM JENNINGS SIGNALLING DIVISION MANAGER

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word processing, e-publications, e-mail and internet, PowerPoint presentations, Excel spreadsheets as well as functional skills assessments in maths and English.

David travelled regularly from Plymouth to attend the IT sessions at Birmingham with Stephenson College tutor, Cheryl Duncan-Ratcliffe, over 12 months. As well as Birmingham, David attended assessments in London on his rest days to ensure that he could complete the course.

David Parr has been a member of the train drivers union for 30 years and started as a REPORT BY GRAHAM CHESTERS, trainee driver in April 1986. He started his career in Ashford, before moving to Dover, ASLEF EDUCATION Eurostar at Waterloo and then Plymouth.

David’s father was a railway worker before him and spent 41 years on the railways, 26 of A train driver from Plymouth has battled those as a driver. Sadly, David’s father passed and beat the odds to complete a tough IT away suddenly in November 2015 whilst David qualification. was nearing the end of his course. This was inevitably an emotional and difficult time for David Parr’s efforts have been recognised David and his family. David wrote a personal by colleagues as he was declared ASLEF’s and moving tribute to his dad, which was Learner of the Year for 2016. included in the ASLEF Journal in January 2016.

David has proved that barriers to learning can be overcome if you have the motivation Iron Man Triathlon and desire to achieve your goals. He completed a Level 2 IT Application Specialist Whilst doing his course, David managed Diploma (ITQ Apprenticeship) despite having to to find some time to complete a charity cycle travel extensively to course sessions and the ride from Lands’ End to John O’Groats during trauma of a family bereavement. the summer of 2015. David planned out the journey and completed this on his own over Stephenson College 11 days, averaging approximately 90 miles per day. He raised funds for the British Heart The IT course that David attended was Foundation. He had previously raised funds for set up by ASLEF Education in partnership cancer charities, taking on unusual challenges with Stephenson College. IT courses are on like rowing around the Eddystone Lighthouse, offer to rail workers across various venues in which is 12 miles off the coast of Plymouth. He Birmingham, Derby, Leeds and London. has also completed triathlon events including To achieve his Level 2 computer qualification, his first Iron Man Triathlon in 2009.

David had to complete modules in IT security,

Above Parr

Sea to sea philanthropy A team from a rail-connected shipping and logistics depot on Teesside has raised £4,500 for the fight against Alzheimer’s disease by cycling coastto-coast.

The team from AV Dawson was led by managing director Gary Dawson.

Steve Hill, who works at Tata Steel’s Skinningrove plant, also joined the team which wore ‘Save Our Steel’ logos on their arms throughout the trip.

After dipping their wheels in the sea at Whitehaven in Cumbria, the team cycled back across country before finally reaching the sea closer to home at Saltburn, where they were greeted by family, friends and colleagues. The trip of 150 miles took three days. The money will go to the Teesside Philanthropic Foundation who will forward it to local Alzheimer’s-related community groups.

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Durham miners David was presented with his ASLEF Learner of the Year Award by Mick Whelan, ASLEF General Secretary, at the ASLEF Union Learning Conference in March. The Conference took place in the magnificent historic conference hall at the Durham Miners Association building in Durham with 60 ASLEF Union Learning Reps in attendance. When presenting the award, Mick praised David for his hard work and commitment to complete his IT qualification and stated how important the role of ULRs have been in setting up courses for ASLEF members, ‘Education leads to choice, and belief comes from education, education leads to liberation,’ Whelan said.

Positive role model David’s tutor, Cheryl Duncan-Ratcliffe, said, ‘David has worked very conscientiously throughout the course and I have seen his IT skills, as well as his confidence in his IT abilities, improve with each unit he has completed. He is a positive role model for a mature student, successfully balancing the course around his work, home and other commitments, including his charity bike ride.’

Says David, ‘More than ever before members are expected to have a certain knowledge of IT skills in the modern working environment, with new digital technologies being introduced. It is a worthy 12-month course and it has given me a deeper knowledge of everyday computing use.

‘The only commitment is having the self-discipline to manage yourself, with the completion of each module and tests in the allocated timeframe. In addition to this, I really enjoyed the course and would encourage others to take advantage of the courses offered

by ASLEF Education.’

Orange Army dons rock armour Network Rail has completed work to protect the railway on the Cumbrian Coast line at Parton with the installation of a 15,000-tonne rock armour sea defence.

Contending with the dramatic tidal patterns of the Irish Sea, a small team from the Orange Army has been delivering emergency repairs to the sea wall since storms battered sea defences last Christmas.

It’s lonely dangerous work, but the team quickly repaired the breaches in the wall using cement as a temporary measure. What followed was a daring mission to cheat the tides and get onto the beach to install a permanent layer of ‘rock armour.’ These huge boulders now sit at the base of the sea wall and absorb much of the energy from the waves. Moving them into position meant nifty in-out working to take advantage of low tides.

‘In total, we’ve put around 15,000 tonnes of the rock armour into place which will help

protect the railway for several decades to come,’ says John Owen, works delivery manager for Network Rail. ‘The main challenges have been the weather and access, and we had to carefully plan our work around low tides so we could safely and effectively install these defences,’ adds John.

‘The logistics were also challenging as we had to move the rock in from quarries, into a compound and then, during low tide, onto the beach. The result is a safer and more reliable railway for the people of Cumbria.’

Engineers also took advantage of the job to clean up the beach in an added bonus for the local community.

Mechan bags Crossrail Sheffield-based manufacturer, Mechan, has secured a contract worth more than £1 million to supply depot maintenance equipment to Crossrail.

Mechan will create a range of heavy lifting equipment for the new Old Oak Common depot in north west London, which will be servicing trains on the Elizabeth Line.

A set of 30 lifting jacks with a 15-tonne capacity, five bogie turntables and a three-road bogie drop have been commissioned

by Bombardier, which is building the depot, supplying the trains and maintaining them once the project is complete.

Mechan will be fulfilling the order in two stages, with an initial batch of equipment scheduled for

installation before the end of this year. The remaining products will be delivered early in 2017, before the first trains arrive in May. Says Richard Carr, Mechan’s chief executive, ‘We are really pleased to secure a contract of such value with Bombardier for the Crossrail project, one of the most significant investments in London’s transport infrastructure for many years. It proves small UK businesses have what it takes to compete against much larger international organisations, thanks to our focus on innovation and build quality.’

Old Oak Common is an eight-road depot, capable of accommodating 33 of the 66 new trains. Mechan recently triumphed at the Made in Sheffield awards where it was named as the region’s top Investor in People.

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

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Rail preferred choice for Stansted Airport Rail has overtaken bus and coach as the preferred method of travel to and from London Stansted Airport, figures for the last quarter of 2015 show.

Data released by the Civil Aviation Authority shows that modal share for rail travel to the airport at 28.59 per cent - up 3.6 per cent - neatly overtaking the bus lane at 26.26 per cent.

Stansted Airport now attracts around 23 million visitors annually with Stansted Express passenger numbers up 20 per cent in 2015

- exceeding the rate of growth at the airport.

Stansted Express, run by Abellio Greater Anglia, makes the journey between London Liverpool Street and the Airport in just 47 minutes. Tottenham Hale in north London is just 36 minutes.

The railway station is directly under the airport terminal, a twominute walk to check-in. Trains run every 15 minutes. Cross Country also operates services between Birmingham and Stansted Airport. © Shutterstock.com

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RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

Another year in Provence Eurostar is celebrating the first anniversary of its popular direct service from London to Lyon and the South of France.

Heightened interest in the vineyards of Beaujolais, the Rhône Valley and Burgundy close to Lyon and those of Provence near Avignon is driving the success of the Wine Line.

Says Nick Mercer, commercial director, Eurostar, ‘We have seen unprecedented demand for the direct service to the South of France as Brits’ love affair with the scenery and gastronomy of the region prevails. Our route brings the wine tasting regions of France closer to the UK.’

Northern Tracker fund Northern Rail has presented a cheque for more than £12,000 to the Railway Benefit Fund (RBF).

Phil Jones of Northern Rail and Branch Line Society’s Kevin Adlam presented the cheque to Fay Jaques, RBF’s fundraising manager, at Manchester Victoria station.

The £12,048.85 was raised by rail enthusiasts who supported an exclusive charter train. Over 200 people rode the exclusive Northern Tracker train on 6 March, organised by both Northern Rail and the Branch Line Society (BLS).

The Northern Tracker was so popular that tickets for the event sold out within two weeks.

Fay Jaques praised staff. ‘We are overwhelmed by the support we have received from both Northern Rail and BLS. We spent the day on-board the Northern Tracker, and the efforts everyone went to to raise funds for us was incredible,’ she said.

Relaxing drama The award winning dramatisation of the Railway Children, featuring a live steam engine, at King’s Cross Theatre in London is to host what it calls a relaxed performance in June.

directed by Damian Cruden and is timetabled to run until January 2017 with no unscheduled stops.

Relaxed performances aim to help audience members with autism, sensory and communication disorders or learning disabilities. Lighting and sound levels will be altered.

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Orange win for Reddish Viaduct Despite witchcraft and weather the Hope Valley line between Sheffield and Manchester has reopened after Network Rail completed vital restoration work to protect Reddish viaduct.

A nine-day closure of the Hope Valley line allowed rail workers to remove track and ballast and install a special waterproof system with new drainage along the viaduct.

Engineers worked day and night conducting strengthening work and stabilising the main supporting columns on each of the four corners of the viaduct.

Says Mark Ashton, Network Rail’s scheme project manager, ‘The Reddish viaduct is stunning and the work we completed over the past nine days means that it will remain that way for another century.’

The 16-span Reddish viaduct was built in 1875 and carries the rail line over the River Tame. A

local legend states that during construction a local witch cursed the viaduct and anyone who attempted to count the number of arches. We are not showing all of them.

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

Fife driver hailed a hero Coastal cycle challenge for BTP A ScotRail driver has been praised for rescuing a threeyear-old child he saw running along the railway.

Martin McManus brought his train to a controlled stop in a text book manoeuvre and collected the child who had alighted from a train travelling in the opposite direction at Wester Hailes station

near Edinburgh.

Says Mr McManus, ‘I saw the wee lad running along the track crying, so I stopped my train and made sure it was safe. I went out and picked him up and brought him back in.

‘He was looking for his mummy and was just asking if his mummy was on the train.’ An off duty police officer on the train took charge of master Nicholson who was reunited with his parents at a local police station. The child’s mother, Bonnie Nicholson of Glasgow, praised the actions of the driver.

Mr McManus said, ‘I’m quite surprised by the reaction, I was only doing my job. Passengers were getting off and thanking me for saving the wee boy. It could have been really tragic, so I was lucky I spotted him but it’s all just part of my job.’

Mr McManus joined the railway four years ago after a successful career as an aircraft engineer in the Royal Navy.

Ninety British Transport Police (BTP) officers and staff have completed a mammoth bike ride around Britain in aid of charity.

The Three Days on the Edge (3DotE) challenge saw the team pedal for up to 300 miles each around Britain’s coastline over the Bank Holiday Weekend in support of the force's three nominated charities: Victim Support, Mind and The Railway Benefit Fund.

Says Assistant Chief Constable Mark Newton, who himself took part, ‘A big thank you to everyone involved in this event. It’s been a very tough but enjoyable weekend. BTP3DotE is a fantastic example of how

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this kind of challenge brings out the best in our people. Not only did they show real grit and determination, but also a great willingness to work as a team, with new friendships being formed along the way.

‘Well done to all the cyclists who took part this weekend and a massive thanks to all those who supported the team through sponsorship and fundraising.

Special thanks goes to the crew of volunteers who kept the teams going with their excellent organisation, motivation and roadside support.’

The challenge has raised more than £25,000 so far. As well as the three chosen organisations, some of the money will be donated to charities put forward by individual riders.

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RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

IRSE appoints next president At the Institution of Railway Signal Engineer’s AGM on 22 April, Andrew Simmons of Network Rail handed over the presidency of the Institution to Charles Page.

Each president is elected for one year. Charles is the business development director of Siemens Rail Automation Australia and prior to that worked with its predecessors Invensys and Westinghouse.

Before presenting his presidential address, Charles paid tribute to Andrew’s dedication over the past year in leading the IRSE, during which time the Institution’s new Strategy 2015-2020 has been developed and adopted.

In his address, Charles spoke on the theme of ‘Inform, Discuss, Develop’ – an acknowledgement of the role of the IRSE - and other engineering institutions in supporting the professional development of engineers.

Thorrowgood Scholarship Tom Corker was announced as the winner of the Thorrowgood Scholarship 2015 and presented with his award. The award is made annually to a candidate who has excelled in the IRSE’s Professional Examination. The scholarship is awarded on the

basis that it should assist the development of young engineers employed in the field of train control and communications.

The award must be used to fund a study tour by the winner, usually outside their country of residence.

Tom Corker has been a graduate engineer with Balfour Beatty Rail in Derby since 2013, during which time he has worked on condition monitoring systems as well as gaining practical experience of signalling systems.

He previously studied at the University of Cambridge, where his major project was to work on avionics for prototype hybrid aircraft. Tom delivered an outstanding performance in the 2015 IRSE Examinations, taking four modules and obtaining a distinction in one of them, a credit in two others and a pass in the fourth.

Dell Award Jane Power was presented with the Dell Award for 2016.

This award is made annually to a member of the Institution employed by London Underground for achievement of a high standard in the science and application of railway signalling. The award consists of a plaque with a uniquely designed shield, engraved with Tom Corker with the outgoing President, Andrew Simmons.

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CHARLES PAGE IRSE PRESIDENT the recipient’s name.

Jane joined London Underground’s signalling and electrical engineering department as a graduate trainee in January 1989. After successfully completing the twoyear scheme, her first substantive post was with the Central Line Project Team, then in the early stages of resignalling Britain’s busiest railway line.

Jane Power with the outgoing President, Andrew Simmons.

Subsequently, she spent years as part of the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway Corporation Signalling Engineering team responsible for approving designs, later returning to work in the UK on the Jubilee Line Extension Project. Most recently, she has been appointed to the role of system design authority for LUL’s Four Lines Modernisation (4LM) Programme.

For more information scan here to visit Network Rail’s Safety Central Website.

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THINK SAFETY, ACT SAFELY THE STORY BEHIND STOBART RAIL'S NEW SAFETY VISION

I

s there a secret to creating an effective, impactful health and safety campaign? More often than not, such posters and videos use shock tactics to make their point, but a new campaign by Stobart Rail is using a softer approach to spread the company’s safety message: Think Safety, Act Safely.

‘That was the biggest challenge in designing the posters because it’s a serious subject and doesn’t want to be taken lightly,’ said Steve Ferrington, safety and compliance manager at Stobart Rail.

The campaign, which has been in development for the last two years, is centred around three animated characters. A series of posters show Billy, Gus and Jim, who were designed by Carlisle-based Cloudscape Studios, demonstrating a host of typical health and safety hazards encountered by Stobart Rail workers. These include working at height, using mobile phones whilst driving, recognising exclusion zones around heavy plant and wearing the correct safety equipment.

What began life as a small-scale poster campaign quickly snowballed as the team identified more and more topics to cover. ‘ 10 became 20, that became 30,’ said Steve.

ANALYSIS The initiative has been shaped by Network Rail’s Lifesaving Rules. Stobart also identified common risks by analysing incident statistics from the past five years.

‘People are usually aware of the outcome when things go wrong,’ said Steve, who thinks the comedic tone of the posters will relate to staff in a way that other campaigns have not. ‘The posters portray a serious message in a comically visual way’.

Steve and the rest of Stobart Rail’s SHE team are now carrying out site visits to implement the campaign throughout the business. The initial feedback has been encouraging.

‘Nothing but positive comments about how they look, how professionally they’ve been designed and it’s a great idea,’ said Steve. ‘And people keep coming to me saying ‘what about doing one for this, doing one for that.’

BIGGER PICTURE But the posters are just the start. ‘I don’t believe that we could actually measure improvement by just the posters alone.

It’s all part of the bigger picture. These posters are just a reminder of what we’re trying to achieve.’

Stobart Rail launched the campaign during a visit to Lochardil Primary School in Inverness. The contractor is currently working with Network Rail Scotland to deliver the Far North CP5 Plain Line Workbank contract. The visit was an opportunity to talk to the children about how dangerous the railway can be when safety rules aren’t followed.

Says Steve, ‘We want to ensure that they know why we’re there… We wanted to give them an understanding of what we’re doing and the dangers that are out there. It’s not a playground.’

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COMMITMENT TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES Network Rail project manager Douglas Craig was pleased Stobart had chosen his project to launch its new safety vision. ‘I have been encouraged by Stobart Rail’s attitude to health and safety since tendering for the far north plain line track refurbishment contract.

‘Stobart Rail and Network Rail presented to over 400 pupils about the importance of PPE and safety and the children got the chance to meet the Stobart Rail safety characters called Billy, Gus and Jim. ‘Upon contract award, Stobart Rail introduced their new health and safety campaign and explained they would like to launch it on our project. I was keen to help and assisted at Lochardil primary school, where we encouraged the local school children to name the characters and discuss railway safety matters. The day was truly engaging and a great success.

‘This demonstrates Stobart Rail’s commitment to local communities and a desire to raise awareness and improve safety.’

EYE-CATCHING Stobart Rail managing director Kirk Taylor said, ‘The campaign has been introduced because

we didn’t want to get complacent even though we have had a great safety record over the last few years.

‘We needed something visually eye-catching, powerful with a real message that the audience would relate to, take on board and react to unconsciously and automatically without being forced and instructed to do so.

‘The idea of taking it into schools, especially targeting primary ages, was to reach young children, introduce them to the rail industry, educate them on the importance of safety, not just for themselves but everyone around them that they can make an impact on, and hopefully sell it in such a way we perhaps help create an enthusiasm in them to become the next generation of railway staff.

‘The characters were named by the children from Lochardil School. Although currently three characters, we have more on the way. The characters were designed in such a way that we hope the staff relate to or personally identify with. It could be you or one of your work mates.

‘The campaign also covers staff welfare. ‘Free Fruity Friday’.

With the idea being we provide fruit free on site and in the offices to encourage healthy eating. ‘A

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

problem shared is a problem halved’, where we encourage the staff to speak with line management or HR if they have any work or home-related issues, so we can help directly, or, if they wish, we can put them in touch with professional bodies that will provide assistance and advice.

‘We also wanted to get across the importance of being responsible drivers, as we are a business with national coverage, with lots of vans, cars and lorries tramping all over the country.

Poor and aggressive driving is

HEALTH+SAFETY

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liable to affect and upset other road users and will also give the company a bad name. Good community relations is always a key to successful contract delivery. We endeavour always to be a good neighbour and a considerate contractor.’

The campaign is now being extended to other Stobart Rail schemes, including the Gospel Oak to Barking line electrification and the Highland Enhancement Programme (HEP). Stobart is also looking at rolling Billy, Gus and Jim out across its other divisions.

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RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

REPORT BY COLIN WHEELER

TOO MUCH WORK

FOR THE RAIB? WHAT CAN BE DONE?

T

his year’s key themes at the annual Rail Safety Summit in London on May 5th were fatigue, health and wellbeing, road risks and workforce safety. The introductory session involved speakers from both Network Rail and the Rail Safety and Standards Board. A workforce safety comment that impressed me came from the High Speed 2 speaker who addressed the need to empower staff to take ownership of their own safety.

Arguably when supervisors and managers fall short in giving people the confidence to continually look to their own safety they contribute to the accidents that then have to be investigated by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB).

Eight cows killed RAIB’s recently published report into an accident that occurred on July 26th last year at Godmersham between Wye and Chilham Stations (750 volt DC third rail electrified track) is just such a case. A cow had been reported on the line resulting in an examination of the area at 20 mph for two miles by the driver of the next train.

He reported nothing found to the signaller who advised the Kent Integrated Control Centre and returned to normal working at 2059 hours. A Mobile Operations Manager had also been asked to inspect the tracks and he arrived at the Pope Street access at 2115 hours but found nothing amiss.

The report refers to some confusion due to the use of local names which were not precisely understood by all involved.

However a train (consisting of two Class 375 EMU units each of four coaches), travelling in the opposite direction to the examining train then ran into 8 cows at 69 mph and was derailed. The train was carrying 67 passengers and 3 crew, but there were no injuries.

The damage The train stopped 365 metres on from the point of impact, with the leading carriage completely derailed and leaning over at some 20 degrees on the embankment ridge. (See picture).

Its leading wheelset had derailed when it hit the first two cows and the remaining wheels had derailed when it hit the other six. During the derailment the train struck the bridge parapet wall of Trimsworth Bridge on the Down side destroying its railing, demolishing the parapet and damaging the abutment.

This the reports suggests helped keep the derailed train upright.

There was also damage to the underframe of the train and the cab.

Obstruction deflectors Having found that his train radio was no longer working the driver ran three quarters of a mile towards an oncoming train to use its radio to report the accident. He left his cab at 2145, and applied a short circuiting clip across the third rail and a running rail to de-energise the track as he left.

The cows had got onto the track through a broken concrete post and ten strand wire fence. Unsurprisingly the report recommendations cover fencing inspections and existing rules covering actions when large animals are found on the railway, the criteria for the fitting of obstruction deflectors on light weight trains and the reliability of

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RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

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The 1339 Penzance to Exeter service collided with the stationary 1542 Plymouth to Paddington train at Plymouth station.

CUT LEVEL 5 GLOVES train radio equipment.

Inevitably the report refers back to the accident at Polmont back in July 1984 when a train struck a cow and derailed a passenger train travelling at 85 mph and resulted in three fatalities and 17 people being seriously injured. The requirements for deflectors were made as a result of the Polmont accident.

the report expresses concerns that there is no prescripted timescale in the standard.

Three types of boundary barrier are also specified. An inspection just 24 days before the accident rated the fencing as likelihood 3, consequence 4 and condition 2 giving a 14 out of 20 score but with the recorded comment “no work required”.

35 injured at Plymouth “No work required” On October 11th 2015 eight sheep were reported to be on the line near Godmersham Substation having gained access following criminal damage to temporary fencing and the theft of equipment.

The repairs to fencing were completed last November. RAIB’s report includes a standard risk rating matrix in a four by four format that plots likelihood against consequence. “Very poor” and a high score may result in a renewal proposal but

Last month on Sunday April 3rd a train consisting of two Class 150 DMU’s (four vehicles in all) entered Platform 6 at Plymouth Station and collided with a stationary train that was already in the platform.

Thirty five people including one of the train drivers were injured, some of them seriously.

The stationary train had arrived some 34 minutes earlier needing fresh catering supplies, but platform 7 (which it usually used) was not available because its lifts were closed for maintenance.

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TRACK SAFETY

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

It was due to depart at 1541.

The arriving train (two Class 150 DMU’s coupled together, four vehicles in all) had 60 passengers on board and was due to go into platform 8.

But the signaller decided to send it into platform 6 behind the stationary train to make things easier for passengers transferring onto the Paddington train since the lifts were not working on platform 8 either.

Permissive working is allowed in platform 6 and he believed there was enough room for both trains. The approaching train was travelling at 21 mph when its driver first saw the stationary train.

He realised a collision was imminent and applied the emergency brake about three seconds before the collision. It struck the other train at around 15 mph but many passengers were standing ready to leave the train and were thrown over.

The RAIB investigation is continuing and is focussing on the actions of staff, signalling/platform working, the performance of the train in the collision and underlying management factors.

Tractor driver seriously injured Just one week later on Sunday April 10th at 1230 a Norwich to Cambridge passenger train (with 135 passengers and two crew on board) collided with a tractor and trailer on Hockham Level Crossing.

The crossing near Thetford, is on a private road with a public

footpath. Users operate the gates themselves and at the time of the accident had to telephone the signaller at Cambridge before using the crossing. Although the crossing was equipped with red and green lights in 2012 they were “intentionally decommissioned at the time of the accident”.

The train did not derail but came to a halt 410 metres beyond the crossing. The tractor driver was seriously injured and both the train driver and several passengers suffered minor injuries.

Network Rail’s Safety Central website describes the crossing as a hybrid on the 90 mph route.

It adds that the miniature stop lights system was temporarily decommissioned in October 2015 but “Network Rail is working with the supplier to address design concerns by August 2016”.

The RAIB and both British Transport Police and the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) are investigating.

The work package plan did not cover any cable management work and the report refers to the contractor feeling “pressurised to complete the work”. He was told that there were no live cables but one that was cut was a 560 volt live signalling cable.

Severe traffic disruption resulted according to the website report but there were no injuries.

Contractor pressurised

Personal responsibility and accountability

Network Rail’s Safety Central website also has a bulletin dated April 2016 featuring an incident that occurred back on November 12th last year! A cable strike that could have resulted in injury as well as causing rail traffic disruption is described.

A contractor was cutting back disused cables to a cable trough “to prevent the likelihood of cable theft”. The work was being undertaken at Bridge 96, Red Doles Road Huddersfield.

The Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB) and what is now the ORR came out of the Cullen report as did the RAIB. They are all working well, but I have reservations.

Providing standards, procedures and rules for everything is all but impossible as well as undesirable. The danger of having too much prescription is that the feeling of responsibility and accountability can diminish leading to a conviction that

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there is little room for individual decision making.

That can prevent an individual taking the initiative and making things happen. Would you or I have waited for more information about those cows on the line at Godmersham whilst knowing of the rail traffic disruption that extended speed restricted running would cause?

Did the fencing inspector feel he was responsible for the security of that lineside fencing or had he or she followed the form filling process and produced the paperwork whilst believing that there was no chance of repairs or renewal being done?

Were local staff who knew that the miniature lights at that level crossing had not been working since last October concerned that there were additional risks?

Just two questions Of course standards, rules and procedures have their place.

But to my mind freeing up and motivating skilled people to use their personal knowledge and judgement is even more crucial.

I recall moving to new jobs, meeting managers and supervisors whose actions would affect the safety of the railway for which I carried personal responsibility.

My two questions were always similar. Show me the best railway on your patch and then all the areas that keep you awake at night because they are not yet as you want them to be.

Accountability, responsibility and knowledge were my concerns. Such questions should always be asked face to face and the answers heeded.

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REPORT BY JAMES FOX

SAFETY SHOULD START COMPETENCY MANAGEMENT WINNING YOUNG HEARTS AND MIN

JAMES FOX, COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR OF 3SQUARED, EXPLAINS WHY HE BELIEVES TECHNOLOGY WILL HELP TO FURTHER ENHANCE RAIL SAFETY IN THE FUTURE. WINNING YOUNG HEARTS AND MINDS

S

ince the Ladbroke Grove train crash, operators have been focused on reducing their level of SPaDs (Signal passed at danger) and introducing systems to ensure consistently high levels of competency. Reduction or elimination of SPaDs is obviously a clear sign of driver competency, but for many rail operators, the question is how to achieve this.

There are many factors which can lead to SPaDs, but this is usually down to poor judgement or a dip in competency level and understanding, leading to human error. SPaDs most often occur at low speeds where the driver has applied the brakes too late, again which could be an ongoing competency development or judgement issue.

Rail assessors have very busy roles. Often they are required to assess many different drivers and carry out these assessments at frequent intervals as part of meeting ROGS. Traditional paper-based competency management systems are still widely used to generate a Safety Critical Portfolio that could be hundreds of pages long, per driver. This valuable information often sits on a shelf and gets added to, but assessors often do not have the time to sift through all this data to plan future assessments. With paper-based systems, it can be difficult to identify areas of concern where future training is required, leading to gaps in knowledge and a reduction in driver competency.

DIGITALISATION Rail operators are therefore looking for digitisation to provide them with a much safer solution to the issue of competency management and compliance. The latest software introduced to address competency in the rail industry, such as RailSmart, helps to improve operational efficiency and reduce SPaD risks by providing an accurate, easily accessible and mobile picture of an individual’s RAILSTAFF.UK | @RAILSTAFFUK | FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF

overall competency, which is fundamental to enhancing the safety of the rail network.

This software is usually provided through web-based apps, which give real-time reporting of compliance against standards and removes the administration burden associated with paper-based competency management systems.

A major advantage is that an assessor’s time is therefore freed up to better support, develop and manage safety-critical employees. Managers can then increase the amount of time they spend on in-line management, which can be targeted towards lower competency individuals and so lowers the risk of any further operational incidents.

This gives them the time and ability to understand the driver on a personal level and what the human factors and other influences there are on them.

It also allows them to focus on how they can be properly supported to help manage operational risk.

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

HEALTH+SAFETY

27

A SAFER RAILWAY

T WITH Having all the detail about the candidate I need with me on the iPad is great when I’m out doing an assessment.

The formal grading process and consistent feedback that apps provide helps to raise the bar of competency. It is a well known fact that the more competent a driver, the less likely they are to have an operating incident. As well as the obvious safety benefits, it also means better train performance and better Public Performance Measure (PPM).

As these apps are fully integrated, they involve everyone within the business and as a result, it improves employee understanding of their role in delivering a safer railway.

Some train operators are already experiencing the benefits of our RailSmart software, which helps to reduce assessment planning time and lowers the amount of time spent on completion and mapping of competency against FDA paperwork. For some operators, this can result in time savings of several thousand hours per year. When assessments can be digitally recorded through the use of iPads, it means benchmarks can be set and areas for development can be identified. This is driving up the standards of competency for rail operators, which could result in a reduction of operational incidents and a lowering of associated performance delays. Using apps of this type means assessors can include a greater number of competencies within a system and manage them consistently across the business.

It also means that live assessments can be carried out, which are not only time saving but also give real-time feedback to employees whilst the activity is being undertaken. In the past, paper-based systems meant it could take days, if not weeks, before a member of staff received feedback on their performance. These apps speed up the whole process and enable easier identification of performance issues which can be addressed immediately, with the end result being a reduction of risks and improvement in performance.

POSITIVE STEP FORWARD As one assessor described it, ‘Having all the detail about the candidate I need with me on the iPad is great when I’m out doing an assessment, as it has stopped me missing areas that need support.’

Software apps like RailSmart also remove the risk of administration errors, by providing real-time reporting of compliance against standards and the quality of the assessments, giving powerful reporting outputs. These are crucial for rail management to understand in more detail how assessors are grading their teams, which is a powerful tool to drive improvement within a business.

So, as we have seen, apps allow rail assessment teams to spend more time with their drivers and less time on administration, which is being recognised as a really positive step forward. They also provide reassurance to the rail operator that it is truly actively managing its operational risks. The ultimate aim is that rail operators can properly assess their risk in a holistic way and provide practical support and training for their employees. The added visibility and reporting that the new generation of rail software systems provide clearly demonstrates how they can add value and drive a business forward.

Responsible train operators are therefore recognising how their risks can be reduced and their safety enhanced by investing in software systems, such as RailSmart. This is continuing to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its managers, the competence and motivation of its front-line people and ultimately will ensure the safer performance of the railways.”

For more information about the RailSmart suite of products, contact info@3squared.com or telephone: 0333 121 3333 or visit the website www.3squared.com.

FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF | @RAILSTAFFUK | RAILSTAFF.UK

28

RAIL ALLIANCE

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

COUNTDOWN TO RAIL LIVE 2016!

NEW MEMBERS BRIDGEWAY CONSULTING LTD www.bridgeway-consulting.co.uk

JMD RAILTECH LTD www.jmdr.com

MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY www.mmu.ac.uk

Don’t forget to book your exhibition space and be one of over 300 exhibitors at Rail Live this year! We are taking bookings until May 20. The interest has been exceptional and we are selling plots quickly. Don’t miss out on the biggest outdoor rail show in the UK – the only show set in a rail environment where you will see demonstrations of all shapes and sizes taking place over two days: 22 & 23 June.

We have all sorts of activities taking place – including for the first time a Business Zone, where you can find information on the Rail Supply Group, Young Rail Professionals, NSAR, Test Voucher Scheme (RSSB), a packed conference programme and much more! There is also the recent exciting announcement of the Network Rail Awards presentation that will take place on the evening of Wednesday, 22 June, as well as an evening get-together which will be ticket only. We will announce the location and details very soon.

We are really looking forward to seeing the Rail Supply Chain coming together once again to be part of this industry highlight event of the year!

Please go to www.raillive.com for all the information on how to book. Visitor tickets are free.

Follow us on twitter: @rail_live / #raillive2016

Rail Alliance networking events and workshops We continue to run a jam-packed networking schedule and in this month’s column, we take a look at recent and upcoming events.

Innovation in franchising Most recently we had the honour of being hosted by Dr. Nick Maillinson and the team at Warwick University Manufacturing Group, where delegates had the opportunity to hear presentations from the Go-Ahead Group, The Hack Partners, IBM and RSSB on their respective approaches to and application of innovation in the franchise market.

NUMILL LTD www.numill.co.uk

PLASTIC COATINGS LTD www.plasticcoatings.co.uk The RSSB used the session to alert the audience to the upcoming competition TOC 16, ‘a £4 million programme focusing on increasing collaboration between TOCs and the supply chain in order to innovate and improve performance or service, increase reliability and safety, increase rail capacity, reduce journey times and ultimately be of benefit to the customer,’ says RSSB. For more information, or to register for the competition launch event on 16 May, please contact us or check out @RSSB_rail on Twitter.

SPEEDY SERVICES

Upcoming events:

PACE NETWORKS

• 12 May ‘Opportunities for Composites in Rail – a Sector Showcase’, University of Manchester. In collaboration with Composites UK, we will be chairing a day-long programme highlighting case studies where composites have been successfully specified – both in rail infrastructure and rolling stock.

• 19 May ‘Lean Manufacturing’, NEC, Birmingham. The third in the current series of best practice workshops, this session will explore lean principles and how they can be adopted in the rail industry. Run by the Rail Alliance on behalf of the Rail Supply Group.

For booking information, please see www. rsgbestpractice.org • 26 May ‘Traction and Rolling Stock Maintenance and Refurbishment’, The Turbine Centre, Worksop. This event will feature speakers from T1 to SME including sponsors Crowle Wharf Engineering.

• 14 July ‘Product Approval’, Manchester. Full details will be released following the May session, but this session will be a great source of information and advice within the approvals realm.

www.pace-networks.co.uk

www.speedyservices.com

ABG CONSTRUCTION & MINERAL TOOLS LTD www.abgtools.com

ETS CABLE COMPONENTS www.etscablecomponents.com

UNILATHE LTD www.unilathe.co.uk

BAKERAIL SERVICES LTD www.bakerailservices.co.uk

CLEVELAND CABLE COMPANY www.clevelandcable.com

PSS www.pss.co.uk

SRL TECHNICAL SERVICES LTD www.srltsl.com

EXPRESS CATERING www.mobilecatering.biz

THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH www.port.ac.uk

CLEARVIEW INTELLIGENCE LTD www.clearview-intelligence.com

MORRIS LINE ENGINEERING www.morrisline.co.uk

Information on all our events can be found on the events page of www.railalliance.co.uk or keep abreast of updates on Twitter @therailalliance

RAILSTAFF.UK | @RAILSTAFFUK | FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF

FUGRO RAILDATA B.V. www.fugro.com/raildata

HARD R E WA R D IN G 10 Y E A R S O F N OF N AND WOME E M G IN K R O W IN D U S T RY… T H E U K R A IL

y t e f a s d n a s l l i k s , e c i v Ser s for good new to take credit k ic n qu te e of ar is es Compani dustry that rprise in an in . But e has been s - is it any su m ie m or in its approach ra st d te og ua pr tiq ds an ar d w A an ff ng be ili people hind years to The RailSta painted as fa gnition for the d to over the co de re il ad ra be d e than an so th al d t in amende there mus atistics. More that exist s studies and st rsity of roles ea PR se ve ar in di ca e e e re ad th tiv re th si u ct refle the po cus is on the back yo is issue, the fo good ctive slap on th to lle l In co . ra e ry nt th st ce st du e ju in ch ar anagement. e Awards whi fety. single out quotes from m covered by th opportunity to e, skills and sa ic an rv is se ds at er ar om Aw : cust ht on those th with The RailStaff performance To shine a lig e three tenets t. es en th t em n’ d ev se do hi n es ac who ofte has addr individual t thanks and The industry ver sought ou st ne Ea g my job,’ is a h s. ve in ut es ha do So cc st e ju su th g varyin e fuss. ‘I was London and th nd nd ou ta ar rs s er de or un stom Many operat example of cu ar a lot. ch will lympics as an phrase we he ards 2016, whi e now ar s or at er hold up the O r RailStaff Aw op fo e er, are m ns ob sa io ct e at O in Th 8 e. l. om ov N wel coh Arena on t, even impr Ri is rs ’s service done pe try ion of en ity ut al ov asis nary contrib levels of qu be held at C put more emph e an extraordi seeing those ak so al m t ts no en hy em y.

W agre open. ne toda New franchise minate someo er before. but ur own and no e service than ev yo : ng er to le al om go st ch n, g cu io on goin minat ck of, is an on To submit a no y. inate nc om ge /n ur Skills, or the la om ith .c w ds ng war ry is addressi www.railstaffa the risks are one the indust concern, but ed nd -e ed en nc op rie pe Safety is an ligently by ex d managed di well known an als. r is that good SHE profession nt to remembe rta a safe po What’s im s outlook and ill a healthy sk e, ic rv se . er custom st happen nment don’t ju stomer working enviro exceptional cu e rib sc de ld ou w n staff rs io at ge Passen ber of st ful, affable mem lp ing he ct a tra as at e s ic serv le model It will be the ro iners tra e th d an or train crew. ilway reer in the ra se who people to a ca em the experti th ve gi ho w s or livered at de uc e ar ed d ts an And projec p. ga s ill fe Work sk e address th ive, vigilant Sa ere are attent th e it. us of ca re be su safely to make COSS’s on site Leaders and

RS

PROUD SPONSO

16 FF AWARDS 20

SARY RAILSTA

AR ANNIVER OF THE TEN YE

s ssment expert ning and asse

www.railstaffawards.com

30

RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2016

Grasp your opportunity It will be someone who grasps the opportunities put in front of them that will win the RailStaff Awards 2016 Graduate of the Year category, says Steve Pears, telent's managing director, rail.

This year will be the second time telent, which itself has a popular graduate scheme, has sponsored the category. It’s an area in which the company invests a lot of time and resource.

‘What we’re finding at the moment is year on year it’s increasing,’ said Steve, describing the growth of telent’s graduate scheme, which in September will welcome 20 new recruits.

The two-year scheme offers graduates the choice of pursuing a career either as an engineer or as a project manager within the business, which has been designing, delivering and maintaining railway telecommunications networks for more than 30 years.

Mel Gibson, one of telent’s project managers, who herself completed the scheme, was featured in the March issue of RailStaff. She worked as a junior bid manager on the bid for the RETB telecoms renewal in the Scottish Highlands and eventually went on to project manage the scheme. She said it was clear that the number of staff within the business who were 30 or younger was increasing.

Supporting tomorrow’s rail stars… …today 0800 783 7761 telent.com @telent_UK company/telent

Proud sponsors of Graduate of the Year

WWW.RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM

@RAILSTAFFAWARDS

Taking on responsibility But the industry as a whole is failing to bring in as many young rail professionals as it needs to fulfill the industry’s future workload. It’s forcing graduates to mature more quickly than in the past - a challenge for graduates, but also an opportunity.

Last year, Graduate of the Year was won by Great Western Railway’s Tyler Corbishley. Although he had only been with the company for a short time, he set about making sweeping changes to the way the business operated, including digitalising the existing paper-based rostering system.

‘At the moment if you’re a graduate and there’s a great demand for engineers it gives you a chance to take on more responsibility, more quickly,’ said Steve.

Grow and develop Although he felt that graduates were receiving recognition for their contribution, the awards serves as a good opportunity for newcomers to the industry to see where they fit into the grand scheme of things.

‘It’s an opportunity for them to understand the part that they can play,’ said Steve.

FACEBOOK.COM/THERAILSTAFFAWARDS

‘It’s very important that graduates feel they’ve got a good career and an opportunity to grow and develop in the business.’

Steve, who judged the Awards last year, also spoke about the ‘significant stories’ which are highlighted by the event, particularly where someone’s intervention has saved a life. ‘I think the business has a part to play but I think the individual has a bigger part to play,’ he said.

To nominate an outstanding graduate in your team, visit www.railstaffawards.com/ nominate

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2016

simplifying the complex

Delivering over £500m of works for our clients CPMS stands for Collaborative Project Management Services.

Its not just a name, it’s our project delivery philosophy.

We deliver project solutions by providing strategic planning on multi-disciplinary rail projects from conception to completion We supply expertise both on and off-site to enhance the capability of existing teams We provide a wide range of consultancy services from full project reviews to health checks

Proud Sponsors of

To find out more call 020 3009 3120 or visit www.cpmsrail.co.uk.

00298_CPMSRail_RailStaffAwards_Ad_May_90x130mm_P.indd 1

03/05/2016 22:44

FACEBOOK.COM/THERAILSTAFFAWARDS

@RAILSTAFFAWARDS

WWW.RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM

32

RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2016

Safety at the forefront 'Safety is at the forefront of any work we do,' says Bridgeway Consulting's managing director Pino De Rosa. There are examples of this everywhere.

The company has sponsored the Safety Person of the Year category since the very first RailStaff Awards in 2007 and Pino is a regular speaker at the Rail Safety Summit.

‘It’s the one thing that has the biggest life-changing impact if it goes wrong,’ said Pino, speaking shortly after awarding the 2015 trophy.

Last year, the category was won by Network Rail’s Adrian Fricker who had played a key role in establishing and promoting the work of the Track Safety Alliance (TSA), an industry-wide group which focuses on improving the health, safety and wellbeing of track workers. In 2014, the award was won by Network Rail’s Keith Gibbs for his work around fatigue. The year before that the title was given to Chris Roberts, who helped save the life of a pedestrian who was struck by a train at a level crossing.

Far-reaching Established by three British Rail underwater inspection unit divers in 1995, the company is now a Network Rail Principal Contractor and employs around 700 people. Pino, one of the three founders, was only 27 at the time.

Bridgeway’s involvement in the rail industry is farreaching. The company provides expertise on site and ground investigations, isolations, geomatics, Business Information Modelling (BIM), utilities, structures examinations - including diving and rope access, AC/ DC isolations, possession management, worksite management, permanent way engineering and signalling and telecommunications.

An important date

Proud sponsor of Rail Safety Person of the Year 2016

The company’s motto is ‘Exceeding, Expectations Everywhere, Safely’. Says Pino, ‘There’s an underlying

A wealth of rail services in one place Site and Ground Investigations Geomatics BIM Structural Inspections and Examinations P’Way Inspection and Maintenance S&T Inspection and Maintenance Track Access Services HSQE Consultancy Learning and Development

Call 0115 919 1111 or visit www.bridgeway-consulting.co.uk

WWW.RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM

@RAILSTAFFAWARDS

FACEBOOK.COM/THERAILSTAFFAWARDS

focus on safety with any work Bridgeway carries out and we pride ourselves on our safety record.’

He went on, ‘It’s been brilliant to see the awards go from strength to strength each year.

‘It marks an important date in the railway calendar each year, giving us a chance to look back at those who have gone out of their way to make a difference.

The Safety Person of the Year Award is a great award to sponsor for Bridgeway, as safety is at the forefront of any work we do.’

If you know someone who deserves to be the 2016 RailStaff Awards Safety Person of the Year, visit www. railstaffawards.com/nominate

33

RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2016

TALKING SAVES LIVES

Helping to make a difference

TBF is proud to sponsor the 2016 Station Staff of the Year Award

Samaritans is proud to sponsor the Lifesaver award at this years’ RailStaff Awards 10,000 rail industry personnel and British Transport Police officers have been trained with the skills to help a person in need. These skills can encourage people to talk about their problems and help save lives.

With the help of the TOCs, Network Rail and other employers throughout the public transport industry we now have over 47,000 members.

For just £1 a week, a variety of financial, health and welfare benefits are available to you, your partner and dependent children if you work in the public transport industry... ...people just like you

For more info and to nominate a colleague  www.railstaffawards.com

Supported by

& 0300 333 2000 etd 00 38571 8 help@tbf.org.uk 8 www.tbf.org.uk

A registered charity

Transport Benevolent Fund CIO, known as TBF, is a registered charity in England and Wales, 1160901

RailAwards_Advert_190x30mm.indd 1

17/03/2016 08:30 130x90mm_RailStaffMag_ad_2016.indd 1

FACEBOOK.COM/THERAILSTAFFAWARDS

@RAILSTAFFAWARDS

30/03/2016 09:05:38

WWW.RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM

34

RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2016

Where are they now?

Gail Satchell, winner of Outstanding Customer Service Award last year, speaks about her surprise at scooping the 2015 prize.

There’s one thing that the RailStaff Awards continually teaches us: You don’t need to have worked in the industry for a lifetime to be a big noise in rail.

Last month, we caught up with Ben Cox - winner of the Apprentice of the Year category in 2015.

For this issue, we spoke to Gail Satchell, who was recognised at last year’s event for her outstanding customer service contribution.

Gail, who works for Siemens Rail Automation, had only been in the industry for seven months when she won the Outstanding Customer Service category.

The award now takes pride of place in the office.

‘I was very shocked,’ said Gail, who manages the technical training programme that supports Siemens Rail Automation’s 1,650 staff, ensuring that course places are booked, competencies are recorded and that everyone has the correct certification.

‘But I was very grateful and flattered by the votes that it would have taken to win… and it was nice to know that when I’d come in, I’d made an impact and I changed a few things, so it was quite nice to know that what I was doing was valued.’

Graduates and apprentices Before joining Siemens, Gail had been in telesales. Part of her role then was to oversee the sales training teams. ‘I wanted to step away from the more sales side of things and be in a position where you still had a lot to do, but you weren’t so target driven.’

Gail’s current role involves looking after Siemens’ apprentices and graduates. Last year, Siemens Rail Automation hired 18 graduates and 20 apprentices.

She helped with their induction and ensured they were meeting their targets.

Her job overall is to maintain a certain level of expertise and competence across the business. It is also important, however, that staff personally get something from the training.

‘You can do the training that they require, but also it means that if they’re happy and feel that they’re progressing, with the different training that they’re doing. They’re happier in themselves, as well… I think if you can just try and make the experience of organising it and making it stress free for them, and as easy as possible, that helps the mentality of making the training course seem like something they would enjoy to go on.’

WWW.RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM

@RAILSTAFFAWARDS

Military2Rail Since the awards, Gail has been heavily involved in Siemens’ Military2Rail programme - an intensive six-week course delivered in partnership with Wiltshire College to prepare a group of former soldiers for a career in rail.

‘I really enjoyed working on that programme. I felt like it was giving something back to the Armed Forces,’ said Gail.

Gail sought out a role in training and development because she felt it would provide a newfound appreciation for her efforts. Recognition is important, she believes.

‘I think it’s nice to be recognised… and it’s nice to know that the work you’ve done is appreciated, and it is nice to be able to go to an awards night with your work colleagues. Even if you don’t win, you’re still there and you’ve been nominated to get that award.’

She added, ‘People aren’t afraid to vote for people who are new either, as opposed to someone that’s been there for a while.

‘I think, especially at Siemens, everyone sees work as work and it doesn’t matter if you’ve been here a long time or if you’ve not been here a long time, there’s still something you can bring to it that is accounted.’

Nominations are open for this year’s event. Visit www. railstaffawards. com/nominate to recognise a colleague who has demonstrated outstanding customer service.

FACEBOOK.COM/THERAILSTAFFAWARDS

35

RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2016

FACEBOOK.COM/THERAILSTAFFAWARDS

@RAILSTAFFAWARDS

WWW.RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM

LET’S CE

R THE GE

RATE TO B LE

11/12 JUNE 2016 The rail industry and community organisations will join together to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 90th Birthday, with the Station to Station Queens Celebration.

Coming to a station near you!

We are actively calling all rail industry suppliers to join in and help promote the broad spectrum of career opportunities the industry has to offer

To find out how you can join in this wonderful event please visit our website

www. quee nsce l e b r at i o n . c o m

How can you help?

If you are a supplier to the industry and you would like to support this weekend of national celebration, please contact:

Vicky Binley at Nimble Media Ltd

T: 0845 1 700 300 E: info@queenscelebration.com

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

37

EVENTS

Terry Morgan Chairman of Crossrail speaking at the Rail Exec Luncheon in March 2016.

conference exhibition conference EVENTS conference KEY conference tech exhibition exhibition CONFERENCE conference exhibition conference conference

conference tech exhibition tech tech press conference EXHIBITION exhibition exhibition exhibition tech

press conference pressTECHNICAL conference techconference press tech VISIT tech

press conference press conference

PRESS CONFERENCE press conference press conference network network NETWORK network network awaards network network

AWARDS awaardsnetwork awaards awaards awaards dinner network awaards

dinner dinner DINNER dinner dinner awaards awaards dinner

FREE ATTEND free TOdinner dinner free

free free free free free

free

EVENTS

MAY conference exhibition conference

tech

conference CORE press 2016 conference exhibition

RAIL POWER

tech 16th - 18th May, Melbourne, AUS press conference network core2016.org

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

awaards

network network

network

dinner

conference

press conference

awaards awaards conference ASIA RAIL SUMMIT exhibition dinner

dinner

26th - 27th May, Bangkok, tech press free conference free Thailand ourpolaris.com/2016/ars network

free

conference 19th May, Glasgow exhibition network imeche.org tech

NEW FRANCHISING Delivering a Sustainable Railway for the Future

awaards dinner

awaards

press conference

conference

RAIL FRANCHISE free network SUMMIT conference exhibition

RAILTEL 2016

19th May, Leeds tech dinner conference press conference railsummits.com exhibition

exhibition dinner tech

26th - 27th May, London press conference free terrapinn.com/events

awaards free dinner

network awaards

RAILPOWER

free

conference

dinner

exhibition

tech 26th - 27th May, London press conference terrapinn.com/events

SCANDINAVIAN RAIL DEVELOPMENT 2016

conference

METRO RAIL

26th & 27th May, London terrapinn.com/events

awaards conference exhibition dinner

27th May , London tech press conference free terrapinn.com/events

network

WORLD METRO RAIL CONGRESS (TERRAPIN)

free

network

exhibition

24th May, Stockholm, Sweden tech press conference scandinavianraildevelopment.com

Rail_franchise_roller_banner_April16-v2.indd 1

free

awaards conference

LIGHT RAIL 2016

press conference awaards

19th May, Leicester railexec.com

tech

network

tech free

network

dinner

exhibition

26th - 27th May,pressLondon conference terrapinn.com/events

awaards

RAIL EXEC HS2 dinner NETWORK LUNCHEON network

www.railsummits.com

exhibition tech

tech 26th - 27th May, London press conference press conference terrapinn.com/events

awaards GLASGOW SUBWAY

exhibition dinner DEPOT tech free

Franchise Summit

conference exhibition

awaards

network

dinner conference

awaards 11TH WORLD dinner CONGRESS ON press conference free RAILWAY RESEARCH exhibition free tech

29th May - 2nd June, awaards Milan, Italy dinner wcrr2016.org

conference exhibition tech

network

free

press conference

network awaards dinner free

19/04/2016 10:16

GUIDE TO UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE RAIL INDUSTRY THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, AT A GLANCE

FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF | @RAILSTAFFUK | RAILSTAFF.UK

38

EVENTS

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

AUGUST

JUNE conference exhibition

conference TRAIN COMMUNICATIONS tech exhibition conferenceconference SYSTEMS press conferencetech exhibition

press conference network

tech

dinner

awaards

networkTO STATION

dinner

free dinner

free

free free

STATION

awaards June

11th-12th nrm.org.uk

conference

28th - 29th June, Johannesburg press conference dinner terrapinn.com/events

dinner conference

RAIL LIVE

exhibition

exhibition network tech awaards

free

network

free exhibition

22nd -23rd June, Long Marston press conference railalliance.co.uk

ASSET INFORMATION & awaards DATA MANAGEMENT dinner FOR conference SMART RAIL exhibition

JULY

free 14th - 15th June, London tech infrastructureassetinformation.com press conference conference

network

20th - 23rd September, Berlin press conference conference innotrans.de/en

network

APTA RAIL CONFERENCE awaards

free

INNOTRANS

tech

awaards

ANNUAL UK LIGHT RAIL conference CONFERENCE exhibition

free

network

dinner free

RVE 2016

19th - 22nd June, Phoenix, dinner USA apta.com press conference free

network

8th October, Coventry dinner railstaffawards.com

network

free

awaards

network

dinner

awaards

tech

DECEMBERnetwork awaards press conference dinner

awaards network RAIL EXEC dinner network GALA DINNER awaards free

press conference

awaards network

RAILSTAFF awaards AWARDS

dinner network awaards

1st Dec, Derby railexecgala.com

awaards dinner

free dinner free free

awaards dinner

free dinner free free

dinner free

NEW FRANCHISING Delivering a Sustainable Railway for the Future free

The event will offer an insight into how the DfT’s new approach to franchising, which focuses on service quality, and capacity growth will improve rail services across England and Wales.

Taking the recently awarded Northern Franchise, as an example, this conference aims to show how this investment has wider implications for the development of the Northern Powerhouse through new and innovative developments.

It will also highlight how through engaging with key community stakeholders sustainable business growth can be delivered.

RAILSTAFF.UK | @RAILSTAFFUK | FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF

free

exhibition

press conference

network

conference conference awaards tech press conference exhibition exhibition dinner press conference tech tech

conference

27th - 28th July, Birmingham tech exhibition riagb.org.uk/events-diary press conference tech

16th - 17th conference terrapinn.com/events press conference tech press conference

exhibition conference tech exhibition

network free

dinner

exhibition conference November, Belgium tech tech exhibition

tech

6th October, Derby press conference onyxrail.co.uk

awaards

RAIL REVENUE WORLD conference conference CONGRESS exhibition

19th - 21st July, Madrid, Spain wessex.ac.uk/ conferences/2016

network OCTOBER

exhibition

7th - 10th November, Chengdu, tech China press conference iwc2016.com

awaards 15th September, London free dinner railexec.com free exhibition

conference

free

COMPRAIL 2016

RAIL & METROnetworkexhibition awaards 14th - 16th June, Shanghai, China press conference dinner 10times.com/metro-china-expo

18TH INTERNATIONALdinner free WHEELSET CONGRESS

press conference

conference

free

awaards

exhibition 11th - 14th September, LA, USA tech tech apta.com press conference

dinner

network network awaards conference awaards dinner exhibition dinner tech free press conference free

NOVEMBERnetwork

dinner

awaards network RAIL EXEC NETWORKING dinner awaards LUNCHEON network

tech

28th - 30th June, Texas,techUSA press conference free rssi.org/2016-portal press conference

network

awaards

APTA ANNUAL tech conference conference CONFERENCE press conference exhibition network

RSSI CONFERENCE conference& awaards conference exhibition EXHIBITION dinner exhibition

tech

tech

19th Oct, Singapore press conference network sitce.org AREMA CONFERENCE exhibition dinner awaards 28th - 31st August, Orlando, USA tech conference network dinner exhibition arema.org EXPORAIL 2016 press conference free awaards tech 26th 28th October ,Russia dinner free press conference SEPTEMBER conference network exporail.mx/en conference

awaards

22nd -24th June, Rotterdam tech grfc2016.com press conference

AFRICA RAIL

exhibition

17th - 18th August, Michigan, tech USA rail.mtu.edu press conference

GLOBAL RAIL FREIGHT conference CONFERENCE exhibition

dinner awaards

SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTconference CONGRESS & EXHIBITION exhibition

conference

press conference

network

awaards network

9th June, York press conference nrm.org.uk

MICHIGAN RAIL CONFERENCE tech

exhibition

21st - 23rd June, Crete, Greece wessex.ac.uk/ conferences/2016

exhibition 8th-9th June, London tech press conference tech traincomms2016.com press conference conferencenetwork NRM NATIONAL exhibitionawaards network BLACK TIE DINNER

conference

URBAN TRANSPORT 2016

Franchise Summit

www.railsummits.com

Thursday 19th May 2016 Addleshaw Goddard Offices, LEEDS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

40

EVENTS

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

RAIL LIVE 2016

F

or the fifth year in a row, yellow rail plant and equipment will take over Long Marston for the largest wholly outdoor rail show in Europe, Rail Live.

From its humble beginnings as a dedicated rail plant show, Rail Live has now become a key date in the calendar for the wider supply chain. Around 6,500 visitors are expected to attend over the course of the two-day event, which will be held between 22-23 June at the Quinton Rail Technology Centre in Warwickshire.

Rail Live gives exhibitors the rare opportunity to demonstrate their products in a realistic railway environment. This year, there will be live rail welding from Thermit, concrete sleeper crushing from Husqvarna and Robel will be bringing its 70-metre long maintenance train. There will be a live demo of an Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) installation, a UAV demonstration from Resource Group, visitors will have the opportunity to test drive the Aquarius 4x4 RRV and Railcare will be demonstrating its RailVac excavators.

BUSINESS ZONE This year, the site will have designated zones for track, electrification, signalling & telecommunications, plus there will be the Rail Alliance members’ marquee, several networking hubs and, new for 2016, the Business Zone.

The Business Zone will be an area dedicated to helping visitors and exhibitors to grow and develop their businesses. It will offer information and assistance on the Rail Supply Group, the Future Railway Test Voucher Scheme - which is authorised by RSSB and delivered by Rail Alliance to help the development of products, goods and services, Young Railway Professionals and the upcoming Rail Week, NSAR and UKTI, among others.

Throughout the two days, there will also be a busy conference schedule, which is being organised by Rail Media - details of which can be found on the show’s website.

RAILSTAFF.UK | @RAILSTAFFUK | FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF

RAIL PLANT AWARDS The show is once again being supported by Network Rail.

Guests will include Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy and track programme director Steve Featherstone, who will be presenting the Rail Plant Awards on Wednesday 22 June.

Rail Live 2016 is being sponsored by Rail Media, DWG Timber Components, ISS Labour,

Link2, Rail Alliance, Shannon Rail, TXM Plant and VP Plc. The event is free to attend for visitors.

Everyone on site will be required to wear a hi-vis jacket or waist coat and sensible footwear.

To find out about exhibiting or attending Rail Live 2016, visit www.raillive.com or telephone 01789 720026.

For updates, follow the event on Twitter at @rail_live

R VISITO

REE

ION F T A R T IS

REG

2016

The largest UK outdoor rail show as endorsed by Network Rail

‘

22-23 JUNE 2016

The railway is always evolving and, as an organisation measured by performance, we need to embrace innovation and best practice in the rail sector.

LONG MARSTON

We are looking forward to Rail Live 2016, a well-established event that really does sset et out to address and meet industry challenges now and for the future.

infrastructure & civils | traction & rolling stock engineering | electrification | rail maintenance materials & product development/testing safety | digital | innovation | signalling

> Hundreds of suppliers in one location

> Live demonstrations and innovative working methods

Steve Featherstone

Track Programme Director, Network Rail

> Meet customers and suppliers face-to-face

business growth/development

> Latest in best practice solutions and equipment

To book as an exhibitor* or visitor, please visit

> Information and expertise on rail > High profile conference with keynote industry speakers

www.raillive.com With Support From ®

A Rail Alliance Event

@rail_live * Exhibitor booking deadline 20 May 2016

42

INTERVIEWS

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

From

Interfleet to SNC-Lavalin

Steered not shaken RICHARD GEORGE, GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SNC-LAVALIN RAIL & TRANSIT, ON THE LOSS OF THE INTERFLEET NAME AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE AHEAD

‘W

hen I last spoke to you, I was probably optimistic and secretly slightly nervous’, said Richard.

Eight months ago, we’d sat down in a breakout area next to his office to discuss the future of one of the most-trusted names in rail engineering and consultancy, Interfleet.

In 2011, the Derby-based consultancy was acquired by Canada’s SNC-Lavalin. In September last year, Interfleet announced that from 1 January 2016 the company would adopt the name of its parent company to become SNC-Lavalin Rail & Transit. It was an unnerving prospect for a company that trades off its reputation and a much more complicated process than printing off a few new business cards.

‘How much business have we lost? None. How much business have we gained as a consequence? We’ll see,’ said Richard, who joined Interfleet in 2013.

‘Around the world the profile has now changed and that will take time to come through, but it certainly has not done us any damage at all and there are some opportunities that have been opened up as a consequence.’

GLOBAL COMPANY SNC-Lavalin employs 37,000 people around the world, with the majority of those working in oil and gas. For SNCLavalin, the acquisition of Interfleet was an opportunity to expand its expertise in rail, which had primarily involved work on light rail systems. For Interfleet and its 750-or-so employees, it was an opportunity to really make an impact on a global stage. Not that Interfleet wasn’t already active overseas. As Richard puts it, ‘I think a lot of people saw Interfleet as a UK company with some offices overseas which isn’t quite the same thing as being a global company.’

‘First of all, globally we now have a bigger clout than we RAILSTAFF.UK | @RAILSTAFFUK | FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF

did just as Interfleet,’ said Richard.

‘There are things that we get invited to do, we would never have been invited to do before. There are doors that open for us that would not have opened for us before because it gives us more credibility on the big stage.’

Interfleet was established in the mid-1990s following a management buyout of InterCity’s rolling stock engineering division. With the financial backing of Montreal and a deeper pool of expertise to draw from, will SNC-Lavalin Rail & Transit look beyond its traditional role as the consultant?

‘Yes and no,’ said Richard cautiously.

He feels the group has the capability to take on more of a Tier 1 contractor role, but it shouldn’t compromise the company’s ‘bread and butter’ consultancy work.

‘In the UK, for example, virtually all the stuff we do is the consultancy side and there are some jobs we might take a position on, as opposed to consultancy, but we’d be a lot less likely to than what we do in North America because in North America we’ve got the construction teams, we’ve got operation and maintenance teams, we’ve got big project management teams that are used to doing this. We haven’t got those things here.’

But he didn’t rule it out in the future.

‘We could do that now. We will look very carefully at what we do and what we don’t do.’

Globally we now have a bigger clout than we did just as Interfleet.

43

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016 INTERVIEWS

REPORT BY MARC JOHNSON

GREEN CHIPS FOR BLUE CHIPS

If we had changed the name earlier it would have been the wrong time.

The rail industry isn’t a stranger to changing names. In the last 12 months alone, First Great Western has become Great Western Railway and the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has become the Office of Rail and Road. ‘The key thing is timing’, said Richard.

‘If we had changed the name earlier it would have been the wrong time.

We changed it at the right time. We changed it at a time when SNC-Lavalin is feeling far more confident about itself because it had some problems five years ago. And it just feels like everything’s on the up.’

He added, ‘Had we changed the name immediately after acquisition, five years ago, it just would have felt like we were changing green chips for blue chips. It wouldn’t have had the same feel about it.’

FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF | @RAILSTAFFUK | RAILSTAFF.UK

44

INTERVIEWS

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

In the lead up to the switchover, Richard and his team spent a lot of time meeting with staff. At the start of the year, Richard spent six weeks travelling around the world to different SNC-Lavalin Rail & Transit offices. ‘We spent several months last year, a lot of time, talking to staff, explaining it etc and that was the important bit because it was their buy-in that had to come.’

The concern was that if staff didn’t believe in the name change, that doubt could trickle down to clients.

‘That was the fear. That’s what we had to avoid at all cost,’ said Richard.

That’s not to say that Interfleet has become a dirty word - the main office in Derby is still named Interfleet House. But Richard believes greater integration will create more opportunities for staff: the opportunity to work in other areas of the business or a different country.

‘At the moment I’ve got somebody going from New Zealand to Toronto because we need electrification people in Toronto. We need signalling people in Australia, so I’ve got a guy going from London to Australia.

Somebody’s approached me in Toronto who wants to go to the Middle East, and it’s much easier for us to facilitate that now because we’ve got the knowledge within the group.’

He added, ‘For lots and lots of people, they don’t really want to work in another country, and that’s fine, but they like the idea a lot that they could if they wanted to and that’s an important part of the psychology, actually.’

AT THE CENTRE

In all the countries across the world that we operate, we’re recruiting in all of them.

RAILSTAFF.UK | @RAILSTAFFUK | FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF

SNC-Lavalin Rail & Transit is growing all around the world. ‘A phrase that I’m quite fond of saying - because it’s true - is that in all the countries across the world that we operate, we’re recruiting in all of them,’ said Richard.

Recruitment, particularly of graduates, was one of the focus areas for the company during the transition. ‘I think that’s been one of the challenges for us, to make sure that we don’t lose the traction that we’ve had with graduates because we’ve got a fantastically good name on graduate recruitment in the UK, and we’ve had to work hard to make sure that isn’t lost. And that actually, people who are not necessarily tuned into the rail industry - like university recruitment people understand.’

This September, SNC-Lavalin plans to bring in 12 new apprentices, who will be employed in a wider variety of areas within the business than ever before.

When we spoke last year, Richard said he had no fears about Interfleet being ‘flattened’ by SNC-Lavalin.

Several months on, he is confident that by and large it is Rail & Transit shaping the group’s processes, not the other way around. Earlier in the conversation, he described it like being at the centre of the process, not ‘tacked on at the edge’.

‘This isn’t the sort of company that needed to be shaken up. This is a company that just needed to be steered slightly,’ said Richard. ‘Shaken up, no. Too much talent, too much native talent. It just needed to be redirected a bit like every company always does, perennially… Shake it up, throw it out?

Good God no.’

Our name has changed.

Our people ... haven’t. is now

Richard George Group Managing Director Rail & Transit Engineering

46

FEATURE

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

CYBER SECURITY NIS AND THE LEGAL POSITION

C

REPORT BY CLIVE KESSELL

yber-attacks on both company and personal computer systems are an increasing threat to the continuity of business, and there is little chance that this menace will ever go away. There is no way of ‘immunising’ against the threat of attack, nor is there any foolproof method to prevent such attacks from causing harm to the data systems involved.

Cyber-crime takes many forms. At the bottom end is the ‘nerd’ in the bedroom who sees it as a challenge to hack into supposedly secure systems just to see if it can be done. At the top end are rogue states which attack computer systems to seriously harm (or even destroy) a country’s infrastructure or military capability.

Somewhere between these extremes are organisations that hack for espionage, commercial gain, activism or the uncovering of sensitive personal details. High profile lawsuits and public enquiries have made the headlines in recent times, with attention being focussed on the relevance/ attractiveness of the target and the possible perpetrators. In the main, the bulk of cyber-crime is financially motivated.

RAIL AT RISK For the rail industry, the threats are many and diverse, with implications for Network Rail, TOCs/FOCs, London Underground, the supply industry and data support providers. To be hacked is, at best, a nuisance and, at worst, a risk to safety.

Many rail organisations have already experienced attacks, so awareness of the threat is growing. Some firms are employing data security experts to advise on precautions – there is no single high-tech action that can be taken and protection measures follow a logical pattern. Other companies may still believe that either their products will be immune to hacking or that, hopefully, it will not happen to them.

A significant risk exists within the emerging control and communication networks (signalling) and the SCADA system for electrification control, both of which will rely on the nationwide digital communication networks for the distribution and resilience of control data. Whilst enormous efforts are being made to safeguard the safety elements of these systems, cyberattacks can take many forms. A denial of service attack, where techniques such as basic encryption do not provide protection, would cause major disruption to train services.

So where is all this leading? A new European Directive has been agreed that will have implications for everyone and should lead to a focussing of minds.

RAILSTAFF.UK | @RAILSTAFFUK | FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF

NETWORK AND INFORMATION SECURITY (NIS) DIRECTIVE This has been at the drafting stage for some time and is now approved at the European level, but has yet to be issued. To understand what it is all about, Rail Media met with Simon Shooter, James Mullock and John Drake from the law firm Bird & Bird who have been studying the content for some time and recently put out the following statement: The proposed NIS Directive aims to implement the European Union’s strategy for cybersecurity across Europe. While its scope of application is still under discussion (in particular whether it will apply to digital service providers such as Facebook and Google), it is likely to apply to designated service providers that provide essential services such as energy, transport, financial services, internet exchange points, food supply chain and health. In trilogue meetings in June and October 2015, the European Council, Parliament and Commission reached an agreement on the main provisions of the draft directive, namely: • The establishment of a network of national Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) to assist with cybersecurity coordination between Member States (MS), whilst allowing MS the flexibility to use existing competent authorities to establish and administer the required ‘institutional infrastructure’; • The introduction of criteria to allow MS to develop national, sector-specific guidelines on what would constitute a reportable incident; • The Parliament has also broadly accepted the Council’s preference for voluntary cooperation and information sharing. However, there will be a limited requirement to share information where an incident impacts continuity of service in another MS; • Information society providers will be governed by a different set of rules from providers of essential services; and • MS will have discretion to determine which designated service providers are deemed to be providing ‘essential services’ and won’t have to provide a list of essential companies for security purposes.

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

FEATURE

47

The latest update on the directive is that the final form has been agreed in principle. A deadline of 21 months for MS implementation of NIS is likely to start in Q1 2016. Companies which take proactive action early will be best placed to protect themselves from the increasingly sophisticated range of cyber threats, whilst simultaneously taking the lead in reassuring their customers, partner businesses and insurers that they have appropriate safeguards in place to protect the data and finances of their stakeholders.

Broadly speaking, this means that any organisation within the scope of the anticipated legislation that does not take into account the threat of cyber-crime and cannot be seen to be taking reasonable precautions to protect against cyber-crime could be in breach of the legislation and thus subject to sanctions.

The directive is to become European law and will be transposed into national law sometime in early 2018. Although it remains to be seen how the English wording of the legislation is written, it is anticipated that the expected compliance requirement will be balanced by a defence of having adopted adequate procedures to guard against cyber threat. It is going to happen, and organisations should begin to prepare for it right now.

SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Some readers will have realised that the onus is being placed on the potential victims of cyber-crime rather than on the perpetrators. This may seem unfair but it is the only pragmatic solution if the menace is to be minimised. Already some regulated industries should be taking all necessary action to remain compliant with their regulatory obligations.

An example would be a business in the financial services sector, where a breach of the regulatory requirements that demand suitable security measures be taken would likely trigger sanctions if the protection of data was found to be inadequate.

The recent hacking of records within the telecommunications provider TalkTalk had to be reported because of telecom-specific data protection regulations.

The directive is not intended to be draconian in its policing and member states will be expected to adopt a proactive role in helping organisations comply. There is a realisation that one size cannot fit all.

Small companies will not be expected to dramatically increase their expenditure on cyber security, since this could well make them uncompetitive when the risk is likely to be small. For larger organisations, it may be different and significant sanctions may result if a serious breach of data protection law occurs. All this is a bit scary but it is early days and, providing industry guidance is adopted, then punitive action is unlikely.

FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF | @RAILSTAFFUK | RAILSTAFF.UK

48

FEATURE

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

UNDERSTANDING RESPONSIBILITIES There continue to be many conferences and seminars on cybercrime and how to combat it. Companies tend to fall into a number of categories as to their preparedness: • Unaware – incidents just happen; • Routine – controlled response to incidents should they happen; • Planned Reactive – planned response to incidents if they occur; • Elements of Proactive – some knowledge of what might happen in the future; • Mainly Proactive – good resilience measures in place; » • Proactive – decisive actions based on fact will be implemented.

The more proactive a company is in this chain of measures, the less likely it will be for any penalties to be imposed. Having a cyber incident response plan in place will be key. Some basic ground rules have been in place for some time to minimise risk of attack and include: • Having effective firewalls in place; • Education and knowledge of staff – being aware of disgruntled employees and careless attention to data devices such as personal safeguarding of laptops; • Control of passwords and access control sequences; • Constant monitoring of technical data; • Minimise open TCP/UDP ports; • Robust behaviour for firmware updates; • Penetration testing by experts to assess vulnerability.

In short, multiple levels of protection will be needed to both assess the risk and nature of any attack and then to devote time, thought, energy and money to prepare the business for the necessary action when the attack happens. This will include means to identify and neutralise the cause, then to mitigate and repair the damage so as to restore business, but also to learn lessons from what happened so as to improve protection for the next time.

Advice on what constitutes ‘appropriate’ will always be on offer but one should remember that the situation is not static. Hackers will forever be trying to ‘beat the game’ and thus constant vigilance is necessary with associated updates to protection always being necessary.

One essence of the directive will be the responsibility to report attacks.

This is already in place in Germany, Austria and Norway but is only voluntary in the UK. A report will need to be made promptly. Once known, the Computer Emergency Response Team will then probe: • Was there a serious breach of data protection law?

• Is substantial damage or distress likely?

• Was the contravention deliberate, had the organisation been aware that damage or distress was likely, and had reasonable steps been taken?

• Should a fine be imposed?

AWARENESS AND ACTIONS FOR THE RAIL INDUSTRY Most rail organisations are aware of cyber-crime and the need for associated security. To what extent the true level of threat is understood is an unknown – probably rightly so, since high profile public statements and detail are inappropriate for this clandestine world.

The UK government has defined nine categories of essential infrastructure, of which transport is one and communications is another.

Rail is a major element of the first and has considerable impact in the second.

The Centre for Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) studies and gives advice to all industries involved in the nine categories and is well aware of critical rail systems. Many such rail systems are not unique to the UK – ERTMS, ETCS and GSM-R all have pan-European deployment – and thus a sharing of knowledge with other countries is important.

It must also be recognised that the said systems cross the wheel-rail divide, thus involving both infrastructure providers and train operating companies.

RAILSTAFF.UK | @RAILSTAFFUK | FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF

CURRENT ACTIONS BEING TAKEN BY THE RAIL INDUSTRY Cross-industry rail groups are actively working on cyber security. Two are the High Integrity Systems Group (HISG) hosted by RSSB (formerly the Rail Safety and Standards Board), and the Digital Railway Cyber Security Steering Group (DRCSSG) hosted by the Digital Railway programme at Network Rail.

HISG is investigating what the cyber risks are and DRCSSG is looking into cyber security for future systems. RSSB also facilitates provision of cyber security guidance from the Department for Transport.

To communicate with the industry, RSSB has formed the Cyber Security Advisory Group (CSAG) that will advise on the development and content of the cyber security strategy. In particular, it will mitigate the risk of duplication of effort and facilitate management of interfaces. The development of the strategy will take into account the NIS Directive as appropriate. The strategy is intended to assist parties in the industry to understand their responsibilities and be able to put in place informed, proportionate and cost-effective measures to mitigate cyber security risk.

The requirement to report cyber-attacks may be easier for rail than other industries since it is already required to have procedures in place to report accidents and near misses. Extending this and educating staff to include cyber-crime could be an important early step.

Unfortunately, there is no ‘silver bullet’, and advice from legal professionals on how to comply with the directive- related cyber legislation will be needed.

50

S

GEAR+TECH

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

T H G I P OT L

PINKY PROMISE

A

part from orange, there’s not a lot of colour on the railway - and there’s lots of orange.

Safety boots are even more of a drab affair. Take your choice of charcoal, granite or midnight sky.

But now Steel Blue, a safety footwear company based in Western Australia, has produced something which has rarely, if ever, been seen on a rail worksite in the UK before - a pair of pink steel toe cap boots.

RAILSTAFF.UK | @RAILSTAFFUK | FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF

SOUTHERN CROSS LADIES SIZES: 3-9 (WHOLE SIZES ONLY) MEET EUROPEAN STANDARD EN ISO20345 Steel Blue claims that the boots have anti-static properties, conducting the static electricity that builds up around the body to the ground. A valuable property for anyone working alongside flammable materials or sensitive electronic devices.

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

GEAR+TECH

51

The Southern Cross Ladies range, which also come in purple, has been designed for women as an alternative to the black and brown safety boots which are commonplace on the railway. It’s another example of workwear being designed to suit the specific needs and challenges faced by female workers.

Ill-fitting safety clothing is another barrier that the industry is looking to remove to address the gender imbalance that currently exists, and manufacturers are beginning to design specifically for women.

The colour also serves a serious purpose. For every pair sold, Steel Blue will donate €8 to breast cancer charity Breast Cancer Care WA. The company has so far raised more than €600,000 to support the charity and is also now selling a blue pair to raise money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) and beyondblue, a not-for-profit organisation which looks to raise awareness and support those with mental health issues.

For more information visit: www.railppe.com

The boots are lined with Baltico®, a wicking material designed to move sweat away from the foot.

The nitrile rubber outer sole is oil and acid resistant, and can withstand heat up to 300ºC. The steel toe caps can withstand a 200-joule impact.

Scalloped collar design.

The colour also serves a serious purpose. For every pair sold, Steel Blue will donate €8 to breast cancer charity Breast Cancer Care WA.

FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF | @RAILSTAFFUK | RAILSTAFF.UK

52

INTERNATIONAL RAIL

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

All photos © Deutsche Bahn

BEST OF BRITISH

L

ast month, 18 companies from the UK rail sector joined a UKTI Yorkshire and the Humber-led trade mission to Germany. The aim was clear: to establish productive links between UK rail sector companies and Deutsche Bahn (DB), its subsidiaries, and its supply chain.

The UK has a strong story to tell on rail. Over the last two decades, the number of passenger journeys across all lines has doubled, and the volume of freight moved by rail has increased by 70 per cent. The UK railway increases the productive potential of the economy by £11.3 billion, reduces CO2 emissions and is the safest railway network in Europe.

NORTHERN POWERHOUSE

Ambitious public projects such as HS2 and Crossrail show the UK’s commitment to the future of rail as a driving force for sustainable growth. These projects rely on effective collaboration between government and business across the whole rail supply chain.

Of the 18 companies who attended the UKTI trade mission, a significant proportion were from the Northern Powerhouse region. The Northern Powerhouse, first introduced by Chancellor George Osborne in June 2014, seeks to unite some of the UK’s biggest cities and other regions in the North: pooling a wealth of world-class expertise and business talent.

Combine this with a world-class heritage of manufacturing knowhow, and the Northern Powerhouse has the potential to galvanise its collective power to drive economic growth across the North of England.

EXPANDING GERMAN SECTOR DB offers a variety of opportunities for UK rail companies throughout the supply chain. DB runs 5,100 trains daily and manages nearly 5,700 stations – the largest of any European operator. By 2017 it will invest €32 billion – two thirds in infrastructure and one third in traction and rolling stock. This mission therefore was a chance for UK companies to showcase their expertise and gain a foothold in this promising and expanding German sector.

RAILSTAFF.UK | @RAILSTAFFUK | FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF

The mission took place over four days and included speakers ranging from the chief executive officer of Serco, Rupert Soames, the British ambassador to Germany, Sir Sebastian Wood, and senior procurement representatives from DB, Bombardier Mobility and Siemens. The most valuable parts of the mission for the UK delegation were the 1-2-1s set up with buyers from a range of companies, representing the entire German rail supply chain, who were looking for UK expertise.

Several companies reported very productive discussions, which will likely lead to new business. Peter Hardy from IconPolymer said, ‘UKTI have given us great support. We have used this mission to enhance existing relationships with key customers and it has provided opportunities to extend this further. UKTI’s visit to Siemens has opened doors that wouldn’t otherwise have been open to us.’

Mark Robson, regional director at UK Trade and Investment Yorkshire and the Humber, added, ‘The UK has a great history of designing and developing railways all over the

world. It is important that as a country we continue to share our innovation, skills and expertise globally, to support companies and help them win business overseas.

‘We are working closely with the National College for High Speed Rail in Doncaster, nurturing future talent to ensure sustainability of the British rail industry and associated supply chain.’

Article supported by UKTI Yorkshire and the Humber.

Contact yorkshiretrademissions@ mobile.ukti.gov.uk for information on upcoming trade missions.

54

TRAINING

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

RAILWAY ENGINEERS LOOK TO IET

T

he Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is looking for the Technician of the Year - entries are open until the end of May. It could be the winner is right here among RailStaff and Rail Engineer’s dynamic readership. All railway engineers should take a serious look at the IET which seeks to 'Inspire, Inform, Influence'. Paul Darlington, career rail engineer and IET member, reports.

IET aims include inspiring the next generation of engineers by providing bursaries, scholarships, schemes such as the Faraday Challenge and informing schools of the challenges a career in engineering can provide. As the rail industry seeks to recruit more engineers the IET could have a powerful role to play.

RAILSTAFF.UK | @RAILSTAFFUK | FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF

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56

TRAINING

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

Categories and benefits of registration

Once into engineering the IET assesses and awards professional registration of engineers and technicians.

Registration as a professional engineer or technician is an important career milestone.

It demonstrates knowledge, understanding and engineering competence. In particular, registration shows employers and peers that the holder has demonstrated a commitment to professional standards, and to developing and enhancing their competence. For employers, having registered engineers and technicians demonstrates to customers and stakeholders that they have people assessed for their competence to a rigorous external standard.

The IET is one of many organisations licensed by the Engineering Council to award the professional engineering qualifications defined in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UKSPEC).

The IET supports a number of registration categories which include: Chartered Engineer (CEng), Incorporated Engineer (IEng), Engineering Technician (EngTech), Chartered IT Professional (CITP), ICT Technician (ICTTech).

Registration demonstrates recognition as a professional in an applicant’s field of expertise.

This can improve motivation, career opportunities and salary prospects. Once added to the Engineering Council register applicants are able to use the professional registration designatory letters (CEng, IEng, EngTech or ICTTech).

Volunteers The IET is supported by volunteer experts from all aspects of engineering who advise, assess, interview and award registration. In becoming a registered engineer one of the first steps is to seek the advice of a Professional Registration Advisor (PRA) who can be found via the IET website.

These are experienced engineers who have been trained by the IET to advise candidates on their application.

Assessors then verify that the required underlying knowledge & understanding (UK&U) has been demonstrated prior to recommending that the candidate proceeds to interview.

Interviews are carried out

by Professional Registration Interviewers (PRI). PRIs are trained by the IET and will have experience in the candidate’s field of work. PRIs do not

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award registration, but will make a recommendation to an independent panel who will consider all the evidence and interview findings before making a decision.

Maintaining registration Currently there are no requirements for re-assessment once registration has been granted, and engineers and technicians will remain on the Engineering Council register while being a member of a licensed body.

Joining the register confirms commitment to both the Engineering Council’s Guidelines for Institutions’ Codes of Conduct and the IET Rules of Conduct, together with an obligation to remain professionally competent through continuous professional development (CPD).

UK-SPEC V3 Version three of UK-SPEC was produced in 2013, published in 2014 with compliance from 2016.

The IET has been operating V3 from November 2015 and it is now very familiar to all PRAs and PRIs. V3 now includes additional exemplars for the various competencies together with additional requirements for: security & intellectual property, risk & sustainability, diversity, safety, CPD and whistle blowing.

The IET is in the process of implementing a new Review Process System (RPS) which will ultimately be used by all candidates, volunteers, assessors, PRAs and PRIs. RPS is cloud-based and will make better use of the volunteer resource and talent management.

Career Manager Career Manager is available for all members to build their competency profile, create a development action plan and log CPD. The system can be linked to a candidate’s application for registration allowing all evidence to be entered once and once only. Guest tickets can be issued electronically for mentors and PRA to view and comment on evidence.

Continuous Professional Development From 2017, the Engineering Council requires all engineering institutions to carry out random monitoring of registered engineers and technicians CPD records. IET rules of conduct apply to all members and require CPD records to be made. Thus all IET members CPD records will be subject to monitoring.

CPD is not just about formal training. CPD can include work experience, events, self-study, academic study, and volunteering. The IET recommend Career Manager is used as it will provide a secure, structured platform for record keeping. Feedback on a trial of CPD monitoring found that candidates actually exceeded the 30 hours required of members, with an average of 79 hours in 2013 and 114 hours in 2014.

For example: consider attending an engineering exhibition, discuss innovations with experts and report back. Log the CPD record for both activities. Job done!

Rail engineers could profit from joining the IET and it goes without saying the Technician of the Year could well be among us.

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58

TRAINING

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

Ninjas

OF THE YELLOW TRAINS MARC JOHNSON LOOKS AT WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME A MOBILE MAINTENANCE TRAIN MANAGER

‘L

ike little ninjas’, said Katie Tingle, describing her team’s role within Network Rail. ‘If you can be a little ninja in a big yellow train? I’m not sure.’

The big yellow train in question is a Mobile Maintenance Train (MMT) - one of Network Rail’s new toys. Katie manages one of two MMT units currently operating in the East Midlands. Specially designed by German manufacturer Robel, the trains can be used to provide everything that’s needed on a railway worksite in a safer, more convenient, more efficient way.

MMT units will revolutionise the way maintenance is done on the railway, Network Rail believes. Workers can be taken directly to site without needing to drive and they are protected from poor weather while they’re there. There’s better lighting, better tooling and better welfare facilities than on a typical site.

Why a ninja? One of the main benefits of the MMT is that it can carry out maintenance work quicker than a track possession, without closing the railway and with less disruption to passengers.

‘It’s really focussing on the benefits that we can bring,’ said Katie. ‘Not just to our production levels, not just to getting jobs done quicker, so I’m not disturbing our passengers that rely on these lines to get to and from work, to get to see their friends, to get to and from job interviews, and that kind of thing. I’m also benefitting our staff that are actually out there on the front line making the track safer for people.’

Apprentice to manager Katie joined Network Rail in 2009 as an apprentice. Back then she had to split her time between a depot in Nottingham and Network Rail’s training centre in Portsmouth. She applied for the scheme after it was recommended to her by a family friend. ‘I’d always had the background interest in engineering and it was looking at what route I wanted to follow,’ said Katie. ‘I’m a massive believer in learning whilst you’re doing and gaining that experience to back up the theory that goes with it.’

After completing her apprenticeship in 2012, she was offered the chance

by Network Rail to study for a degree at Sheffield Hallam University and was subsequently seconded to the MMT project team. Having laid the foundations for the introduction of the MMTs, she applied for one of the section manager roles.

‘It was a good natural progression because when I was doing the project management role, it was heavily to do with the actual machine itself, and the train, how it works, the new concepts it’s going to bring onto the infrastructure, and that kind of thing. It just seemed like a nice natural progression to then manage the train and keep that ethos that we were trying to embed.’

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Katie Tingle.

The MMT is made up of three sections. At the front is the Traction & Supply Unit, which drives the train and powers the MMT. The middle section is the Intermediate Car (IC), which stores all the materials, tools and the welfare facilities. And at the end is the MMT itself.

As well as offering Network Rail a more efficient way of completing track maintenance, the MMTs provide a much safer working environment for track technicians.

Hoists within the vehicle allow heavy materials to be easily transported and moved around site, hydraulic and pneumatic powered tools on board reduce the risk of hand arm vibration and its mobility removes the need for workers to drive to and from site.

At the forefront Network Rail began exploring the idea of introducing MMTs in 2013. There are now five on the network, with the final unit expected to be in use by August. ‘This is three years in the making,’ said Katie, who has been involved in the project since the very beginning.

‘We’re now at the forefront of Network Rail’s technological advances. There’s only going to be eight machines on the infrastructure anyway and we’ve got the third one. We were the second machine on our route, so we’re really leading the way in revolutionising how we deliver track maintenance and how we better what we’re already doing.’

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Gender balance

Katie currently manages a team of 11 people. As well as operating her own MMT, she’s also heavily involved in the wider project, dealing with any issues with the machines and looking at how the MMTs could be used by other parts of Network Rail.

‘For me, it really is quite exciting because it’s something new, and we are at the very beginning of this MMT journey, without trying to sound really cheesy.

‘With us being at the start of it, I can be instrumental in the way it goes and its success… I’m quite passionate about it, and it’s passing that on as well around the business and changing the mindsets and the culture that we have embedded in Network Rail.’

Will the MMTs eventually replace possessions entirely?

‘I don’t think we’ll ever be able to completely remove the human interface with the track,’ said Katie. ‘We’re always going to need that and there’s going to be a need for people to be out there doing a job manually, but it’s looking at ways we can reduce it more and more. And upskilling our people, as well, to be able to do that.’

There are three women in Katie’s team, including her. ‘I can probably count my number of female engineering colleagues on one hand,’ said Katie, when asked about her experience as a woman in the rail industry.

‘But it’s breaking that barrier and breaking that stereotype, that engineering as a whole is a place for females, and we can offer just as much to a department as a male can…’

She believes the industry is making progress.

‘We’re getting there, it’s happening but it’s happening quite slowly.’

Ninjas were secret warriors of Japanese legend. As imaginative a job description as a ninja in a big yellow train might be, Katie had another go at describing her role. ‘It’s hard to explain your job when people ask you what you do. I just get on with it,’ she summed up.

It really is quite exciting because it’s something new, and we are at the very beginning of this MMT journey.

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60

YOUNG RAIL PROFESSIONALS

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

S L A N IO S S E F O R P L YOUENBGRARTINAIG THE PAST, CE L E R U T U F D N A T N PRESE

O

n 8 April, the Young Rail Professionals (YRP) celebrated young people in rail at its fifth Annual Black Tie Dinner. This year’s event was held outside London for the first time in recognition of YRP’s fast-growing membership outside the South East region.

Three-hundred-and-eighty YRPs, senior rail professionals and VIP guests travelled from all over the country to celebrate the event, surrounded by 300 years of history at the National Railway Museum in York.

The evening began with a lively welcome drinks reception amongst must-see locomotives and rolling stock, after which the guests moved to the dining area, dramatically set amidst twinkling lights and royal carriages.

The dinner commenced with Stephen Head’s final address as YRP chairman. Stephen’s awe-inspiring commitment to the organisation this year has solidified YRP’s status as a truly national organisation. The success of the black tie dinner in York is testament to his vision.

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All images © RailAlliance/Eli Rees-King

FUTURE LEADERS The highlight of the evening for many was a special keynote address from Sir Peter Hendy CBE, chairman of Network Rail. Sir Peter gave a valuable insight into his stellar career, from his days as a London Transport graduate trainee to becoming chairman of Network Rail.

His message was for the young people of the industry - its future leaders - to understand the value of knowing your business and how the individuals who work with you, and perhaps one day for you, are the essential component to running our railways, and knowledge and consideration of their needs is essential.

Sir Peter also spoke of his desire to increase the voice of young industry members in industry publications. After dinner, the new YRP chairwoman, Sabrina Ihaddaden, gave a rousing speech, appealing to the younger members of the industry to know and have confidence within themselves of the contribution they can make to the advancement of our industry.

She spoke of the impressive statistics of YRP and its continued growth across Great Britain. Fiona Malcolm, from Porterbrook, was crowned Young Rail Professional of the Year by the judging panel.

She claimed the top award from a very impressive list of nominees by going above and beyond what is expected of someone at the early stage of their career, and particularly for inspiring and supporting other young professionals.

As tradition dictates, the dinner concluded with the annual YRP Committee member photograph.

The dinner is an incredible opportunity for volunteers from across Britain to gather together and celebrate another year of working hard to make a difference for young people in the industry.

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

YOUNG RAIL PROFESSIONALS

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Sir Peter Hendy with the YRP family at the Young Rail Professionals fifth Annual Black Tie Dinner.

RAIL WEEK The next big event for the Young Rail Professionals is the first ever Rail Week, happening from 27 June to 3 July. For one intensive week, we are going to celebrate all that is great about rail to inspire students at schools, colleges and universities with an exciting programme of events across the UK. Rail Week is a collaborative project being delivered by an industry partnership led by YRP with the support of Routes into Rail, Rail Supply Group, NSAR, NTAR, Rail Alliance, Rail Media, RRUKA, RSSB, IMechE, Rail Forum East Midlands and REF. Young people, parents, teachers and careers advisors will get to see first-hand the exciting projects and range of jobs in rail.

Young Rail Professionals has created the Rail Week project because it knows first hand that the rail sector is a great place to work, with exciting projects to get involved in, good career prospects and a wide range of different roles to undertake.

During Rail Week, the rail sector will open its doors and go out into the community to deliver exciting interactive rail activities, hosting tours of depots, factories, control centres, stations; giving public lectures and seminars about incredible projects; and volunteering staff to promote rail in schools as Rail Week Ambassadors.

Through Rail Week, we hope that all young people from all backgrounds will consider the rail sector when thinking about their future prospects in order to make our skills gap a thing of the past.

Look out for the event on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn for updates on upcoming Rail Week events.

YRP is run by its members for its members. It is your organisation.

To join us, please register online at www.youngrailpro.com. To become involved in organising future YRP events, performing outreach activities to promote the railway industry as a career choice, and developing opportunities for young people to be recognised and prioritised in the wider railway industry, contact us at info@youngrailpro.com.

Together we can bridge the skills gap and inspire a new generation into rail careers,

promoting the exciting, ambitious growing sectorgeneration that we all love.

Together we our canindustry bridgeasthe skills gap and and inspire a new into rail careers, promoting our industry growing that we all love.

The inaugural Rail Week as is a the truly exciting, pan-industryambitious collaborativeand programme.

Thesector rail sector will open its doors to thousands of students in schools, colleges and universities, and go

The inaugural Rail Week a truly pan-industry collaborative out into the community andissupport teachers to deliver exciting interactiveprogramme. rail activities. The rail sector will open itsyou doors We need to: to thousands of students in schools, colleges and universities, and go out into theHost community and support teachers to deliver exciting interactive rail activities. tours of your depots, factories, control centres, stations, etc., Give public lectures and seminars about your incredible projects, We need you to: 

Volunteer your staff to promote rail in schools as Rail Week STEM Ambassadors.

Rail Week Hostcan tours of youryou depots, control etc., be whatever want it tofactories, be. If you have a greatcentres, idea shoutstations, about it to the world what we canseminars do together!about your incredible projects, and show Giveoffpublic lectures and Join the ranks of organisations below who’ve already pledged their support.  Volunteer your staff to promote rail in schools as Rail Week STEM Ambassadors.

Rail Week can be whatever you want it to be. If you have a great idea shout about it and show off to the world what we can do together!

Join the ranks of organisations below who’ve already pledged their support.

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62

CAREERS

RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

www.trsstaffing.com

Global Scale. Local Focus.

Engineering Manager

– Rail and Infrastructure Vacancies Currently Available – Rail Project Manager

Rail Site and Construction Manager

Birmingham, London, York and Derby Degree educated, NEC experience £300 - £450/day or £35 - £65k

London, Birmingham and East Anglia £35K - £55K or £250 - £350/day

RAMS Specialist + Rail Assessors

P6 Project Planners

Middle East £100k or £500 - £750/day

London, Midlands, Reading and Manchester £40K - £65K or £350 - £500/day

Quantity Surveyors / Commercial Managers

Project Controls Manager

Salary £40,000 PA

(Permanent after completion of probation period) We are looking to recruit an experienced and enthusiastic Engineering Manager to lead all of our engineering functions.

The post holder will be a qualified electrical engineer and have experience in running a workshop and extensive project management skills.

This is a unique opportunity to join a highly skilled team, committed to ensure the award-winning Crich Tramway Village, home of the Accredited National Tramway Museum, delivers world-class restorations of heritage trams and maintain a thrilling visitor experience.

London, Midlands, Reading and Manchester £55 - £70K

London, Derby, Midlands and York £35 - £65k or £300 - £450/day

DPE/CRE - Track and P-Way Engineers

OLE Engineers / Managers

Rugby, Swindon, and Derby £40K - £55K or £300 - £500/day

Rugby, Swindon and Derby £300 - £500/day

Please visit:

www.tramway.co.uk …and complete the specific application form and return to us with a short covering letter. Submissions of CVs without completed application form will not be considered.

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.

Based at Crich, Derbyshire.

Please email your CV to andrew.johnson@trsstaffing.com or if you’d prefer to discuss any roles call +44 (0)20 7419 5800 Jigsaw advert.pdf

1

04/04/2016

Closing date: Tuesday 31st May 2016

08:52

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Attracting, Selecting, Engaging and Retaining talent are some of the greatest challenges facing the UK rail sector. ATA Rail provide clients with access to knowledge and expertise that enables you to tackle these challenges through improved;

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RAILSTAFF MAY 2016

CAREERS

63

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Birmingham base | £ Attractive package

‘An outstanding opportunity to lead a developing rolling stock engineering business’ Vossloh Kiepe UK is a subsidiary of the German based Vossloh Kiepe GmbH. The business is a leader in railway rolling stock engineering, enhancement and systems integration and provides high quality turnkey project and consultancy services to maximise vehicle utilisation and performance. Current annual sales turnover is circa £20m.

With excellent rail engineering, production and project management skills; Vossloh Kiepe UK operates from offices in Birmingham and from a range of project facilities to suit vehicle and fleet locations around the UK.

The key elements of the role are to: • • •

•

• •

Develop and manage the company’s strategic plan Promote revenue, profitability and growth as foundations for business success Provide expert leadership and guidance to the senior management team; managing, motivating and developing performance Lead top level business development, customer relations, financial performance and personnel development initiatives and strategies Take responsibility for the health, safety and wellbeing of up to 150 people at work Ensure proper governance and uphold the ethics of the business

Candidates should have strong management team / board level experience gained in railway engineering and project management businesses and ideally in rolling stock.

Preferred candidates are also likely to be proven in leading significant teams of people, strategic business leaders, experienced in project oriented activities and able to exert influence at all levels including customers, suppliers and key stakeholders.

Qualifications will ideally be at graduate level in an engineering discipline and possibly with Chartered status.

Along with an attractive salary the overall remuneration package will include a fully expensed company car, bonus arrangements and other benefits.

Please forward your application to sarah@rgsexecutive.co.uk or call Rod Shaw, Managing Director, RGS Executive with any particular queries on 0115 959 9687.

Commercial Director £ Six figure salary plus strong benefits package London Base “An outstanding board level commercial, strategic and managerial opportunity”

GB Railfreight is a leading and award winning freight operating company employing 650 people in the UK delivering over 1,000 train loads per week. With over 120 locomotives and 1,100 wagons, the company operates 15% of the UK railfreight market at the highest levels of reliability including: • • • • •

Intermodal Transport Petro-chemicals, Biomass and Coal Metal, Building Materials and other Commodities Infrastructure Equipment and Services Rail Vehicle Haulage

Due to planned retirement, a Commercial Director is sought to join the company’s senior management team, reporting to the Managing Director.

The role will include responsibility for the management of all commercial activities and the leadership of an experienced team with sector specialisms and a very strong customer focus.

As part of a close working board level team, the role will influence the strategic development of GB Railfreight including product and service development, new business, operations, rolling stock, customer engagement and risk management.

Candidates will have strong backgrounds in UK rail operations and logistics as well as an understanding of the commodities hauled and their associated economics.

Experience of developing strong working relations and managing commercial arrangements at senior personal and corporate levels should also be demonstrable.

Please forward your application to sarah@rgsexecutive.co.uk or call Rod Shaw, Managing Director, RGS Executive with any particular queries on 0115 959 9687.

RGS - MAY ADVERT.indd 1

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