RailStaff - Issue 273 - May-June 2021

MAY-JUN 2021 | ISSUE 273

NEW NATIONAL FLEXIBLE SEASON TICKETS

The launch of flexible season tickets is the first step in the reform of the railways, as part of the recently released Williams-Shapps plan for rail.

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PLUS NEWS PEOPLE EVENTS HEALTH & SAFETY FEATURES COMPANY FOCUS CAREERS

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CONTENTS MAY-JUNE 2021 | ISSUE 273

Paul Belle (centre) Rail Engineer of the Year at the 2019 RailStaff Awards.

WHAT MAKES RAILSTAFF AWARDS UNIQUE? | 26

Every year, the RailStaff Awards attracts more entries, more interest and more companies than ever before, even though it's not a corporate event. Why?

HOW POST COVID WORKING SHOULD BECOME SAFER | 32

Colin Wheeler covers RAIB's annual report for 2020, the retirement of Simon French, accidents, near misses, no more LOWS and how post Covid working should become safer.

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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MATTERS | 36

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Look around you. Is your workplace healthy? Are there hazards perhaps invisible to the eye - that aren't being addressed?

THE TRACK TO A NEW NORMAL: THE RAIL INDUSTRY IN A POST-COVID WORLD | 38

What will happen when restrictions end? The troubles that the rail industry faces, much like the rest of society, are thankfully only temporary and a semblance of normality is on the horizon.

ARQ RENEWS FOCUS ON DECARBONISATION | 40

Decarbonisation will be a significant focus for the rail industry over the next 30 years as the UK Government aims to remove all diesel-only trains by 2040, with a legally binding commitment to net-zero carbon by 2050.

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T H G I L T O P

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by Gre owned

YOUNG RAIL PROFESSIONALS WORKING FROM HOME | 44

The industry has a responsibility to get the balance right between home and office working.

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For less than 20p a day, you, your partner and dependent children can all benefit from TBF membership.

Membership is available to all those working in the public transport industry and offers a wide range of health, welfare and financial benefits for just £1.25 per week.

help@tbf.org.uk www.tbf.org.uk Transport Benevolent Fund CIO, known as TBF, is a registered charity in England and Wales, 1160901, and Scotland, SC047016.

Staff

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

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Contact us: Publisher:

Paul O’Connor

Production and design:

Adam O’Connor

Matthew Stokes

Track safety:

Colin Wheeler

Advertising:

Asif Ahmed

Craig Smith

Chris Davies

Recognised in

Contact email addresses News: news@rail-media.com Track safety: colin@rail-media.com

Queen's Birthday Honours

Pictures: pictures@rail-media.com Adverts: adverts@rail-media.com Subscriptions: manda@rail-media.com

Rajinder Pryor.

Contact details RailStaff Publications, Rail Media House, Samson Road, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 3FP. Tel: 01530 816 444 Fax: 01530 810 344 Web: www.railstaff.co.uk Email: hello@rail-media.com Printed by PCP Ltd. RailStaff is published by RailStaff Publications Limited A Rail Media Publication

®

Four Network Rail employees have been named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

© All rights reserved. No part of this magazine can be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the copyright owners.

Danny Hawkins.

Rajinder Pryor, John Sidebotham, Danny Hawkins and Simon Lloyd have been recognised for various pieces of work, including to support colleagues’ mental health throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, vital charity work in local communities and promoting diversity across the rail industry.

Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: “I am incredibly proud to see the contributions of Rajinder, John, Danny and Simon recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

“They have all been making a real difference to their local communities and to their colleagues, and it’s great to see their dedication acknowledged at the highest level. Congratulations to all.”

Rajinder Pryor, MBE – for her work with Women in Rail to promote diversity across the rail industry, and for raising awareness around domestic abuse, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic in support of the Rail to Refuge scheme and Online Safe Spaces.

John Sidebotham, British Empire

Simon Lloyd.

Medal (BEM) – for outstanding service to health and wellbeing at Network Rail during the Covid-19 pandemic, and starting a movement that embodies trust, collaboration, diversity and inclusion, and the celebration of uniqueness.

Danny Hawkins, BEM – for his work with local schools and charities in Ebbsfleet, including devising a programme to educate school children on how to stay safe near the railway.

Simon Lloyd, BEM – for his charity work over the last 15 years, restoring over 300 discarded and unwanted bicycles and giving them to charities and schools, and most recently to people returning to work after being homeless.

Last year, 10 Network Rail employees were listed in the Queen’s Birthday and New Year’s Honours in recognition of a wide range of achievements, including outstanding work to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, volunteer and charity work in their local communities, and commitment to improving diversity in the rail industry.

John Sidebotham.

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DARTMOOR LINE CLOSER TO

REOPENING The reopening of the railway line between Okehampton and Exeter is one step closer after Network Rail finished relaying the new track and sleepers this week.

Following the confirmation of government funding in March, engineers started immediately and have worked tirelessly upgrading this 14 mile stretch of track between Okehampton and Coleford Junction, where the Dartmoor Line joins the existing railway line to Exeter.

As well as laying new track and sleepers, Network Rail engineers have been working day and night on drainage, fencing, preparing the ground for the new railway and much more.

Over 11 miles of new track has successfully been laid and 24,000 concrete sleepers installed using an innovative NTC (new track construction) machine, which is able to simultaneously evenly drop sleepers into position, lay the track on top and then clamp the track into place.

Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “It’s brilliant that so much progress has been made already in this project. Network Rail engineers have done an incredible job installing 11 miles of new track and 24,000 sleepers, bringing us closer to seeing regular passenger services restored later this year.

“Restoring the connections between our communities, and building new ones, is key to levelling up across the UK.” The concrete sleepers, which were stored at the work site adjacent to Okehampton station, have been transported along the Dartmoor Line using a Class 56 locomotive train that has pushed around a quarter-mile long set of wagons containing on average 2,430 sleepers per journey at a speed of 5mph.

The 29,000 tonnes of ballast have also nearly all been installed and this will be followed by the process of tamping. This involves a machine travelling along the newly laid railway and inserting vibrating metal rods into the ballast to compact it so that it effectively supports the track while lifting the track so that it is level.

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Once complete, this process helps the train wheels to align with the track which results in a smoother ride for passengers and prevents the train wheels from causing damage to the track.

Becky Tipper, Network Rail scheme project manager, said: “We are delighted with the progress the team has made and this is credit to the hard work and dedication of our engineers involved in this project.

“To have already laid the 11 miles of track, 24,000 sleepers and nearly completing the installation of the 29,000 tonnes of ballast is no mean feat and we are looking forward to focussing our attention on the next stage of work.

“It has also been really comforting to see such interest and support from the local community. We are committed to reopening this important railway line as quickly and safely as possible and look forward to the resumption of regular passenger services in the not too distant future.”

To enable engineers to work throughout the night, over four miles of lights have also been

erected. These lights have been powered by silent generators to ensure residents living near to the Dartmoor Line are disrupted as little as possible.

Now that the main elements of the track relay work have been completed, Network Rail will be turning its focus to other aspects of the project

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

including upgrading several level crossings, installing new GSM-R masts (the railway’s mobile communications system), undertaking bridge repairs as well as running engineering test trains to check the quality of the newly laid track.

Richard Burningham MBE, manager of the Devon &

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Cornwall Rail Partnership, added: “Hats off and many thanks to all involved in this tremendous feat. To have laid 11 miles of track already is fabulous and it’s been great to see video of the very innovative piece of kit which has helped on the Dartmoor Line.

Thanks too to the Government for funding all this work.”

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Avanti West Coast launches new travel class

Avanti West Coast has become the first UK train operating company to offer an additional class of travel as part of its services.

Sitting between Standard and First, customers will get roomier seats, greater space and a guaranteed table. Standard Premium is available on all the West Coast Main Line Pendolino services.

The Standard Premium class was developed following market research and then successful trials last year with respondents saying they are either “highly likely” or “likely” to upgrade to Standard Premium for future journeys, citing extra space as a key benefit.

The new class is initially available to buy as an upgrade on the day of travel, with Advance purchase tickets on sale from July for travel from September. Single journey upgrade prices range from £15 for Birmingham to London to £30 for Glasgow to London.

They will also have the option to purchase refreshments via the new ‘At-Seat Order’ feature where customers can have items delivered to them without moving from their seat.

As part of further improvements, Avanti West Coast will launch an enhanced First Class offering later this year. Work is also due to start next month to fully refurbish the entire Pendolino fleet of 56 trains as part of a £117m deal signed with Alstom.

New seats, with leather headrests, will be installed in Standard Premium and First.

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All 25,000 Standard seats will be also be replaced, with customers also benefiting from a new look onboard shop, as part of the biggest ever fleet upgrade.

In addition, one carriage on all 11 coach Pendolinos (the existing Coach G), will be converted from First to Standard, increasing each train’s seating capacity by 5%. The first refurbished set is due to enter service in November 2021.

Phil Whittingham, manager director at Avanti West Coast said: “This is the first

major step in our transformation of services on the West Coast. Together with our upcoming First Class service which will lead the industry, and the complete refurbishment of the Pendolino fleet, Standard Premium will set a new benchmark for UK rail travel.

“Our new class of travel will offer greater choice and provide a unique offer which meets customers’ changing needs as they return to rail. This new feature is another step in raising the bar for excellence on the railway.”

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New hospital connection helps NHS workers Following feedback from customers, TransPennine Express are making changes to some of its Yorkshire services, including the creation of a new connection for hospital workers in Middlesbrough.

The popular morning service from Redcar Central will be re-timed to leave earlier, allowing it to arrive in Middlesbrough in time for key workers to catch the local train to The James Cook University Hospital.

As restrictions continue to ease and more people return to rail, TPE will be reinstating another North Yorkshire service, as well as starting to operate two of its York to Scarborough trains through to Leeds again.

Luke Gardner, Permanent Timetable manager for TransPennine Express said: “We’ve taken the opportunity to make some changes to our timetable and I’m happy to

announce that we will be able to reinstate some further services.

“Following valuable input from local customers, we’ve been able to provide a new connection to The University James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough, allowing hospital workers to arrive at the hospital in time for their early morning shift.

Councillor Wayne Davies, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development for Redcar &

Cleveland Borough Council commented: “I welcome the earlier departure of the first journey of the day to Middlesbrough that gives local people the opportunity to take the train to work at James Cook University Hospital. Improving our passenger train services to make them more useable means that local people will be able to travel to work, education, leisure and other reasons whilst being able to help the environment.”

New national flexible season tickets The launch of flexible season tickets is the first step in the reform of the railways, as part of the recently launched Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail.

The paperless tickets allow travel on any eight days in a 28-day period, with passengers able to tap smartcards or scan mobiles at the station, with no need to select the days of travel in advance.

Commuters can visit an updated online ‘season ticket calculator’ website, which will point people to the best tickets for them based on their journey, working pattern and individual needs, ensuring they get the deal that suits them.

To encourage more passengers to travel by rail, for the rest of this year train companies will also offer a “book with confidence” guarantee, allowing people to rebook journeys or receive rail

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vouchers without an admin fee if their plans change.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said, “Our railways work best when they are reliable, rapid and affordable. As we kickstart the biggest reforms to our railways in a generation flexible season tickets are the first step. They give us greater freedom and choice about how we travel, simpler ticketing and a fairer fare.”

This new national offer also reflects the long-term decline

in the use of traditional season tickets, with a change in working practices having been accelerated by the outbreak of Covid-19.

Matthew Fell, CBI Chief UK Policy Director, said, “CBI members have told us that hybrid working is likely to be the long-term norm for many firms, with employees splitting their week between home and onsite working. It is therefore essential that public transport networks reflect these new habits.”

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NEWS IN BRIEF ORR launches 2024-2029 planning

The Office of Rail and Road has launched the process for determining the funding needed for Britain’s rail network from 20242029. The process, known as the 2023 Periodic Review (PR23), sets a five-year settlement that will determine the level of funding the infrastructure owner (Network Rail/Great British Railways) should receive for its operation, maintenance and renewals activities and what, in return, it should be required to deliver from this over five years from April 2024, known as Control Period 7 (CP7).

PR23 will respond to the challenges facing the railway, and the planned reforms as the Williams-Shapps Plan is implemented. It will support the delivery of a more integrated railway that delivers improvements for customers, both passengers and freight.

The focus for the periodic review is: • Safety: the rail network must be maintained in a safe condition for all of its users, workers and the public; • Performance: the railway must be customer focused, making effective use of its capacity to deliver services that are punctual and reliable for both passengers and freight; • Asset sustainability: assets must be planned and managed to deliver their greatest value over the course of their operational lives; and • Efficiency: Network Rail, or a successor body, must be subject to stretching but realistic efficiency targets.

Rail Industry welcomes Australia-UK Free Trade Deal

The Railway Industry Association, and a number of its members, have welcomed the signing today of an Agreement in Principle between the Australian and UK Governments, paving the way for a Free Trade Agreement.

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), commented: “The UK has long had a close relationship with the Australian railway sector, and it remains as a top priority market for rail suppliers.

Green light for HS2 Old Oak Common

HS2 commences permanent works on its west London ‘superhub’ station - Old Oak Common. Over 2,300 jobs will be supported on the site at peak construction, and over 250 apprenticeships will be created.

Once complete, HS2’s Old Oak Common station will have fourteen new platforms; six HS2 platforms offering high speed services to the North and Midlands, four Crossrail – or Elizabeth Line – platforms, and four conventional rail platforms, which will be served by trains to Wales and the South West.

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The future of railway footbridges A new design of bridge that could transform rail crossings across Britain has been unveiled.

The innovative circular bridge is set to revolutionise the way Network Rail builds footbridges over the tracks. Made from lightweight material, the environmentally friendly bridge can be installed in a matter of days, and its modern, modular design means it can be adapted to different locations. It also features built-in monitoring to assess usage and maintenance needs.

Andy Cross, Network Rail programme manager, said “We were able to take a different approach. This has allowed us to work with several small and medium-sized businesses, many of whom haven’t worked on railway projects before but have the skills and expertise to bring the concept of a lightweight, low-cost footbridge to life.

“In just 11 months we have developed a prototype bridge that is stunning in design, environmentally friendly and will take days and

not weeks to install and thereby causing less disruption for the surrounding community.”

Network Rail currently has just one option when considering building a new footbridge or replacing an old one, the standard nonstation footbridge design that is heavy, unattractive and expensive to deliver.

This new design is made from FibreReinforced Polymer (FRP) – a lightweight material that is widely used in other industries, including the manufacture of aircraft and cars. The material is very strong but lightweight, leading to lower transport and installation costs.

It is hoped the ground-breaking design will be adopted across the country as part of a wider programme of work to transform how footbridges are built on the rail network in future, as well as providing an attractive alternative to repairing existing crossings.

The next phase of the project involves developing sustainable procurement and construction options as well as a ramped version of the bridge.

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CUMBRIAN RAILWAYS UNITE AGAINST

'DESTRUCTIVE' BRIDGE S Supporters of two heritage railways in Cumbria have been lobbying council officials and their local MP over the infilling of a bridge that is needed for a planned link between their lines.

Contractors engaged by Highways England moved onto a site at Great Musgrave to start burying the 159-year-old structure which was designed by prolific Victorian engineer Thomas Bouch.

The Eden Valley and Stainmore railways have a long-standing ambition to reunite their operations by laying five miles of track from Kirkby Stephen to Warcop, creating a tourist attraction that would deliver a significant boost to the area.

However loss of the bridge would place a substantial obstacle in their way, putting the connection in jeopardy after years of development work.

Highways England manages the Historical Railways Estate of 3,100 disused structures on the Department for Transport’s behalf. In a letter sent on 23 April 2020, they told Eden District Council that an “assessment undertaken in 1998 found the structure suitable only for 17 tonnes” and action was needed to “remove the associated risk of structural collapse and harm to the public”.

Normally, a project of this type would require planning permission as it constitutes an engineering activity and affects the external appearance of the bridge. However, just a day after receiving the letter, a Council officer told Highways England’s agent that “we don’t consider that we would need to see a planning application for these works”.

Mike Thompson, Project Manager for the Stainmore Railway Company, said: “It’s inexplicable that such a destructive project is allowed to go ahead without proper public scrutiny. There are huge potential economic benefits from an 11-mile line through the wonderful landscape of the Eden Valley, linking Kirkby Stephen to Warcop and then on to Appleby.

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Before.

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All photos © The HRE Group

T

SCHEME

After.

“Anything that prejudices that opportunity needs to be properly examined through the established democratic process, particularly a bridge infilling scheme that can’t be justified on engineering or public safety grounds.

“We urge the Council to put right their mistake and take immediate action to stop the work.”

In a statement, an officer from the Eden Valley Railway Trust, said: “We oppose the actions of Highways England in filling in the bridge without contacting interested parties and would have expressed our opposition to the idea. The Eden Valley Railway Trust’s longterm aim is to reinstate the line from Warcop to Kirkby Stephen and this has not changed since it was ratified by the members of the Trust back in 1999.”

The work at Great Musgrave is expected to cost £124K and take up to five weeks. In a statement, Highways England said “Infill or demolition is only considered on structures that are unsafe”. However locals point out that the bridge is on a lightly-used road, remains in good condition and is showing no signs of being overloaded.

Councillor Phil Dew, who chairs the Upper Eden Railway Heritage Partnership, said: “Quite rightly, the railways’ volunteers feel deeply let down by the Council. Years of hard work is under threat because the nature and impact of this scheme was not reviewed with due diligence.

“Was the Council’s policy on the fragmentation of green infrastructure networks considered? Was the Council’s policy on development that would prevent the future opening of a railway considered? Was the longterm economic impact of this work considered?

Absolutely not. It’s a reprehensible and damaging error.

“Highways England sent the same template letter about infilling schemes to a number of local authorities last year and we have more than a dozen replies in which they are told to apply for planning permission. But Eden District Council just allowed them to go ahead. I’ve been alerting officers to the issue since January, but they’ve been indifferent and dismissive from the outset.”

Following an appeal on Facebook, the Bank Holiday weekend saw the railways’ volunteers and supporters lobby Dr Neil Hudson, the MP for Penrith and The Border, and Jason Gooding, Eden District Council’s Acting Chief Executive, urging them to save the bridge.

Highways England claims to have “consulted widely - including with Eden Valley District Council, Sustrans and the Eden Valley Railway Company - on our plans to strengthen the bridge.” But both the Eden Valley and Stainmore railways flatly deny there has been any dialogue with the company over the Great Musgrave bridge.

“The first we knew about it was when a national list appeared in January”, says Mike Thompson. “I’ve spoken to our friends at the Eden Valley Railway and they’re as appalled as we are over Highways England’s claim - which is contradicted by its own reports - regarding the risks presented by the bridge and alleged discussions with us about its future. If the latter is indeed true, then please tell us with whom, where and when. We have heard nothing from them.

“We would have welcomed the opportunity to make clear our opposition to this destructive project. Years of effort by dozens of volunteers is now in jeopardy. There’s not even been a planning application so our voices have been totally silenced.”

In a statement to RailStaff sister magazine, the Rail Engineer, Highways England’s Head of Scheme Delivery, David Wheatley, said: “We can confirm that any work carried out by the Historical Railways Estate in the future will not thwart any potential active travel schemes, or any rail reopenings, including the extension of preserved railways. We have paused infilling and demolition works where local authorities have raised queries about the works.”

Despite this assurance, infilling at Great Musgrave continues. Eden District Council has asked Highways England to pause whilst a review is undertaken, but it refused citing Permitted Development rights.

The HRE Group - an alliance of engineers, sustainable transport advocates and greenway developers - is campaigning against the infilling programme nationally.

Group member Graeme Bickerdike said: “We’re surprised that a Government-owned company would act so dishonestly. Every statement it makes is contradicted by its actions.

This work cannot be justified on engineering, public safety or costs grounds, so Highways England has contrived an alternative reality.

“According to its own figures, it would take about 50 years to spend the £124K infilling cost on routine inspection and maintenance, so the taxpayer won’t begin to see any benefit from this scheme until 2070. But before then - if the opportunity had not been denied them - these two railways would have created a tourist attraction, boosting the local economy and raising tax revenue.

“These distant officials are just managing spreadsheets, oblivious to the damaging impacts of their decisions on good people trying to do positive things for their communities.”

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THE FIGHT TO END LONELINESS

Northern City goes digital Passengers on the Northern City Line, one of the most important routes into the City of London, will enjoy more reliable journeys as work to upgrade track and signalling on the route will create the first intercity digital railway in the UK. As part of the East Coast Digital Programme this includes fitting trains with the latest in-cab signalling technology and removing the old lineside signals.

This will mean that signallers will be able to communicate with trains continuously rather than only at fixed signal points, responding in real time, which will benefit passengers by reducing delays and significantly improving performance.

However, to carry out this vital work, there will be some temporary service changes for passengers. There will be six weekends of track closures between Finsbury Park and Moorgate this summer as Network Rail teams work to install new equipment.

Toufic Machnouk, Programme Director for East Coast Digital Programme, said: “The East Coast Digital Programme is fundamental to improving reliability on the Northern City Line and the work taking place this summer is vital to keep the programme on track.

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TransPennine Express (TPE) has partnered with the Campaign to End Loneliness and is taking steps to inform customers, colleagues and people who live in and around the places they serve about support services and tips to help tackle loneliness.

Partnership Marketing Manager for TransPennine Express, Lisa Hewitt said: “Loneliness affects so many people in the UK and we share the vision of the Campaign to End Loneliness that everyone can live a life free from chronic loneliness.”

There are more than 9 million people who suffer from loneliness in the UK and this figure has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as people have struggled to see family and friends. Now the train company is aiming to be part of the solution and to help bring people together.

Robin Hewings, Programme Director of the Campaign to End Loneliness, said: “Tackling loneliness by helping people to build social connections is important. Loneliness can be felt by people of all ages and backgrounds and can really impact on your quality of life.

“We are delighted to be working with TransPennine Express in raising awareness across their network of how people can support each other in building their social connections after Covid-19.”

TPE will be taking on the Campaign to End Loneliness employer’s pledge, setting up pathways and signage for colleagues to access support and training resources will be made available so colleagues can recognise if someone may be experiencing loneliness.

In addition, the train company will be conducting an employee survey to measure loneliness amongst colleagues as it recognises that some of the workforce may have experienced loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As well as looking out for their own colleagues, TPE will also be taking steps to raise awareness of the issue to its customers.

A Better, Safer Railway

Discover how industry, with support from RSSB, is keeping Britain’s Railways safe.

Download RSSB’s Annual Health and Safety report. This report reviews the year’s health and safety performance, looks at the lessons that can be learned, identifies emerging risks, and outlines what the industry is doing to improve health and safety.

3 16

fatalities in a train accident

One passenger, two members of train crew

public fatalities at other locations

Eleven trespassers, five on level crossings

3

workforce fatalities

Not in train accidents

78

in % reduction passenger journeys

1

passenger fatality in a station

253

suicides or suspected suicides

Download the full report at: www.rssb.co.uk/AHSR

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New bogie drop installation A new bogie drop facility has been installed at Greater Anglia’s Crown Point rail depot to help maintain the operator’s fleet of Stadler bi-mode trains.

The work to install the £8.7M facility – which allows engineers to repair, remove and replace the underneath of train carriages, such as the wheelsets and underframe equipment – is now complete.

The work is part of Greater Anglia’s £40M redevelopment of Crown Point Depot, which began in 2018, to accommodate its fleet of new, longer trains.

Rather than lifting trains up on jacks to work underneath them, a bogie drop keeps the train carriage at track level, and instead, the bogie – the undercarriage of the train to which the wheels are attached – is lowered away.

The work to install the facility involved excavating around 960 cubic metres of soil weighing 1,440 tonnes, to create the hole for the bogie drop structure into which a Mechan lifting table was fitted before lowering in the 31-tonne bogie drop assembly.

In total, 511 cubic metres of concrete, weighing 1,226 tonnes, and 106 tonnes of reinforced steel were used in the construction.

Diesel exhaust extractor hoods have also been fitted, as well as steel work for two monorail cranes, a travelling jib crane and an engine lift crane.

Greater Anglia’s Head of Programme Safety & Assurance, Steve Clarke, said, “The successful completion of this complex project will create a step-change in the depot’s engineering capabilities.”

The large scale expansion of Norwich’s Crown Point Depot creates better facilities to house and maintain the 58 new trains built by Stadler, including a new train washing facility, improved servicing equipment and the ability to store and dispense more fuel.

Special high walkways have been installed to give engineers access for maintenance and repairs – as most of the new trains’ components are on the roof – due to their lowered floors which make them more accessible to passengers.

Stadler is responsible for maintaining Greater Anglia’s brand new regional bi-mode, Airport Express and InterCity trains at the depot, working closely with Greater Anglia to ensure that the new trains are in top condition to provide rail passengers in East Anglia with punctual and reliable services.

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Successful North Devon Blockade Dyer & Butler has successfully completed platform extension works and two bridge renewals on behalf of Network Rail during a nine-day blockade on the Tarka Line, a local railway line in Devon, linking the city of Exeter with the town of Barnstaple via a number of local villages.

As part of the nine-day closure, platform extensions at Grade II listed Eggesford station, as well as the installation of new lighting, drainage and fencing were planned.

The platform extensions are required to accommodate longer, five-car trains that have been introduced to the Tarka Line and will make boarding and leaving the trains easier, as well as improving accessibility for less-abled customers. The 25m and 30m (with a further 20m walkway) platform extensions were completed 48-hours ahead of schedule and without a single Lost Time Incident (LTI).

In addition, engineering teams successfully delivered two high-profile bridge schemes during the blockade. The first scheme involved the full demolition and replacement of the underbridge at Penstone, near Coleford junction.

The programme of works included the installation of new piled foundations (pre-

blockade), the removal of existing abutments and the height reduction of the piers, as well as the replacement of the existing wrought–iron deck with a new 25m steel deck, manoeuvred into place by a self-propelled modular transporter. The strict programme of works ran smoothly and the site was handed back 10-hours ahead of programme.

The second bridge scheme saw engineers undertaking the removal of the existing steel deck and infill of the track and underbridge at Battesford. New precast ballast retention units were also installed.

Network Rail Project Manager, George Bartlett, said: “We are really pleased with the work Dyer & Butler has done to extend the platforms at Eggesford station and bridge renewals at Battesford and Penstone. The platform extensions have reduced the gap between the platform and train and will benefit our passengers by making it easier to board and depart trains, particularly passengers with additional mobility requirements.

“The completion of the bridge improvements at Battesford and Penstone complements our ongoing work to reintroduce regular passenger services by the end of the year on the Dartmoor Line between Okehampton and Exeter whereby the Dartmoor Line will join the Tarka Line at Coleford Junction.”

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20

NEWS

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

VIRTUAL REALITY BRINGS

HS2 STATION TO LIFE

In an innovative world-first, virtual reality, eye-tracking and emotion-sensing technology is being developed in combination and being used to develop how passengers will navigate their way around the new HS2 station at Old Oak Common.

As part of its innovation programme, HS2 Ltd is working with design & technology SME CCD Design & Ergonomics and station designer WSP to develop efficient and stressfree “wayfinding” for the quarter of a million people who will use the new 14-platform super-hub in north west London each day.

HS2 Ltd innovation manager Heather

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Donald said “The HS2 super-hub at Old Oak Common is the largest single-build station to be built in the UK. Up to quarter of a million passengers will use it to connect between HS2, Great Western and Elizabeth line trains each day, so it is vital that its design is finetuned to deliver a stress-free step change improvement in the passenger experience.

The successful deployment of the cuttingedge innovation in developing HS2’s station at Old Oak Common offers the potential for the technology to be used to design other HS2 stations, as well as other great buildings that have to manage large numbers of people efficiently, including sports venues and concert halls.

Wearing VR headsets fitted with eyetracking and emotion-sensing technology, three sample groups drawn from members of the travelling public will enter a virtual version of the giant new station.

Once in the digital virtual reality, these passengers of the future will be asked to navigate their way around Old Oak Common to reach meeting points, platforms and to change between HS2 and Crossrail services using the signage included in the current design.

In addition, the team will dedicate a further session to passengers whose mobility is impaired to explore what further assistance they might need to navigate the station.

Eye-tracking technology fitted to VR headsets will monitor in detail how the eye is drawn around the station’s interior, and whether there are any distractions that might contradict or confuse, all of which could hamper easy and stress-free movement.

This will be paired with emotion sensing software that observes the wearer’s facial expressions and monitors heart rate changes caused by the visual stimulus of experiencing the station in virtual reality.

CCD Design & Ergonomics MD David Watts, said, “Wayfinding is an immersive, multi-sensory task. Up until now we’ve not had the tools to fully test our designs with real people at the early stages of design.

Developing this tool will give the project far greater scope to get the design right while it’s all still on the drawing board.

The data collected by CCD will enable HS2 Ltd and station designers to assess and if necessary, refine designs to help Old Oak Common passengers move smoothly and efficiently around the 100,000 square metre rail interchange station.

‘Support on life’s Journey’ When life’s journey hits those ups and downs.

We are there to care, to listen and to help you cope with life’s uncertainties.

We are Railway Mission, a group of specially trained people who offer friendship and a listening ear to anyone connected with our nation’s railways.

We’re a Christian charity offering support to everyone.

How do we help?

Railway Mission has been offering support to the railway family for 140 years, but we’re totally up-to-date with the trials of modern living. We help railway staff (at all levels) and the travelling public to enjoy the good times and get through the bad times. So if life’s

journey feels threatened we offer face-to-face friendship and an opportunity to talk about problems and explore solutions.

Help us support them

Donations

Railway Mission relies on donations to finance our work and meet an ever-growing need for our services. While we receive some rail industry support, we depend on the generosity of individuals like you.

There are various ways to give, for more information visit: railwaymission.org/donate.

Please give something so that we can give a helping hand to those who need us.

For further information please email: office@railwaymission.org.

Charity number in England and Wales: 1128024 Scotland: SC045897

We’re also on hand to help staff and the public in the event of rail incidents, including suicides.

Cheques should be made payable to Railway Mission and sent to: Railway Mission, Rugby Railway Station, Rugby, CV21 3LA

To donate £5 text RAIL 5 to 70085.

This costs £5 plus a standard rate message.

Alternatively, you can opt to give any whole amount up to £20.

www.railwaymission.org

22

NEWS

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

NINE CENTURIES OF HISTORY

Archaeologists working to prepare the UK for HS2, have begun unlocking almost 900 years of history at St Mary’s Church in Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire.

The Old St Mary’s Church in Stoke Mandeville was built in 1080AD, shortly after the Norman conquest that transformed Saxon England. Renovated in the 13th, 14th and 17th centuries, it played a central role in the community, furnished with a variety of extensions and the construction of a brick bell tower.

The site sits on the line of the new HS2 route and is being carefully removed by a team from LP-Archaeology, working with HS2’s enabling works contractor, Fusion-JV.

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The construction of a new church closer to the centre of the village in the 1880s saw the building abandoned and falling into disrepair. According to local accounts, a child was killed by falling masonry in the 1930s, and by 1966 the building was considered so dangerous that the Royal Engineers were drafted in to demolish it.

Over the next 50 years the rubble pile left became overgrown with vegetation, blending into the surrounding greenery, meaning newcomers to the area may have been unaware of the existence of the church building there previously.

Helen Wass, Head of Heritage for HS2 Ltd said: “HS2’s unparalleled archaeological programme is well underway and the start

All images © HS2 Ltd

UNCOVERED

BY HS2 CGI of rebuilt St. Mary's church, Stoke Mandeville.

of works at St Mary’s offers an exceptional opportunity for archaeologists to uncover and shine a light on what life was like for the community of Stoke Mandeville over such a timespan.

“All artefacts and human remains uncovered will be treated with dignity, care and respect and our discoveries will be shared with the community through open days and expert lectures. HS2’s archaeology programme seeks to engage with all communities both locally and nationally to share the information and knowledge gained as well as leaving a lasting archival and skills legacy.”

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

The St Mary’s site is unique and the HS2 scheme is providing a rare opportunity to excavate and understand the history of this building, how its use and meaning changed over time and what it meant to the community of Stoke Mandeville. The burial ground at St Mary’s was in use for

NEWS

23

900 years, with the last recorded interment in 1908. The team of 40 archaeologists working on the site will be able to construct a picture of the role of St Mary’s in the local community from its construction in the 11th century through to its decline in the late 19th century.

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24

NEWS

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

QTS Group has completed the acquisition of rail electrification experts, Rail Electrification Limited and brings the company into the Renew Holdings plc family of businesses, which QTS joined in 2018.

REL adds overhead line electrification capability to the QTS offering, which already includes vegetation management, drainage, civil engineering and fencing, all supported by an innovative plant fleet. QTS also currently supplies isolation teams for clients across the UK, making REL the perfect fit for natural business progression.

All of the REL team, including the management trio of Scott Kernachan, Mark Potts and Kenny Barr, will join QTS at its Scottish HQ in Drumclog, South Lanarkshire.

REL was founded in 2015 by managing director Scott Kernachan and is now a leading provider of OHLE, working across the UK for clients such as Costain, ABC, Crossrail and Hochteif.

Alan McLeish, managing director of QTS Group commented, “QTS has grown rapidly over the last decade and, in order for us to continue that growth, we knew we needed to add to our already impressive portfolio of capabilities. The next natural step was electrification, which allows us to give a fully rounded service to our clients.

“By adding REL to the QTS Group, we are joining forces with a leading business in this area, which will be a great benefit to the work that we deliver for our clients.

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QTS Group acquires electrification specialists REL “I am looking forward to integrating the REL team into QTS and to welcoming Scott onto the board of directors.”

Scott Kernachan added, “Through this deal, we are opening up the future of REL to even greater possibilities. As QTS already has its Principal Contractor license, and a number of frameworks in place, it really transforms the opportunities available for us as experts in electrification.

“It also opens up more prospects for our employees, which was an important factor in the sale. As a small business, the opportunity for progression was limited, however this acquisition will allow the ability for individual growth and career development.

“I’ve always admired the way QTS operates and its ethos is very similar to what we have at REL, so I am confident it will be a great fit for us and for our clients.”

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26

RAILSTAFF AWARDS

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

WHAT MAKES

RAILSTAFF AWARDS

UNIQUE? EVERY YEAR, THE RAILSTAFF AWARDS ATTRACTS MORE ENTRIES, MORE INTEREST AND MORE COMPANIES THAN EVER BEFORE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A CORPORATE EVENT. WHY?

T

he rail industry, like almost all other industries, has its fair share of awards evenings. Organised by trade associations, publications, interested parties and even individual companies, they are all pretty much the same. Only the RailStaff Awards stands out as being completely different from all the others.

Since its inception in 2007, the annual RailStaff Awards has been quite different from all the other rail industry events that take place throughout the year.

The first major difference is that no company ever wins anything. The RailStaff Awards are for rail staff – the people that make the industry great.

There are 22 categories, some for teams, some for individuals and some for both, but they are all for people.

Of course, all of those people work for a company, and their employer will get the kudos of them winning an award. Indeed, many companies encourage employees to enter, and even help them do so. Posters appear on company noticeboards, and it is possible that some nominations are even written by company PR departments, but, at the end of the day, it is the person that is in the frame, not the company.

Very often, the entrant isn’t even nominated for being a good employee, or a good representative of the company. The Rail Engineer of the Year doesn’t win because she is great at engineering, and the Rail Manager of the Year isn’t a winner because he is a conscientious manager. No, they win because of what else they do, in their spare time and between shifts. They work to support colleagues, the public and the industry, to make the railway safer or to help the needy and infirm, to help schoolchildren be safe around the railway and to develop new ways to make the railway more efficient and perform better – often not in the area in which they normally work.

In short, they win for ‘going the extra mile’ – a rather hackneyed phrase but one which, in this case, describes exactly what the judges are looking for.

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Do you work with an extraordinary train driver, station manager or engineer? Nominate them in one of 22 categories today:

THE CATEGORIES IN FULL: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Apprentice of the Year Award for Charity Covid Hero - Outstanding Individual Award Covid Heroes - Outstanding Team Award Customer Service Award Depot Staff Award Digital Railway Person (S&T) or Team Award Graduate or Newcomer Award Health & Wellbeing Award HR, Diversity & Inclusion Person or Team Award Learning & Development Award Lifetime Achievement Award Marketing & Communications Team Award Rail Civils / Infrastructure Team Award Rail Engineer of the Year Rail Manager of the Year Rail Person of the Year Rail Project Manager Award Rail Team of the Year Safety Person or Team Award Samaritans Lifesaver Award Station Staff Award

27 - SPONSORS -

NOMINATIONS AND PUBLIC VOTING The second difference from other awards is that nobody enters. Everyone is nominated by somebody else. So, individuals and teams are nominated by colleagues and co-workers, by management, by friends, by union reps and even by the public. Anyone can nominate and there are only two rules – you can’t nominate yourself, and you can’t work for RailStaff (which would be a bit unfair).

It's also preferable if the nominee doesn’t work for the category’s sponsor, as that can affect the judging. So, for example, a train manufacturer could choose to sponsor the Depot Staff award, as many of those depot staff will be working in that company’s depots, and then encourage its own staff to be nominated for other awards.

Once the nominations are in, details are posted on the Awards’ website and then the public voting commences. Yes – public voting!

Anyone and everyone can go onto the website and vote for their favourite, whether it be for an entry that has really impressed them or just for their mate. This is when the nominees need to mobilise their fan clubs to get the votes in.

Once the public voting is complete, details of the top fifteen in each of the 22 categories go off to the judges – a mix of independent people, RailStaff personnel and category

sponsors. The judging teams then choose a winner and up to two ‘highly commended’ entries for each category.

To give some idea of the volumes involved, in 2019, the 20 categories attracted 1,359 nominations for 765 nominees (some had multiple nominations) proposed by 1,221 nominators. Those nominees then received 100,776 public votes, or an average of 131 votes each.

EVERYONE HAS A GREAT TIME On the night, after a good dinner and some spectacular entertainment – usually consisting of fire breathers hanging from the ceiling by ribbons (watch the video on the website if you don’t believe it!) – the compere runs through the various categories, every short-listed finalist is named, the highly commended entries are announced, then the category winners go up on stage to receive their awards to thunderous applause (and sometimes a lot of screaming from colleagues at the table!).

After the presentations are over, and photographs taken, the RailStaff Awards shows the third way in which it differs from other industry affairs. Rather than the largely male audience leaving their tables and aiming for the bar, which is what happens at many other events, in this case, as the Awards are for people, many have spouses, partners and/

or colleagues with them.

Let the party begin!

Dancing continues until one, and there are various other activities to indulge in as well.

In summary, the annual RailStaff Awards is an EVENT. It’s a celebration of what makes our industry great - its people. Winners and finalists come from all levels of the industry.

And you know what? They all mix and mingle and have a great time.

If you’ve not been to the RailStaff Awards, then you should. No, you must! It’s not a ball (but there are some great party frocks), it’s not a networking event (though it is), and it’s not a corporate event (though corporate pays for most of it). It is all of those things and more. It’s the RailStaff Awards!

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28

RAILSTAFF AWARDS

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

HR, DIVERSITY

AND INCLUSION O

ne of the longer titles for a category in this year’s RailStaff Awards - the HR, Diversity & Inclusion Person or Team Award - is also actually one of the most topical.

Diversity is always in the spotlight. Whether it is Network Rail’s attempts to get its proportion of female employees up above 20 per cent, the activities of the Archway network for the railway’s LGBT+ community, or initiatives to include more disabled, ethnic minority and disadvantaged people into the rail community, it is all of great public interest.

The specialists who look after diversity and inclusion tend to work for HR – human resources. So, the three areas are rightly combined in this award.

Of course, winners don’t necessarily win for their work in these fields, so the actual nomination could be for something completely different.

HR SUPPORT The last winner, though, did win for his efforts in HR support.

Dave Rees joined WSP’s UK rail business in 2008. Since then, it has engendered a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion while growing its headcount from around 250 to 760. His practical approach has helped deliver exceptional results for WSP and put it in a strong position to achieve its ultimate objective of being Britain’s first genderbalanced engineering consultancy.

As a result of Dave’s insight, drive and industry knowledge, particularly in identifying and targeting post-chartership staff as the group most at-risk of leaving, WSP’s attrition rate has fallen from 17 to seven per cent. It is becoming an ‘employer of choice’, attracting and retaining the most talented rail people in the industry.

As well as training the senior leadership team to see things from a people perspective, he has overseen the roll-out of ‘unconscious bias’ training to almost all senior rail staff, to ensure they make the right decisions when

recruiting or recognising progress. The proportion of female graduates in the rail division has risen from 12 per cent in 2015 to 43 per cent in 2019.

Neil McNicholas and Margaret Capps.

Picking up the award, Dave said: “I’m fairly modest about what I do. I feel I’m just doing my day job, but other people see something I don’t – thinking outside the box, trying to bring a different view into what the business tries to achieve - and hopefully it works and we improve our inclusion, our diversity, the way we do things.”

FREIGHTLINER The RailStaff Awards Sponsor of the HR, Diversity and Inclusion Award, G&W UK/ Europe Region companies, which includes Freightliner and Pentalver, place great emphasis on improving diversity and inclusion across its three business platforms of Rail, Road and Terminals.

This is reflected in their company value of Respect – "We treat all people with dignity and fairness, fostering diversity and inclusion" and is why they are delighted to be sponsoring the HR, Diversity and Inclusion category at this year’s RailStaff Awards.

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Attracting highly skilled and diverse talent to G&W UK/ Europe Region companies has been an ongoing priority for the Group. With a stronger focus on diversity and inclusion in the last few years, they are slowly starting to reap the benefits, especially with the recruitment of females into frontline operational roles, including train and truck drivers.

Following a complete relaunch of the company website last year, the Careers pages now feature testimonials and videos of female colleagues in engineering and frontline roles and recruitment advertising promotes and celebrates a diverse workforce highlighting the development and career opportunities available to all. Ensuring equal opportunities are available regardless of background, race or gender is of the upmost importance – particularly in historically non-diverse industries such as rail and logistics.

The group have also been approved to join WORK180 as an Endorsed Employer for Women - the UK’s only jobs board which prescreens employers before they can advertise jobs against a set of criteria, including pay equity, flexible working, women in leadership and paid parental leave.

29

The announcment comes that Dave Rees has won the RailStaff Award for HR, Diversity and Inclusion in 2019.

Actively participating in events such as the Women in Rail sponsored Big Rail Diversity Challenge has provided an opportunity to showcase that teamwork and diversity is not only beneficial, but also essential to the productivity and success of a business.

G&W UK/Europe also support the Women in Rail Awards and are proud that one of their female train drivers was Highly Commended in the ‘Inspirational Woman of the Year’ category and their Engineering Standards and Audit Manager is shortlisted in this year’s Everywoman in Transport and Logistics Awards – all raising the profile of a career in Rail/Transport for women.

G&W UK/Europe value the importance of getting first-hand feedback from female frontline workforce which is why they again celebrated this year’s International Women’s Day by inviting 50+ female colleagues to an interactive online event. The working group session provided a valuable opportunity to gain insight from a range of frontline operational colleagues on how G&W UK can improve diversity and encourage more females into frontline roles as well as how they can ensure every single person in the company is valued, heard, respected, empowered, and feels a true sense of belonging.

In the words of G&W UK HR director, Glynis Appelbe “If we do not embrace and welcome change and diversity, irrespective of what sphere of life or work we are operating in, then we run the risk of being left behind and ill equipped to face the diverse and changing challenges work, or life, present us with. We also inevitably fail to seize and capitalise on emerging and exciting opportunities either personally or work wise. As an industry, and as a business, if we are not willing to change and to diversify, then we run the risk of continuing to think and operate in the same way we have always done and hence we will end up with the same results which is absolutely not what we want.”

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30

RAILSTAFF AWARDS

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

STATION T

STAFF

he men and women who staff the 2,500 railway stations around the country have a lot to cope with.

They have to keep those stations safe for passengers, make sure they are clean and provide opportunities for ‘retail therapy’ for passengers in a hurry as well as for those with time on their hands.

Train-operator staff have to sell tickets and then check them, direct passengers and answer a multitude of questions. They are expected to know everything about the railway, the local area, bus timetables, taxi fares and the weather forecast.

They also have to despatch trains, assist passengers boarding and disembarking, look after or search for lost luggage and dispense first aid.

Oh, and they have to deal with drunks, vagrants, children, the harassed, the pregnant, the disabled, the suicidal and the just confused.

Above all, they have to be nice to people, all the time, no matter what.

It’s a mammoth job that goes largely unnoticed. Passengers are often quick to complain yet slow to praise.

But colleagues notice a job well done. Last year, 98 nominations were received for the Station Staff award, sponsored by the Transport Benevolent Fund CIO.

RAY OF SUNSHINE Under the headline ‘Frontline Heroes’, last year’s review of the RailStaff Awards described how Aaron Koduah brightens up passengers’ journeys with his self-penned motivational messages on the announcement board at Crewe station.

For more than four years, Aaron, who works at the station as a welcome host, has provided a ray of sunshine for customers on even the dreariest of days with his contagious smile and often topical thoughts of the day.

At first, he was nervous about doing something differently, but, with his message board becoming synonymous with Crewe, and celebs such as Paul ‘The Sinnerman’ Sinha from gameshow ‘The Chase’ taking snaps of his quotes, Aaron now takes great pride in the impact he’s able to make to customer’s days.

He has also channelled his positive energy into publishing a book: Developing A Strong Mindset, which features a collection of his favourite quotes.

Aaron, who works on the gateline, received 17 submissions from customers and colleagues during the nomination process, and, for having such an impact on the customer experience at Crewe, he was recognised in the Station Staff Award category.

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The former soldier’s outlook is even more remarkable considering he and his partner were hit with tragic news last year when their son died shortly after he was born. Aaron said: “I just feel like life changes so, when you are in a bad situation you have to keep holding on because you don’t know what the future holds.”

HELPING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Transport Benevolent Fund CIO (TBF) returns to sponsor The Station Staff of the Year Award this year, a membership charity that offers a wide range of financial, health, welfare and financial benefits to public transport workers should need, hardship or distress arise.

Chris Sullivan, chair of TBF, said: “These awards are important, we need to encourage more young people into this business - people like Aaron with his attitude towards the work. They’re the people that will drive the railway forward - it’s not the big money that’s being invested. It’s all about the people, just like TBF.” Anyone engaged in the public transport industry in Great Britain is eligible to join.

Membership currently costs just £1 a week, covering the member, their partner and dependent children. Each family member is

considered separately and benefits paid are not cumulative for the whole family.

The membership fee can be deducted through the company payroll facility or, if not available, paid by standing order.

Benefits include cash grants to help cover various needs including short-term financial hardship from sickness (typically two weeks or more), debt advice, legal help on non-employment matters and bereavement grants.

TBF also offers medical benefits such as second opinions, scans and tests (if the NHS is unable to deliver within an acceptable time frame), a wide range of complementary and alternative therapies, medical equipment, prescription pre-payment certificates and convalescence.

31

Chris Sullivan and Aaron Koduah.

The Fund was originally formed in 1923 and the needs of today’s members are very different to those of 97 years ago.

Unfortunately, there are still cases of hardship among those who work in the public transport industry; even more so during the difficult times everyone is living through at the moment.

TBF currently has nearly 68,000 members and the continuing relevance of the Fund’s work is best illustrated by the volume of awards to members, which, during the past 12 months, have been in excess of £2.8million.

The Fund is run by a board of trustees, the majority of whom work in the industry, that decides on all benefits. TBF’s patrons include leading figures in the major transport groups and trades unions.

In recognition of the valuable work carried out by all those working in the rail sector, TBF has supported the RailStaff Awards for many years. John Sheehy, TBF CEO and main judge of the nominees for the Station Staff award, said: “TBF is here to help its members in times of need and the Station Staff award is a great opportunity to thank those who regularly help others in need. Members of station staff are an integral part of the railway and, being the first point of contact for passengers, they play a very important role in helping customers’ experience on the railway to be a safe and pleasant one.

“Staff often face difficult situations requiring compassion and courage. On a day-to-day basis, they are the unsung heroes of the railway, and that is why TBF is proud to take this opportunity to acknowledge their valuable contribution to the sector.

“When judging the nominees for the Station Staff Award category we are looking for a commitment to helping others, ensuring customers have a positive experience of the railway. The potential winner should be reliable, hardworking and demonstrate their initiative in response to often challenging, and occasionally, lifethreating situations.”

Proud sponsors of the Station Staff Award, 2021 With the support of the TOCs, Network Rail and other employers throughout the industry, we now have over 66,700 members.

Membership offers a wide range of health, welfare and financial benefits for those working in the public transport industry, helping to improve members’ work-life balance and reduce staff turnover for the employer.

Just £1.25 a week covers you, your partner and dependent children

help@tbf.org.uk www.tbf.org.uk Transport Benevolent Fund CIO, known as TBF, is a registered charity in England and Wales, 1160901, and Scotland, SC047016.

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TBF_RailStaffAwards_90x130_Advert.indd 2

08/06/2021 15:43

32

TRACK SAFETY

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

REPORT BY COLIN WHEELER

HOW POST COVID WORKING SHOULD BECOME SAFER

G

ratitude and regret are amongst my emotions having learnt of Simon French’s planned retirement this Autumn from the job of Chief Inspector of the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB). They recently published their annual report for 2020 (January 1 to December 31). Simon has drawn attention to the fact that October 17 last year was the fifteenth annual anniversary of the start of RAIB’s investigations.

Over the years they have published 368 reports and 102 safety digests. Simon’s commitment and understanding of the personal loyalty of railway people and what may be described as the railway family has been evident during his time as Chief Inspector. It is reflected in the 2020 Annual Report which is comprehensive, well-illustrated with hard hitting pictures and without excessive or repetitive pie charts and tables.

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Summaries of Learning, urgent safety advice and 61 recommendations

One of RAIB’s initiatives of which Simon and his team should be proud is the publication of “Summaries of Learning”. This series of reports began last year with the publication of one covering “the safe management of weather-related events which affect train operation” and another on “the integrity of train braking systems”.

In 2020 RAIB received an astonishing 457 notifications leading to 38 preliminary examinations of evidence. These resulted in the publication of 14 detailed reports and 6 safety digests. As a result, four letters were sent to Coroners and two “Urgent Safety Advice” notifications were circulated.

Also, during the year RAIB made 61 safety recommendations whilst keeping a check on outstanding ones. Investigations are followed by consultation with those involved prior to their publication. Nonetheless, the average time taken to investigate and publish is now down to eleven months.

Simon French comments that “the rail industry is one of the most open sectors of the UK economy on matters relating

© bluekite

IN THIS ISSUE'S REPORT COLIN WHEELER COVERS RAIB'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020, THE RETIREMENT OF SIMON FRENCH, ACCIDENTS, NEAR MISSES, NO MORE LOWS AND HOW POST COVID WORKING SHOULD BECOME SAFER. Colin Wheeler.

to safety” and adds “the entire industry benefits from learning from accidents, regardless of which companies were involved”.

Without doubt Simon’s contribution to railway safety has been significant with a number of class investigations providing deeper insights into areas for improvement.

But there is still a long way to go and it seems likely that his successor will be kept busy.

My hope is for a safer railway for all who work or travel on our railways. Being an eternal optimist, I should like to see safety improve to such an extent that RAIB needs fewer investigators.

I recently exchanged emails with a former colleague related to how and when our main line railway will at last stop using people holding coloured flags to stare into the distance, concentrate and blow horns or whistles to warn of approaching trains, including those travelling at 125 mph!

An aspiration which I hope will be realised by the efforts of Network Rail’s Safety Task Force from whom I hope we will learn more at this year’s Safety Summit.

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

TRACK SAFETY

33

G

Wheel flats broke rails

RAIB’s preliminary examination showed that the brakes were properly released when the train left Robeston, but some wheel sets ceased to rotate at some point, so wheel flats developed but some later began to turn again, possibly after a change of driver at Margam.

Impact loading from the rotating damaged wheels, particularly those on the 11th wagon gave rise to the broken rails and caused the damage to the brake rigging. RAIB are looking to see if there are similarities with the Marlais Junction derailment of August last year.

Near miss with Trackworker in a tunnel

Currently RAIB are continuing their investigation of a near miss with a track worker in Llangedai Tunnel at around 1232 on February 13th. The worker was inspecting and removing icicles in the tunnel when he was involved in a near miss with a passenger train travelling at 72 mph. There were no injuries; RAIB will issue a Safety Digest.

Track damage between Pencoed and Llanharan South Wales

RAIB are investigating how at around 0210 hours on March 6th a 2125 freight train from Robeston (Milford Haven) to Theale broke two rails and caused track damage. The train was stopped beyond Cardiff Central Station by a call from the signaller to the driver informing him of a problem.

The driver was instructed to travel over the impact load detection system at Marshfield to confirm suspicions that wheel flats had caused track damage. No problem was highlighted so the train was allowed to continue. It was finally stopped at in the Horfield Junction area, near Bristol after a report of unusual noises was made by staff at Stoke Gifford Maintenance Depot.

The train consisted of a locomotive and 23 petroleum product loaded tank wagons. Part of the brake rigging on the lead bogie of the 11th wagon had become detached and the trailing wheels on that bogie had significant damage (wheel flats). Some braking components were missing. On examination other wagons showed wheel tread damage, possibly consistent with their wheels having stopped rotating at other times during the journey.

Collision with buffer stop at Kirkby Station, Merseyside On March 13th this year at around 1853 the 1835 Liverpool Central to Kirkby passenger train ran into the buffers at the end of the Merseyrail Northern line platform at Kirkby. The train approached the station at 42 mph before an emergency brake application was made.

It hit the buffers, derailed and collided with the platform extension which links the Northern line platform to the adjoining Kirkby Branch line one. The derailed train came to a stop under a bridge and clear of the Branch Line which was not occupied by a train at the time. Twelve people suffered minor injuries but significant damage was caused to the train and railway infrastructure.

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TRACK SAFETY

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© RAIB

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GENTLY-SLOPING CREST DRAIN

STEEPLY-SLOPING CREST DRAIN

OPEN DITCH

WASHED-OUT DEBRIS

© PressAssociation

BRIDGE OVER CARRON WATER

Carmont Aberdeenshire interim investigation report

On April 19th RAIB published an interim report on the Carmont Aberdeenshire fatal accident that occurred on August 12th last year. Three people died and six were injured when the train ran into debris washed onto the track at around 0937. Carmont is between Laurencekirk and Stonehaven on the two-track railway route from Montrose to Aberdeen.

A mile and a half north east of Carmont Signal Box the railway is carried by a single span masonry arch bridge above Carron Water. Approaching the bridge, the railway is on the side of the steeply sloping river valley in a cutting which ends about 50 metres from the bridge. The railway then runs on an embankment before crossing the bridge.

New drain and catchpits

Heavy and locally intense rain fell on August 11th reaching Carmont at around 0550 and continuing until 0900 when the sun began to shine as the train approached the site. In total about two inches of rain fell.

In 2009 the instability of the cutting face resulted in Network Rail instructing Carillion to “undertake improvement works”. Ove Arup designed a system to secure the slopes both sides using rockfall netting, and a new drain as the existing one was not effective. The new drain followed the crest of the slope at a gentle gradient until it reached the end of the cutting from where it steepened to 1 in 3. Catchpits were installed for maintenance and inspection.

Inspections carried out

The interim report lists inspections carried out in January 2017, 14th June 2020 and overnight by a technician on 11th/12th August. Although the crest drain system was completed in 2012, only the section closest to the track from catchpit 18 to the outfall was listed on Network Rail’s drain maintenance database. The investigators found no evidence of the drain upslope of catchpit 18 being inspected since its construction.

On May 13th 2020 two Network Rail staff from Perth using a loaded handheld computer from the database carried out an inspection but it did not include the crest drain upslope of catchpit 18. Their downslope inspection did not reveal any faults.

Scour protection works were being carried out at the base of the bridge over which the derailed train travelled on August 12th.

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Landslip reported

That morning southbound departures from Aberdeen at 0506 and 0536 passed through Carmont without incident but the 0546 to Edinburgh was cancelled due to “heavy flooding”. The train in the accident was the 0638 Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street which had passed Carmont Signal Box before it was stopped by the signaller using GSM-R radio due to the reporting of a landslip. It stopped 570 metres before the landslip and returned north.

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TRACK SAFETY

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the identified underlying factors were safe work planning, monitoring and supervision, behaviours/leadership, corporate culture and change management.

Safety of Track Workers

In the report Simon French comments that, “the areas that need to be addressed to improve the safety of trackworkers have been repeatedly highlighted in 44 investigations by RAIB in the last 14 years”.

He acknowledges the efforts made and commitment of both the ORR and Network Rail’s well-funded Safety Task Force. Referring to depots and sidings he adds that “organisations operating trains and those maintaining them were not working well together”.

New, Network Rail trackworker safety commitment

Control decided the train should return to Stonehaven to avoid the possibility of passengers becoming stranded. It was 0917 before the necessary clamps and scotches had been fitted and the train was then authorised to crossover and return north via Carmont to Stonehaven.

Train travelling at 73 mph

The train was travelling at 73 mph when it entered a left-hand curve restricting the driver’s view of the washout debris until he was just 120 metres from it. The (On Train Data Recorder) OTDR showed an emergency brake application, but this would have had little significant effect before the train hit the debris. The leading power car derailed to the left and ran for 60 metres until it struck a section of bridge parapet.

It destroyed more than half of the parapet before falling from the bridge. The driver’s cab became detached on impact with the ground.

The interim report says, “investigation of the land above the railway is continuing and monitoring equipment is continuing to provide data on ground conditions and water flows”. The cause was “colliding with stones washed out from the gravel filled crest drain and adjacent ground”. RAIB is continuing to investigate whether other factors such as the drainage systems design or the quality of installation, contributed to the displacement of material.

Drainage inspections

Tellingly it adds “The lack of an effective drainage inspection regime meant that any indications of problems upslope of catchpit 18 would not have been detected”. RAIB’s ongoing investigations relate to severe weather including the management of storms, Carmont drainage system design, construction and inspection processes, and in respect of the train, the mitigation of derailments.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) are also involved with Scotland’s Lord Advocate having instructed BT Police, Police Scotland, and the ORR as the industry regulator to carry out an independent joint investigation.

Annual Report for 2020

RAIB’s annual report for 2020 refers to three fatal accidents being investigated in addition to Carmont. Simon French, “is saddened by the February 2021 trackworker death at Surbiton which is subject to a thorough RAIB investigation”. Referring to the two deaths at Margam (July 2019) he reminds readers that

NRA 21-06 was published on Network Rail’s Safety Central website on April 14th heralding the overdue decision to phase out the use LOWS (Lookout Operated Warning Systems). The written commitment is that Network Rail “will replace LOWS with semi-automatic and automatic track warning systems”. The ORR Improvement Notice requiring the “removal of unassisted lookout working” stipulated compliance by July 2022 but in a letter to contractors and suppliers of services dated 28th May Network Rail is now expecting compliance one year earlier in July this year. When this White Zone working is achieved it will be a lasting testament to the efforts made by the retiring Chief Inspector of the RAIB. The published Network Rail safety advice says that “in the last twelve months unassisted lookout warning has been reduced by over 70% and near misses by 50% but near misses using LOWS have worsened.” It adds that “investigations found that the equipment worked as designed, the causes were linked to human error”. Many railway people now long retired will regret the delay of around 20 years in the making of this commitment but now is a good time given the anticipated evolution of railways post Covid!!

How quickly this has been done I suggest will be a hot topic for this year’s Rail Media Safety Summit in September!

Post Covid railway working, organisation and safety

The Williams-Shapps Review of Railways was delayed even before the pandemic. My view is that morning and evening commuting travel will remain at lower levels as many businesses will retain varying degrees of working from home as the norm. There may be an effect on central city office occupancy. Already there is a shift towards developing new and enhancing existing railways in northern cities and country parts of Britain and an overdue reduction in focussing so much on London’s aspirations. Global warming may well lead to a rebalancing of train propulsion methods and more localised political control has been discussed. From a trackworker safety viewpoint, Network Rail is already talking about moving away from using nights and weekends to carry out renewal, project and maintenance work. A steadier work stream could reduce costs, provide full time employment and result in safer working!

Just maybe, Simon French’s successor will have a less demanding job working with the new Great British Railways organisation!

RRV electrification collision at Ramsden Bellhouse

RAIB news story issued on May 14th refers to an accident that happened around 0700 hours on the morning of May 2nd. On a worksite between Billericay and Wickford in Essex two road/rail vehicles collided, the two workers travelling in the basket at the end of their night shift were injured, one seriously. They were hit by a 360-degree crane jib of the machine travelling behind them. The work was the renewal of overhead electrification equipment. RAIB says they will consider “safe worksite travel, hours on duty, and other factors.” I am reminded of comments in report 08/2020 on a collision between mobile elevated work platforms at Rochford (January 25th 2020). That report identified a “culture of getting the job done, disrespect and poor working relationships”.

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COMPANY FOCUS

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

MATTERS

LOOK AROUND YOU. IS YOUR WORKPLACE HEALTHY? ARE THERE HAZARDS PERHAPS INVISIBLE TO THE EYE - THAT AREN'T BEING ADDRESSED? Environmental health is relevant wherever you work: d

W at work.

e may rarely think about our work environment in terms of its impact on our own and colleagues’ health and safety, despite spending much of our lives

Most companies are increasingly aware of their responsibility for the working environment they create and shape, and how it affects the people who work there as well as the natural environment and communities on a local and even global scale.

Despite this awareness, it is still possible for environmental health issues in workplaces to be forgotten about, ignored or unnoticed.

At an individual level, it can feel overwhelming to know – or wonder – about something not being quite right where you work. That’s especially true when you don’t feel able to speak up about it, or when you’re not sure that mentioning it will make a difference. You may wonder what effect your lone voice could have.

Collective voices have the power to make a change, but individual voices can get things done too. If you’re not comfortable speaking up on your own, you can speak to CIRAS. We listen to any health and safety concerns independently – including about environmental health issues – and pass them on to the company without identifying you, so the focus stays on what matters: the issue you’re raising.

The first step is noticing the problem.

Staying up-to-date on relevant health and safety training, being aware of relevant risk assessments and following relevant safety information and instructions will all help.

This will give you an idea whether there is something to be concerned about.

Sometimes you won’t know whether what’s concerning you is safe or not. All the more reason to speak up! Others could also be unsure – and then issues may go undiscovered and unresolved.

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SPEAKING UP Physical hazards, control measures that are faulty or broken, or risk assessments that are out of date – for example because of changes to processes – are just some of the reasons you might raise a concern.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health defines environmental health as ‘the external factors that affect human health and wellbeing’, and notes that ‘poor health often results from poor environments’ – in other words, where we live and work affects our health.

Environmental health concerns at work might be about air or water quality, dust and fibres, toxic materials such as asbestos, gases, and diesel or welding fumes, for example.

Vibration can lead to Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS): a serious, debilitating, painful and permanent condition. Noise is also less visible but still potentially harmful.

Environmental health concerns may have a wider impact too – for example, chemical leaks, or the build-up of fumes, harming the natural environment and neighbours.

Raising a concern with a company openly or by using CIRAS’ confidential reporting service will alert the people who can make a difference by resolving these issues.

When you raise a concern through CIRAS, we also find out what action has been taken and let you know, keeping your identity protected. You have the chance to ask further questions, and we make sure all concerns raised with us get an answer.

MAKING CHANGES We hear health and safety concerns from across the rail industry and the wider transport sector. Environmental health is understandably on people’s minds – as these examples of CIRAS reports show.

• Someone contacted us about asbestos in their office with an ‘asbestos do not enter’ tape used. They were concerned that the asbestos could pose a safety risk to staff and asked the company to hire a specialist to review it. Although the company explained that annual re-inspections made sure that known areas of asbestos were encapsulated and managed for safe working conditions, they authorised an asbestos specialist to use a rubber-based paint over the asbestos as an extra safety measure.

• Someone told us of a new product being used to clean train floors. They were concerned that staff weren’t given PPE to protect them from the fumes, and that there was no training on using the product safely.

As a result of the CIRAS report, the product was withdrawn from use, although the company said that they had seen evidence that staff who had been using the product had received PPE and been trained.

• We frequently hear about potentially toxic fumes. Take this concern about spray painting within a train shed at a depot as an

Noise is invisible but can be an environmental health concern.

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Confidential Reporting for Safety This is Fred Fred’s workmate is cutting corners Fred doesn’t want to cause trouble Fred called CIRAS and his company gave a safety briefing Fred feels much safer now

depot, yard, trackside, station, on a train or in an office.

Be like Fred

The name we’ve used is fictional. We share your concern so the company can address it. You will not be identified.

planned in work to change the rest of them the area. A toolbox talk was then planned example. The person reporting it to us when replacement units arrived. A review about the safety requirements for spraysaid that those painting were not given was set up to identify any issues from the painting.

PPE. They were concerned about the replacement units, and the design change • Another reporter shared their concern that paint fumes circulating. The company Welfare Training & Work Rules accurate, & Fatigue an automatic warning system (AWS) bell was Shift reviewed across investigated and found the report Equipment Safety similar fleets. facilitiescreating an uncomfortable design Your decision competence environment practices to act by speaking up too high-pitched, so then stopped all ad-hoc procedures painting in the could lead to change to make your working working environment and possibly hearing shed, raised this with duty managers and environment healthier. Don’t forget that you damage as drivers often heard this bell. After pledged to monitor the situation. The depot can raise a concern with CIRAS about other the report, the company identified issues added that it would review planned spraycompanies – not just the company you work for with certain AWS units causing a difference painting and have the adequate protection Report hotline:in sound. It replaced Reportsome textline: Freepost: CIRAS – so your voice could help others too. of the units and in place for anyone carrying it out or within

www.ciras.org.uk

0800 4 101 101

07507 285 887

Be like... adverts for Rail Media (190mm x 130 mm half page).indd 5

16/11/2020 16:01:38

Confidential Reporting for Safety

Speaking up doesn’t have to be daunting.

We’ll listen and pass on your concern confidentially.

Raise a concern for any company – not just your employer.

Work environment

Rules & procedures

Fatigue

Welfare facilities

Equipment

Shift design

Safety practices

Training & competence

www.ciras.org.uk Report hotline: 0800 4 101 101 Rail Media (190mm x 130 mm half page) This is CIRAS.indd 1

Report textline: 07507 285 887

Freepost: CIRAS

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COMPANY FOCUS

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

THE TRACK TO A NEW NORM

THE RAIL INDUSTRY IN A POST-COVID WORLD

T

he past year has presented huge challenges to society and the rail industry alike with COVID-19.

Perpetual lockdowns and the need to keep a distance has heavily impacted rail, with passenger numbers dropping by 90% in the last year, as public travel has almost ground to a halt. Government guidelines, a shift towards ‘workfrom-home’ and anxieties for some, around coming into close contact with others has meant commuting habits have drastically changed.

Aside from this, Network Rail and other operating companies have had to adapt to other related challenges, such as keeping key workers and freight moving, despite fresh logistical challenges that the pandemic threw at the industry.

However, much of the industry has had significantly more trouble dealing with the rapid pivoting. A heavy decline in revenue had also pushed networks to nationalisation, with operating companies constantly having to change timetables to meet last minute changes in demand.

But what will happen when restrictions end? The troubles that the rail industry faces, much like the rest of society, is thankfully only temporary and a semblance of normality is on the horizon. So as the nation comes out of the pandemic and lives with the ‘new normal’, what will the ‘new normal’ look like for the post-pandemic rail industry?

Unfortunately, for the medium-term, predictions point to a 20% drop in public transport, as attitudes that have shaped in the past year continue to stick; with demand not expected to reach pre-crisis levels until 2025. However, in the short-term, a massive boom is to be expected. Rapid recovery has been predicted by the end of 2021, as the

© den-belitsky

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN RESTRICTIONS END? THE TROUBLES THAT THE RAIL INDUSTRY FACES, MUCH LIKE THE REST OF SOCIETY, IS THANKFULLY ONLY TEMPORARY AND A SEMBLANCE OF NORMALITY IS ON THE HORIZON.

© oonal

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pent up demand of the last year is released.

Moreover, with restrictions expected to end on July 19, it will be significantly easier for projects to operate and restart, meaning a summer project boom should be on the way.

Moreover, as the industry sets to reopen, a shift towards a more green and sustainable industry is on the forefront of future operations. All of this considered, it is essential that companies have a welltrained staff-force to be able to meet these changes and future needs. Thankfully, a new platform known as the Competency Training MarketplaceTM, or ‘CTM’ has emerged on the market to be able to deal with upskilling staff easily.

This new solution, pioneered by Sopra Steria, a European leader in consulting, digital services and software development, was designed specifically with the rail industry in mind, to combat competency and training issues in the industry. It is an industry first in combining a training marketplace with a competency management tool, under the umbrella of an easy-to-use, intuitive system, free-of-charge for employers to use. Its core features have been designed to make upskilling employees a smooth and seamless experience. The integrated marketplace is home to accredited training providers, with a number of essential qualifications to choose from, to fit the need of any employee.

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MAL:

The marketplace, in combination with CTM’s ‘training matrix’, allows employers to fully track staff competencies, enabling clarity over which member of their workforce is assigned to which project, as well as when their competencies are expiring and how they may need upskilling. The database also tells you who is the right fit for a project, based on qualification level and location, so the right person can be assigned to the right project with full visibility.

CTM also offers a range of analytics tools, to forecast exactly which competencies are expiring and in what number, to make sure you are always on top of your qualifications. This combines with automated emails and alerts when a qualification is expiring, to ensure that training needs are being kept on top of.

© JohnnyGreig

D

CTM was designed to give more employers a more stress-free experience in the compliance process, making it easier than ever for the employee to be sufficiently qualified. While CTM is still young, it is expected to grab more attention in the coming months and years, as more companies turn to the platform, so it is certainly one to keep an eye on and it may be what your company needs to keep up with the coming shifts in the industry.

Andy Barnes, the Engineering Director of Arcadis said: “CTM lets me keep track of my workforce’s competencies, supporting me to allocate people to projects on the basis of their knowledge, skills and experience. That is a key part of managing the risk to railway users when we are planning railway renewals or enhancements.

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FEATURE

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

ARQ RENEWS FOCUS ON

DECARBONISATION

D

ecarbonisation will be a significant focus for the rail industry over the next 30 years as the UK Government aims to remove all diesel-only trains by 2040, with a legally binding commitment to net-zero carbon by 2050. The railway has recognised that, collectively, we must do more to be part of the solution to climate change.

Network Rail estimates that to decarbonise our rail network completely, 13,000 single track kilometres will need to be electrified by 2050 - approximately 450 kilometres every year - to achieve net-zero; however, it has been identified that only 251 kilometres was electrified from 2019-2020.

To help Network Rail deliver these targets, a new collaborative partnership - comprising three leading rail companies within the Renew Holdings Group - has been launched.

AmcoGiffen, REL (Rail Electrification Limited) and QTS together form ARQ - a truly integrated self-delivery model for the UK rail network as it moves closer to achieving these electrification and decarbonisation targets. ARQ will play its part in meeting the challenges set to industry by Network Rail in response to the decarbonisation agenda.

COMING TOGETHER Individually, each of the businesses has been providing expert services in their respective disciplines to enable electrification programmes across the country throughout Control Periods 5 and 6. By coming together

© Lawrence McEwan

Vinny O'Holloran

as a unique family, the ARQ partnership will offer an unprecedented in-house delivery model covering the full range of railway engineering services required for future electrification schemes.

Andries Liebenberg is the Executive Director responsible for Renew Holdings’ rail activities. He said: “The Department for Transport, Transport Scotland and Transport for Wales - through Network Rail - have set very demanding targets for the industry. One of the key challenges is that of affordability. It is clear that the rate of cost increase on typical electrification projects is no longer sustainable.

In addition, development lifecycles are getting longer while not always delivering the desired outcomes.

“ARQ has the ambition to be an integral part of the solution and the future of decarbonisation of the UK rail network.

“This is a partnership that is ideally structured to meet the targets which have been set to the industry by Network Rail.

ARQ’s significant differentiator is that it will work in partnership as a unified family of companies, each bringing their unique skills and self-delivering the broad scope of what makes up any rail system.”

ALL BASES COVERED ARQ offers a complete delivery model with a flat structure and reporting lines, with directly employed specialist teams, supported by an extensive plant fleet. Through this, it has the ability to reduce or remove the oftenRAILSTAFF.CO.UK | @RAIL_STAFF | FACEBOOK.COM/RAILSTAFF

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(Below) From left to right – Vinny O’Holloran (ARQ), John Booth (AmcoGiffen), Scott Kernachan (REL), Alan McLeish (QTS).

complex contracting models which can add unnecessary layers of cost and risk to any programme.

It will create a more collaborative working environment, with all parties aspiring to achieving the same common goal which, when complemented with early involvement from project inception, will optimise disciplines integration, remove unnecessary job role duplications and promote innovation. Workforce safety maturity will also be reinforced through continuity of safety behaviours, whether individuals are working through the ARQ partnership or their respective subsidiary.

ARQ is already embracing Project SPEED, applying it to schemes currently in development and delivery. This distinct, agile structure and direct delivery model has been well received, with early signs proving to be very positive.

COMMITMENT TO INVEST This exciting new partnership is led by Vinny O’Holloran who joins from Costain Group where he was project director within its rail division for six years. Working on projects including Queen Street Station and StirlingDunblane-Alloa, he brings considerable experience to this newly created role as director, responsible for implementing strategy at ARQ. Vinny commented: “Joining ARQ is a real highlight for me and I was immediately struck by the investment that has already been made.

It demonstrates the commitment that all three businesses - and Renew Holdings - have to making this venture stand out from the crowd.

It is obvious that they have listened to what the customer has said and carefully crafted a strategy which I very much look forward to executing.

“The role will allow me to have independent control over the activity of ARQ, ensuring consistency throughout. It also gives the customer the confidence that they have an accountable individual who is instantly able to influence a programme, with direct access to those who are delivering the works.

“At ARQ we understand that electrification is a significant contributor in meeting Network Rail’s decarbonisation commitments and that things have to change to drive efficiency. We want to be part of this change; to help drive it forward. We already have the skills within each business to do this and the ability to supplement the skills and knowledge gap in the industry. I am excited by our existing large in-house training facility and plans to

expand which will enable us to further invest in training and develop sustainable skills for the future.

“By working together, we bring every element required for what is a rail system under one accountable, collaborative partnership.”

ARQ is also committed to continuing innovation both on and off track. Vinny added: “We are very conscious of the fact that possession time on the railway is at a premium, so we will ensure that we maximise access by continued investment into bespoke rail plant, but also to explore further innovation in the design and build process. We must be able to accurately design in a virtual world, build (where we can) off the railway and then use the access time efficiently, ensuring minimal disruption for the travelling public and maximise productivity.”

ARQ is currently in talks with key stakeholders to look at ways in which it can help to support upcoming electrification projects across the network.

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FEATURE

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

RAIL INDUSTRY SUPPORTS

SAMARITANS

BY GETTING ACTIVE OUTDOORS THIS SUMMER THE RAIL INDUSTRY IS SUPPORTING SAMARITANS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SIGN UP TO THE CHARITY'S VIRTUAL FUNDRAISER, SAMARATHON, AS RAIL STAFF GET INVOLVED AND SET THEMSELVES THE CHALLENGE OF WALKING, JOGGING OR RUNNING A MARATHON IN JULY, HELPING SAMARITANS' VOLUNTEERS TO CONTINUE PROVIDING VITAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.

L

aunching in Mental Health Awareness Week, Samaritans is encouraging supporters to make the most of the long summer days after months of lockdown by getting active and being out in nature, which is known to help boost physical and mental wellbeing.

Participants can choose how, when and where they complete their marathon – and can sign up alongside friends and family, cheering each other on either in person or remotely.

Rail staff’s Samarathon efforts will also contribute to Samaritans and the rail industry’s ‘Million Hour Challenge’ including training and participation hours. The volunteering initiative aims to bring the rail industry together to help Samaritans be there for those struggling to cope, whilst also improving mental health and wellbeing within the rail industry. There are many ways for rail staff to get involved in the Challenge, including fundraising activities such as Samarathon or organising workplace tea events to support staff wellbeing. Rail staff can log their hours at millionhourchallenge.com.

Olivia Cayley, Samaritans’ head of rail programme, said: “We’re so pleased to see the rail industry getting involved in our virtual fundraiser, Samarathon. In 2020, Samaritans volunteers spent over one million hours responding to calls for help during a very challenging time and the pandemic has shown that our services are needed now more than ever. “Taking part in this challenge is not only a fun way to look after your own mental health and wellbeing, with rail staff being able to log hours towards the Million Hour Challenge, but will allow our amazing volunteers to continue to support anyone who may be struggling with theirs.”

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Pentalver Design Engineer, Laura Richards, took part in Samarathon last year to raise money for the charity and wants to encourage others to get involved this year. Speaking about the fundraising challenge, Laura said: “I completed 40.78 miles, over approximately 10 hours and 31 minutes and raised £544.16! I found the walks to be a way to look after my own mental health, and cope with the daily stress of lockdown life. This made me push myself to exceed the 26.2-mile target and go as far as possible. Mental health is a topic that is incredibly important to me and that we need to continue to raise awareness of. I am truly grateful to G&W and everyone who sponsored me, and to my family for walking alongside me for some of the challenge. It was heart-warming to see that even in these tough times people still want to help those in need of support.”

‘Million Hour Challenge’ launched in March 2019, building on Network Rail and the rail industry’s partnership with Samaritans to reduce the number of suicides on the railway and support those affected. The challenge, which is running for five years and has just reached its two-year mark, has 30 rail partner organisations signed up, with opportunities for around 165,000 of their staff to support Samaritans’ efforts.

Three UK is the official sponsor of Samarathon. Connectivity has never been more important and over the three-year partnership, Three UK and Samaritans will work together to expand services and help more people access emotional support, 24/7, 365 days a year.

To find more information or sign up to Samarathon, visit https://samarathon. samaritans.org/

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RAILWAY SAMARITANS LISTENING VOLUNTEER HEROES

RailStaff meets two Samaritans listening volunteers from the rail industry who have gone above and beyond, donating their time, to support others this year.

MISTY NICHOLSON, QUANTITY SURVEYOR, COSTAIN

CELEBRATING SAMARITANS RAIL VOLUNTEERS This month sees Volunteers’ Week, an annual national awareness campaign to thank and recognise the contribution of those across the UK who selflessly give their time to help causes close to their hearts.

Due to the rail industry’s 10-year partnership with Samaritans, many rail staff give their time to support the charity, making up some of the amazing 20,000 Samaritans volunteers who help keep the helpline running and are there to offer emotional support for anyone who is struggling to cope.

Everyday Samaritans volunteers answer 10,000 calls for help and with the impact of the pandemic, the volunteers’ support this year has been invaluable. In the year since restrictions began in the UK on Monday 23rd March 2020, Samaritans provided emotional support over 2.3 million times, via phone and email. One in five of these contacts were from people who were specifically concerned about coronavirus, so it’s clear Samaritans services are needed now more than ever.

Those who work within the rail industry and volunteer for Samaritans can also contribute to the Million Hour Challenge. Building on the partnership between Samaritans and Network Rail, the volunteering initiative aims to bring the sector together to donate its time to help the charity be there for those struggling to cope, whilst also improving the mental health and wellbeing of rail industry staff.

Rail staff can get involved in any way that suits them, simply by signing up online and logging their hours. From fundraising activities to online training offered by the charity, such as ‘Managing Suicidal Contacts’ course, and volunteering opportunities with local branches to become a listening volunteer or help with admin and support roles – research has shown that volunteering not only helps others, but also improves the volunteer’s physical and mental wellbeing too.

Recently, MTR Elizabeth Line’s Rizwan Javed was invited onto ITV’s Good Morning to talk about the lives he has saved since attending Samaritans’ suicide prevention course, with industry staff getting in touch to find out more.

Whatever you’re facing, Samaritans volunteers are there to listen, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for free on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org For more information on Million Hour Challenge and volunteering for Samaritans, visit millionhourchallenge.com

Misty is a Samaritans volunteer at the newly opened Samaritans London City Hub. Misty works at Costain, an organisation that is working in partnership with Samaritans to promote employee wellbeing and raise vital funds to help the charity continue to deliver its life-saving services. Misty completed her Samaritans training online during lockdown while juggling work and studying at London Southbank University.

Speaking about becoming a volunteer, Misty explained: “I have been a Mental Health First Aider for two years and felt like I could give more using my basic training. Samaritans do so much for society and as someone who has seen a family member struggle, I wanted to help others.

“It has been an eye-opening experience.

It’s amazing how close our group of trainee volunteers became, even though we were all in different places. Our online training gave us the time to talk about things together and I felt really supported. The outbreak of Coronavirus has just reinforced how important it is to volunteer.

“I would say to just take the leap and go for it. I have learnt some invaluable life skills. It’s so powerful to help people talk things through.

It might just be one conversation, but it could make all the difference.”

PATRICK HALL, RAILWAY SIGNALLER, NETWORK RAIL

Patrick has been a proud Samaritans listening volunteer since 2002 alongside his job as a Railway Signaller for Network Rail, starting at the age of 26 and inspired after he experienced ups and downs with his own mental health.

He said: “I’d got to a point in my life where I had some spare time on my hands and instead of coming home from work to just watch EastEnders or Coronation Street, I thought I could be doing more with my time and helping people. Like many people, I’ve had my ups and downs in my life and with my mental health and fortunately I had a lot of support from friends and family at the time. But I thought, what if I hadn’t had that support network there – what would I have done? So, in volunteering for Samaritans, I hope I’m helping and being a listening ear for people who haven’t got that support.

“Being a volunteer, you learn the incredible power of listening and power of giving people time and space to talk. It’s also boosted my confidence as well and benefited my personal and professional life – doing talks for Samaritans and press or radio interviews – when I first started, I’d have said ‘no chance’, but I’ve done it and I’ve been pleased to do it because when you believe in something and realise something is such a good precious thing, you want to talk about it and spread the message.

“I don’t regret doing this for one minute. It’s a solid part of my life now and it’s a privilege to be a part of.”

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FEATURE

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

REPORT BY COLIN WHEELER

NETWORK RAIL'S METAMORPHOSIS INTO GREAT BRITISH RAILWAYS

W

ith relatively short-lived train operating contracts being let under the current arrangements it was inevitable and sensible for rolling stock leasing companies (known as ROSCO’s) to be set up to fund rail vehicle purchase for train operators to use.

Banking and finance companies have invested in them. Does the industry need them in either the short or long term or in future should they be replaced by rolling stock owned by Great British Railways?

The Office of Rail and Road currently lists just nine owning and leasing organisations supplying coaches, locomotives and freight wagons to operators and four companies which are currently building new rolling stock in Britain. Recent well reported problems with some of the newest passenger trains on the East Coast and Great Western Main lines, together with concerns expressed in recently published reports by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch about freight train inspection and maintenance has led me to wonder if changes would be beneficial?

© Sterling750

LEASED TRAINS FOR FUTURE GREAT BRITISH RAILWAY OPERATION?

Colin Wheeler.

© Ceri Breeze

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© VictorHuang

Over recent decades I question whether the balance of investment between infrastructure renewal, maintenance and improvement of rolling stock was right?

Were we prematurely buying in replacement passenger rolling stock driven by would-be train operators seeking to gain new contracts? Competitive tendering has arguably resulted in some rolling stock being prematurely retired or cascaded.

Some HST’s (High Speed Trains) were cascaded to secondary lines when replaced by the new Hitach 800 ones but continue to operate elsewhere. When the Hitachi problems were discovered the temporary return of the 225’s was considered.

It was back in the early 1970’s when civil engineering designed facilities including maintenance sheds etc at Bounds Green, Heaton and Neville Hill were built. I recall these as I worked on the designs.

In the North East, Tyne and Wear Metro rolling stock is being replaced for the first time since it opened! Conversely many freight rail haulage companies continue to use older wagons many of which are difficult to inspect and maintain. I am also concerned that the marketing aspirations of franchising train operating companies in recent years has resulted in premature new train building at the expense of track, signalling and electrification work. Reviewing this I suggest needs to be high on the “to do” list of Great British Railways from the start.

I also see the potential for cost savings in the removal of the need for delays etc to be categorised, costed and attributed when a train is delayed. Costly and unproductive, that kind of approach proved ineffective and not fit for purpose just as the original Railway Clearing Houses set up in the mid 1800’s did!

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YOUNG RAIL PROFESSIONALS

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

S L A N IO S S E F O R P L YOUNG RAIFROM HOME WORKING

A

s Chairman of Young Rail Professionals, I have a privileged position at the centre of a huge network of early-career professionals. Through observation and conversation, I have built a picture of what motivates and worries YRP colleagues right across the country and across the sector.

From reflections on working conditions to views on industry events and changes, young professionals have a unique insight and a highly credible voice which should be heard. For the remaining tenure of my Chairmanship I will draw on the diverse voices of my peers to present a series of opinion editorials in RailStaff magazine.

The 14 June announcement to postpone Stage 4 of lockdown in England by four weeks was disappointing for many colleagues and friends. That, with the devolved national governments of Scotland and Wales retaining cautious rules which severely restrict social contact indoors, has delayed the return to office working again for the time being.

Whilst I fully support the slow return to normal from a safety perspective, for many of those at the early stages of their career the wait to go back cannot end soon enough.

© Hispanolistic

ILITY TO GET B SI N O SP E R A S A H THE INDUSTRY EEN HOME AND W T E B T H IG R E C N THE BALA SAFE WORKING E ID V O R P O T , G IN OFFICE WORK ENSURE THE LEAST O T D N A S, T N E M N ENVIRO T THE PERSONAL E G E C R FO K R O W R U EXPERIENCED IN O NT THEY NEED. E M P LO E V E D L A N AND PROFESSIO

© JohnnyGreig

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Given the obvious cost and convenience benefits to both the employee and employer of working from home, it is unlikely we will ever go back to full time in the workplace, excepting of course those colleagues who work on-site or in operational capacities. The key word present in conversations about the future amongst my peers is “balance”retaining the benefits of flexible working whilst rebuilding the workplace communities that thrive around inter-personal contact. To most this means 2-3 days in the office; a hybrid approach.

The convenience of working from home for employees should not be understated- to many carers, parents and those with accessibility issues thousands more employment opportunities will be accessible.

This will increase the diversity of our industry, something which has been repeatedly shown to improve productivity and successful outcomes.

As conscientious people acutely aware of the plight of the industry my peers are also concerned for the economic impact and potential decline in economic infrastructure, including our railways, caused by working from home. The pubs, shops and cafes reliant on 9-5 workers face a disaster, no longer able to even try to compete with online businesses.

There is a place in our future for these small businesses and I, for one, am not prepared to give up on them. Several YRPs have pointed out the importance of railway workers using the railway – commuting is an excellent way to get that passenger experience and feed back into our work.

Perhaps most concerning for early-career professionals are the development aspects which have suffered from remote working; social interaction with our peers and our elders, practice working in a team, tangible and intangible knowledge sharing, discipline

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YOUNG RAIL PROFESSIONALS

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to manage working hours, and myriad life lessons and continuous development.

Some apprentices, graduates, and other railway newbies have yet to meet their colleagues in person. Many of my peers will remember their first year in the industry as an exciting time, voraciously consuming knowledge and experiences at every opportunity – this period of enthusiasm formed an important part of who I am and what I wanted to become.

I latched on to mentors, I debated and argued (and was likely highly irritating at times). I challenge anyone that this rapid development can be actuated in front of Microsoft Teams. A recent new-joiner noted that their onboarding and learning process was frustratingly slow, and another admitted that they had regularly felt quite lonely during the working day working from home- this is no way to start an exciting career.

© SolStock

George George Chilcott.

Chilcott.

Young professionals will want to work in the industry for as long as they believe it is a force for good and that their input is valued. Salary alone will not cure retention issues.

So herein lies the biggest challenge – how does the employer manage the personal/ professional/programme

balance? How to retain the benefits of home working, bring back the myriad plus-points of the office whilst delivering the best quality of work? That will be the hardest question to answer. There is an expectation that employers will respect employees new-found flexible work-life arrangements; but this

may not always be possible when deadlines loom, crises are abound, or financial pressures dominate.

Has the young professional community managed with working from home? For the most part the answer appears to be yes; I am proud of how YRPs have adapted and made the most of a difficult situation. Are we keen to extend this permanently? No. Even those newest to the industry know they’ve been missing out; even if they can’t quite put their finger on what it is.

The industry has a responsibility to get the balance right between home and office working, to provide safe working environments, and to ensure the least experienced in our workforce get the personal and professional development they need.

YOUNG RAIL PROFESSIONALS

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PEOPLE

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

Lucy Wooton leads GRC Porterbrook appoints Mark Wyborn as Head of Freight Commercial A West Midlands-based rail industry group committed to improving customer service has appointed a Lucy Wootton to help evolve and deliver improvements for passengers.

Lucy, a rail professional with more than 12 years’ experience, was the regional manager (London), for Chiltern Railways, and has joined the GRC on an 18-month secondment.

The Grand Railway Collaboration (GRC) represents train operators, Network Rail’s Central route, the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) and Transport Focus.

She will work directly with the GRC chair, Alex Warner, to progress plans to improve customer service and satisfaction as well as meeting the challenge of recovering from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lucy Wootton, head of the Grand Railway Collaboration, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to work with the rail industry to really improve the passenger experience across the network. I

want the GRC to set the standard for customer service and for how train operators and Network Rail work together to really deliver for passengers and the communities we serve.”

Sir Peter Hendy, chair of Network Rail, said: “Network Rail is focused on putting passengers first. The Grand Rail Collaboration fits perfectly with this and I know, with Lucy’s support, it will have a positive impact on attracting passengers back and improving customer service as we emerge from lockdown.”

The GRC was launched by rail industry bosses in 2019 with a commitment for closer working to tackle performance, simplify rail fare structures, improve the quality of trains and stations, and deliver more efficient timetables for passengers.

Porterbrook, the rolling stock owner and asset manager, today announced the appointment of Mark Wyborn as its new Head of Freight Commercial.

Mark will be responsible for developing Porterbrook’s first dedicated freight strategy, as well as building partnerships with existing Freight Operating Companies, new market entrants and Network Rail.

Mark joins Porterbrook from GB Railfreight where he held a number of senior customer-facing and commercial positions. Prior to this he worked in operational roles at both Network Rail and Southern Railway.

Stefan Rose, Porterbrook’s designate Chief Investment Officer, said: “I welcome Mark to my new team. His appointment confirms Porterbrook’s renewed and long-term commitment to railfreight, one of the great success stories of privatisation.

“We are looking to invest £1bn in Britain’s railway over the coming years. Mark will be looking to partner with freight operators so that they can share in Porterbrook’s ambitious growth plans.”

Mark Wyborn said: “I am very pleased to be joining market leader Porterbrook at this very exciting time for both railfreight and our industry.

“Porterbrook will support the ambitious growth plans of Freight Operating Companies by financing new and improved assets, tailored to market needs. These will allow our railfreight customers to play a greater part in the Green Recovery.”

Sir Jonathan Thompson appointed to HS2 Board Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has appointed Sir Jon Thompson as a NonExecutive Director to the High Speed 2 (HS2) Limited Board. Sir Jon will represent Government’s interests on the board, as was recommended by the independent Oakervee Review of HS2.

He brings strong financial management and experience in leading major projects. Sir Jon is currently Chief Executive of the Financial Reporting Council and was previously the Permanent Secretary at both the Ministry of Defence and HM Revenue and Customs.

This appointment has been made in accordance with the Governance Code for public appointments. It follows that of three other non-executive directors to the board last year, Ian King, Elaine Holt and Tom Harris, who were appointed to strengthen oversight and scrutiny of the UK’s largest infrastructure project.

HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said: “Sir Jon will be an invaluable asset to the board of HS2 Ltd and will strengthen oversight and accountability as this vital project is delivered.

“He joins HS2’s board at an exciting time as construction of Phase One ramps up and Phase 2a has been given the green light to begin – creating thousands of jobs, driving our economic recovery from Covid-19 and delivering on our promise to level up towns and cities across the country.”

Sir Jonathan Thompson said: “I am delighted to have been appointed to the Board of HS2, a project in the national interest, and one where hopefully I can contribute strongly to delivering on time and to budget.”

Following the publication of the independent Oakervee Review in February 2020, which recommend proceeding with HS2, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed the project would go ahead to deliver better

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connectivity across the country, greater capacity on the rail network and shorter journey times.

Construction of Phase One of HS2 is underway and is now supporting over 15,000 jobs and over 500 apprenticeships.

In February 2021, the Phase 2a Bill was given Royal Assent, in a historic milestone that will bring the new high-speed railway to the north.

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New Managing Director for TPE Matthew Golton has been appointed Managing Director of TransPennine Express (TPE).

Matthew has been with FirstGroup since 2006, holding a number of senior leadership roles, including Great Western Railway (GWR)’s Interim Managing Director, GWR Commercial Development Director and First Rail Business Development Director. Prior to his time with FirstGroup, Matthew worked in the rail freight and energy sectors.

For more than a decade Matthew played a leading role in GWR’s transformation programme and the successive renewal of its contracts with Government. Working with stakeholders, suppliers and partners he successfully drove service, station, fleet, depot and route enhancements across the GWR network and attracted major multi-million investment into the business and its railway.

His experience in helping guide GWR through

the Great Western Route Modernisation Programme will be key as TPE completes the roll out of the new Nova fleets and gears up to support the TransPennine Upgrade and other major rail enhancement programmes in the North of England and into Scotland.

Matthew takes over the role from interim Managing Director, Liz Collins, who is retiring from her current full-time role and taking up a new part-time position in West Coast Partnership as Finance & Commercial Director.

Matthew Golton, said: “I am delighted to be joining the team at TransPennine Express. I am looking forward to working with colleagues in TPE and the wider rail industry as we continue to play our part in supporting the UK’s recovery from the pandemic. I want TPE to be at the heart of delivering positive change for rail users and the communities that it serves in the North of England and into Scotland, and I look forward to working with colleagues and stakeholders to realise that”.

Steve Montgomery, First Rail Managing Director, said: “Matthew brings a wealth of experience to the role with a passion and energy for delivering for passengers and our partners. As we work to complete the roll out of the new Nova fleets and support major rail enhancement programmes this is an exciting time for the customers and communities TPE serves, and we are really pleased to have Matthew joining the TPE team”.

Geobear appoint Rail Technical Director

Acorn Rail appoints new Programme Director

Geobear has strengthened its expertise in the rail sector with the appointment of Dr Mohammed Wehbi as Rail Technical Director.

Acorn Rail has appointed Colin Berry as Programme Director for Wales and Western Regions.

Wehbi is a Civil Engineer who specialises in geotechnics and transportation. He has previously worked in Network Rail as a Senior Design Engineer in the National Track Bed Investigation and Design team. Mohamed has a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Birmingham and he is also a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and a Fellow Member of the Permanent Way Institution (FPWI).

Otso Lahtinen CEO commented “We are delighted Mohammed has joined Geobear. His outstanding expertise and knowledge of permanent way will help us to deliver greater efficiencies for Network Rail. “ Dr Mohammed Wehbi, “Foundation subsoil failure is considered the engineers’ worst nightmare as it would typically require significant maintenance

works and, in many cases, major reconstruction works that would lead to substantial spending by the asset owner. Geobear’s technology provides novel and elegant in-situ soil stabilisation solutions that could change the way we treat such problems in a more sustainable manner and minimal disruptions. I look forward to being part of Geobear’s team, working with this technology to deliver and maintain more sustainable infrastructures” Geobear provides solutions across the rail sector including track stabilisation, ground improvement for stations and lineside structures together with void filling.

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Colin joins the Rail division of Acorn (Synergie) UK Ltd during an ongoing period of change within the industry, with more than 100,000 jobs in UK rail expected within the next decade.

Colin started his career as a member of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, joining the rail sector in 1999. He is also a member of the

Association of Project Managers, Permanent Way Institution and holds a number of other professional memberships.

Most recently being responsible for the delivery of works within Wales and Western with Network Rail, Colin brings senior management, leadership, commercial and business acumen delivering complex multibillion-pound projects in the UK and overseas to his new role with Acorn Rail.

New senior team for CWE CWE – the independent supply, maintenance and logistics partner for the rail industry – has announced the appointment of a new senior management team and unveiled a new-look brand and website as part of the next phase of its growth plans.

The senior team – managing director, Nick Andrew; commercial manager, David Bates; business development director, Phil Brown and Oliver Baker as chairman – bring with them a wealth of experience in the rail and engineering sectors, and a commitment to providing a lean, efficient and future-ready service to UK rail.

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CAREERS

RAILSTAFF MAY-JUNE 2021

way People.com At the heart of UK rail…

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Project Manager Birmingham based with nationwide travel. Full Time permanent position, salary negotiable + competitive benefits package

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This is a great opportunity for an experienced Rail Project Manager to work across multiple projects including ATWS, Civils, OLE, S&T and De-vegetation.

Project Management experience in the rail or civils sector, leading projects from design to conclusion using MS Project and / or P6 Primavera is essential, along with knowledge of CDM 2015 regulations and a project management qualification.

Junior P6 Planner Birmingham based. Full Time permanent position, salary negotiable + competitive benefits package This role is ideally suited to someone with a developing knowledge of P6 Primavera and/or MS project who is looking to support on a range of multi-disciplinary projects within the rail sector. Due to our ongoing expansion this role offers great opportunities for career & professional development.

For full details on each role, please visit our website at: www.rssinfrastructure.com/careers

To apply, please forward your CV to: kaye.toy@auctusmg.co.uk for an initial, in confidence, conversation or call 0121 366 8800 for further details.

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DELIVERING QUALITY RECRUITMENT SOLUTIONS FOR THE RAIL INDUSTRY Resource Manager – Rail

Permanent Way Supervisor

Location: Birmingham Salary: Negotiable Type: Permanent

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This is an excellent opportunity for a Resource Manager with a good rail background to deliver technical excellence for engineering works associated with HS2. Experience working in a similar role is essential.

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Trainers / Assessors

Nationwide

Intertrain, as part of the City & Guilds Group, are recruiting Trainer / Assessors within the rail industry on a nationwide basis.

We are looking for professional and committed individuals with solid occupational experience.

Ideal candidates must have the ability to train or assess in any of the following disciplines; Safety Critical, OLE, OTP, S&T or Permanent Way Engineering.

intertrainjobs.co.uk

Requirements: • Level 3 Education and Training qualification (or equivalent) • Level 3 Assessing in the Workplace (TAQA) • NSAR Assured (preferred not mandatory)

This is an exciting opportunity to integrate into City & Guilds, a world class organisation and support with our purpose to ‘enable people and organisations to develop their skills for personal and economic growth.’

For more information and to apply: email:

hr@intertrain.biz

apply online:

intertrainjobs.co.uk

call:

01302 815530

Trainee Trainer /Assessors We are also recruiting for Trainee Trainer /Assessors for those who want to further their career in the rail industry.

Applicants with no formal training / assessing qualifications will be considered if they have a technical background in OLE, S&T or P-way engineering.

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