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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
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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.
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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.
