RailStaff October 2011

ISSUE 167 OCT 2011

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Blackfriars Bridge world’s largest solar bridge

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In this issue...

Driver of the Second Driver Paul Livings has beaten the record for a train travelling between London and Cambridge.

Page 3

Rail replay for Rihanna Keen not to keep fans waiting, Rihanna took the London Underground to her gig at the O2 arena recently.

Page 4

Viennese Waltz for Blackpool The Bombardier-built Flexity 2 tram, made in Vienna and Bautzen, has made its debut in Blackpool.

Page 6

London’s biggest array of solar panels will top the new river-spanning Blackfriars station.

Engineers are installing over 4,400 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels covering an area of 6,000 square metres. The new Blackfriars station, being built on the historic bridge, will span the River Thames. Originally built in

1886 Network Rail is upgrading the bridge and building a large new station as part of the Thameslink programme.

The solar panels will generate an estimated 900,000 kilowatts of electricity every year, providing 50% of the station’s energy and reducing CO2 emissions by an estimated 511 tonnes per year.

ICC, Birmingham 29th October

In addition to solar panels, other energy saving measures at the new station will include rain harvesting systems and sun pipes for natural lighting. Once the upgrade is complete, up to 24 trains per hour will be able to run through central London boosting capacity on the popular BedfordBrighton line.

Training Focus The London Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012 emphasise the importance of training.

Pages 20-27

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“It’s going to be a frightfully good night!”

2 | RailStaff | October 2011

RailStaff Editorial In his speech to the Conservative Party conference, David Cameron emphasised the seriousness of the financial crisis that threatens Britain. However, he urged his listeners to take heart. Britain is too often portrayed as a fading imperial power looking for a role in a world it no longer understands. The problems of the eurozone and the stagnation of the American economy only serve to emphasise Britain’s sense of disconnect. Many argue, Cameron said, that our best days are behind us, that we’re on a path of certain decline. The prime minister is to be applauded for roundly condemning such defeatism.

Can Britain ever be great again? As proof Mr Cameron might have pointed to Britain’s railways and an industry whose best days lie ahead. Thirty years ago railways in this country were dismissed as an economic disaster. With the arrival of cheap cars and motorways patronage dropped away, lines were closed and train building progressively dwindled.

The privatisation of the railways by John Major, the same leader who took Britain into the disastrous exchange rate mechanism, split up British Rail into 400 separate entities. Major thus removed any central strength the rail industry might once have had for pushing its case. Rather more happily it removed central controls on wages.

Able rail staff made up for shortfalls long decreed by flint eyed pistoliers from the treasury.

Best of all freed from the damp clinker of state control, railways fired up again attracting new passengers and new freight flows. Management buy outs like FirstGroup and Freightliner became serious wealth generators. Encouraged by ex-clippies and fitters in ill-fitting suits, startled railway staff found themselves empowered to drive up custom any way they could.

Ideas poured out and the results were spectacular. Self effacing as ever railway visionaries always admitted returning patronage owed much to circumstance. Few could have foreseen the extraordinary growth in the export of Chinese goods, by sea and thence rail. Neither was the effect of the burgeoning economic dynamism of London and its sponge-like watering of the commuter market readily apparent in 1996.

However the railway industry rose to the challenge. Had it been any less than professional it would not have retained new custom. Lesson one: Be very good at what you do. However what must be remembered is the 1000s of rail staff who stayed the course working on with the unshakable conviction that the country needs railways and more of them.

Keep the faith. This is the real rail lesson for Cameron and the nation: Believe in who you are and what you do. Ignore all evidence of managed decline. Keep on keeping on. No one can predict the future with any accuracy. Time and chance happen to us all. However the need for an intelligent exponent of democracy and freedom will never diminish - quite the contrary. Believe in yourself and this country. Railways came back from the brink - so can Britain.

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Blackfriars – mark of confidence

Among the many projects powering ahead on Britain’s railway system Blackfriars Bridge perhaps best illustrates the new confidence lighting up the rail industry.

Delayed for years – it was originally dubbed Thameslink 2000 – the £6 billion project will provide longer, 12 car trains and more of them, more often.

Says Lindsay Vamplew, Network Rail’s project director for Blackfriars, ‘We’re creating a spacious, modern station and delivering a vastly improved train service for passengers, while at the same time installing London’s largest solar array to make Blackfriars more environmentally-friendly and sustainable.

‘The Victorian railway bridge at Blackfriars is part of our railway history. Constructed in the age of steam, we’re bringing it bang up to date with twenty first century solar technology to create an iconic station for the city.’

A new entrance on the south bank of the river will give passengers direct access to the Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

Says Derry Newman, chief executive, Solarcentury, the solar engineering company, ‘It’s fantastic to see this project finally come to fruition. Blackfriars Bridge is an ideal location for solar (power); a new, iconic large roof space, right in the heart of London.

‘Station buildings and bridges are fixed parts of our urban landscape and it is great to see that this one will be generating renewable energy every day into the future. Unknown to most, there are many hundreds of buildings now powered by solar in the capital as investment in this technology increases.

For people to see that solar power is working is a vital step towards a clean energy future.’

Earlier this year 16,000 solar panels were laid on the top of a railway tunnel in Belgium, above trains travelling between Paris and Antwerp. The electricity produced was equivalent to that needed to power all the trains in Belgium for one day per year.

Railways continue to lead the way in the development of environmental power. The highefficiency solar modules used are manufactured by Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. The only other solar bridge known in the world is in Brisbane, Australia. The Kurilpa Footbridge was constructed in 2009.

As well as the river-spanning railway station the London Underground station is being completely remodelled with new

lifts, escalators and extended platforms. It should be ready by Christmas.

Blackfriars station itself is ex-

Clegg backs HS2 © LIBERAL DEMOCRAT PARTY

Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg has backed High Speed Two, saying it is essential as a boost for the economy.

‘I think it’s a good thing that this Government, with Liberal Democrats in it, has finally taken the decision that governments have ducked for generations. That is we’ve got to learn the lessons from France and from other countries that

it makes a dramatic difference to a country if you’ve got a lot of wealth in one part of the country, as we do, and lot of deprivation and economic underdevelopment in other parts of the country. One of the ways that wealth is spread more fairly is to make sure different parts of the country are much more quickly connected with each other.’

pected to be complete in time for the 2012 London Olympics.

Clegg told delegates at his party conference that he would not be swayed by opposition in the Chilterns and the stockbroker belt. The government is currently reviewing the scheme and will announce its decision in December.

‘You’ve got to remember we are coming out of an economic crisis which was generated in part by an approach to economic development, from a succession of governments in different parties, which basically said look, as long as we look after the south-east and the city of London, and they become the locomotive of economic growth for the rest of the country, everything will be alright.

‘That basic model of economic growth has collapsed. It’s not going to come back,’ Mr Clegg said. ‘We need to make sure we don’t rely on one part of the country or one sector. I think high speed rail is absolutely crucial to that longer term vision of a more balanced, stable economy.

RailStaff | October 2011 | 3 © JONATHAN WEBB

Rail News in brief > Save the Children FirstGroup has been recognised by Save the Children for its outstanding contribution to the charity’s work.

Save the Children, which is FirstGroup’s charity partner, presented the Aberdeen based company with the award for ‘Outstanding Results in Engaging the Public.’

> Manchester boosts tram fleet An additional 12 new Bombardier-built M5000 trams are set to enter service, in addition to the 62 already ordered, on Manchester’s Metrolink network allowing the older T68 trams to be phased out.

The new yellow liveried trams have proved a great success with passengers and staff alike and are on average four times more reliable than the old trams. The M5000s are much lighter and reduce wear and tear on the track which saves money and time.

> Redditch reprise Plans to double the track between Redditch and Alvechurch in the West Midlands moved a step nearer after a series of successful public consultations in the area.

The proposal includes doubling the line from just north of Alvechurch station to Weights Lane, near Redditch, and constructing a second platform at Alvechurch.

Driver of the second Driver Paul Livings (pictured above) has beaten the record for a train travelling between London and Cambridge.

Mr Livings shaved four seconds off the journey time completing the trip in 48 minutes and 13 seconds. The previous record had been set by a Class 86 in the 1980s.

The record breaking run formed part of a ceremony by National Express to launch the new 379s into service on the London-Cambridge and Stansted Airport routes. A de-

lighted Cambridge Mayor, Ian Nimmo-Smith named the train ‘City of Cambridge.’

Although the station is one mile away from the actual city centre it is now among the busiest in the east of England generating 8 million passenger journeys a year.

166 years ago university authorities initially resisted the railway and tried to block students from using it. Says the Mayor, ‘The worry was that students would find it easier to reach the flesh pots of London.’

However, thanks to Driver Livings and hard working colleagues at ‘Litchurch Lane’ the new fleet can whisk students and local people down to London in less than an hour. Plenty of time for business travellers and party goers alike to reach the capital and get back in time for business the next morning.

Network Rail is currently expanding capacity at Cambridge with new lines, longer platforms and a new island platform.

> Footbridge lifts in A 12-tonne footbridge has been lifted in to place at Wrexham General.

The work was carried out over 12 hours by 18 engineers working round the clock with no disruption to passenger services. As well as the new footbridge, a new lift will provide step-free access connecting platform 4 to the ticket office and other platforms, making it much easier for people with reduced mobility.

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4 | RailStaff | October 2011

Rail replay for Rihanna Keen not to keep fans waiting Rihanna took the London Underground to her gig at the 02 Arena recently.

The singer, who uses an Oyster card, wanted to be bang on time and used the Jubilee Line to speed across London beating the rush hour gridlock. Astonished fans on their way to the concert chatted to Rihanna. The singer appeared relaxed and friendly and happy to pose for photos and sign autographs.

Arriving at North Greenwich station a security outfit met her and whisked her the 100 yards to the back stage entrance. Rihanna’s tour continues in Europe. She returns to the UK on 13th November.

Rihanna, with Oyster card at the ready.

PHOTO: @CleideCarina Courtesy of Twitter

Driver in the Sky A former train driver now a helicopter pilot with the Humberside Police, helped stop a train from ploughing into an abandoned car, left on a level crossing near Hull.

Helicopter pilot, Captain Kathryn Chapman, a former train driver, flew low over the tracks and flashed her lights at the oncoming train. ‘I was aware of where the incident was and was looking across the Humber and saw the train going past the Arco building going into town.

‘I knew the train was getting close. I just decided it was sen-

sible to carry on and put a stop on the train if we could,’ said Captain Chapman. ‘I pulled the helicopter up to maximum speed to get ahead of the train, to round about 150mph. I was just determined to get ahead.’

She managed to hover above the track and flash a warning at the driver who competently took action.

Kathryn drove trains in 2007 to 2008. ‘I don’t see it as hairraising - it is just part and parcel of what we get asked to do….I knew roughly the signals the driver would have been

looking for,’ she said. ‘The rule book says lights being flashed directly in your field of view should be taken as an emergency stop signal.’

Kathryn also served in the Royal Navy and is a Gulf War vet-

eran. Network Rail signalmen and the driver of the Northern Rail service were also praised for their prompt life saving actions.

The driver of the car has since been arrested for suspected drugs offences.

New challenges planned for Railway Children supporters © ADAM O’CONNOR

It’s a sell out Despite the recession, figures released by Network Rail show retail sales on station concourses are holding their own.

Results for April, May and June 2011 show a 3.7% growth in like for like sales, compared to the same time the previous year.

Gatwick, followed by London stations in particular London Bridge (8.6%), Fenchurch Street (7%) and Euston (6.8%) achieved the best sales growth over the period.

Outside of London, Manchester (4.98%) and Leeds (4.60%) stations achieved the best results.

Says Gavin McKechnie head of retail at Network Rail, ‘Despite the fact we had two successive four day bank holiday weekends, the results are very encouraging in this challenging economic climate. The high footfall of our stations continues to give our partners the edge over the high street.’

the world’s most spectacular destinations.

Trek to the summit of Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain in the world and visit a Railway Children project in Tanzania to meet the children who benefit from your hard-earned sponsorship money.

‘I took part in this last year,’ says Adam O’Connor, production manager, Rail Media Group, ‘And it was tough but very rewarding. I changed as a person as I undertook the challenge and also afterwards.

‘The Railway Children is my personal adopted charity. Its effect on the people involved and those who it benefits is beyond measure. I urge everyone thinking of getting © ADAM O’CONNOR

All profits from Network Rail’s retail activity are reinvested in the railway.

The Railway Children has unveiled a dramatic programme of events for 2012.

Whilst media attention may be focused on the London Olympics the action continues through 2012 as intrepid railway staff and their friends and families take on a multitude of fund raising challenges.

Parachuting, mountain climbing and long distance cycle rides are proving perennial favourites. New events include a cycling challenge through the Sierra Nevada, California, called Summit to Sea; Cycle India will see intrepid cyclists making a 480km bike ride from the Taj Mahal to Jaipur. Also new for next year is the Welsh 3000’s.

Climbers will bag fifteen mountains in Wales all over 3,000 feet.

The popular Three Peaks Challenge by Rail celebrates its 10th anniversary next year.

Supporters climb the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales with a special train travelling between the mountains.

There is also the memorable London to Paris bike ride that spins through the countryside and ends at the Eiffel Tower.

Running events and marathons prove enduringly popular and next year is no exception. Overseas further expeditions include the adventure of a lifetime in some of

involved to just do it! Whether it’s a fun run round the park, a marathon or a climb up Kilimanjaro.’

Other expeditions include a trek to the lost city of Machu Picchu, a walk along the Great Wall in China as well as many different challenges.

Says Katie Mason of the Railway Children, ‘If you have been thinking about doing something different or life changing, the Railway Children will help you all the way with lots of support, training advice and help with fundraising.

Not only will you do an amazing personal challenge, you will also be helping some of the world’s street children at the same time. These events are great for corporate team building, comradeship, personal achievement and simply having fun.’

For more information, take a look at the website: www.railwaychildren.org.uk/events or call Katie Mason, Events Manager – 01270 757596.

The Railway Children supports street children living alone and at risk on the streets, many of whom live on railway platforms.The charity provides shelter, food, healthcare, education and above all, friendship.

PEOPLE MOVES

RailStaff | October 2011 | 5

Wise move

Network Rail has a new legal executive.

Suzanne Wise, currently with Premier Foods plc, will join Network Rail as general counsel

early in the new year. She takes over from Hazel Walker, group company secretary, who left Network Rail at the end of September after nine years with

the company.

Says chief executive, David Higgins, ‘Suzanne joins us at a pivotal time when the company and the industry are undergoing a period of intensive change.

Suzanne brings great experience from the FTSE 100 and 250, which will be invaluable in helping the executive drive the company forward to deliver a bigger, more reliable and affordable railway.’

The new title of general counsel reflects a broader role covering transparency, data protection, business ethics and access to information. Mr Higgins paid tribute to Hazel Walker, ‘Hazel will be greatly missed.

She’s been with Network Rail

Says Mark, ‘It is a great honour to take on the role of President at a very exciting time for the rail industry. We are seeing record growth in customer numbers, and significant investment in both rolling stock and infrastructure. There are challenges and the industry will need to face up to these and make some difficult decisions.

‘There are also some great opportunities to realise faster more

Graeme Thompson has been appointed Chief Finance Officer at High Speed 1.

Thompson’s appointment follows the resignation of Graham Gunn, who had held the post since 2007.

A chartered accountant Graeme Thompson trained with PWC and has worked for Powergen, EON and Central Networks where he was Finance and Regulation Director. He was educated at Lancomfortable journeys. The RSA allows us to debate these issues, and discuss solutions, and I am greatly looking forward to the year ahead.’

New faces at Wabtec Rail Two new appointments have strengthened the team at Wabtec Rail Limited.

Gordon Innes is the new HVAC Business Manager. Gordon joins Wabtec Rail from EMI where he was the Business Development Manager for Rail. Prior to this Gordon was Fleet Engineer and Project Manager at Southern Railway for over three years, Fleet Engineer at East Coast (then GNER) for two years and at Interfleet for five years.

Gordon is a Chartered Engineer

and has a Masters degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering and Business Studies. He brings considerable engineering knowledge and business experience to the company.

Paul Attwood also joins as the new Bogie Production Manager following a recent reorganisation in the Bogie business division.

Paul joins Wabtec Rail from LNS Turbo, a market leader in the supply of material handling solutions to the machine tool industries worldwide.

Andy Pitt is stepping down as managing director of South West Trains and will be replaced by Tim Shoveller, currently in charge of sister company, East Midlands Trains, where David Horne will take over.

A career railwayman Andy Pitt has been in railways for 28 years.

He worked for BR in South Wales and the Western Region and did a spell with Opraf (the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising) before joining Stagecoach in 1997 as commercial director SWT. Andy plans to retire.

Tim Shoveller (38), began his career at Guildford and worked for Eurostar, Silverlink and Vir-

gin Trains. He was operations director at Midland Mainline and took over at EMT in 2007.

David Horne is currently Commercial and Customer Service Director at East Midlands Trains. He has worked in the rail industry since 1993.

Big game for Thompson

Study in Change Mark Hopwood, First Great Western’s managing director, has become president of the Railway Study Association for the next year.

Mr Hopwood made his inaugural address entitled ‘All Change (again)’ recently. The RSA provides a forum for the exchange of experience, knowledge and opinion on issues relating to all aspects of the railway industry.

since its inception. Her insightful advice and guidance has been invaluable to the company and I wish her every success in the future.’

Suzanne will report to Patrick Butcher, group finance director and will be a member of the company’s group executive.

She joined Premier Foods in January 2008 from Gallaher Group plc where she was head of legal affairs. Prior to Gallaher, she was a solicitor in a private practice. Suzanne qualified as a solicitor with Lewis Silkin and was admitted to practice in 1987.

She graduated from the University of East Anglia in 1983 and studied at the College of Law, Guildford.

Pitt Stop

Paul was Works Manager for four years during his time at LNS Turbo. He has a great deal of engineering experience gained within the machine tool, medical, rail and aerospace industries.

Paul holds a Masters Degree in Mechanical Systems & Design Engineering from Liverpool University. He is well versed in lean manufacturing and continuous improvement techniques, as well as having a good understanding of modern production control systems.

caster University where he studied accounting and finance. His family is involved in running a top African safari outfit called Ngok.

Nicola Shaw, Chief Executive said, ‘I look forward to working closely with Graeme and he will bring strong business skills to HS1 which will help us move forward working closely with our partners.’

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Mark Allen joins NSARE Mark Allen has joined the National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering as Business Development and Stakeholder Manager.

Mark, a career railway man, joins NSARE from Portec Rail Group in Sheffield where he was head of rail engineering. Married with three children

Mark joined the rail industry in 1997 as a graduate trainee with Railtrack. He worked for Network Rail as a contracts manager looking after track engineering on East Anglia, Eastern and Southern regions. Mark later moved to Network Rail’s corporate HQ as a Senior Track Engineer.

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6 | RailStaff | October 2011

Viennese waltz for Blackpool © JONATHAN WEBB

The Bombardier-built Flexity 2 tram, made in Vienna and Bautzen, has made its debut at Blackpool.

The town’s historic tram system celebrated it’s 125th anniversary last year and has recently enjoyed a £100m upgrade.

The 16-strong fleet will be in service by next Easter.

The new low-floor trams are based on Bombardier’s previous light rail designs. Bombardier’s president, Andre Navarri, joined local leaders at the new tram depot at Starr Gate as the first tram took to the streets.

One of Britain’s only surviving first generation tramways, Blackpool’s street trams were in danger of being closed down as many vehicles and stops did not comply with disability legislation. New trams are fully compliant and a small number of

heritage trams will be modified to comply with disability access legislation. Some of the more historical vehicles will be re-

Volunteer backing The rail engineer magazine, sister publication of RailStaff, is sponsoring the Signal and Telecommunications Volunteer Technician of the Year Award, organised by the IRSE - the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers.

The award was conceived in 2010 to increase the awareness of the contribution that volunteer railway signalling and

telecommunications designers, installers and maintainers make to the safe and efficient operation of minor railways.

All entries will be judged by an independent panel of acknowledged S&T professionals and the award will be presented at the Section’s Technical Conference at the Severn Valley Railway Museum on 12th November.

tained as a museum fleet.

Quicker journey times and a reduction in the number of stops will make the light rail system

Says Tom O’Connor, of the Rail Media Group which publishes RailStaff and the rail engineer, ‘We are delighted to be supporting this worthy award. Many of our readers and contributors are actively involved in preserved railways. This award will encourage them and help raise the profile of this vitally important but too often overlooked aspect of railway preservation.’

The IRSE Minor Railways Section S&T Volunteer Technician of the Year Award is designed to recognise those individuals who demonstrate an outstanding

much more competitive with local bus services. The new trams are being built in Germany.

Says Blackpool Council leader, Simon Blackburn, ‘Providing a modern tram service that operates as an effective transport system while still offering visitors and residents the opportunity to enjoy uninterrupted views of our coastline is something unique to Blackpool. The new Flexity 2 model will help us improve access for people with prams or with wheel chairs for example and will run alongside our heritage trams.’

Production of the trams began in August 2010 at Bombardier’s factories in Bautzen in Germany, and in Vienna, Austria. Each tram has 74 seats plus capacity for 150 standing passengers.

individual commitment, on a regular basis, to the practice of S&T engineering on their particular minor railway or in a minor railway context.

The award is open to candidates over the age of 16 and entry is free.

Railway Administrations were invited to nominate individuals by means of a short statement clearly demonstrating the reasons for the nomination. The winner will receive nominal ownership of the S&T Volunteer Technician of the Year Trophy for one year, £100 in cash and a personal trophy and framed certificate.

Edinburgh tram project untied Edinburgh’s trams are back on track after the city council signed a new deal with its main contractor, Bilfinger Berger and the Scottish Government stepped in to back the scheme.

Says Council Leader Jenny Dawe, ‘This is an important milestone in restoring our vision for a clean, green and efficient transport system in Scotland’s capital.

It is essential for everyone who lives or works in Edinburgh that the project gets going now as soon as possible. I am pleased with the spirit of cooperation shown by all parties and grateful for the hard work that has gone into taking us forward.’

Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (TIE) will cease to exist as an operating entity with its previous functions executed by the Council supported by Turner and Townsend. The Scottish Government has also stepped in to help.

Says Council Chief Executive Sue Bruce, ‘I’m very pleased to

welcome Transport Scotland’s involvement which will see our staff and theirs working closely together as we look to enter a

new phase in the project’s history. As with any major construction project I’m sure we will have hurdles to overcome, but

our new governance and operational arrangements are aimed at dealing with those as efficiently as possible.’

Back on track – an artist’s impression of the new Edinburgh tram.

Tours des Enfants

An intrepid team of 32 volunteers has successfully completed Railway Children’s London to Paris Bike Ride.

Cycling the 180 miles in three days, they raised £50,000. Faced with torrential rain on their departure from Crystal Palace, the cyclists - including those from VolkerRail, Network Rail and Barclays - headed out from London and onto quieter roads as they made their way to the ferry crossing.

Riding south through France they spun through villages and open country on roads with no pot holes. The group reached the Eiffel Tower and celebrated with a glass of champagne.

Says Graham Jackson of Unipart Rail, ‘Superbly organised, with great company from colleagues from across the rail industry, this was an excellent challenge event to raise money for the Railway Children Charity.

Well worth the effort.’

Profits of zoom East Coast, which is sponsoring the Train Driver of the Year at the RailStaff Awards, has increased its profits and passenger numbers.

Between April 2010 and March 2011, East Coast made a pre-tax operating profit of £182.8 million.

This meant it was able to pay £177 million to the Department for Transport, for whom it runs the company. This compares with a pre-tax operating profit of £52.7 million from November 2009 - when the company started operations - to March 2010.

East Coast says passenger growth on the line had increased 3% in 2010/11, with turnover reaching more than £645 million.

First class passenger numbers have risen 24% since the new

timetable was introduced in May this year.

Says East Coast chairman Elaine Holt, ‘While we’re making good progress with the turnaround, we have much still to do.

During this year, we shall continue to focus on delivering a consistent service across our network, working harder to ensure we get the basics right, fixing the problems we inherited, improving and building for the future, and restoring the pride in the East Coast railway.’

East Coast’s parent company, Directly Operated Railways, took over the line when National Express gave up the franchise. The line is due to revert to the private sector again at the end of 2013. © JONATHAN WEBB

East Coast has boosted profits and passengers.

8 | RailStaff | October 2011

Railway man Rail backing for Royal Bolton elected president A former British Rail employee has been elected as Zambia’s fifth president.

Michael Sata, 74, swept to victory in the recent presidential elections at the head of the Patriotic Front party. Mr Sata, a committed catholic and family man, held a variety of jobs in his youth among them a position at London Victoria.

Returning to Zambia he entered politics and quickly won a reputation for asking hard questions and agitating for better conditions for the poor. Presi-

A senior traffic clerk in Manchester has helped organise a £1,000.00 donation to the Royal Bolton Hospital Breast Unit.

James Kelly, who works for Freightliner in Manchester, nominated the charity following the successful treatment his motherin-law, Sylvia Thomason, received for breast cancer at the clinic.

James praised the hospital and said, ‘The outstanding care and her survival and lust for life are in no small part due to the support from the team at Bolton Breast Care Unit. Every single penny they receive is put to good use for past, current and future patients.’

dent Sata plans to negotiate better conditions and deals for workers involved with foreign investors.

Mr Sata remains concerned at the level of Chinese involvement in his country’s economy.

Nicknamed King Cobra for his blunt manner he was a popular figure among colleagues at BR. Once employed as a porter he swept platforms and helped passengers on their way at London’s busy international station. Mr Sata has promised a clean sweep of Zambian politics. © COMSEC

The people of Zambia come out in force to watch the ceremony of Michael Sata becoming president.

The employee charity scheme enables staff to choose a charity. Tibor Kovacs, Breast Surgeon and Lead Clinician at the Bolton Breast Unit, said, ‘We’re very grateful for the generous donation from Freightliner staff and would like to thank them and Mr Kelly in particular for thinking of the unit. The donation will be put to good use on behalf of our patients.’

The Royal Bolton Hospital is one of the busiest NHS hospitals in the North West of England, and its Bolton Breast Clinic covers the areas of Bolton, Bury and parts of Wigan.

James Kelly and Sylvia Thomason presenting the cheque to nurses from the Royal Bolton Hospital Breast Unit.

Whelan wins Aslef vote

Early Bath at Borough

Mick Whelan, 50, a former train driver, has been elected General Secretary of Aslef.

Mr Whelan won the close election gaining 3,683 votes with Simon Weller getting 3,458.

Mick said, ‘It is a privilege and an honour to become the leader of this proud union. I would like to record my thanks to all those members who voted for me and to the other candidates who acted throughout with dignity and decorum. I would also like to thank Keith Norman for the work he has done on behalf of our members during his period in office.’

Hard working Network Rail staff have unearthed a Roman bath house whilst excavating land for the Thameslink project.

Believed to be one of the biggest Roman finds in London the bath house once stood on the corner of London Bridge Street and Borough High Street. The site, which formerly sported a night club

and a fish and chip shop, has been earmarked for the construction of a new office block.

Specialist archaeologists are now excavating the site.

The bath house appears to include a range of rooms including a cold plunge pool as well as hot rooms warmed by under floor heating.

Medical Spotlight

Model of Good Health John O’Donnell, Director, Express Medicals Ltd, reports on better provision of occupational health by considering a number of delivery models.

Homographic Model An interesting model can be seen during the period of the Second World War. Winston Churchill, who was then in his 70s, had an extremely demanding role. Travel demands included trips to Washington, Moscow, Cairo and Yalta.

Whether travelling on a Royal Navy ship or flying on an RAF converted bomber Churchill was always accompanied by his personal physician, Lord Moran.

This can be viewed as the ultimate delivery model in which there is one-to-one attention with immediate referral to appropriate supporting professionals and all the advantages that come from such close attention. Such a delivery model is ideal for specific individuals such as heads of state.

team of medical professionals working under professional leadership support individual sportsmen and women and their teams.

For example, a premiership football club will have an inhouse sports doctor who will deal with the club’s medical requirements. The doctor will have access to an array of appropriate investigative equipment (for example: scans of injured joints) and treatments (eg: rehabilitative physiotherapy).

Industrial Model A third model was seen in large manufacturing companies, employing thousands of workers on large company sites, during the twentieth century.This model was characterised by the provision of a dedicated on-site medical centre which was staffed by company doctors and nurses.

The core services included preemployment questionnaires and medical examinations, the treatment of workplace injuries and the holding of occupational medical records.

Sports Model Another model has evolved in the context of modern sports such as football and rugby. A

The Static Model A fourth model is a direct descendant of the previous one.

This variant on model three relates to very large construction sites. Readers can learn about such an example by consulting the following publication issued by the ODA (Olympic Delivery Authority), “Be safe Be healthy” (2010).

Once again, the key component

of this delivery model is the provision of a dedicated medical centre (on-site as opposed to inhouse) with dedicated medical and complementary staff.

The ODA says that more than 10,000 pre-employment health checks and nearly 3,000 full medicals were carried out. A progressive approach is taken to the deliverance of wellbeing services to the workforce.

Working in partnership with the Department of Sexual Health

from Homerton Hospital, the Hackney Diabetes Centre and the Men’s Health Forum, the medical team was able to deliver an array of health initiatives to the workforce.

Projects addressed diet, smoking, exercise, blood pressure and sexual health. On a big site with thousands of workers this is clearly a model that has much to commend it. However, it is limited as the on-site medical centre is closed at the conclusion of the project, leaving no occupational health legacy.

The ABC Model adaptable, bespoke and commercial A fifth model is that developed by Express Medicals Ltd, over the past 15 years in response to clients’ requests. This has enabled Express Medicals to deliver some 90,000 medical examinations over the previous 5 years.

The core components of the model have been designed to meet the needs of construction and transport companies with locations across Great Britain.

Whilst some client companies have large sites, we have been very mindful that large numbers of companies have workers scattered on sites of varying size, some being quite small, throughout the country.

This model optimises service to client companies by offering the flexibility to attend multiple sites of varying size from huge to tiny, in multiple locations and at very short notice.

We deliver our services from three sources. We have two fixed medical centres in London and Stoke. We have mobile staff who can visit any site at home or abroad and we have session clinics across the country. This gives us the flexibility to solve client needs in different ways at a value–for–money cost.

The model enables the delivery of a wide range of services, including the provision of traditional occupational health services (for example: surveillance, fit-for-task medicals and referral to a diverse array of medical consultants and other specialists) and innovative wellbeing services.

Model five includes an occupational health legacy where an on-site medical centre has been used as part of the delivery vehicle. Administratively, any onsite medical centre functions as part of our total facility with all the long-term advantages that this brings.

For example, records will be stored within the database of all our records and medical facilities will still be available for workers requiring services after an-site project ceases.

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10 | RailStaff | October 2011

Join the Rail Alliance now

log on to www.railalliance.co.uk

Rail Alliance membership starts

email jo.bennett@railalliance.co.uk

from just £500 per year

or call 01789 720026.

MacroRail works magic at Long Marston On 16 September 2011 the Rail Alliance staged its inaugural MacroRail Exhibition at its Long Marston HQ near Stratford-on-Avon.

Over 60 Rail Alliance members took stand space and welcomed invited visitors from the Rail Industry. The aim of the 2011 event was to prove the concept that a successful exhibition for the sector does not need to cost thousands of pounds and that quality can win over quantity.

‘With a ‘flash to bang’ time of less than 3 months, we had set ourselves quite a challenge,’ reports Robert Hopkin of the rail Alliance. ‘However, a determined approach by all in the Rail Alliance saw it come to fruition, providing an exhibition opportunity for our members (at no cost to them) in a live, working rail environment.

‘Through collaborating with other businesses on site at the Long Marston Business Park not least the innovative use of warehouse accommodation we have proved that, to quote one of General Colin Powell’s famous rules, ‘It can be done!’

In particular, we are very grateful to the CEO of Motorail UK, Ruth Flack, and the MD of Motorail UK, Steve Dunmore, and their team for all their hard work on our behalf, both during the preparation for the event and on the day.

Our grateful thanks also go to Richard Popple, the Site Manager of the Long Marston Business Park, for his team’s efforts in smoothing the flow of exhibitors and visitors alike

through the main gate.

It is always difficult to put a value on any exhibition; indeed, that factor alone provided the challenge for us to seek to rewrite the rules of this particular game in an attempt to come up with a value-based concept of exhibiting.

The combined marketing effort of the event by the members, as well as the Rail Alliance’s targeted marketing to influential contacts in the industry ensured that the majority of visitors to MacroRail were informed decision-makers as opposed to the well-intentioned ‘tyre kicker’ fraternity.

Back to the exam question of ‘How much business was done then?’ The majority of our mem-

bers reported having received good quality leads, including one member getting a strong lead into the automotive sector.

Additionally, we have had feedback from a handful of our members where aggregating the value of their potential orders would exceed £1M - itself proof positive that the concept does work.

Throughout the day there was also the opportunity for typical Rail Alliance ‘Four Walls Working’ with many members seeing each others’ products and services for the first time with, importantly, plenty of time and space to learn more about each other’s capabilities and requirements.

So, we are particularly pleased, but not surprised, that the initial feedback we have received in-

dicates that a significant number of members reported doing business within the four walls.

Importantly, such is the range of our membership, there was little or no chance for ‘own goals’ where, as can happen at larger events, companies fight with competitors to secure the same leads.

The planning for MacroRail 2012 is already underway and with 12 months to plan next year’s event, the concept can be fully developed and we look forward to partnering with other clusters with a simple, common philosophy that underpins everything we do as an organisation - the staging of ‘low cost/high value’ business development opportunities

New members Cover Systems (Design and Manufacture of a Wide Variety of Equipment Covers) www.cover-systems.co.uk

Thomas Dudley Ltd (Family Owned Iron Foundry and Manufacturer of Plastic Injection Moulding) www.thomasdudley.co.uk

A Bratt & Son Ltd (Supplier of Ladders and Other Non-conductive Access Equipment) www.brattsladders.com

CSE International Ltd (Provider of Systems, Safety Assurance and Consultancy Services to Rail Organisations Worldwide) www.cse-international.com

Portaramp UK Ltd (UK Market Leader in the Supply of Access Ramp Solutions) www.portaramp.co.uk Vital Rail (Provider of Major Support Services to the Rail Industry in cluding Contingent Labour and Security Solutions) www.vital-rail.com

DAN DRYER A/S (Manufacturers of Warm-air Hand Dryers and Other Bathroom Equipment to the Rail Industry – Based in Denmark) www.dandryer.com

EVENTS The Infrastructure Show 2011 17th-19th October - Location... NEC Birmingham RailStaff Awards 2011 29th Oct - Location... ICC Birmingham Rail Interiors Expo 2011 15th-17th November - Location... Cologne, Germany

Accelerating Innovation in Rail The Technology Strategy Board and RSSB are investing up to £4m to accelerate business innovation in the UK’s rail industry.

Transport KTN is helping to deliver this funding competition.

The ‘Accelerating Innovation in Rail’ funding competition aims to support the development of technologies that are able to address the challenges facing the rail industry, as well as meeting customer requirements in both UK and international rail markets.

Themes include: reducing infrastructure costs, energy efficiency and carbon emissions reduction, operational safety and ef-

ficiency, network management and control, and improving customer experience.

To support this competition and enable those interested in participating to gain more information, share ideas, and understand how to make a compelling entry, the Transport KTN is running an ‘Accelerating Innovation in Rail’ consortia building and information day on the 20th October 2011 at Coventry University Techno Centre.

The event will present the full scope of the competition along with information on some of the challenges facing the rail sector.

It will be an essential step for companies, universities and other organisations to un-

derstand the aims and scope of the competition, discuss convergence scenarios and build relationships with potential collaborators that can be leveraged for the competition and beyond.

The workshop is multidisciplinary and we welcome the participation of organisations from all relevant sectors.

You can register for this event by emailing: events@transporttkn.org with the subject: Innovation Rail 20 October Registration.

To find out more, visit the official Transport KTN group at: www.ktn.innovateuk.org/web/acceleratinginnovation-in-rail1

AusRail 2011 22nd-24th November - Location... Brisbane, Australia Members’ Meeting & Networking Event 2nd Nov tbc - Location... London hosted by Clyde and Co Members’ Meeting and Lean Process Seminar Dec tbc - Location... Worcester – hosted by Southco UKTI/Rail Alliance NW Regional Rail Briefing Event 27th Jan tbc - Location... Crewe tbc Members’ Meeting & Networking Event Feb tbc - Location... TRaC Global, Skelmersdale - tbc Infrarail 2012 1st-3rd May - Location... NEC, Birmingham InnoTrans 2012 18th-21st Sept - Location... Berlin, Germany

RailStaff | October 2011 | 11

just ek we £1 a you, your coverrstner and en. pa ildr ent ch d n e p de

Join today!

The fastest growing membership charity in the public transport industry ✆ 08450 100 500 • etd 00 38571 • www.tbf.org.uk • e-mail help@tbf.org.uk The Transport Benevolent Fund (known as TBF) is a registered charity in England and Wales (1058032) and in Scotland (SC040013)

Glass ceiling for KX

Part of King’s Cross station is now bathed in natural daylight following the completion of the first section of the new roof.

As part of an extensive six-

year redevelopment of King’s Cross station, the 270m-long iron and glass roof above platforms 1 to 8 is being completely refurbished.

Says Ian Fry, Network Rail, ‘The new roof is an important part of our plans to transform King’s Cross station. The glass panels will make the station brighter, more environmentallyfriendly and a better place for passengers to be.’

A small number of skilled workers slid 130 tonnes of scaffolding 80m along the length of the roof to shield passengers during the work. The roof is Grade I listed and consequently, English Heritage and conservation planners have been closely involved in all aspects of the restoration.

Passengers in hot water Passengers and crew came to the rescue of a stranded train during the recent hot spell.

The incident happened outside Ipswich. The National Express East Anglia service came to a halt after coolant levels dropped causing the engine to cut out. The train crew collect-

ed as much bottled water as they could. The water levels were replenished and the train was soon on its way again.

Says Peter Meades of National Express East Anglia, ‘We’re very grateful to passengers on the train who willingly came forward to assist

the train crew in offering bottles of water which enabled the driver to restore the coolant levels, following a fault that occurred with the engine of the train.’

Engineers found a leak in the cooling pipe, repaired and returned the train to service.

Hand on Heritage training Footplate training gives students a real feel for railways.

This month the Institution of Mechanical Engineers is offering a new style of hands-on technical visit.

As many young engineers do not get the opportunity for practical experience, the Railway Division Young Members Committee is delivering ‘Hands on Heritage’, a three day event at Kent and East Sussex Railway. Delegates will don overalls to carry out maintenance tasks utilising traditional methods on a range of locomotives.

The visit will help young engineers learn about the intricate workings of the railway and gain an appreciation of the operational challenges met every day by railway staff. The activities involve replacing the floor of an old pipe wagon, stripping down a steam locomotive, maintaining the boilers and carrying out inspections of the operational stock.

As a reward for all of their hard work delegates will be able to get on the footplate and learn the basic skills required to drive a steam locomotive.

Transport Benevolent Fund

Tribute run for Corey’s dad Dave Stannard has run 170 miles in eight days in a bid to raise money for Bliss, the premature baby charity, as a tribute to the hospital that saved his son.

Corey Stannard was born 12 weeks early.

Corey spent five months in hospital and Dave was told to spend as much time with his son as he could. Dave vowed that if Corey did pull through he would try to help others in a similar situation. Without the team at Jessops Hospital in Sheffield, Corey would not be here now, almost 8 years on.

Says proud mum, Cath Stannard, ‘Thankfully those dark days are over and Corey is a very healthy and amazing little man. He’s a tough guy just like his dad!’

Dave, an Operations Training Manager for East Midlands Trains, based at Derby, used the EMT route as his guide and ran via Bedford, Wellingborough, Kettering, Market Harborough, Leicester, Long Eaton, Alfreton and finally Sheffield. Dave finished his mammoth event at 12 noon on September 17th at Sheffield train station. Apart from the odd blister he finished in good health and has so far raised over £1500.

The website for donations is: www.justgiving.com/stannarddave

12 | RailStaff | October 2011

New trams for Croydon © JONATHAN WEBB

A £16.3 million contract has been signed for six new trams for London Tramlink.

The new trams will boost services on the network in Croydon from early next year. Croydon was hard hit by the riots this summer with parts of the track and over head wires reduced to molten metal by arsonists.

At 32 metres the new trams, made by Stadler in Germany, are 2½ metres longer than the vehicles currently in use and are air conditioned and fully accessible for disabled passengers.

The first of the new trams will arrive later this year and enter service next spring after testing.

Some tram stops will need to be lengthened to accommodate the longer trams.

Ten year team salute

Boris Johnson praised railway staff for getting the tram system moving again. ‘Our Tramlink team did a great job of restoring tram services to the town centre so rapidly following the disturbances. And we hope the sign-

A group of cyclists has been praised by The Railway Children for raising thousands of pounds for the charity over the last ten years.

The riders come from various rail companies. Dedicated and hard working organisers include David Padley, Anita Mulingan, Ed Gardiner, David Nutbrown, Rachel Carter, Janet Jenkins and Adrian Blocking. The group has raised a fantastic £8,000 each year for the charity.

Says Organiser David Padley, who also took part in this year’s London to Paris Bike Ride, ‘It all started back in 1998 when staff members from GTRM, Carillion and Network Rail got together and decided to do a charity bike ride. We had around sixteen riders who dusted off their bikes, tents and legs and set off from Shrewsbury to Swindon.

‘We all had such a great time we decided to make it an annual event. The event got bigger

each year with riders joining us from other rail companies, with Colas Rail, Carillion and Network Rail taking the lead roles and many of the riders returning year after year.

‘All the rides follow the Sustrans network, so with buying the maps we like to think we are supporting the Sustrans charity as well. We have cycled all over the country and have seen and experienced locations that lots of people don’t get to see.’

ing of contracts for the six new trams will provide a real boost to services when they begin running early next year.’ The trams are Variobahn models and are based on vehicles currently in use in Bergen, Norway.

© BRIAN PROCTOR

Paisley corridor progress

Pacific reunion planned The six surviving A4 Pacifics, two of which are abroad, could be reunited next year if plans by the National Railway Museum come to fruition.

Next year marks the 75th anniversary of Mallard’s record breaking speed run and the opportunity is being taken to try and bring together the six survivors at York.

60008 Dwight D Eisenhower, currently preserved at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin and 60010 Dominion of Canada, currently at the Canadian Railway Museum in Montreal, would be temporarily repatriated under the proposal before returning to their respective museums.

Mallard broke the steam speed record on 3rd July 1938 with driver Joseph Duddington at the regulator.

Panzer signalman dies A former member of the Hitler Youth who later enjoyed a long career with British Rail as a signalman has died.

Heinrich Friedrich Carl Metelmann fought on the Eastern Front in the 22nd Panzer Division. He was born in Hamburg in 1922. Taken prisoner by the Americans, Metelmann renounced his childhood Nazism on reading of the Holocaust and seeing pictures of recently liberated concentration camps.

He was held as a prisoner of war in Britain until 1948. On his release he decided to settle in England and worked as a farm labourer in Hampshire.

In the 1950s he joined BR where he stayed until his retirement in 1987. Disturbed by the war crimes of the Third Reich Heinrich Metelmann joined the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the British Communist Party. His left wing leanings did not prevent his taking a part time job as a gardener at Charterhouse public school upon his retirement.

In 1991 he wrote his memoirs, ‘Through Hell for Hitler.’ Railway colleagues were startled to learn he had joined the Hitler youth aged 11. Seeing Hitler speak, he admitted, resulted in him being completely swept

up by the man’s oratory like so many of his countrymen.

‘To us, he was the greatest human being in the world. People say he hypnotised us, but we hypnotised ourselves. Often we couldn’t hear what he was saying: we all screamed anyway.

We truly thought we were part of a crusade.’

Metelmann’s father, who died during the war, warned his son that Hitler was wrong. In his book he writes that he wished he could have apologised to his father and say, you were right, I was an idiot. Metelamnn’s wife, Monika, a Swiss, died in 1980. He leaves a son and a daughter.

One of Scotland’s major routes for commuters and freight, the Paisley corridor, is being three-tracked and having new signalling systems installed as part of a comprehensive expansion project.

The final stretch of the line from Arkleston to Paisley Gilmour Street will also be upgraded to a four-track railway for even greater flexibility. Engineers have been renewing and extending track, signalling and overhead power lines between Glasgow and Paisley. Once complete in January 2012, the Paisley Corridor Improvements project will boost capacity on the route and allow for increased levels of service between Glasgow and Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.

Cliffhanger reaches tipping point © JONATHAN WEBB

The future of the Bridgnorth Cliff Railway, which dates from 1892, has been secured following its purchase for £750,000 by the Tipping family.

Locals were concerned that the funicular railway which connects Bridgnorth high town and low town, via the 111 ft sandstone cliffs, would have to close if a sympathetic buyer could not be found.

The railway is open 362 days a year and makes approximately 200 trips a day, saving locals from climbing the steep steps that connect the two halves of the busy Shropshire town. With a journey time of just over a

minute the railway saves them much time too. The cliff railway was formerly owned and oper-

ated by Allan and Jean Reynolds who are keen to step down (or up) and retire.

RailStaff | October 2011 | 13

Metro expansion proposed Match fit for Tyne and Wear City chiefs in Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland want to expand the hugely successful Tyne and Wear Metro.

A full consultation is planned as the £500m revamp of the network and fleet continues.

The proposed 20-year project could see the network extended

further into Sunderland, North Tyneside and Gateshead.

Britain’s first urban light rail network began operating in August 1980 and now boasts 60 stations. Nexus, which owns the system, will be presenting its ideas to the public early next year.

Plans are being prepared for a

further nine routes. These will include lines to Doxford International Business Park in Sunderland, Killingworth in North Tyneside, Washington and the Team Valley Trading Estate and MetroCentre in Gateshead.

Street trams could be used on some routes instead of traditional light railway carriages. © JONATHAN WEBB

DLR’s new extension has been pronounced ‘Match Fit’ as Londoners flocked to take advantage of the new section and stations.

The Docklands Light Railway’s new fully accessible DLR Stratford International extension got off to a flying start, carrying 130,000 passengers in the same week that saw Westfield Stratford City shopping centre opening for business. This boosted passenger volume on the DLR network to record numbers.

The £211m new four mile ex-

tension between Canning Town and Stratford International sports four new step-free stations and will play a central role in the London Olympics next year. The previous daily record of 303,000 passengers on the whole network was shattered on Thursday 15 September when 340,000 customers used the DLR, with the whole network carrying around 1.9 million people during the last week.

Says Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, ‘Stratford International station and the new DLR ex-

tension are playing a crucial role in the regeneration of east London and are already showing they are match-fit to transport the millions of visitors that we will be welcoming to the Olympic and Paralympic Games next year.’

The extension completes £500m of DLR upgrade works, creating a 50 per cent increase in capacity across the network.

The four new stations are Stratford International, Stratford High Street, Abbey Road and Star Lane.

One of Britain’s most successful urban rail systems the Tyne and Wear metro looks set for further expansion.

Record numbers apply for graduate scheme

Signal success for CapEx team © STUART MARSH

This summer Network Rail used one of its Infrastructure Maintenance CapEx teams to undertake the installation, testing and commissioning of a new signalling scheme.

Commissioned over the August Bank Holiday weekend, the Rochdale resignalling project has been entirely financed by Transport for Greater Manchester. The existing Rochdale signal box was demolished to make way for a Manchester Metrolink extension that will serve

Rochdale town centre.

A replacement signal box, containing an NX panel and named Rochdale West, has been constructed two miles up the line.

Somewhat bizarrely, its location is a mere 100 yards from its neighbouring signal box, Castleton East Junction, but this site offered ready access and obviated the need to purchase additional land. Both signal boxes will remain in use for the foreseeable future.

The scheme was driven by

the need to clear the old signal box site on a tight schedule, so Network Rail decided to run the project as a ‘hub and spoke’ contract. Network Rail Investment Projects acted as the hub and five subcontractors formed the spokes, one of which was the CapEx maintenance delivery team. The Network Rail staff involved are justifiably proud of their achievements and see this method of project implementation as a beneficial model for the future.

More than 5000 graduates applied for a place on the 2011 Network Rail graduate training scheme, more than double the amount in 2008.

However, Network Rail is focusing on potential engineers who will take forward the unprecedented planned expansion of Britain’s rail network.

With the company receiving the green light from government to electrify hundreds of miles of track on the Great Western main line from London to Cardiff and in the north west of England, Network Rail’s chief executive David Higgins wants to attract the very best young minds to the railway.

‘While we’ve had unprecedented levels of applications across the board, we’ve struggled to attract a great number of candidates for our electrical engineering graduate scheme. We understand

that other sectors can be attractive but we need to shout louder about the exciting opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for electrical engineers as we develop and improve the network including our plans for electrification,’ says Mr Higgins.

‘We’re delivering a vital public service used by more than three million people every day to get to work, home, for business and leisure. A successful railway helps drive a thriving economy and we have big plans to expand it and make it even better – today’s graduates can be part of that future.’

A recent skills report by the Institution of Engineering and Technology found that 23% of British electrical engineering employers have experienced problems in recruiting engineering graduates.

RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2011

14 | RailStaff | October 2011

Going to the Top RailStaff Awards 2011 The spread of rich and colourful characters in the railway industry is nowhere better illustrated than at this year’s RailStaff Awards.

Nominations have flooded in from all parts of the industry, from mess rooms, and booking on points, T&RS depots, ticket offices and control rooms. The diversity of characters and the triumphs of ordinary men and women make the process of selecting a winner harder than ever.

This spread of different people remains a sublime and all too rarely acknowledged strength. In what other industry could you see an ex-porter successfully running to be president of his country, a former panzer grenadier becoming a peace activist and working as a signalman on BR? In this issue of RailStaff alone we see a former train driver turned daring helicopter pilot stopping a level crossing accident, a father and ops manager running 170 miles to raise money for a premature babies charity, recognising the hard work of those who saved his son.

Another man who started his railway career as a junior railman, aged 16, at Salisbury station is now rail director Keolis UK. David Franks, Dave Stannard, Captain Kathryn Chapman and President Michael Sata of Zambia might be too late for nomination at this year’s Rail-

Quality staff A lot of work goes into helping all rail clients ensure they have quality staff provided to guarantee the success of their projects. Top reliability is a result of hours of hard work, particularly on Friday evenings when it is common for people like Rob to work late into the evening to organise staff for the impending

The Transport Benevolent Fund is backing the Station Staff of the Year Award at this year’s RailStaff Awards.

Says Tom O’Connor, managing director of the Rail Media Group, which is organising the RailStaff Awards, ‘For most passengers their first point of contact with the railway is through rail staff at stations. Often overlooked at a busy terminus or commuter stations they are the heroes quietly helping passengers on their way.

Great ambassadors

Staff Awards. However their triumphs and spectacular career accomplishments remain an inspiration.

This is an industry where staff can and do go right to the top, not just of the railway but of their country as well. The companies sponsoring the RailStaff Awards prove this still further.

FirstGroup started as a management and employee buy out in Aberdeen. Now it is a global transport provider. Others are young and full of enthusiasm.

Network Rail, Associate Sponsor, came into being just nine years ago taking over railway infrastructure on 2 October 2002.

It has done much to restore confidence in the rail industry both among the public and our political leaders but most im-

portantly among railway staff who have invested their careers in the railway.

All our sponsors have done a great deal to shine a light on railways, winning new recruits, passengers and investors to the cause. We wish them well. Their hard work is helping build the railway of the future as well as delivering it day by day.

We wish all those nominated at this year’s RailStaff Awards every success both on the night itself and throughout their careers. The stories they tell will long serve as an inspiration and a delight to the hundreds of men and women who go to make up Britain’s most vibrant, recession busting, can-do industry.

Late night for Rob Enright Essential to the success of top performing CDI AndersElite, sponsors of Rail Team of the year, are team members like Rob Enright.

Safety Critical Consultant, Rob, has been consistently recognised as one of the company’s top professionals. Rob’s commitment to delivering 100% all the time has seen him backfill roles for clients at weekends to ensure they are fully staffed at all times.

TBF backs Station Staff of the Year

weekend.

Clear communication channels ensure CDI AndersElite’s Rail Team goes above and beyond client expectations, truly delivering a flexible service.

Top calibre CDI AndersElite is a market leading staffing provider in the UK, supplying top calibre technical and professional Rail and Safety Critical staff. An unrivalled expertise has seen rail become one of CDI AndersElite’s largest growth sectors in the UK. A diverse, skilled, team of recruitment and resource consultants work specifically within the rail industry, uniting full Link Up approved staff and expert knowledge. CDI AndersElite operates a 24-hour service within the rail industry. The team recognises that almost alone in the construction industry rail-

way works progress round the clock, day and night.

Flexibility is the key This organisation works under a philosophy of supporting change and encouraging teams to be involved at all stages of client planning, implementation and delivery. Flexibility is key. CDI AndersElite has invaluable experience of working with Britain’s largest engineering companies and has supported them through some of the biggest projects in the industry.

Top projects include London Underground’s Bakerloo, Victoria & Circle lines upgrade and the East London Line projection. CDI AndersElite is involved in many station upgrades and other engineering projects which are helping make it the number one rail recruiter of choice.

‘Station staff make great ambassadors for the industry and we owe them a tremendous debt. It is a special privilege to welcome the Transport Benevolent Fund which has done so much down the years to help railway people and their dependants.

The RailStaff Awards is about the people who deliver the railways often in darkness and danger. The TBF is a charity which has been there for many years helping the same people and their families.’

Registered Charity The Transport Benevolent

Fund (TBF) is a registered charity and offers a wide range of benefits including health, legal advice, convalescence and cash help to its members and their dependants. The TBF is run by Trustees who understand the industry and the needs of staff.

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

To help all people in the rail industry Contributions to the TBF are £1 a week. Please contact TBF for more details. When you die your family will normally continue to be treated as dependants in accordance with the TBF rules.

Says Chris Godbold, Director of the Fund, ‘Many of our members have been involved in, or started their career at a railway station. TBF exists to help all people in the railway industry.

We are pleased to be involved in

the RailStaff Awards and to help celebrate the achievements of ordinary men and women who make this such a great industry.’

The Transport Benevolent Fund was originally established to help families of London public transport workers serving in the First World War. A permanent trust was set up in 1923.

TBF has been helping public transport workers for nearly 90 years. In recent years TBF has shown extensive growth nationally and now has members in most parts of England, Scotland and Wales.

Awards Host adds up Ultimate Three Colin Flack, chief executive of the Rail Alliance and this year’s host at the RailStaff Awards has been out in all weathers on a 1,000 mile fund raiser for the Railway Children.

Together with Swiss mountaineer, Felix Schmid, Colin set out to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats, climbing Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis en route. The trip also involved kayaking the length of Lakes Bala and Windermere and Loch Ness.

Unhappily the early autumn sunshine changed to torrential rain when the pair set off. Temperatures in Scotland dropped to just above freezing.

Despite the hard work there has been time for light relief along the way.

The team met up with Dave Ellis and Katie Mason of the Railway Children, with their support team Jules and Fred, at Carnforth Railway station.

After hot drinks and cake in the lovely ‘Brief Encounter Café’ Dave and Katie joined Colin and Felix for the switchback ride to Windermere.

The aim of the expedition is to raise money for the Railway Children. If it goes well Colin Flack plans a bigger event next year open to more supporters and railway staff.

Says Colin, ‘I know that calls on everyone’s pockets are many and varied these days but this is a great little charity, doing so much good work but like all small charities it has a constant struggle to make itself heard!

‘I am hoping that I can get friends, colleagues and business links to raise some much needed cash.

At the very least if you have taken the time to read this and check out the website I will have achieved part of my aim which is to raise awareness of the charity and what it does.’

Colin Flack will be hosting this year’s RailStaff Awards in Birmingham. To donate and check out the expedition go to: www.ultimate3.org.uk

RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2011

The Transport Benevolent Fund is proud to sponsor the Station Staff of the Year at the Rail Staff Awards.

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RailStaff | October 2011 | 15

tbf Transport Benevolent Fund

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

Proud sponsor of Trainer of the Year 2011 At TQ Catalis we realise the importance of quality training within a safety critical environment, however the success of any training event is reliant on the trainer, that’s why we are proud to sponsor the Trainer of the Year award!

We have our own great team of trainers that specialise in safety critical technical training for rail engineering, operations and essential Health and Safety skills required for today’s rail businesses. Many of our courses are accredited by NEBOSH, IOSH, Sentinel and City & Guilds.

Our trainers deliver solutions enabling clients to meet compulsory legislation, keeping staff safe and the company performing to its full potential. Our drive is to provide a service that exceeds our client’s expectations.

Delivering performance through people is not just a motto but a belief embedded within our business for over 70 years.

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16 | RailStaff | October 2011

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2011 PROUD SPONSORS OF RAIL MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2011 McGinley Support Services have been providing staff to the Rail Sector since 1989 and have developed a strategic approach through dedicated teams focussed on the following areas of expertise: • Trades, Labour and Supervisory Staff • Protection and Warning • Professional, Managerial and Technical • Health and Safety

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RailStaff | October 2011 | 17

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McGinley are pleased to announce that we have recently been awarded a national framework agreement with one of the UK's leading rail infrastructure companies to supply professional and technical staff across the UK.

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Head Office: Ground Floor, The Edward Hyde Building, 38 Clarendon Road, Watford, Herts WD17 1JW

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Network Rail is proud Network Rail is proud to sponsor the to sponsor the RailStaff RailStaff Awards 2011 Awards 2011

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TRACK SAFETY

18 | RailStaff | October 2011

Can the rule book be reduced in size by 75% or replaced by task tailored handbooks?

And the new initiative to bring about the behavioural and attitude changes we all need

Colin Wheeler writes...

A couple of months ago I recommended in my safety article that the Rule Book should now be abandoned.

I expected responses from any who can’t envisage life without it. I suggested that the advantages were a reduction in the number of detailed rules that lawyers could fight over. Removing the Rule Book as a significant target for the Rail Accident Investigation Branch’s report recommendations would also be advantageous. Frequent Rule Book amendments are not in anyone’s best interest.

the continual changes to it and make it easier to use. Worthwhile I agreed. This RSSB project kicked off in July 2008 with a “Workshop”. The objective is to complete the re-writing of the rules in time for republishing so that all the new rules are in force by December 2014!

The work is divided into 12 tranches the first of which is already complete. Six years sounds like a very long time to me.

I hope the new rules will be drafted in a manner that reflects the ways in which companies and Network Rail people need to work. We still meet people on track who believe, and indeed state categorically, that some of the rules don’t apply to them because they work for Network Rail.

No amendments to Handbook 1 for five years

My suggestion of doing away with the Rule Book resulted in an invitation to meet Steve Roberts of the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) which I did on September 21st. He reminded me that the current Rule Book, all 48 modules of it, was introduced in 2003.

I remember it well since I was involved in the drafting when we sought to bring rules together from the previous book so that individuals would be able to find everything relevant to them in a single module or two. We removed a lot of duplications between sections of the old Rule Book.

I remember the frustration a number of us felt when the operating department’s specialists sought more and more qualifying refinements which increased the size of each draft module. However, the crystal mark was received from the Plain English Society. Some things don’t change and I learnt that they have again suggested that “Distant Signals” should be renamed as “Far Away Signals”; an easily refused idea.

I was encouraged by the questions RSSB is asking, including “how do you stop the Rule Book growing?”, “do we need a simpler Rule Book” and “we need to review the flow of Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) extras”.

Steve told me that the 2003 vintage Rule Book had 91 pages devoted to the Rules about walking on the railway. He contrasted this with the June 2010 issue of Handbook 1 which provides all the same detailed information in just 21 pages (i.e.

75% less). Issue 2 came out in June of this year and I was assured that in line with the principles behind the project, there would be no amendments to it for five years!

Further handbooks will be issued covering the additional rules applicable for COSS (Controller of Site Safety), ES (Engineering Supervisor) and PICOP (Person in Charge of Possession). These will be stand-alone handbooks so their owners will not need copies of other Rule Book modules for their work.

Clearly a big improvement, but I recall there were even fewer rules in the old Black Rule Book of the nineteen fifties, which is now only found in museums! I wonder if RSSB would find borrowing a copy for reference useful now?

Sticking in the amendments

There are just too many rules

When the 2003 modules replaced the previous Rule Book the stated intention was for fewer Rule Book changes and when changes had to be made we were all assured that this would be done by reissuing the entire module.

I felt strongly about this having over the years seen the consequences of a reliance on sticking tiny slips of reprinted rules into a Rule Book and over writing in biro! Alas, it did not take very long before the principle of module re-issue was abandoned and the industry took on the task of becoming an efficient source of regular updates to the modules that affect us all.

The RSSB have held eleven workshops seeking views on the current rules and Rule Book. Each was attended by a mixture of track workers, supervisors, train drivers, signallers etc. I am not surprised by the findings.

Critical comments made include; “there are just too many rules”, “the rules are not suitable to today’s railway”, “the rules no longer let you think ”, “too complicated”, and “encrusted with bullet points”. For me the most telling is the comment that the current detailed rules discourage people from thinking about what they are doing.

So far train operating companies and principal contractors have been consulted. Between 60 and 70 people have been given the chance to comment on the format and presentation. Their compar-

Distant or Far Away

New Rules by December 2014!

Steve explained that his aims were to define the scope of the Rule Book, reduce

ative perceptions of the old and new forms indicated an improved understanding of the wording, easier to read, and for the finding of specific information.

For more details visit www.rssb.co.uk/RGS/Pages/rulebookandnational.aspx

Behavioural change, leading by example Network Rail’s Safety Central website provides refreshingly up to date information. It now includes details of a follow up to last June’s “Freeze Frame” event when many sites stopped work so that everyone could be briefed on the details of two sadly fatal accidents.

The announcement by Simon Kirby is of a “Safety Stand Down Week” between 30th October and 6th November.The objective is to assist a “behavioural change”.

Companies and their site employees are urged to emphasise use of the Close Call System (now branded as “CCS”) and to carry out site inspections accompanied

by Network Rail representatives.

Observing how work is being done and the environment in which people are working are the focus. Those visiting sites are urged to talk to people, challenge any unsafe practices or conditions and see if the work can be done differently and more safely.

Unannounced site visits

The principles are right. However, all managers should be leading and managing by regular site visits and listening to the workforce’s concerns already?

Unannounced visits at unexpected times are always best in my experience.

When working in a pie factory I recall that keeping hourly production up was paramount almost all the time. But every month or so the major customer’s team visited the factory and came round to see us all at work.These “unannounced” visits were preceded by the issue of clean new white overalls on the morning of the visit and the suspension of all production targets.

The management made us all aware that working “per the book” was all that mattered whilst the inspection took place. They encouraged us all by confirming that we would get our average production bonuses anyway whilst we worked to rule during the audit. Next time I recommend unexpected visits in the middle of the night and a few hours before the shift is due to end.

Two avoidable and significant accidents Two accident reports recently published by the RAIB emphasise how important it is to have motivated and valued track staff who know that they will be thanked rather than criticised when they speak out.

On September 25th at White House Farm Crossing near Kings Lynn a passenger train carrying 41 passengers collided with a tractor.The tractor driver was seriously injured and the train driver was affected by shock.

The crossing was used by the farm and on that day the sugar-beet crop was being harvested. A local arrangement between the signaller and farm staff had been agreed using mobile telephones but it failed resulting in the accident. Would things have been different if the local management had been involved in the special arrangements?

Between 0530 am on September 23rd and 0330 am on September 24th the railway between Three Bridges and Hayward’s Heath had to be closed due to problems near the mouth of Balcombe Tunnel. The good part is that staff on an engineers’ train leaving the tunnel at 0524 reported problems with the steel framing near the tunnel mouth.

Five steel structures attached to the tunnel lining supporting water ingress; diversion sheeting had come loose and was hanging down by half a metre. The structure was installed 12-years ago but a dozen of the supporting studs in the tunnel lining had become loose and fallen out. Others were loose but still in place. Three transverse steel girders were consequently only attached at one end.

Questions now being asked include how the work was done 12 years ago and why had subsequent tunnel inspections staff, track patrollers and their supervisors not taken action earlier. Did the importance of the route and the performance pressures on the local gangs and their supervisors to keep the railway running result in delays in reporting these defects and taking planned action?

Leadership and Motivation Leadership by example, building a rapport with staff and empowering as well as delegating responsibilities and accountabilities are the crucial factors in managing our railway, whoever the employer may be. Creating a working environment where people are proud of what they do and want to please their supervisors and managers is and always has been more important than generating paperwork and record keeping.

With a relatively new Chief Executive in charge at both Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation, now is a good time for the industry to review its priorities and how it goes about doing work on track.

The Periodic Review which will lead to the setting of a Network Rail budget from 2014 to 2019 is already underway.

The inevitable savings that the industry will have to make must take into account the importance of improving our safety culture and behaviours. Confrontational management and contracting need to become merely bad memories.

RailStaff | October 2011 | 19

Cotswold celebration The North Cotswold Line, between Worcester and Oxford is attracting more passengers following the completion of its 21 mile redoubling project.

The improvement work has undone some of the cuts in the 1970s by re-introducing a double-track railway between Ascott-under-Wychwood to the

east of Charlbury and from Moreton-in-Marsh to Evesham.

New platforms have been rebuilt at Charlbury, Ascott-under-Wychwood and Honeybourne. The out-dated signalling system has also been modernised.

Says Mark Hopwood, managing director, First Great Western,

Stuart Mason: Once Met Never Forgotten

‘I am very proud of the way that the railway industry and local customers have come together to restore this part of the network. The team at First Great Western is confident that the completion of this work will provide a further platform for improved services for customers along the line and beyond.

A former operations manager who joined the railways as a booking boy has sadly died, Paul Marks writes.

Stuart Mason, former Merseyrail Operations Inspector, was a life-long railwayman, starting on the railway when he left school as a booking boy in the signalboxes around Manchester Victoria. As soon as he was old enough he became a fully qualified signalman. He transferred over to the footplate, accepting a secondman’s position at Dover.

Returning to Manchester a few years later he became a Relief Driver at Newton Heath.

Later, at Southport, in the early 1980s he worked as a driver and soon gained the position of Driver Instructor. He became a Traction Inspector at Liverpool in 1988, a position he held until his retirement in April 2009 by which time he was again based at Southport.

Known and loved by many, Stuart was responsible for the training, instructing and nurturing of countless train driv-

Track work on the Cotswold Line.

The Final Frontera The Snowdon Mountain Railway came to the rescue when exasperated park officials planned to take down a 4x4 pick-up truck which had been parked near the top of Snowdon.

The Vauxhall Frontera had been driven up by its owner, Craig Williams, 39, from Gloucestershire. Mr Williams said the spur-of-the-moment trip was one of 50 challenges he’d set himself to complete before he died. Park rangers remained unimpressed and Williams faces court charges next month.

Railway staff loaded the vehicle onto a flat bed railway wagon. It was then carefully brought down the mountain by the Snowdon Mountain Railway. The

vehicle has now been put up for sale on ebay. Craig Williams has promised to donate the money raised to Ogwen Valley and Llanberis mountain rescue teams.

Drivers win Olympic Gold © SIMON WHITACKER

Train drivers and London Underground have reached an agreement guaranteeing flexible working arrangements during the London Olympics next year.

All train drivers employed by LU on 26 July 2012 will receive a one-off payment of £500. In addition long shifts finishing in the small hours (after 01:30) will qualify for extra payments.

Says managing director, Mike Brown, ‘This agreement is a good deal for London Underground, our drivers and those thousands of customers who will be attending the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Games.

‘We are committed to ensuring that the train service we provide contributes to the successful operation of the Games and I am

pleased that we and the unions have been able to engage in constructive dialogue to reach this agreement.’

ers across the North-West of England. The Merseyrail operations team from the top to the bottom owes a huge debt of gratitude to Stuart. At some point Stuart Mason trained, coached and mentored every single member of the current Operations Managers, Inspectors and Leader Drivers teams.

He was deeply respected by all who knew him and by those who worked alongside him, for he was a person of enormous integrity. He had the highest moral values and always displayed a great sense of fair-play.

Added to that, he possessed a phenomenal knowledge of railway operations, which it could be argued, was second to none in the company.

Occasionally cynical and resilient to change he may have been, but it was mostly good natured and he very rarely complained, taking all the antisocial shifts and the massive industry changes in almost forty years of service in his stride. Always witty, he never missed the opportunity to share a laugh

and a joke and could often be heard bursting into song or putting into rhyme the latest occurrence on the line.

Away from the railway Stuart was enthusiastic about aviation and enjoyed using computer flight simulators.

He was also a keen model maker. In recent years Stuart enjoyed crown green bowling, playing regularly in the local leagues and competitions.

At the time of his death he held the position of President at the Scarisbrick Bowling Club in Southport.

Until his early retirement in 2009 he served the railways and the people of Merseyside and the North-West with great pride and dedication. He was a truly vocational railwayman who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Stuart Andrew Mason (19532011) leaves a wife, Debbie. Colleagues have sent condolences and agree Stuart Mason was an original. ‘Once met never forgotten.’ Paul Marks, is an Operations Inspector at Merseyrail, Southport.

TRAINING FOCUS sponsored by... RailwayPeople.com

20 | RailStaff | October 2011

Olympic efforts for training community The London Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012 emphasise the importance of training.

Several railway staff are taking part in the games and started training months if not years ago. Railway companies have been in the main generous with time-off and free tickets to travel away for qualifying events. These and other training occasions are all designed to help our athletes shine in London next year.

Debate ranges about methods of training, whether to run through injuries, what diet supplements to use and how hard to train. The old maxim of train hard fight easy is nowhere better illustrated than in the railways.

Railway training encompasses a wide range of disciplines. However the underlying message is: Get this wrong and people’s lives could be at risk. Safety remains of paramount importance. The challenge for railway companies is to deliver the job on time and on budget within stringent and exacting safety parameters.

Moreover the pressure is on to attract and retain new staff. The railway industry urgently needs committed pro-

fessionals intent on building careers in a regenerated and newly confident industry. Finally after years of asking for better funding, sustained investment

and increased capacity we have a government and indeed a political consensus that accepts this.

Political leaders and most of the pub-

lic understand the need for an expanded and updated railway system. Industrialists and trade unions have been unstinting in their support. The

Training deal for NSARE The National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering has been awarded the Network Rail contract to manage its Rail Training and Assessment Accreditation Scheme.

The new arrangement starts in January

2012 and is for three years. NSARE will work closely with Network Rail, the NCCA and Achilles to ensure a smooth transition.

NSARE is an independent, not for profit organisation. Formally established as part of the government’s National Skills Academy

programme in November 2010 the academy is jointly funded by industry, government and other sponsorship partners.

The academy will be self funding by 2013 through the sale of employer-focussed products and services.

Solutions for safety critical environments

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Olympiad is not just the over all event itself but the individual sports and skills that go to make up the whole.

In parallel the rail industry is training hard for the future as it pushes ahead with ambitious plans to expand the Tyne and Wear Metro, build and train a new generation to excavate and operate Crossrail as well as recruiting and teaching a small Olympiad of new apprentices, men and women who will build Britain’s high speed rail network, electrify hundreds of miles of track and upgrading and expanding the curves and flyovers of a newly emboldened railway.

In this section we take a brief look at some of the visionaries already opening up opportunities for the railway men and women of the future. And it is not just about graduates and school leavers; this industry like no other enjoys the unique privilege of attracting men and women from almost every country and socio-economic background in the world.

The multi–cultural society might be argued over elsewhere but it started years ago in the railway and remains our abiding and inherent strength.

New faces back rail training Akthar Hussain is hard at work on the electrical engineering graduate scheme at Network Rail.

The study and training is paying off. Making the right decision at the right time is an essential part of leadership development at Network Rail and newcomers get to use their new skills quite quickly.

Says Akthar, ‘My first placement at Stratford in London brought all sorts of unexpected challenges. When we needed to discuss security cameras, I organised and hosted a meeting with senior managers and stakeholders.

‘I enjoyed challenges in telecoms, signalling and played a role in increasing line capacity. On a typical day at Stratford there are 40,000 people using the station. When the Olympics gets going there will be 120,000. The decisions I’ve made so far will make a real contribution and I’m so proud of that. I love pushing myself forward in such a complex organisation.’

Graduate trainees are earning salaries of £24,500 with increments for London working. Whilst at Network Rail there are many engineering opportunities, there are also roles in network operations, finance, information management and commercial property. Network Rail is one of the largest land owners in Britain.

TRAINING FOCUS sponsored by... RailwayPeople.com

RailStaff | October 2011 | 21

Bridgeway launches new training academy Bridgeway Consulting has opened a new training academy at West Horndon in Essex.

Says Managing Director, Pino De Rosa, ‘These are exciting times for Bridgeway’s rail training and assessment services. I believe that the opening of the West Horndon academy will further reinforce our position in the market place, whilst the academy will make a valuable contribution to the rail industry.’

Bridgeway Consulting is one of the leading rail training and assessment providers in the UK. Founded and run by professional railway engineers West Horndon Training Academy marks an integral part of the company vision and reflects the next chapter in Bridgeway’s network-wide expansion.

South of England The opening of the new site provides a platform to further expand Bridgeway’s operations in the south of England and provide a cost efficient and robust service to existing and new clients. The academy has a dedicated training team with many years of experience of successfully delivering rail training and assessment services to the rail industry.

Range of Training Bridgeway delivers the following rail training and assessments, which will be offered from West Horndon: • Sentinel Track Safety • Permanent Way Engineering • Small Tools and Plant Equipment • Machine Crane / Controller / Operator • Health and Safety Training.

Bridgeway’s proactive approach to delivering a quality service is underpinned by a detailed management process.

Says Steve Diksa, Assurance Services Director, ‘Bridgeway has become synonymous with excellent rail training, mentoring and assessments. We have now expanded our facilities and strengthened our team of trainers and assessors.

‘Our vision is to deliver training that makes a real difference and enhanced contribution to the rail industry. We believe that the opening of the West Horndon academy will help achieve this vision.’

Bridgeways’s rail expertise allows them to provide a dynamic and innovative style of training that equips individuals to carry out duties efficiently, professionally and more importantly safely.

Further features of the Bridgeway’s training and assessment service include: • A national online track safety training open programme

• Pre/Post training advice and support • Trainers and assessors that carry out operational roles on a regular basis, theory backed with first hand experience that is CURRENT TODAY • Electronic archiving and 24/7 availability of all training / competence documentation.

tations • Keeping you up to date with all changes regarding rail industry rules and standards • Reduction of administrative costs • Professional rail expertise and knowledge across many rail disciplines.

Unique Training Solutions Bridgeway’s experience of logistical planning, coordination and delivering training ensures that they can devise bespoke solutions for their clients who need to manage their training and assessment requirements.

Solutions have included: • Invensys Rail – Total Sentinel Competence Management • MPI – Track Safety Assessment Management • Irish Rail – ECO training • Irish Rail - Signaller training • Merseyrail – Safety Workshops • Eurostar – Root Cause Analysis and Accident Investigation • Network Rail – Key Railway Principles.

client’s requirements. This allows our clients to call a Bridgeway mentor or assessor 24/7, making Bridgeway distinctively available midweek days or nights and also during weekends.

Online Booking System

With a wide range of training facilities around the country, Bridgeway is able to deliver its training services to meet its client’s demands.

Says Satnam Thiara, Sales and Marketing Manager, ‘With our innovative approach to finding solutions, we developed an online competence & training administration system (OCTAS). This has allowed our clients to book training events online quickly, all without the traditional paper booking forms.’

24/7 Service Bridgeway also has the flexibility of sending its trainers to a venue of the client’s choice. This is also applicable for their assessors who are available to deliver workplace assessments anywhere on the rail network.

In addition to this, Bridgeway provides a mentoring service that is available to suit the

Key features of the online system are: • Easily accessible and simple to use • Instant visibility of training events and availability • Instant joining instructions • No phone calls required • No booking forms required • A more unique feature of OCTAS is that it is also a competence management

National Coverage

system. It can be used to manage track safety competence expiries, so that an individual’s competences cannot be mistakenly taken down.

• Bridgeway is able to provide demonstrations of OCTAS at request.

Assurance and Compliance Services Bridgeway Consulting are also able to provide further management support through their Assurance and Compliance Services (ACS) team. The ACS

team can assist clients through Achilles (Link-up) accreditation and audits, whilst keeping you fully informed of what safety and compliance changes are being made in the rail industry.

With a professional team of safety and compliance specialists, we possess a successful record of understanding and assisting our clients achieve or maintain Achilles (Link-up) registration.

Key benefits of the service include: • Simplifying the maintenance of your rail industry accredi-

A new addition to the ACS team is Martin Cannon, who recently joined Bridgeway Consulting as a HSQE Specialist.

Martin’s experience in the rail industry, specifically within health and safety allows him to offer sound and practicable advice to many organisations and companies across the rail industry.

Martin says “I am very happy to be joining Bridgeway Consulting and look forward to working with the ACS team, existing and new clients”.

For further information about Bridgeway Consulting’s Rail Training, mentoring and assessment services please contact: Satnam Thiara on 0115 919 1111 or 07812 049462/ thiaras@bridgeway-consulting.co.uk For further information about Bridgeway Consulting’s ACS Rail service please contact: Martyn Durrant - 0115 919 1111 durrantm@bridgeway-consulting.co.uk

TRAINING FOCUS sponsored by... RailwayPeople.com

22 | RailStaff | October 2011

Fine tuning for Fast Line

High culture Virgin Trains’ Crewe-based Learning and Development team has won an award for its Coaching Culture programme.

The West Midlands award, part of the National Training Awards, recognises and celebrates the success of Investors in Peopleaccredited employers that have

delivered exceptional business benefits to their organisation through meeting the training needs of their staff across the West Midlands.

Says Patrick McGrath, HR Director at Virgin Trains, ‘Our managers are now better skilled to support the frontline teams to

challenge, to take on more responsibility, to come with and drive forward new ideas. This has been reflected in the improvements in measures such as the staff survey, increases in revenue and reduction in costs, all of which are key to our organisational strategy.

Want MCIPS status?

If you want professional recognition for your supply chain skills you may want to avail yourself of becoming a Member of The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply which would entitle you to use the letters MCIPS after your name.

A very convenient and cost effective way of securing the MCIPS accolade is to use the NVQ in Supply Chain Management route. This NVQ approach has some very attractive benefits:• No examinations are required contrasted with the more academic route to MCIPS • No college attendance required - all work is done at your desk • Usually much quicker than the examination route - typically around 6 to 9 months is all it takes • Probably about 1/3rd of the cost of the examination route.

The entire process is sustainable as we use ‘state of the art’ software to manage the process from any web-enabled PC worldwide on a 24/7 basis: • Start anytime - no academic year constraints • In-built flexibility to suit busy work / life balance schedules.

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Want a nationally recognised Supply Chain qualification?

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Former Rail Trainer of the Year finalist Terry Rayner has been appointed Training Manager at a brand new training facility in Rainham, Essex.

Terry, who has been responsible for Railway Safety and Skills Training since 2003, is now in charge of delivering all training for Fast Line Training Services Ltd. As well as offering courses covering PTS, Lookout, IWA, COSS, ES, Protection Controllers, Fast Line Training Services also covers Health & Safety Courses and Tools and Equipment Training.

Terry is passionate about training and believes the choice of location and learning environment is important. ‘Training Centres are often one of the first points of contact that individuals have with the rail industry and if it is a positive experience it could completely reshape a person’s attitude towards safety.

‘Setting up a new Railway Safety Training and Assessment facility has given me the opportunity to introduce innovative as well as tried and tested methods right from the start. The most pleasurable aspect was choosing a suitable location for a training centre. It was the perfect opportunity to test the theory that a good learning environment can improve training and knowledge retention.’

After the long process of visiting various different sites The Centre of Engineering Manufacturing Excellence in Rainham, Essex was chosen. The light and airy venue is purpose built for training.

‘Prior to delivering the first training course at the venue I wondered if the quality of the training facilities would actually make an impression on trainees. More importantly would it enhance the effectiveness of Railway Safety Training?

‘During the opening week I delivered a PTS Initial course at the new centre. A majority of the

group had never been involved in the rail industry. However, two out of the ten candidates had extensive previous railway experience but had let their competencies expire.’

The new centre brought out the best in the students. ‘Throughout the two days the enthusiasm the trainees on the course demonstrated was markedly different from what I’d seen at other venues. What struck me as particularly intriguing was that the more experienced trainees took an interest in passing on their knowledge.

‘A pattern developed and this cheerful transfer of knowledge and experience hugely increased the value of the course. Helped by the relaxed surroundings the railwaymen’s enthusiasm for their industry and the subject matter of the course inspired the others. All trainees, whatever the levels of experience, showed a marked improvement in attitude towards the training.’

Feedback on the course was good. Subsequent experience backs up the winning combination of a good environment and the relaxed interaction between old hands and new faces. It’s proving a great success and Fast Line Training is expanding.

For further details about courses and costs log onto www.fastlinetraining.com

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RailStaff | October 2011 | 23

Stobart Rail opens new rail training facility in the north west Stobart Rail has opened a brand new Training Facility in north west England.

With over 8500 square metres of specifically designed ground to facilitate some 37 categories of CPCS plant the new training facility forms a welcome addition to Stobart Rail’s already established track safety training facility at Stobart Rail Head Office in Carlisle.

The new centre will also complement the plant training fa-

cility at Widnes in Cheshire which includes a 500 metre section of twin track railway. The training track features a 1:30 gradient and level crossing providing candidates with experience of real working conditions and the safety issues that surround them.

Competency Assurance Says Managing Director Kirk Taylor, ‘Stobart Rail is well re-

spected for its safety record in the industry. Making this new facility and the skill and knowledge of our trainers open and available to other businesses working in the general construction and railway sectors will assist companies in meeting today’s ever increasing demand for competency assurance.’

For the plant sector Stobart Rail offers a one stop shop. An individual can go from basic training

on construction plant via the red card route to an NVQ and a Blue competence card. Those in the rail sector can transfer skills to the Network Rail Sentinel OTP operator scheme.

Stobart Rail has used the wealth of experience that its trainers and assessors hold to build a training environment as close to what the delegates should encounter in the real world as is possible. This is

achieved whilst still maintaining a Safe Training Environment.

As well as plant training for the CPCS scheme and NVQ Diplomas for the Construction Awards Alliance, Stobart Rail can offer a wide range of services within the rail sector including: • Track Safety Training and Assessments • Machine/ Crane Controller Inc. Tandem Lifting Training and Assessments

• On Track Plant Operator Training and Assessment: on a wide range of machines and attachments.

Other courses include: CAT & Generator training, Manual Handling, Abrasive Wheels and PASMA tower scaffold accredited training provider. For all of your training needs please contact one of our training team on 01228 882 300.

TRAINING COURSE TARIFF

“Expert training from a name you can trust”

Course Title

Max Number

Course Duration

Tariff Per Delegate

Personal Track Safety PTS Re certification

Ten Ten

Two One

£170.00 £95.00

Lookout LKT Re certification

Eight Eight

One One

£95.00 £95.00

Individual Working Alone IWA Re certification

Eight Eight

Three One & ½

£250.00 £120.00

COSS OLP/CRP COSS Re certification

Eight Eight

Five Three

£400.00 £250.00

Protection Controller PC Re certification

Eight Six

One ½

£95.00 £75.00

Engineering Supervisor ES Re certification

Six Six

Two One

£170.00 £95.00

Machine/Crane Controller

MC/CC Assessment

Four Two

Min of Seven Two

£POA £POA

On Track Plant OTP Re certification

Two Two

Various Various

£POA £POA

CPCS Theory Tests CPCS Practical Tests

---------

---------

£90.00 £130.00

All charges are inclusive of: Additional charges: VAT @ 20%

• Registration and clerical/ NCCA fees.

• Medicals (incl. D + A Screen) £135.00 per head • Rule Books - POA • Machine Hire – POA • MC/CC/OTP Attachments – POA. These may add additional training days • CPCS notifications fees at £25 per notification plus plant hire where required.

We can also offer CPCS plant Training and Testing and follow up with the appropriate NVQ; for more information please contact a member of the Training Team on the details below.

For multiple delegates and dedicated courses please contact a member of our training team as we can offer discount on the above rates.

This tariff is for training carried out at our facilities.

For training at customer’s own premises the cost may be different. Price on application.

CONTACT US:

Solway Business Centre, Kingstown, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA6 4BY. Tel: 01228 882 300 Fax: 01228 882 301 claire.bainbridge@stobartrail.com jeff.broadhurst@stobartrail.com

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24 | RailStaff | October 2011 With the rail economy picking up speed the need for skilled staff is growing.

Lawrence Dobie with some of the apprentices.

Rob Clark Reports: Over the last couple of years the economic climate has not been very good. The railway industry was never going to be immune to that.

There’s been a noticeable drop of work in the sector and because a lot of the work is subcontracted the sub-contractors were the first to suffer, losing valued members of the workforce.

Now that the economy is starting to pick up again we’re immediately finding ourselves short of skilled workers.

People at the top of their game have moved on to different disciplines or vocations.

Where we come in is by placing a greater emphasis than ever before on getting skilled workers into the rail industry. It is essential that we give them the right tools for a long-term future in the industry.

Historically staff only had to sit a two-day course to become a rail worker. This only covered basic procedures, there was no mechanism in place to skill yourself up vocationally. What we are currently looking to achieve is to get our trainees to a level 2 standard before getting them out on to the railways and having them recognised as young engineers.

Any other comparable industry, such as plumbing or elec-

Bridging the skills gap trical engineering, has a vocational qualification which must go hand in hand with other competencies, whereas that has never been the case on the railways, and that is what I think we are now moving towards.’

Rob Clark oversees trainees embarking on a career in railway engineering and is a Vocational Rail Trainer Assessor for Vital Skills Training, part of the Salford-based Vital Services Group.

Lawrence Dobie Answers Questions on VST Vital Skills Training (VST) is part of the Salford-based Vital Services Group.

It has been involved in training for the rail sector for a number of years, and works closely with some of the biggest names in the industry to deliver highquality staff for the railways of tomorrow. The man responsible for delivering this is Lawrence Dobie, Operations Manager for Vital Skills Training.

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Question: What is Vital Skills Training all about?

LD: VST is about providing training solutions which fit the needs of two groups: First our external clients and secondly our internal workforce.

Question: With specific regard to the rail industry, is training more important now than it used to be?

LD: I think, given the public eye that’s on the railways constantly, training and safety has always been critical, but more so now that the industry is suffering from skills shortages.

Our focus is to maintain and indeed improve the safety levels in the industry and one way of making sure safety is at the top of the agenda is through good training and investing in the next generation of Rail Engineers.

Question: Should safety always be the first consideration in the rail industry?

LD: It has to be. We think skills

are important, but real skills are achieved through good training, and use of best practice, but always delivered in a safe way, and that’s critical for the railways.

Question: You have your first dozen apprentices from Salford City College’s ‘Salford 500’ programme starting at the moment. What can you tell us about them?

LD: Our first group of apprentices, all between 17-18 years of age, started on 3 October. They’ll be the first of about 60 who’ll be joining us this year. They will be employed by the group’s rail industry contractor, Vital Rail VST, with the training they need to go through their apprenticeship programme being provided by VST. It’s a highly technical course in which they’ll learn about the underpinning principles of engineering, railway safety, and a whole range of other areas. Safety again is key; they need to learn the safety processes and procedures which they will car-

Word of mouth

ry with them for the rest of their railway careers.

Question: If they stay in the sector what sort of things might they be doing in a few years time?

LD: This is the first step on the ladder; there are lots of opportunities for them. They can stay within the rail track engineering field, which is what we’ll be training them in, or progress to an advanced apprenticeship. That could be with us, or they may wish to apply directly to Network Rail, and try to get on their threeyear apprentice programme.

They could then specialise in one of many skills, such as signalling, telecommunications, electrification; there are lots of opportunities for them once they’ve finished their basic apprenticeship programme.

Question: We understand you’re working on some specialist courses, including a Confined Spaces programme.

LD: We’re working with our trainers to develop a programme that meets the needs of the Crossrail project. There are a couple of aspects to it: one is Confined Spaces Training which is a mandatory requirement on the Crossrail project.

Alongside that is Confined Space Rescue, so if there is an incident in a tunnel while staff are working underground then we need to ensure that all operatives need to know how to rescue an individual who may be in distress.

Besides these two, we’re looking to develop a new programme which is the NVQ in Tunnelling Operations so that we can best equip our teams to work underground on the Crossrail project and future schemes of this type.

One of the key features of Crossrail is that they want to generate 400 apprentices within their supply chain so we hope we can be part of that programme by delivering some of those apprentices to them.

Jonathan Kerr from Southport decided to join Network Rail’s apprenticeship scheme after talking to railway staff at the company where he worked after leaving school.

Jonathan is now a second year signalling apprentice in the north west. Says Jonathan, ‘After deciding not to follow the university route I got a job with a train company near home. I loved working in the workshops and being able to see the physical results of my efforts so I began looking for an apprenticeship where I knew I would be able to learn on the job.

‘Following recommendations from people in the rail industry I applied for a place on Network Rail’s scheme. It is definitely one of the best decisions I have ever made.

There will always be a railway network which will need maintaining so there will be plenty of opportunities for me upon my completion of the apprenticeship.’

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RailStaff | October 2011 | 25

University Launches course in Incident Management Says Willie Baker, ‘While large-scale emergencies are relatively uncommon, even small incidents can be serious and challenging, and have far-reaching consequences.

It is therefore vital that incidents are managed safely and brought to a swift conclusion by people who are both academically-qualified and operationally-skilled. One of the aims of the course is to engage with companies to regularly review and update their plans and procedures. Such individuals need to possess a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities, as well as those of others.

A new course to equip railway staff with the skills to deal with major rail incidents is being launched by the University of Wolverhampton in 2012.

The Postgraduate Certificate in the Management of Passenger Transport Emergency Incidents has been designed specifically for people working in passenger transport and will be delivered by the University’s School of Health and Wellbeing.

Serious and challenging Willie Baker, a recently retired British Transport Police Superintendent, has been instrumental in establishing the course and will lead on teaching. Mr Baker draws on his unrivalled experience in the field having been involved in many major rail incidents in the UK.

Considerable value ‘Completion of the course will strengthen the talents and career prospects of individuals and it will add considerable value to the business they work for.’

Mr Baker has been working closely with the Institution of Railway Operators and Confederation of Passenger Transport to assess industry requirements.

Students will take 12 months, parttime, to complete the three modules, which will cover all aspects of passenger emergency incidents, including planning, risk, communication and investigations. These can be accessed remotely via the University virtual learning environment.

It will also examine case studies of in-

cidents which are often such a rich source of learning. The first students are due to start early next year.

British Transport Police Willie Baker spent 33 years with the British Transport Police rising to the rank of superintendent. He has worked with emergency services, local authorities, the military and the rail industry specialising in strategic and tactical emergency incident management.

He led on the policing and security arrangements for the new Midland Metro light railway. In 1999 he was the

first ‘silver’ commander at the Paddington (Ladbroke Grove) train crash. This lead to him receiving a commendation for ‘Excellent Leadership’ from HRH the Prince of Wales.

Security Planning Willie Baker is an expert in passenger transport incident management. He has worked on security planning for the two recently opened light railways in Dubai and Makkah,. This was one of the first times such joint training had ever been done in the Emirates and in Saudi Arabia.

More recently he has helped review emergency plans and procedures for other passenger transport operators in Britain and Europe.

Willie has also provided advice in respect of strategic transport ‘hubs’ such as St. Pancras, the Channel Tunnel terminal, and helped establish rail-air links at London Paddington station.

He also managed the transport policing interface at airports in the midlands and at London Heathrow.

Those interested in finding out more about attending the course should email willie@williebaker.co.uk.

New apprentices join up 200 promising new apprentices at Network Rail have set off on a three-year programme which will make them skilled maintenance engineers.

Network Rail received nearly 8,000 applications for its award winning advanced apprenticeship scheme. The new 200 will spend a year training alongside the Royal Navy at Europe’s largest engineering training facility at HMS Sultan in Hampshire.

The apprentices will learn technical skills required to work on the railway as well as developing leadership and teamwork qualities. Apprentices continue their training over two years with on-the-job experience at depots across the country. They return to HMS Sultan at regular intervals for additional courses and learning.

Apprentices specialise in track, signalling and telecoms, electrification and plant, property works and mechanical locking.

This year, Network Rail is also training apprentices for its national delivery service and for the channel tunnel rail link teams.

Lettie Todd, a third year Network Rail property works apprentice based at London Bridge

The Postgraduate Certificate

In The Management of Passenger Transport Emergency Incidents A unique new course to equip passenger transport and emergency professionals with the skills to deal with major incidents is being launched by the University of Wolverhampton.

The Postgraduate Certificate in the Management of Passenger Transport Emergency Incidents will be the first of its kind in the UK.

station, praised the scheme’s benefits. ‘I always liked the mixture of academic and practical study whilst at school so decided that an apprenticeship would provide me with what I needed.

‘I chose this scheme because it is one of the best opportunities available for women to become involved in the engineering industry.’

Steve Featherstone, director of maintenance at Network Rail agrees, ‘Our apprentices will be part of a 34,000-strong team helping three million people get to work and home again, to their day or night out, to their holiday or to their university or

school. It’s challenging, rewarding and of great value to Britain and its economic success.

‘In the future we expect the railway to become more popular and we have big plans for making it more reliable, efficient and better value for money; our apprentices will play a big role in that. We now have the building blocks in place so that beyond their apprenticeships, our engineers can undertake a higher national certificate, a foundation degree and then a full degree in engineering. They can earn while they learn and go as far as their aptitude, attitude and ambition can take them.’

It has been designed for people working in the transport sector, emergency services and local authorities, or those seeking careers in these areas, and will be delivered by the University’s School of Health and Wellbeing.

The courses will be run by former British Transport Police Superintendent Willie Baker who will share his experience of every major rail incident he has been involved with and had to manage since 1995 To find out more about the course dates and content email: willie@williebaker.co.uk

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26 | RailStaff | October 2011

Crossrail students dig in

A new tunnelling academy in Ilford, Essex, will help make good the skills shortfall in underground engineering.

Graduates could go on to work on other huge tunnel projects in Europe and overseas. The first students at Crossrail’s Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy (TUCA) have started their studies this autumn.

Says Terry Morgan, Crossrail Chairman, ‘Crossrail is gearing up for the start of tunnelling next spring and we have now commenced specialist training for the first of many thousands who will work on the project.

‘TUCA will have a critical role to play in equipping people, particularly those from along the Crossrail route, with the necessary training and skills to work below ground. The Academy will not only act as a centre of excellence for tunnelling and underground construction in the UK but also for European tun-

nelling projects longer-term.’

Initial training courses at the new Academy include the Tunnel Safety Card, essential for tunnel working, and Construction Skills Certification Scheme health and safety card training. Vocational courses on offer are pre-cast concrete manufacture and tunnel operations training.

A variety of other vocational training courses start over the autumn. Work to install tunnelling plant and machinery in the major vocational training areas, including a static tunnel boring machine and a simulated tunnel environment, will be completed by the end of the year.

Students will gain experience and learn the practical skills required for underground construction. By early 2012, the Academy will be fully open for business with the full curriculum in action and the vocational training areas

operational. Up to 150 students will be attending courses offered through the Academy at any one time.

The Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy will offer training to at least 3,500 people over the lifetime of the Crossrail project alone. The only other dedicated tunnelling training facility in Europe is located in Switzerland.

TUCA students will be made up of new entrants to the industry as well as Crossrail’s contractors’ existing workforces. Those already working in the industry can up-skill or formalise their knowledge through nationally accredited technical and safety training including apprenticeships, NVQs and other programmes.

Facilities will replicate the key areas of a fully-automated tunnelling project.

These will include a simulated tunnel boring machine environment, sup-

Track training for civils Robin Miedzybrodzki is on Network Rail’s civil engineering scheme.

However, as well as building a career in railways Robin is training hard to compete in the 2012 London Olympics. Says Robin, ‘The partnership I have with Network Rail allows me to develop my engineering skills while also providing the flexibility to train full time for beach volleyball and compete internationally for Great Britain.

‘My playing partner, Tom Lord, and I are currently competing on the FIVB World Tour, CEV Challenger Tour, and the Volleyball England Beach Tour and these competitions are vital for our team as we aim to gain Olympic qualification points and develop our game to a level so to produce a world class performance for the 2012 Games. Network Rail’s support has been absolutely crucial in keeping my Olympic dream alive.’

Robin Miedzybrodzki, Network Rail’s graduate and Olympic beach volleyballer.

ported by a TBM backup area, with a loco and narrow gauge railway to the rear.

There will be a separate chamber for Sprayed Concrete operations in addition to a large underground construction workshop. TUCA will also have four teaching rooms, a test centre for online safety tests, a large refectory and a Learning Resource Centre.

The National Construction College (NCC) has been appointed to deliver skills and training at the Academy.

NCC will complete the development of the curriculum and deliver the Academy’s full range of accredited and bespoke skills programmes.

On the face of it Network Rail looks like a huge national corporation.

However, local power is proving attractive to a new generation of graduate trainees. Kate Anderson joined Network Rail’s graduate trainee scheme after seeing what was on offer at a careers trade fair. She is now a station manager at King’s Cross, London, overseeing 25m people’s journeys every year.

Says Kate, ‘When I was at university, I knew I wanted to be a manager, I just didn’t know of what. I was looking at retail but after seeing Network Rail at a careers fair I realised that you could do almost anything on the scheme.

It was the only scheme that offered that freedom, and I thought if I can’t get a great job there, I won’t be able to do it anywhere.

Managing King’s Cross is like running your own business. I love having that ‘I did that’ effect.

Every day I get to see the result of my work.’

Network Rail chief executive, David Higgins, has actively promoted devolution of power to lo-

An Industry Advisory Panel, comprising representatives from client and contractor organisations involved in underground construction, will ensure the training on offer at TUCA is worldclass and responsive to the needs of industry. The Panel will include representatives of Thames Water and National Grid.

In addition to TUCA, Crossrail has committed to delivering at least 400 apprentices through its supply chain over the lifetime of the project. The first 20 apprentices are now employed on Crossrail and this number will increase as intensive station construction and tunnelling gets underway.

Running your own business

cally accountable managers. This represents big opportunities for the next generation of railway management.

Kate Anderson, King’s Cross Station Manager who joined Network Rail’s graduate scheme after university.

TRAINING FOCUS sponsored by... RailwayPeople.com

RailStaff | October 2011 | 27 © BRIDGEWAY CONSULTING

The Association of Railway Training Providers (ARTP) was formed in 1997, just after the privatisation of the railways.

Since then ARTP has become an essential component of the new rail industry. The ARTP was instrumental in the initial development of what is today known as SENTINEL. It is reassuring to note that many of the original founders are still members of ARTP. Today’s railway sees many challenges. First among them is that of remedying the current skills shortage. The ARTP’s role is proving fundamental as the wider rail industry rises to the challenges.

The current ARTP Board of Directors is made up of: • Andy McKenna (Chairman) Amtrain Limited • Steve Diksa (Policy Support) Bridgeway Consulting • Andy Neil - Network Rail • Gail Peters - Cleshar • Andy Crago - Hydrex • Martin Cannon - ACS Rail • Colin Morris - Invensys Rail • Tony Wilkinson - Omega Consultants • Roger Luckins - RSSB • Jim Dennell - S&T Training • Dick Bonney - Neway Training • Gary Lobue - QSS Group • Wayne Chawner - Trackwork • Graham Howe - West Nottinghamshire College • Andy Morris - Keltbray

Railing the profile

ARTP rises to the challenge

ARTP represents its members’ interests by actively raising the profile of rail training. ARTP also stresses the importance of assessment providers and competence assessors across all disciplines. It encourages professional trainer and assessor development through events, knowledge and information.

Benefits of ARTP Membership There are many reasons to be an ARTP member including: • Training and Competence workshops, including the opportunity to influence training and assessment materials • Continuous Professional Development events • Networking Opportunities.

All members also receive a discount of 15% for Network Rail training and assessment plans including: • Track Safety • Auxiliary Operating Duties • Machine Controller • Crane Controller • Authorised / Nominated Persons.

ARTP Member Communications ARTP aims to provide a conduit for training and assessment providers between the RSSB,

Network Rail and the National Skills Academy for Rail Engineering (NSARE). We provide quarterly newsletters, covering current issues and website to enhance member interaction.

• Rule book and handbook modules • Electrification • Permanent Way.

Special Interest Groups

The ARTP has been continually involved with the RSSB workforce development research programme and its advisory group.

ARTP has also provided representation on Network Rail training and assessment review groups for: • Personal Track Safety

ARTP has a number of special interest groups that members can and are encouraged to attend. The special interest groups include: • Track Safety Training and Assessment • On Track Plant & Standards

ARTP: A Valued Stakeholder

• Controller of Site Safety • Person in Charge of Possession.

We have also worked closely with NSARE and have provided support for the following stakeholder working groups: Training & Assessment Provider Licensing & Accreditation.

Skills Passport Scheme.

Sentinel has now been embedded within the rail industry since 1999 and ARTP has been supportive of the scheme to date,

providing many innovative ideas and solutions that have become a part of everyday railway life.

ARTP is also represented on the Sentinel 2 steering group and has also been invited to participate in the Sentinel 2 working groups.

Contact: ARTP 22 Headfort Place London SW1X 7RY Tel: 020 7201 0778 Email: info@artp.co.uk

Training? Think Murphy.

One of the most respected names in the building and civil engineering industry, Murphy are proud to offer a wide range of accredited Rail Safety and Plant training and assessments.

Rail Training ■ Personal Track Safety (AC/DC) ■ Track Induction Course ■ Lookout (P) (K) ■ Competent protection Layer ■ MC/CC Assessments ■ SSOW Planner Assessments ■ Hand Trolley Controller ■ Individual Working Alone (IWA) ■ COSS (OLP/CRP)

Other Training Courses ■ Protection Controller ■ Engineering Supervisor ■ OTP Operator ■ Manual Handling Competence Assessments are also available. Additional courses available on request.

For more details or to discuss your rail training needs, please call 01942 725 326 or email railtraining@murphygroup.co.uk

CDM Regulations, Manual Handling, Fire Warden ■ IOSH approved: Working Safely, Managing Safely, Managing Safely in Construction, Working with Environmental Responsibilities, Avoidance of Danger from Underground Services, MSic Refresher, MS Refresher ■ EUSR approved: SHEA, CCPHSE, National Water Hygiene

■ ECITB approved: CCNSG National Safety Course, CCNSG National Safety Course Renewal, CCNSG Supervising Safely ■ BSC approved: L2 Risk Assessment, L2 COSHH Risk Assessment, L2 Fire Risk Assessment, L2 Supervising Staff Safely, L2 DSE Assessment and L2 Manual Handling Assessment

For more details or to discuss your training needs, please call 01909 564 911 or email training@murphygroup.co.uk

CCNSG

Breathing life into infrastructure

For deeper thinking visit www.murphygroup.co.uk

APPOINTMENTS

28 | RailStaff | October 2011

www.sw-gr.com

Manpower

Rail

Recruitment

Opportunities throughout the UK for Railway Staff (Competitive Salaries) Due to the fulfilment of on-going contracts and continuation of investment being made in Railway Infrastructure throughout the country, SWGR are keen to hear from the following individuals in a variety of locations throughout the UK. We have an urgent requirement for; We are particularly keen to hear from the following:

SPICOP/PICOP

Engineer Supervisors

COSS

Barriers/Points Operators

Lookout

PPS Planners

PTS Scaffolders

SSOW Planners

Track Induction Staff

General Trackworkers & Gangs

Strapmen

OHL Personnel

Isolation Assistant

Linesman 1

Senior Linesman

PTS Construction Staff

Rail Welders

PTS Qualified Welders

S E R V I C E

The Department of Community, Culture & Leisure is part of the Government of the Isle of Man. The Department operates the Isle of Man Steam Railway, the Manx Electric Railway and the Snaefell Mountain Railway which together cater for over 300,000 passengers per year making them the Island's most popular leisure and tourism attraction. The railways together have a total of 60 miles of track.

We are looking to appoint an individual to plan and supervise the activities of the in-house workforce and external contractors in inspecting, maintaining and renewing the permanent way and associated infrastructure of the three heritage railways.

To monitor the infrastructure against agreed standards and respond to emerging issues to allow safe and effective railway operation.

We offer not only a competitive salary but also an opportunity to enjoy a real quality of life.

The Isle of Man is a low tax environment (with a maximum rate of income tax of 20%) and enjoys one of the highest resident satisfaction ratings in the British Isles.

The closing date for applications is 30 November 2011.

Further information can be obtained from: Peter Maddocks, Chief Engineer on 01624 697417.

or call 0844 692 0692

W I D E

R e i l t y s E l l a n Va n n i n

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY, CULTURE AND LEISURE Public Transport Division

To find out more about the Isle of Man visit our website at www.gov.im

Please send your CV in Word Format to admin2@sw-gr.com

U K

Permanent Way Team Leader Heritage Railways

C E N T R E S

Contact for application and information pack: Charlotte Davies on 01624 697481 or email: charlotte.davies@gov.im

APPOINTMENTS

RailStaff | October 2011 | 29

An award winning multi-disciplinary engineering company

Our wide range of skills and experience allow us to meet customer expectations throughout the UK and abroad. We provide high quality engineering, integrated design, construction and specialist capabilities to a diverse range of clients in the public and private sectors.

Following major project awards we are looking for the following staff for works from the Scottish Lowlands to the Southern Counties: Rates of pay: Up to ÂŁ90k per annum plus usual benefits and bonus dependent on

Commercial Staff

Rail Infrastructure Staff

(including signalling, telecoms, OHLE and PWay)

Project Managers

position and experience.

Applications should be made via our website www.cspencerltd.co.uk

Specialist Engineering Services Group www.ses-holdings.com

Experienced LUL Staff Required Experienced LUL SPiC's needed, must have valid entry permit, track accustomed, D&A cert and asbestos awareness - excellent rates of pay - long term contracts.

Experienced LUL Skilled Platelayers, must have valid entry permit, track accustomed and asbestos awareness. Other training received, manual handling, iron men and small tools, excellent rates of pay-long term contracts.

Experienced LUL Platelayers, must have valid entry permit, track accustomed and asbestos awareness. Other training received, manual handling, iron men and small tools, excellent rates of pay-long term contracts.

For the above contact: Mick Denyer email: mick.denyer@ses-holdings.com | mob 07713 307923 Stephen Bell email: stephen.bell@ses-holdings.com mob 07702 813403 | office 0207 055 0291

Experienced Track Staff Required Experienced Network Rail ES's, COSS's and Trackmen, must have valid PTS 10 day track induction course cert-excellent rates of pay - long term contracts.

For the above contact: Pete Harper email: pete.harper@ses-holdings.com | mob 07872 542225

APPOINTMENTS

30 | RailStaff | October 2011

McGinley Support Services is one of the UK's leading technical infrastructure recruitment consultancies. Our experienced teams located in offices throughout the UK, focus on identifying candidates and employers needs for permanent and contract assignments.

As a 1st tier supplier to many of the UK’s largest engineering companies, McGinley Support Services has developed a wealth of experience in recruiting all levels of personnel for complete projects and individual assignments.

Due to our growing portfolio of major UK rail and infrastructure clients and our recently awarded national framework agreements with some of the UK’s leading infrastructure companies, McGinley Support Services are looking to recruit personnel within the following disciplines:

Construction Managers Health & Safety Specialists Commercial Managers Permanent Way Engineers Project Support

Project Managers Quantity Surveyors Design Engineers Signalling Engineers Information Management

For further information, please speak to Patrick O’Reilly on 01923 696704

or Mobile:07815 887995. Email: patrick_o’reilly@mcginley.co.uk

Tel: 0845 543 5953 www.mcginley.co.uk

T e c h n i c a l

International Opportunities We are currently recruiting the following staff for a major Rail Project in Qatar.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate relevant Experience in previous posts.

All roles carry tax free salaries and expat allowances.

Quality Assurance Manager / Safety Manager Civil Engineers Interface Managers Document Control Manager Planning Engineers P6 experience Schedulers Trackwork and Alignment Specialist, Station Architects, Systems Design.

Specialist Procurement / Contract Engineers.

For all international positions please contact: Paul Rance on

44 (0)1923 696600 or mobile 44 (0)7817 403642 or email: paul_rance@mcginley.co.uk

We are also currently recruiting on behalf of our clients on a number of existing infrastructure rail projects throughout the UK. Please get in touch if you have any of the following disciplines: PTS Civils trades (Carpenters/Bricklayers/Steelfixers/Roofers/Plumbers) Safety Critical staff such as Coss and AODs OLE and Isolations staff

Welders

For further information call: Tom on 07816 442901 or email: tom_hughes@mcginley.co.uk

C o r p o r a t eS o l u t i o

n s

Head Office: Ground Floor, The Edward Hyde Building, 38 Clarendon Road, Watford, Herts WD17 1JW

Amalgamated Construction Ltd The Award Winning Contractor of Choice E&P Designer/Engineer Amalgamated Construction Ltd, a multi-disciplinary engineering service provider to the Rail, Energy and Engineering markets is seeking to appoint an E&P Engineer with Rail sector experience to join our award winning Engineering Business Stream.

The successful candidate will manage and contribute to the production of designs and ensure that engineering requirements are met during the project life cycle. The role will also incorporate the duties of Contractor Engineering Manager (CEM) / Contractor Responsible Engineer (CRE), encompassing a wide spectrum of distribution and plant infrastructure.

Candidates should be conversant with Rail Industry procedures particularly NR L2 INI/02009 (Engineering Management of Projects), approval processes and standards and have a proven record in value engineering solutions, which is focused upon construction buildability.

The successful applicant will possess design/installation experience of PSP (SSP) / FSP signalling power, Distribution electronic protection relays, HV & LV installations and Earthing systems.

Candidates will ideally hold a current PTS certificate. Distribution Level A/B will be advantageous and Level C/D is desirable.

Candidates should possess academic and professional qualifications which are commensurate with the position and should be a member of a professional institute. Chartered Engineer status is desirable although not essential Although based at our Barnsley Head Office, the works have a National coverage, requiring some element of travel.

This position attracts a very competitive remuneration package which reflects the importance of this role.

In the first instance, please write with full CV / career details to:

Safety | Professionalism | Innovation | Respect | Integrity | Teamwork

Miss Rebekah Mason HR Administrator Amalgamated Construction Ltd Whaley Road, Barnsley South Yorkshire S75 1HT T: +44 (0)1226 243413 E: rmason@amco.co.uk W: www.amco-construction.co.uk

Amalgamated Construction Ltd is an Equal Opportunities Employer

Opportunities in Rail and Infrastructure If you’re a skilled Engineer, Manager or Technical Specialist looking to work on some of the most exciting and challenging projects in the Rail and Infrastructure sector, then TRS Staffing Solutions can help - now.

We’re currently recruiting for the UK’s leading rail companies and major clients globally, across a wide variety of projects.

These include major upgrades for the National Rail network and London Underground. To apply for any of the following vacancies, you should have relevant experience at the appropriate level.

Heavy Haul Rail Engineers/Managers All disciplines for a major new rail project in West Africa, Ideally French speaking.

Rail Construction Managers/Directors UK/UAE/Australia/Far East/Africa £80-150K Working on major freight, heavy haul and high speed rail projects P-Way/Track Design Engineers + Managers Australia, West Africa, UK (London, Manchester & Warrington- 60K+) + Far East - $140K- $200K Working on major new rail projects + upgrades Overhead Line Design Engineers + Managers UK and Australia - £60-80K, $120K-$140K Major Rail Programme, visa + relocation assistance Electrification Engineer UK - £50K or £70K + Benefits Chartered status is preferred Senior Project Planners/Project Controls Managers London £40-60,000 Airports, Rail & Building services Projects

TRS are a global organisation and we are currently recruiting for rail specialists Signal Engineers, Designers & Project Managers in the UAE, Australia & Far East, West Africa UK, Far East + Australia, Contract and Permanent and Canada. If you are interested IRSE Vacancies at all levels in working abroad contact TRS today.

To apply Please send your CV to rail@trsstaffing.com Or if you’d prefer to discuss a role in more detail and in confidence, please contact one of our specialist consultants on

+44 (0)20 7419 5800

Civils/Structural Engineers – Project Engineers & Managers UK, West Africa, Australia & Far East £40-60 per hour, $70-120K Working on major freight, heavy haul and high speed rail projects Civil Estimators NEC Quantity Surveyors London, £40-60K Rail and Civil Projects. NEC contract experience ideal

Archway Investment Drive Safety Vision Talent

Innovation

Recognition Training Benchmarking Resilience Inspiration Efficiency Improvement Reliability Communication Responsibility

Respect

Leadership

Balham

It takes a lot to get 500 million passengers from A to B Tube Lines is investing £5 billion to maintain and upgrade the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines, which account for 500 million passenger journeys a year.

We’re responsible for 323 km of track, 100 stations, 227 escalators, 103 lifts, 255 trains and 3,954 bridges and structures. But as well as investing in the Tube, we’re investing in the 2,300 people who are delivering our long-term project programme. As we strive to make Tube Lines a great place to work, we’re looking for inspirational leaders with industry experience and impressive intellect for the following senior roles:

Track Maintenance Manager To lead and direct track inspection and maintenance activities across the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines – optimising an annual £20m budget and overseeing 350 track staff to meet safety and efficiency targets.

Zonal Maintenance Manager To lead, manage, organise and review routine, corrective and preventative signal maintenance, as well as implementing improvements to ensure compliance and efficiency.

Planning Manager To ensure infrastructure areas co-ordinate their activities efficiently and teams work collaboratively in order to deliver on our contractual responsibilities. This will entail co-ordinating a budget of over £70m per annum.

Signals Response Manager To lead and manage an asset approach to signalling failures and investigations, including the production of the rapid response strategy. The role involves controlling an annual budget of c.£6.5m, managing 100 employees directly and providing leadership to the whole signalling incident team.

As well as recruiting for these roles, we’re keen to hear from other industry professionals: • • • •

Track Planner • 3x PM3/4 Inspectors Assistant Delivery Assurance Engineer (Track) Contract Technical Support (Signals) • Track Competence Assessor Technical Author (Track) • Rail Operations Assessor/Trainer

Maintenance Operations Manager To inspire, manage, organise and control line signalling maintenance across all signal assets, including night activities. The role will include assisting with signal incidents to keep the service running smoothly.

For more information and to apply to any of these and other exciting opportunities at Tube Lines, please visit www.tubelines.com/careers or contact David Stradling on +44 20 7088 5619.

Looking after the health of your business

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Physiotherapy

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Customer Service Team

020 7500 6900 www.expressmedicals.co.uk