ENGINEERING SUCCESS

The rail industry’s army of engineers keep the rail network running day and night, 365 days a year. Since the first days of the railway, engineers have provided the insight and expertise required to drive the projects and systems on which the transport of millions depends. The Rail Engineer of the Year Award celebrates their extraordinary efforts and this year specialist inspections and survey’s firm GeoAccess has thrown its support behind the award.

Established in 2014 to address the need for inspections on difficult access sites in the rail sector, GeoAccess works nationwide, covering a broad range of industries. Utilising its highly experienced Geotechnical and structural engineers coupled with UAVs, ROVs, Rope Access, and Confined Space Techniques, the firm looks at every job holistically.

By using tried and tested methods as well as implementing highly innovative cutting-edge techniques, it delivers the most efficient cost-effective solution to its client’s needs. GeoAccess takes pride in its ability to tackle every job no matter how big or small, with the same professional flexible approach, believing that anything is possible.

“The fact that rail engineers are being recognised for their excellent and critical work is brilliant,” says Managing Director Mark Coleman. “The Rail Engineer of the Year Award is a such prestigious title for someone to take home, and its great to think it might inspire others within the industry to aim high and get their ideas noticed.

At GeoAccess, we're all about striving to make things better. Our big project at the moment is our earthwork inspections for Network Rail. We’re the sole framework supplier for Wales, Western, and all of Southern delivering earthwork exams. As part of that contract, year on year, we’re trying to improve on it – introducing new ideas, trying to reduce our carbon footprint, improve on sustainability and our environmental impact. We are genuinely making a change, and that’s why it's so fitting that we sponsor this award.”

Transport for Wales’ Chloe Thomas took the coveted prize at the 2022 Awards ceremony. Chloe joined the railway back in 2015 as a fleet maintenance apprentice, now she is a Fleet Support Engineer who has completed her BSc Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Along with her many academic achievements, Chloe’s innovative work impressed colleagues at Canton Depot, where she successfully implemented new battery testing equipment that uses conductance testing to determine the health of the battery on the Class 150 Fleet. Her project will enhance the performance of the batteries resulting in increased reliability of battery systems as this project will implement preventative maintenance into the exam regime.

“The RailStaff Awards are fantastic,” says Mark. “From nominations, through to judging and the award ceremony, the event raises the profile of so many talented individuals and of the industry as a whole. We’re proud to be sponsoring the Rail Engineer of the Year Award and can't wait to be part of the event once again.”