Transport for Wales and Alun Griffiths host virtual ‘Bridge to Schools’ events across South Wales

memories. (Old Mystic Wolmar seems to have been wrong in his pessimism about a vaccine though nothing is certain yet).

There is little doubt that this organisation will be built around Network Rail, although the precise details of how this will be done remain unclear. While we all know that Network Rail has been anything but a perfect organisation, with a tendency towards unfathomable bureaucracy, gold plating projects, hostility towards outsiders and schemes ‘not invented here’ and a lack of accountability, it has been on an upward path ever since Andrew Haines took over as head of the organisation from Mark Carne two years ago.

That suggests there is only one person qualified to take on the role of heading this new organisation (let’s call it British Railways for mischief’s sake, though realistically Rail UK is probably a more likely candidate) – the aforementioned Haines. There is a good reason for this. For my latest book I have been talking to a lot of the BR old timers who morphed successfully into the privatised railway a quarter of a century ago. Almost to a man (and they are all men….) they went through BR’s management trainee scheme which involved working in various parts of the network – one day you could be in a small parcel office, the next day at division HQ and a couple of months after that organising passenger on a large chunk of the network.

There are few of these graduates from the trainee scheme left in the industry but Haines is one of them, and even after privatisation he did a variety of jobs. His knowledge of the whole network is therefore unequalled – add to that the fact he is personable, competent and articulate, and you have the only person up to doing the job. That won’t, however, as he knows, stop me disagreeing with him when I think he is wrong!

adaptations to the delivery which will enable pupils to participate virtually. TfW is also keen to hear from schools in other areas which are interested in taking part in future events. Lois Park, Head of Community and Stakeholder Engagement at TfW, said: “We’re

An exciting partnership between Transport delighted to be working with our Infrastructure for Wales and Alun Griffiths will engage Welsh Delivery Partners, Alun Griffiths to deliver school pupils on activities in engineering, an alternative to their already successful transport and construction. Hosted by TfW, ‘Institution of Civil Engineers’ Bridge to the pilot ‘Bridge to Schools’ events will take Schools’. These online but participatory events place “virtually” throughout March 2021. will be available to pupils across South Wales Delivering in the South Wales Metro area first, and we hope large numbers are able to join us. the sessions will be available to pupils in years Transport for Wales is growing rapidly as we 6 to 8, engaging young people with the different prepare to deliver a number of transformative construction and engineering skills required to transport projects throughout Wales. build a bridge. “We’ve got a lot of work to do in order

During the event, Alun Griffiths will use the to deliver a high quality, safe, integrated, Institution of Civil Engineers’ Bridge to Schools affordable and accessible transport network to give young people the opportunity to build the people of Wales are proud of, so while we’re a miniature version of the Second Severn building the team that will be part of this now, Crossing. Using a 12m model cable-stayed we also want to fire up the next generation to bridge, children experience bridge building at get excited about the opportunities in transport first-hand, while wearing hard hats, high-vis or engineering. vests, gloves and goggles. After the bridge has “We also want to take the opportunity to get been built, each child gets the chance to walk input from young people on what they want across to test their engineering skills. to hear about next. Our education outreach

The bridge-building session is presented programme is currently in development and by an Alun Griffiths Engineers, supported by this new partnership gives us the chance to a Public Liaison Officer and the Community ask how Transport for Wales should engage, Engagement team from Transport for Wales. inspire and improve for future generations.” While during the pandemic it won’t be possible You can register your interest for future sessions by to visit schools and run the session in its usual format with the pupils, TfW has made contacting engagement@tfw.wales. Due to current COVID restrictions, this year’s events will be held online only. 30 GREAT WESTERN STAR MAGAZINE January/February 2021