RailStaff August 2012

RailStaff Issue 177 / August 2012

THE MOST POPULAR PUBLICATION IN THE UK RAIL INDUSTRY

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German role for Peter Hutchinson

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Confident and Improving Network Rail seeks opinions on their relationship with suppliers.

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The new fleet of IEP trains to be built at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham will provide better value for money and create over 900 jobs, rail analysts believe. The news comes as the government confirmed a 9 billion pound continuing investment aimed at expanding and electrifying much of the railway.

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Track Renewals & Maintenance Stobart Rail recently completed a track renewals project for MRDL between Bury and Manchester Victoria consisting of a 674m skim dig renewal without Engineering Trains within a 51hr possession. “Stobart Rail successfully delivered the core works within a very demanding timeframe, both lead-in and delivery.

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COMMENT

RailStaff Contact us:

Publisher:

Paul O’Connor

Editor:

Andy Milne

Production and design:

Adam O’Connor

Senior Reporter:

Jonathan Webb

Writer:

Nigel Wordsworth

Track Safety:

Colin Wheeler

Pictures:

Colin Garratt

Advertising:

Asif Ahmed Craig Smith Paul Curtis

Contact Email Addresses News: news@rail-media.com Pictures: pictures@rail-media.com Adverts: adverts@rail-media.com Subscriptions: pat@rail-media.com

Contact Details RailStaff Publications Ltd Ashby House, Bath Street, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, LE65 2HF. Tel: 01530 56 00 26 Web: www.railstaff.co.uk Email: hello@rail-media.com Printed by Pensord.

RailStaff is published by RailStaff Publications Limited.

A Rail Media Publication.

Will Britain’s wave of effusive optimism evaporate when the last athlete leaves? Will the jaunty songs of Madness be replaced by the familiar dirge of the loser?

By any measure this has been a remarkable year for Britain. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee together with the London Olympics have reawakened a shared sense of identity and confidence. Although Britain faces deep challenges there is no better place to live, make friends, start a career and run a business.

While the Euro implodes and America languishes, Britain is once again re-surfacing majestically above the waves she once ruled.

For some years we have used the term ‘Britain’ in RailStaff. ‘UK’ is an artificial construct designed to assuage the sensitivities of the Celtic countries and the Channel Islands. However, the correct term for this sprawling mass of winners and eccentrics from every conceivable background and part of the world is British.

Champion runner, Mo Farah captures the mood of the British best. Mo arrived as a nine year old from East Africa. When asked why he didn’t run for Somalia he said, ‘Look, mate, this is my country.

When I put on the Great Britain vest, I feel proud, very proud.’

The Olympics is having a great effect on the nation’s young. Kids are belting round hastily sketched out race tracks, chucking runner bean poles down the street and

SPECIAL FOCUS

A Remarkable Year The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics have reawakened a shared sense of identity and confidence

“We are very proud of Mo Farah and all at Team GB. They have taught us that determination, hard work and sheer exuberant optimism wins every time.”

Sir Chris Hoy leading Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony.

pestering lifeguards to teach them how to swim like Rebecca Adlington. Older people are going out jogging and wobbling courageously through the dawn on pre-Wiggins bicycles.

If our leaders are wise they will seek to be equally daring, investing in solid wealth creating industries like railways, capitalising on the

surge of optimism exemplified by our athletes. Failed aspiration?

Forget it, we’re going for gold.

We are very proud of Mo Farah and all at Team GB. They have taught us that determination, hard work and sheer exuberant optimism wins every time.

Britain, to quote Sir Chris Hoy, is no longer a nation of plucky losers.

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Plant & Equipment In September’s RailStaff

Take a bow Basingstoke

Coventry’s Ricoh Arena gets a station

RailStaff looks in detail at the new technology and latest developments across the wide range of plant and equipment in use on the rail network, with a special focus on safe use of RRVs.

Transport Minister Theresa Villiers backed the emerging Wessex Alliance, as she visited railway staff at the Basingstoke signalling centre.

After many false starts, the long awaited go-ahead for a station serving Coventry’s Ricoh Arena, has been approved by Coventry City Council.

Call Paul Curtis on 01530 56 00 26 or email pc@rail-media.com. www.railstaff.co.uk

3

Cost benefit bonus for IEP

The new fleet of IEP trains to be built at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham will provide better value for money than an equivalent Pendolino fleet, rail analysts believe.

Agility Trains, a consortium made up of Hitachi and John Laing, has signed a £4.6 billion contract with the government for the provision of 596 new IEP carriages to replace the ageing fleet of HSTs. The trains will be assembled and maintained at a purpose built plant in County Durham.

Controversially the first IEP train will not enter service until 2017. Pendolinos could be brought into operation within two years and, the argument runs, would have been a cheaper and quicker option. However the IEP train is 26 metres long, 3m longer than existing conventional Intercity trains.

4

Despite being longer, IEPs are cost comparable to Pendolinos. A nine-car IEP set, whether bimode or electric, will have approximately 188 more seats than a nine-car Pendolino.

Analysts at the DfT argue that an electric IEP carriage costs £2,431,389, compared to an estimated £2.7 million for the Pendolino equivalent, and a bimode IEP costs £2,829,187.

A DfT source said, ‘An 11-car Pendolino only holds as many people as a nine-car IEP, so you need fewer IEPs to transport the same amount of people - and you have room for further expansion with a nine-car IEP - it is only 234m in length, not 254m.’

The IEP contract is expected to create over 730 jobs. The new fleet will replace the Intercity 125 high speed trains currently in use on the Great Western and

East Coast routes. The East Coast part of the contract will be financed next year.

The construction of a mixed fleet of both electric and bi-mode trains, the first time in recent history that bi-mode rolling stock has been earmarked for the UK rail market, means that services will be able to continue along non-electrified routes without the need to attach a diesel locomotive. This decision not to introduce a fleet of all electric trains is estimated to save approximately £200 million.

The first IEPs should enter service on the Great Western Main Line in 2017 and the East Coast Main Line in 2018. The new fleets will be maintained in new and upgraded maintenance facilities at Swansea, Bristol, west London and Doncaster.

Welcoming Hitachi, transport

secretary Justine Greening said, ‘Hitachi is the latest major international company to invest on this scale in Britain and I look forward to this new factory in County Durham following in the footsteps of Nissan’s successful car plant in Sunderland.

‘There can be fewer stronger signs that the UK is the best place in which to invest, and from which to develop new markets, than Hitachi’s decision to base its European manufacturing base right here in Britain.’

Ironically the first locomotive to arrive in Japan was built in Britain. In 1868 Thomas Glover brought steam locomotive Iron Duke to Japan, where it worked along an eight mile stretch of track in Nagasaki. It took until 2007 for the first Japanese built trains, the class 395s, to arrive in the UK.

www.railstaff.co.uk

NEWS

More Railways Please People want more railways, according to a study by Network Rail.

According to those questioned, the rail industry should be confident and ambitious. From chefs to nurses, plumbers to teachers, over 300 people were involved in 10 detailed workshops earlier this year.

Says Rick Haythornthwaite, Network Rail’s outgoing chairman, ‘The railway is a vital piece of the wiring of this country, a view that has been reinforced across Britain as we talked to people about our railway and about its future. They wanted us to be confident and ambitious, to plan and invest properly in a growing and successful railway, a railway that they want to be proud of.’

The report mirrors the traditional public affection for trains and railways. However the workshops also indicate that, contrary to

common misconceptions, there is a significant body of opinion which is prepared to back a considerable and sustained investment programme, even when the cost implications for fares and taxes are spelt out.

However, transparency is essential and the government and rail industry need to be upfront about how money is spent and what people get in return. Says Tim O’Toole, chairman of the Rail Delivery Group and chief executive of FirstGroup, ‘Growth for most industries is a sign of health and celebration; in rail it is too often discussed as if it were a burden.

‘The rail industry was invented in this country; it is thriving and much improved in this country, so why isn’t the public debate punctuated by pride and ambition, instead of timidity and crankiness? When Rick announced his intention to find out, his

audience was supportive but sceptical, and yet here it is, the start of the conversation.

‘The rail industry is difficult to comprehend. It is in many parts.

But the fact remains, it is enjoying unprecedented growth and handling that growth with ever safer operations and ever improving performance. If we are to craft the future those facts call for, we must elevate the debate as the effort reported on in this document attempts to start.’

“The railway is a vital piece of the wiring of this country, a view that has been reinforced across Britain as we talked to people about our railway…”

RICK HAYTHORNTHWAITE, CHAIRMAN, NETWORK RAIL

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5

NEWS

Railways make economic, environmental and social sense. You get more bang for your buck…

High Speed Gold Andy Milne spells out four reasons why the rail industry and Britain needs High Speed Two

much wider prospect than a railway. The rigor mortis of meadow wide tarmacadam creates eco-altering rain water run off chaos. Motorways are certainly more expensive - even before you factor in the social and human cost of flooding and car crashes.

Neither do they connect places very well.

Robin Gisby over at Network Rail is fond of saying he can build several miles of railway for the price of a mile of motorway.

Railways are thin, clean, green and safer.

Social Connection As the surge of national optimism reached its crescendo at the London Olympics, the great and the not so good were lining up to oppose the plan to build a high speed railway between London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester.

Leave to seek a judicial review of the consultation process could, if granted, delay the project by a further two years. Grandees like Lord Parkinson, Christopher Chope and Stephen Norris have come out against the scheme saying the cost is unlimited and we would get more motorways for the £32 bn involved. ‘I am very sceptical about the whole thing. I see it as of limited value and almost unlimited expense,’ said Lord Parkinson.

Assumptions made by the trio are at best ill-thought through and at worst defeatist and negative.

Shame on those who mislead you.

Railway supporters of the HS2 are keen to stress four basic arguments as to why High Speed Two should go ahead.

Building on Success The rail industry is a success, a safe bet, a reflection of a returning Britain, confident and determined.

Rail projects have consistently been delivered on budget and on 6

time. This proven record makes it very attractive to invest in railways.

We know the money is well spent. Yes, it’s true railway people would say that, wouldn’t we?

RailStaff is right behind High Speed Two because our readers and advertisers are the people who will build the link, crew the trains and operate the network. It means better careers, a boost to rail businesses and an engaging challenge for a resurgent rail industry. Railways have waited a long time for this.

However, the underlining reason comes back to the fact that railways are a success. Like our heroes at the Olympics we are outstripping our competitors.

Britain has the fastest growing rail industry in Europe.

We are now carrying almost double the amount of passengers we were a few years ago on half the amount of track. Rail staff manage this challenge day and night rising to it with Olympian aplomb. Lengthen all the platforms you like, the truth is we need more space.

Increasing Capacity The big gain from HS2 is the capacity for extra trains it creates.

This is not just about shaving an

hour off a journey time. HS2 will take thousands of passengers off the bursting main lines elsewhere.

The scheme is as important to the beleaguered commuter who can’t get a seat on the 7.23 as it is to the inscrutable Chinese shipper with container loads of laptops bobbing about outside Felixstowe.

More capacity will be created for the hugely successful rail freight companies connecting deep sea ports with the bustling commerce of Kirkgate Market, Arndale and the Bull Ring. These are goods currently careering around by lorry and jamming up the A14, M1 and M6 and a whole host of feeder roads.

Clean and Green High Speed Two will take more traffic off the roads by freeing up paths for extra freight trains and suburban services. The net effect of this is to make significant gains in the struggle to reduce carbon emissions caused by road.

Plans to electrify much more of the network mean trains in future will be predominantly electric, green and clean. We need more of them not less. Building more motorways is an appalling idea.

An eight lane motorway, plus hard shoulders and slip roads, is a

Britain has an unhappy and persisting discontent between north and south. Wages are less in the north. Business and job opportunities are fewer away from the south east and the economic phenomena centred on London.

The great effect of high speed railways is to pipe this effect outwards. Look at high speed railways abroad. Towns like Barcelona and Bologna have benefited hugely from the arrival of a high speed railway.

Currently our high speed railway runs to France. Let’s not be churlish but how good it would be to be able to do for Leeds and Manchester what we are magnanimously doing for Calais.

Various governments have tried all sorts of vapid welfare programmes to narrow the gap between north and south. High Speed Two will do more to close it than any amount of public money spent locally.

Railways make economic, environmental and social sense.

You get more bang for your buck to quote Chope. High Speed Two will help unify Britain and build on the success of the London Olympics.

Never mind the gap, m’lords, get behind HS2 and do something positive for your country’s future. www.railstaff.co.uk

Driver becomes Ambassador Greater Anglia train driver George Driffill is working as a London Ambassador during the 2012 Olympic Games.

George has over 46 years experience of the rail industry which is serving him well in his new role. He started his railway career as an engine cleaner at Parkeston locomotive depot in 1966. He later transferred to Stratford depot as a secondman, qualifying as a driver in 1973, upon which he moved to Ripple Lane freight depot.

In 1974 he transferred to East Ham depot, before moving to Gidea Park in 1994. George now drives trains on Greater Anglia’s services from London Liverpool Street to Shenfield, Braintree, Southminster and Southend.

During the Games George will be working at the information point beside the main entrance to the Olympic stadium, assisting visitors with their enquiries.

Says London Ambassador George Driffill, ‘I am over the moon to have been chosen as a London Ambassador. It is such an exciting

New Comms Chief for Bombardier Stephen Bethel has joined Bombardier Transportation in Britain as Communications Director UK and Ireland.

Based in London, Bethel will report to Sharon Christians, public affairs chief in Berlin. Stephen joins the senior management team in Britain working with Paul Roberts, Chief Country Representative, Bombardier Transportation, UK. Stephen was Communications Director at BAE Systems. He has pursued a 12 year career in public relations and has worked for the Department for Transport and the Ministry of Defence.

Says Paul Roberts, ‘We are pleased to welcome Stephen to the UK Senior Management team. His experience as an international communications professional fits very well with the global approach we take in terms of delivering the 8

thing to be a part of. I’ve been doing lots of research and preparation, on top of the training, so I can do my very best to help visitors make the most of their visit to the area during the Games.’

George hails from Essex, having been born and raised in Harwich.

He now lives in the Romford area.

PAUL ROBERTS, CHIEF COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE AND PRESIDENT, BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION

GEORGE DRIFFILL, TRAIN DRIVER, GREATER ANGLIA

John Barlass joins MTR

best possible products and solutions for our clients in the UK. He will be an invaluable asset.’

Stephen Bethel was educated at Oxford University.

“We are pleased to welcome Stephen to the UK Senior Management team.

His experience as an international communications professional fits very well with…”

“I am over the moon to have been chosen as a London Ambassador…”

MTR has appointed John Barlass as European Engineering Director.

Based in London John will oversee MTR’s bids for Essex Thameside and Thameslink franchises. John is a highly experienced rail engineer with a 40 year career in railways.

Recently he was Engineering and Maintenance Director at Dubai

Metro for Serco Middle East. He was Engineering Director at London Midland and Fleet and Engineering Director at Central Trains. Educated at Sheffield City Polytechnic he has a degree in Mechanical Engineering. John has also worked for Alstom and British Rail where he was Sprinter fleet engineer. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Says Jeremy Long, CEO European Business, ‘I am delighted that John is joining us at MTR. His expertise will be invaluable as we continue to grow in the UK and Europe, and will provide a strong link to our own rolling stock expertise in the Group.’

MTR runs rail systems in Hong Kong. On the Chinese mainland it operates Beijing Metro’s Line 4 and the Shenzhen Metro Longhua Line.

Overseas MTR operates the Melbourne Train System and the Stockholm Metro. www.railstaff.co.uk

PEOPLE NEWS

German Role for Hutchinson Peter started his career with Balfour Beatty Rail in 1998

Peter Hutchinson has been appointed as managing director of Balfour Beatty Rail GmbH (Germany & Austria) based in Munich.

Peter started his career with Balfour Beatty Rail in 1998 as finance director based in the UK. Peter read Chemistry at Oxford. In 2010 he became the finance director for the newly formed Rail

Gong for Mr Milton Keynes

Popular Milton Keynes travel adviser and announcer, Scottie Kakkad, has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to the rail industry.

Mr Kakkad has been on the railways for 38 years and is a leading light in the Milton Keynes ticket office. Satish Kakkad came to Britain from Uganda with his parents in 1972 and married in 1977. Encouraged by his father, who sadly died ten years ago, he joined the railway at Red Star parcels in Bolton before moving to Milton Keynes.

He is well known in the industry and on first name terms with many of the passengers at MKC. Over the last five years London Midland has received more than a hundred letters of praise about his work. In many of these letters he is referred to as Mr Milton Keynes.

Every year Scottie co-ordinates fund raising efforts at the station for Children in Need. Thousands of pounds have been raised for this and other worthy causes. He has used his legendary negotiating skills to encourage local businesses to donate raffle prizes.

Division within Balfour Beatty, which is responsible for the worldwide rail activities of the Balfour Beatty Group.

Anoop Kang has been appointed as Peter’s successor as finance director of Balfour Beatty’s Rail Division. Anoop joins the business from Balfour Beatty Group and has previously held a variety of senior roles in Deloitte LLP.

He also supports other charities including Macmillan Cancer and the Poppy Appeal.

Says Scottie, ‘I would like to thank all the team at Milton Keynes and the good back up I get from Anna Maria Izzard, my manager and Alex Hynes, commercial director. They have been consistently helpful. I must also thank my family. Without them I would not have joined or flourished in the railway industry.

My father strongly urged me to join the railway which he saw as something stable and solid.’

Scottie took his father’s name Chimanlal as a tribute to his wise guidance. ‘I owe him a lot,’ says Scottie who also thanked his family. ‘My wife, Meena has been very supportive. The long shifts and night work and early starts can have an impact on family life but Meena and the children have been very good,’ he said before heading off for an Olympic Games night shift at MKC. Scottie has three children. His son Shyam is an optician; daughter Uma is a pharmacist and his youngest daughter Chandni is

New faces at Houghton Houghton International has made two appointments to its Board.

Craig Hutton (top) has been promoted to the position of Operations Director and Cedric McMillan joins the Company as Sales and Marketing Director.

reading Law at Portsmouth University. ‘I am very proud of them all.’

London Midland’s Nicola Moss described Scottie as a great ambassador. ‘This is a very welldeserved honour. Scottie is an absolute pleasure to work with, is fantastic with our customers and is a wonderful ambassador for our business and the wider passenger rail industry,’ says Nicola.

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www.railstaff.co.uk

9

RAIL ALLIANCE NEWS

Join the Rail Alliance now Rail Alliance membership starts from just £500 per year

Rail Alliance - Continuous Improvement Welcome to the Rail Alliance page.

It has been another successful month with us all being involved in processing membership renewals. July and August are two of our busiest months and we are particularly pleased to see the renewal rate across the financial year exceed 85%.

Whilst this gives us confidence that we are matching members expectations there is no room for complacency. As part of our Continuous Improvement activity, we believe there is always room for improvement but, at least this shows that our programme of events over the past 12 months

has borne fruit and is for the most part what our members want and need.

In particular, our ‘Introduction to BS11000 - Collaborative Business Relationships’ courses have been getting ever popular. With the next course taking place on 16 August 2012 there are only 2 places left.

That said, aware of the law of diminishing returns, we have set ourselves a target of 90% of our members renewing by the end of this financial year.

We are, as a membership based organisation, always on the look out for new and exciting ways to do business for our members. So if

KeTech gets you connected This month sees the launch of KeTech’s Ke3G product, successfully demonstrated earlier this year at InfraRail, and developed to meet the ever changing needs of the railway environment.

The KeTech Ke3G product enables Wide Area connectivity to multiple locations as a flexible and secure alternative to traditional wired solutions - including 3rd party broadband connections, trackside circuits or proprietary bearer connections.

Ke3G is a network portal into a station, offering long line wireless communications from a control centre direct to the station infrastructure. KeTech offers a managed service with this system, tailored to meet the specific requirements and throughput of a

station, minimising high network charges for under-utilised bandwidth usage. One or all of a stations retail communications system can be connected via the Ke3G system, with only one unit required to be installed at each station.

Based on a 3G router, and contained within a purpose designed enclosure the Ke3G unit requires a 12VDC power supply and provides an Ethernet port for connection to local equipment.

Ke3G operates by establishing a permanent data connection and can be configured to establish a secure IPSEC tunnel between the remote Ke3G router, and the control systems distributing the data.

This innovative solution provides

you have any ideas, whether you are a member or not, please do not hesitate to contact us with your thoughts.

Send an e-mail to info@railalliance.co.uk with your suggestion and you will be assured of a response and an entry to our mystery prize raffle which will be drawn in time for the RailStaff Awards evening on 20 October 2012.

Every month we highlight one of our members - this time it is KeTech who have offices in Nottingham, Preston and London.

KeTech is well known for being integrators and innovators

IP connectivity over 3G/GSM wireless networks. Ideal for those networks where physical connectivity (ADSL/trackside cabling, etc.) is problematic or unavailable, allowing 24/7 operation in unmanned environments due to the remote management, configuration & logging.

One of the key Benefits of Ke3G is that it is a flexible alternative to traditional wired systems. Ke3G extends the WAN without the need for trackside circuits, or similar cabled solutions. It can also be sold as a back up solution for stations of strategic importance.

Rapid provision enables Ke3G to be immediately deployed, works “out of the box” and is designed to meet the needs of challenging environments. Ke3G is reliable and robust, which in turn means the Whole Life Cost of Ke3G is a lower alternative, and eliminates the possibility of cable theft affecting system performance.

Rail Alliance events Rittal Ltd (see page 11), 5th September Rotherham 10

IMechE 12th September London

Innotrans 2012 18th-21st September Berlin, Germany

log on to www.railalliance.co.uk email jo.bennett@railalliance.co.uk or call 01789 720026.

specialising in communication and information based solutions in the rail sector.

However, you may not be aware that they are also a key player in the challenging detection and security market too, fighting the war against drugs, chemical warfare agents, explosives and hidden objects

New members Traka Traka Intelligent Key Cabinets automate the process of allocating keys, eliminating time consuming, inaccurate and unnecessary manual recording. www.traka.com R&D Tax Claims Ltd Specialists in helping innovative and forward looking companies to claim back corporation tax on their R&D activities. www.rdtaxclaims.co.uk Universal Fabrications Coventry Specialists in the production of precision fabrications, sheet metal work, machined parts and assemblies. www.universalfabrications.com PULS UK Ltd UK subsidiary of PULS GmBH, the German manufacturer of high quality switch-mode power supplies. www.puls.co.uk Quorum Logistic Support Provider of a wide range of consultancy services including ILS mManagement and Logistic Support Analysis. www.qlsl.com The Ironsides Lubricants Ltd Largest grease manufacturer in the UK specialising in private label products. www.ironsideslubricants.co.uk www.railstaff.co.uk

NEWS

Yorkshire take on Rail Supply Chain

Rail Ritornello for Stradivarius

Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO) and Invest in Doncaster and UKTI are hosting a supply chain development event at Rittal Limited, Hellaby Industrial Estate, Hellaby, Rotherham, S66 8QY on Wednesday 5 September 2012.

Although not a Rail Alliance seminar the event is open to members and is designed for companies that already supply the rail industry as well as those looking to gain a foothold in this important market.

Delegates will discover what is necessary to be a supplier and gain

Railway staff in Bern, Switzerland, have reunited a violin player and his lost Stradivarius.

The player’s friend borrowed the violin and left it on a train. Train staff looked in vain for the violin after it was reported missing. A mystery man was seen on CCTV footage walking off with the instrument.

The violins, made by Italian master craftsman Antonio

an insight into the support available to companies.

Informative presentations and case studies will be followed by informal networking and the opportunity to arrange face to face discussions and build relationships. This free event starts at 8.30am with breakfast and will finish around 12 noon.

For more information or to reserve your place please contact either: gareth.morgan@doncaster.gov.uk 01302 862454 dean.hughes@rido.org.uk 01709 254 567

Stradivari, are worth millions of pounds. 600 are thought to survive.

Eventually the mystery man handed the violin in to the lost property office at Bern station and staff alerted the distraught owner.

Within minutes the violinist, who has not been named by Swiss Railways, checked the violin and is understood to have serenaded staff with an impromptu rendering of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy.

Yard for Railtex

Railtex 2013 will feature a yard for displaying railway plant and equipment.

Following The Yard’s highly successful introduction at the Infrarail exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham, organisers have decided to use the concept at Railtex. Supported by the Rail Plant Association, The Yard enables companies to display previously unexhibitable vehicles and machines.

Says Exhibition Manager Heidi Cotsworth, ‘Our decision to add www.railstaff.co.uk

The Yard to the already wide range of features and activities at next year’s event is the result of consultation with our partners and very positive feedback from companies that took advantage of this facility at Infrarail. It was also well received by visitors to the show.’

Railtex 2013 takes place at Earls Court in London from 30th April to 2nd May next year. More about The Yard plus general information on the exhibition can be found at www.railtex.co.uk

11

New look for Network Rail The number of public members of the Network Rail board has been reduced from 80 to 40.

Quarterly scrutiny panels underline a new commitment to transparency. The new moves came into effect at the Annual General Meeting held in July. At the AGM David Higgins, Network Rail’s chief executive, reported good punctuality at 91.6% better safety and a 24% drop in the number of infrastructure failures since the start of the control period, April 2009.

He predicts that by 2014 the British and Scottish governments will have received a rebate of around £310m as a result of Network Rail’s successful cost savings. However, more passengers and increased freight make it a challenge.

Says Sir David, ‘We are acutely aware of the need for us and our industry partners to reduce the costs of our railway both for the taxpayer and the fare payer. We

are making good progress, whilst grappling with the continued growth in passenger and freight demand and balancing the tradeoffs between cost, performance and capacity.’

The rail industry carried 1.46bn passengers last year on 7.3m trains, half a billion more passengers on one million more trains than 10 years ago. These are figures not seen since the 1920s. ‘Network Rail is doing well.

The company and its 34,000 people continue to work hard to deliver against some tough targets and deliver a good, reliable railway for the British people.

‘We can never be complacent and there are improvements and gains yet to be made,’ said Sir David who welcomed the government’s plans to spend £9 billion on infrastructure projects as, ‘a big vote of confidence.’

There was a 100% vote in favour of the new governance model.

Are you normal?

Reading success

Startled passengers passing through Liverpool Lime Street were asked if they were normal by representatives of the city’s DaDaFest disability and deaf arts festival.

The ‘Am I Normal?’ survey took place with the support of Virgin Trains. The idea was conceived by artist Martin Le Chevallier and is part of the Niet Normaal: Difference on Display exhibition at the Bluecoat arts centre in Liverpool. Volunteers dressed in lab coats greeted passers by with their clipboards, and invited them to take the survey.

Niet Normaal: Difference on Display addresses the definitive question of our time: what is normal and who decides? This question is being examined through art that aims to celebrate difference in the year of London’s hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, in the context

A book shop on Pitlochry Station has raised over £75,000 for a variety of charities.

The shop, opened in 2005 under ScotRail’s Adopt a Station scheme, sells second hand books. Says Ken Nichol, chairman of the Pitlochry Station Bookshop, ‘We simply opened the shop to give customers the chance to buy a book for their train journey and hand it back on return to re-sell. We are now open six days a week, and are so grateful to ScotRail for its continuing support - without which we would not have raised so much money, which benefits a number of charities.’

In July the bookshop made its first payment to a sixth charity, Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.

The accommodation that houses the bookshop was recently improved with new secondary glazing, with assistance from the Railway Heritage Trust, and Perth and Kinross Council.

12

of a disability and deaf arts festival. The show runs until 2nd September as part of the DaDaFest.

Ruth Gould, CEO of DaDaFest, thanked Virgin. ‘The Virgin Trains partnership is vital to us. They provided first class return tickets from London so VIPs and performers can travel up to Liverpool.’

Niet Normaal: Difference on Display addresses the definitive question of our time: what is normal and who decides?…

www.railstaff.co.uk

NEWS

Running buffet for May

Steady Eddie

First Great Western has converted 15 disused buffet cars and refurbished a further 33 former high speed train carriages to add extra capacity to rush hour services into and out of London.

Eddie Burns, a conductor at Liverpool Lime Street station, has won high praise from Northern Rail.

Mr Burns stepped in to save the life of a passenger in distress at St Helens station. The man was a diabetic and was quite ill. Eddie identified diabetes as the cause of the passenger’s problems and fetched him a glass of warm milk and sugar to stop him slipping into unconsciousness. Not only did Eddie take the time to care for this passenger he later phoned the man’s wife to inquire after him. The man called back to personally thank him for averting what could well have been a disaster.

Eddie, 46, from the Wirral has worked for Northern Rail at Liverpool Lime Street for nine years. Eddie was named a Northern Star for his actions, part

of Northern’s staff recognition scheme. ‘I think I only did what anyone would do in that situation! I’m always keeping an eye on every single one of my passengers, so it’s a real treat to be honoured for doing my job,’ says Eddie.

Construction Academy has been a huge success since opening less than a year ago. Over 1,000 people have now been trained to work on Crossrail and other construction projects.’

Crossrail established the Academy to make good the shortage of people with the skills to work underground on the transport scheme and on other planned infrastructure projects.

Home Secretary Theresa May took time out to launch the spruced up trains at Maidenhead in Berkshire. The former buffet cars have been converted to standard class accommodation to allow all high speed services to run with eight carriages.

‘Increasing the number of seats on trains to and from Paddington is essential, and converting disused buffet cars is a great idea. I look forward to seeing how it was done,’ she said.

FGW Managing Director Mark Hopwood, said, ‘These carriages have been stripped, completely refurbished and rebuilt from scratch. This is something that we have been working on for some time and we are delighted to provide this extra capacity.’

David Burbage, Theresa May and Mark Hopwood cutting the cake.

Tunnelling students surface Over 1,000 new students have now completed their training at the Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy in Ilford, east London.

The centre opened last September.

The Academy is pushing ahead with an expanded curriculum. TUCA will train nearly 3,500 people in essential construction skills during the Crossrail project. It has already set industry standards by creating the Tunnel Safety Card qualification, now an industry requirement for those working in a tunnelling

www.railstaff.co.uk

environment.

The Academy is also playing a key role in getting unemployed Londoners back to work. A range of pre-employment courses offered at the Academy has already equipped hundreds of long-term unemployed with the skills to help them gain employment. These include an introduction to general construction and metal formwork.

Says Claire Parry, Head of Skills and Employment at Crossrail, ‘The Tunnelling and Underground

13

What do they do

?

The Office of Rail Regulation Role and responsibilities

Continuing our series looking at people and organisations in the rail industry, RailStaff asks the question: What do they do?

Nigel Wordsworth looks at The Office of Rail Regulation The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) is situated just off London’s Drury Lane.

The ORR “is the independent safety and economic regulator for Britain’s railways”. In fact, that statement neatly lays out the ORR’s two main roles - making sure that the railway is safe, and is run as economically and efficiently as possible.

Safety first

Richard Price, Chief Executive Officer of the ORR.

14

The ORR’s primary function is as the enforcer of the Health and Safety at Work Act and other regulations and legislation. The last issue of RailStaff looked at the work of the RSSB – the Rail Safety and Standards Board. That report stated: “RSSB manages the Railway Group Standards process on behalf of the industry, but they do not enforce them. That is the role of the regulator - the Office of Rail Regulation.”

So the ORR hits the headlines when taking action: Recent press articles include: “Shropshire train operator fined £5,000 for incident which led to staff injury”; “Southeastern fined £65,000 after train in Sussex ran out of control” and “Network Rail fined £356,250 for Wiltshire level crossing fatality”. This is the public face of the ORR, taking legal action

against operators and infrastructure companies that breach safety law.

However, there is a preventative role too. Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate was founded in 1840 to oversee safety on Britain’s railways and tramways. In 1990 it became part of the Health and Safety Executive, and was merged with the ORR in 2006.

Railway inspectors make sure that work on the railways complies with safety legislation. They can close a site down and suspend work if they feel that workers or the public are at risk. This may not necessarily be anything to do with railway safety, but can be normal site safety.

For example, during a recent bridge replacement, when heavy rain increased both the volume and speed of the water in the river, inspectors suspended work until boats and divers could be mobilised to recover any worker who happened to fall in.

More than enforcement Richard Price has been the chief executive of the ORR since June 2011. He was at pains to point out there is more to the ORR than just enforcement. “In fact, enforcement is our last resort,” he stated. “We look to the industry to manage its

risks. Good safety is driven by good management so we encourage the industry to apply best practice at all times.”

If site accidents do happen, it could be down to the ORR to investigate. However, if it is an accident involving a train, then that function is undertaken by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, which is not part of the ORR but works directly for the Department for Transport.

To support the work of the inspectors, and provide guidance to the industry, the ORR publishes a range of Railway Safety Publications (RSPs). Titles include “Level crossings: A guide for managers, designers and operators”, “Guidance on minor railways” and “Developing and maintaining staff competence”.

Compliance with this guidance is not mandatory, although inspectors may use it to distinguish good practice from bad.

After a major incident, the ORR may publish a research report which reviews the findings of the investigation and the lessons that can be learned from it. For example, a series of nine reports was published after the Hatfield crash of 2000, looking at the problem of rolling contact fatigue and the growth of cracks in rails. www.railstaff.co.uk

FEATURE

Economically and efficiently The second role of the ORR is that of economic regulator. That means it has to regulate Network Rail’s stewardship of the national rail network and licence both the train operators and those who access and operate track, stations, and light maintenance depots.

The ORR is the competition authority and one of its duties is to encourage competition while at the same time discouraging unfair competition. In addition, the ORR has powers to enforce some consumer law.

Network Rail takes up a large portion of this activity. Periodic reviews are undertaken, comparing what funders and customers want from Network Rail with what is being provided.

In the HLOS (High Level Output Statement), the government sets out its goals for a five year period, while the SOFA, or statement of funds available, sets out the level of funding set aside to deliver those goals. The ORR monitors how Network Rail www.railstaff.co.uk

performs against those targets, and takes action if it thinks it necessary.

One of the targets that has been in the news recently is that of ensuring that 92% of all long distance trains arrive on time, or at least within ten minutes of the published timetable. This has to be achieved by 2014, and currently the figure is 89.2%.

The ORR has made its concern known for some time that progress in this area has been too slow, and has recently signalled its intention to impose financial penalties on Network Rail if it fails to deliver.

Richard Price explained: “We are proposing a penalty which puts pressure on Network Rail to achieve its funded target - an incentive for the company to do everything it can to deliver improvements for passengers including reducing the number of long delays that impact so badly on rail users.”

Train operators come under scrutiny too. Some delays are down to them, and they control

other factors that affect the passenger experience. “We want passengers to feel safe and confident in using the railways,” Price explained. “It is really important that both Network Rail and train operators understand this.

“Appearance and design are important, for train interiors and stations, and they have a significant impact on the way people think about using the rail network. Efficiency is not just about cutting costs, but responding to the needs of customers.”

So while the ORR is the big enforcer in the rail industry, its role is much wider than that. It is concerned about safety, and safe working practices. Customer satisfaction, punctuality and the look of the railway environment are also in its remit, as is control of costs and the results achieved from all the spending.

Governed by a board appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport, it is a truly independent regulator.

Richard Price (right) with Ian Prosser, ORR Director of Rail Safety.

15

Cable stayed bridge under construction as part of the new road and rail route for the Sochi winter Olympics.

David Shirres reports

Vladimir Yakunin has a clear vision of international rail development for the mutual benefit of all…

16

Sochi, in Russia, will host the 2014 Winter Olympics and the Russian Grand Prix.

No less dramatic was the recent Seventh International Rail Business Forum. Hosted by Russian Railways the forum on the Black Sea coast, attracted 1400 delegates from 30 countries. Speakers included representatives of Russian Railways, Siemens AG, Deutsche Bahn AG and the European Union.

Vladimir Yakunin, president of RZD, Russian Railways, met journalists and impressed them with his almost fluent English.

Better communications between people and railways is essential to the international railway business.

Yakunin stressed the importance of clear communications coming out with the joke about the Moscow waiter asking a late night diner, ‘You finish?’ ‘Och no,’ came the waspish reply. ‘I’m frae Scotland.’ Russia is keen to develop international rail links and

build new, faster lines.

The forum was attended by representatives of the European Union who, over the course of the discussions, reaffirmed their interest in tackling the problems faced by the international railway community.

Brian Simpson, MEP, Chairman of the European Parliament’s Transport Committee was concerned that standards and nationalist thinking was stifling cross border rail co-operation.

Simpson pointed out this was not a problem for Civil Aviation, yet railways still suffer from barriers.

International agreements More cheerful progress was made with the signing of a portfolio of international agreements. RZD, Kazakhstan and Belarusian Railways signed an agreement on through tariffs.

Mongolian and Azerbaijan Railways agreed a passenger traffic

memorandum with RZD. RZD agreed a new deal with Siemens on servicing passenger rolling stock. RZD and Transmashholding signed off a contract to deliver freight locomotives with German MTU diesel engines.

Yakunin stressed Russia’s commitment to international rail freight corridors. He wants to build a Russian gauge railway to Vienna.

The 400km Russian gauge line would run through Slovakia to Vienna. The line should benefit 32 countries, generate 24 million tonnes of freight per annum and cost around £5 billion.

At the forum Yakunin’s advisor, Mikhail Goncharov, announced that RZD expect to start a feasibility study this year. This will enable design work to be finalised by 2016. Construction could start in 2020 and be complete by 2024.

Austrian Railways chief, Christian Kern, is in favour of this line but felt its concept was not yet www.railstaff.co.uk

PROJECT NEWS

Russia Backs

International Rail Links Yakunin is proud that despite national differences the railway community has achieved a measure of consensus agreeing that rail transport offers huge benefits…

Vladimir Yakunin.

proven. Russia’s railway gauge – the width between the rails – is 1520 mm, much wider than the 1435 Stephenson’s gauge in use throughout Europe. However, Russian gauge is used throughout the former Soviet Union, Finland and the Baltic States and Mongolia. Total track length is 226,830 kilometres.

New rail corridor Looking east Russia plans further development of international rail links with China. With China’s increased production in its western regions, a new rail corridor through Kazakhstan will complement the Trans Siberian Railway.

Although rail could never carry the volumes of container ships, it is competitive for time sensitive cargos. Yakunin believes railways can be the basis for industrial collaboration between Asia, Russia and Europe.

The Seventh International Rail www.railstaff.co.uk

Business Forum ‘1520 Strategic Partnership’ is the first step in addressing the need for a unified railway law in international transport cooperation. Delegates at Sochi were keen to discuss the role that railways will play in globalisation in the coming years.

Political Will Yakunin sees political will as crucial to the development of better rail links. In Europe the state owns rail infrastructure and political commitment is needed to remove customs and standards barriers.

Yakunin is proud that despite national differences the railway community has achieved a measure of consensus agreeing that rail transport offers huge benefits. The problem, says Yakunin, is that, ‘We do not have instruments to collaborate as currently there are only political interfaces.’

However he believes that where there is a will there’s a way and he is optimistic about the future of cross border railway collaboration.

Away from the spotlight Vladimir Yakunin talked of his job and its responsibilities. First he must ensure he protects the interests of the company among the myriad demands of state agencies and businesses. Secondly RZD must honour agreements worth £2 billion per annum to protect its workers and pensioners.

Thirdly, he explained, management must own decisions taken. Before any decision is reached there is widespread discussion with the managers concerned to ensure the proposed course of action is feasible and has a financial case.

Importantly once the decision is taken, it has to be fulfilled. Any deviation from it is not acceptable.

Anyone who does not agree must either obey or leave the company.

He feels that because of this people sometimes confuse the person he is with the president’s function.

Reputedly close to Vladimir Putin Yakunin remains quite a private man. ‘Who I am as a person is only for my friends and members of the family,’ he said. Although Yakunin is reluctant to talk about himself personally, his humour and insight is evident to those who met him.

He has headed Russian Railways since 2005. Yakunin has a clear vision of international rail development for the mutual benefit of all. He has also led the board of trustees of the St. Andrew’s Foundation, a powerful patriotic organisation created in 1992.

Like the railway he leads Yakunin’s influence and place among the Russian leadership is immense. Seen in this light his pro-rail, open trading message carries a significance that reaches well beyond Sochi.

17

CONFIDENT

NEWS

and Improving

Nigel Wordsworth reports It takes a confident company to approach all its major suppliers and ask their opinions on the relationship between them.

It also takes a fairly strongminded supplier to tell its major customer what is wrong with that relationship. But that is exactly what Network Rail has asked its most important contractors to do.

Supplier Perception Survey This is the seventh annual Supplier Perception Survey conducted by Network Rail, this year in conjunction with the Civil Engineering Contractors Association and the Railway Industry Association.

To review the findings, RailStaff met with Network Rail’s Ian Sexton, director, contracts and placement, and two senior members of Network Rail Infrastructure Projects, David McLoughlin, finance and commercial director and Katie Ferrier, head of supplier engagement. Peter Loosley, policy 18

director of RIA, and Mike Cocks, UK rail director of CECA, were also on hand to explain the detail of their report.

Leaders from 70 of Network Rail’s main suppliers were interviewed

by Ipsos MORI earlier this year.

As Peter Loosley explained, the results were mixed but overall showed a continuing improvement in the way Network Rail is perceived by its suppliers. There was an increase in the number who report that Network Rail is now easier to work with. The number of dissatisfied suppliers fell from 16% in 2011 to only 6%, well below Network Rail’s own target of 15%.

The organisation is seen to be putting safety first, getting a 4.28 out of 5 score. In terms of overall satisfaction, 72% of respondents were either fairly or very satisfied with their relationship with Network Rail, up from 63% in 2011 and only 45% in 2010 – a marked improvement.

Best score ever Another improvement was shown in the rather complicated

area of advocacy. This is a measure of how likely a company is to recommend another. Marks range from +2 (speak highly without being asked), through 0 (neutral) to -2 (critical without being asked).

The aim is therefore to obtain a positive average as this shows that suppliers are more likely to speak highly of Network Rail than they are to be critical. The overall average was 0.58, with 63% giving positive scores and only 15% negative. This is the best score ever, up from 0.33 and 52% in 2011.

Asked what more Network Rail could do to improve, 21% asked for more collaboration and 20% for more engagement with suppliers.

20% also wanted more consistency, and better planning.

Better communications and an improved tender process were also mentioned.

An organisation in transition Comments received from individuals showed that Network Rail is still an organisation in transition. A track company

Major construction at Reading station.

commented: ‘I think Network Rail over the last 12 months has made a tremendous difference in terms of their attitude towards suppliers and we do speak quite highly of them now without being asked.’

However, there is still work to do as a professional services organisation had a different experience: “Too often at project level we find that there’s an adversarial approach with the teams which doesn’t really fit with the collaborative way that we like to do things – we’re not very good at dealing with all the aggression.”

That could be why 20% of all replies asked that the corporate message be filtered down throughout the organisation.

So the result of Network Rail’s seventh annual supplier perception survey was positive overall and showed an improvement from last year.

However, there is obviously still a way to go. But as Mike Cocks of CECA, said, ‘These days, listening is followed by action. That’s the difference with Network Rail now under David Higgins.’ www.railstaff.co.uk

Such a great idea! We jumped at the chance to get involved with this event.

Tricia Riley, Director, Human Resources Transport for London

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NEWS

Rail Olympic hero honoured Hat-trick for Sonia Sonia Cameron, of Mallaig, has become the first person in Scotland to have single-handedly transformed three stations as part of ScotRail’s Adopt a Station scheme. Sonia has installed halfbarrel planters at Morar, as well as nurturing flowers and plants at Mallaig and Arisaig.

Says John Yellowlees, ScotRail’s external relations manager, ‘It is testament to Sonia’s dedication that she is our only station adopter to have single-handedly adopted three stations. The stations’ picturesque locations, at the end of the line voted the world’s top rail journey three years in a row, make this a very special hat-trick indeed.’

Sonia’s planters and hanging baskets helped Mallaig station win gold accreditation in the Keep Scotland Beautiful Tidy Station

Take a bow Basingstoke Transport Minister, Theresa Villiers, backed the emerging Wessex Alliance as she visited railway staff at the Basingstoke signalling centre.

Staff from South West Trains and Network Rail control the movement of 600 trains a day working together. Says Theresa Villiers, ‘The Wessex Alliance represents industry rising to the challenge of the Government’s rail command paper, issued in March 2012, which called for closer cooperation between operations and infrastructure.

‘Basingstoke is a really impressive example how on a practical level the creation of one management team can work to deliver a more efficient and a better railway with real benefits for both passengers and freight 20

…Sonia Cameron single-handedly transformed three stations… awards last year. Says Sonia, ‘I like to think that the improved appearance of these stations heightens the sense of anticipation for passengers as West Highland Line trains approach their journey’s end.’

Sonia is also the rail correspondent for monthly magazine West Word, which is based in an office at Morar station.

To mark the start of the London Olympics a group of Dorset villagers gathered to stage a series of one mile road races in honour of a train driver who became Britain’s first gold medal winning Olympic athlete.

Charles Bennett (right), from Shapwick, in Dorset competed in the 1900 Paris Olympics. The train driver, who worked on the Bournemouth-London Waterloo line, is buried in St Andrew’s Churchyard in Kinson. Called the Shapwick Express, Bennett won gold medals in the 1500 metres and the 5,000 metres.

In later life he ran a pub in Bournemouth with his wife, Sarah Lena. He died in 1949. His athletic achievements were largely forgotten for more than 100 years, his grave overgrown and abandoned. Then his grandson, Chris Bennett, cleaned it up for the centenary and the village rallied round.

Anthony Ives Memorials of Bournemouth donated a proper headstone free of charge. The

village of Shapwick celebrated his Olympic achievements in September 2000, with several one mile runs through the village.

Hot-air balloon race at the Paris 1900 Olympics.

Transport Minister Theresa Villiers with FGW Operations Director Kevin Gale.

customers and the community in general.’

Basingstoke signalling centre has 19 resident staff working two panels. Eight work on the main line panel, seven on the West of England panel, with four relief staff who can work between the two. The West of England panel controls 70 miles between

Gillingham (Dorset) and Exmouth Junction near Exeter.

The new Basingstoke main line panel, commissioned in May 2007, controls 30 miles of the South West main line between north of Farnborough, north of Micheldever and Gratley, just east of Salisbury on the West of England line.

The centre also has

responsibility for 15 miles of the strategic freight and passenger route to the Midlands between Basingstoke and just south of Reading West. It controls the movement of up to 500 trains a day operated by South West Trains, First Great Western, Cross Country, freight operators, and charter specials. www.railstaff.co.uk

RAILSTAFF AWARDS

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SAYING “THANK YOU” TO THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP THE INDUSTRY MOVING

Back the Rail Hero of your choice

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It’s free to nominate someone and only takes a few minutes.

But you need to hurry as nominations close on the 7th September and voting opens on the 21st August through to the 13th September.

NOMINATE NOW!

The Olympics saw heroes from around the world competing, striving for excellence.

Our own rail heroes continue to deliver what has to be one of the most inspiring industrial phenomena of recent times.

As the Olympics comes to an end, we sit back and savour the wonderful moments that our athletes gave us.

This has been a true feat of grit and determination that brought home a host of medals and truly inspired the next generation.

Gyms and swimming pools reported a surge in interest as the Olympics caught the imagination of the public. The figures will never be adequately computed but imagine the many heart attacks, strokes and debilitating diseases like cancer that will be avoided altogether by private people embracing the heroic properties of our athletes.

Taking up sport, even if it is just a jog round the streets where you live or a furtive late night visit to the swimming baths, makes life seem better. Anything is possible.

The best aspect of the Olympics has been to give Britain back its self-confidence. Again this is not easily quantifiable in terms of careers grasped by the timid, business deals struck by the wary and decisions taken that on the face of it initially seemed too

daring, perhaps too foolhardy.

Clearly the duty of friends and colleagues in sports teams, industries and families is to support and encourage each other. Most parents will praise and encourage their children, that first faltering step, the picture brought home from school.

Later still that first job won in an ill fitting suit with a borrowed tie, the graduation day ceremony, the wedding. The heroes concerned may never grasp the sheer heart bursting pride of those who gave you birth, for there is no feeling like it.

Doing the same for someone you work with may not have that same urgency but it is no less important.

Work is what we do for a third of our day - a lot more in many aspects of the rail industry.

Whatever the role held in this industry - a safety critical transport phenomena charged with moving millions of people in safety and comfort - it has to be important.

Industry wide recognition The RailStaff Awards is an industry wide recognition that the

reason the railway works so well is down to the professionalism and year-on-year commitment of the thousands of men and women who deliver it.

Essentially the RailStaff Awards involves the nomination of people our readers work with and the subsequent voting for these people.

This whittles down the huge volume of worthwhile nominations received to a short list.

The nomination statements themselves act as unique testimonies of affection and respect. The London Olympics saw heroes from around the world competing, striving for excellence.

Our own heroes meanwhile were continuing to deliver what has to be one of the most inspiring industrial phenomena of recent times.

We know from the stories we report that we have amazing people working within the rail industry. The RailStaff Awards are your chance to say ‘thank you and well done’ to one of your colleagues.

CDI AndersElite proud to support Rail Teams

PAGE 25

IRO takes the lead in operating excellence

PAGE 25

Vital Rail backs Human Resourcing and Recruiters

BACK A HERO

PAGE 27

Do you know someone who has gone the extra mile?

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Morson Group PLC operates through two main subsidiaries, Morson International, providing specialist engineering and technical personnel and Morson Projects Limited, which provides outsourced engineering and project management design services.

Network Rail isNetwork proud Rail to sponsor is proud the RailStaff awards 2012 to sponsor the RailStaff Awards 2011 It’s the hard work of individuals and teams within our industry that’s helping us build a It’s your hard work – the individuals and teams within our better railway for Britain.

From pioneering industry – that’s helping us build a better railway for Britain. investment and development projects, to From pioneering investment and development projects,services innovations that make everyday to innovations faster, that make everyday services faster, smarter in smarter and safer, we believe and safer, we believe in recognising the excellence that’s recognising the excellence that’s enabling enabling the transformation of our network.

the transformation of our network.

That’s why we’re very proud to once again sponsor this year’s RailStaff Awards.

That’s why we’re very proud to once again

sponsor this year’s RailStaff Awards.

Helping Britain run better

networkrail.co.uk

Helping Britain run better networkrail.co.uk 24

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS

IRO delighted to Sponsor Manager of the Year Award The Institution of Railway Operators is delighted to sponsor the Manager of the Year at the RailStaff Awards 2012.

‘The IRO’s mission is to establish and lead in operating excellence throughout the industry,’ says IRO Chairman David Franks.

‘Professionalism, leadership and good management are integral to rail safety, efficiency and financial responsibility. Our association identifies with all nominees for this award and is totally committed to the industry-wide objective of better leadership.’

The institution offers a mix of professional networking opportunities and a broad spectrum of learning and development programmes including the Railway Operations Management qualifications, Continuous Professional

Development Schemes (CPD) and Professional Operators Development (POD).

In conjunction with Glasgow Caledonian University, the IRO offers a distance learning professional development programme relating to Railway Operations Management, structured over 3 levels: Certificate, Diploma and Degree.

The programme offers railway operators of all types and at all levels throughout the industry the opportunity to develop their operational knowledge and, potentially, boost their careers.

Unlocking people’s potential Bespoke courses can also be created to fit an organisation’s operational needs. According to Tricia Meade, the IRO’s Learning and Development Manager, our

learning products are the key to unlocking people’s potential and broadening their horizons.

She said: “Our programmes lift the student out of their individual role and shows them the bigger picture, helping to broaden their operational understanding and opening them up to a host of career boosting networking opportunities, career guidance and best practice events.”

With all of Britain’s passenger train companies now corporate members, it’s clear that operators

throughout the industry are turning to the IRO in increasing numbers. The IRO is seen as the organisation of choice for those wishing to enhance both their professionalism and their careers.

Our membership is open to any one working in, or associated with, any part of the railway industry worldwide. For full details of how to become a member of the IRO, its benefits and all of its courses and events can be found on our website: railwayoperators.org

Delighted D elighted to to sponsor sponsor Proud sponsor of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the RailStaff Awards

Rail Manager of the year 2012 We W ep provide rovide a allll our our members m embers w with ith access a ccess tto… o… » A professional network » Area events » Academic qualifications » Professional Development » CPD schemes

Our membership includes anyone involved in railway operations in the UK. To find out what are you missing out on visit… www.railwayoperators.org

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The Transport Benevolent Fund is proud to sponsor the Station Staff of the Year award again this year.

With the help of the TOCs, Network Rail and other employers throughout the public transport industry we now have 36,000 members.

For just ÂŁ1 a week a variety of benefits are available to you, your partner and dependent children.

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â&#x153;&#x2020; 0300 333 2000 etd 00 38571 e-mail help@tbf.org.uk www.tbf.org.uk

Transport Benevolent Fund

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

26

www.railstaffawards.com

RAILSTAFF AWARDS

Vital Rail backs Recruiter / HR Person of the Year Vital Rail is sponsoring Recruiter / HR Person of the Year at the RailStaff Awards.

The company, which supplies skilled railway operatives across the whole spectrum of railway infrastructure, is a leader in tackling the skills shortage in the rail industry and developing HR strategies that retain and advance railway staff.

Tom O’Connor, managing director of the Rail Media Group which is staging the awards, said: “We are delighted that Vital Rail is again backing this important category. The emphasis at the RailStaff Awards is on the ordinary men and women who make up the industry. Recruiting and developing quality staff for railways has never been more urgent and we applaud Vital Rail’s torch-bearing work in this sector.”

Vital Rail is part of the Vital Services Group and is a multi-

disciplined rail support services company with its own PCL and POL accreditations. As a major supplier of track, underground, safety critical, security, technology, signalling, OLE and supervisory services to the majority of the UK’s national rail Infrastructure companies, Vital Rail has

established a strong history of partnering agreements based on trust and commercial competitiveness.

With head offices in London and Manchester and a network of supporting facilities in Glasgow, York, Warwick and Swindon, Vital Rail has a strong record of delivering

multi-disciplinary projects safely, on time and within budget.

In addition, Vital Rail has a market-leading consultancy service which specialises in Asset Management for the rail industry both in the UK and abroad.

Training is a high priority and Vital Rail provides safety and technical training and assessment from its own internal RTAS and NVQ-accredited training company, Vital Skills Training.

Vital Rail’s SQE Department provides continuous monitoring at the company’s site operations, and Vital Rail has one of the lowest AFR in the UK rail industry.

Vital Rail provides a high quality and reliable service, combined with excellent standards of safety.

The company’s infrastructure is designed to give its clients the flexible support and additional capacity necessary to meet a varied work programme.

Specialist provider of integrated services for the Rail, Light Rail and Underground infrastructures.

We are proud to be a first tier supplier to the majority of the UK’s rail infrastructure companies, delivering work packages as a principal or subcontractor.

Our services include: • Civils and Construction • Overhead Line and Isolations • Plant & Equipment

Proud sponsor of the

Recruiter / HR Person of the Year RailStaff Awards 2012

• Rail Security • Rail Training • Safety Critical • Signalling and Telecoms • Supply of Skilled Railway Personnel • Underground

To discuss a project opportunity or request a brochure, please contact us: Tel. 0845 894 9020 Fax. 0845 894 9699 E-mail. info@vital-rail.com

www.vital-rail.com www.railstaffawards.com

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS

Do you know someone who has gone the extra mile?

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Samaritans Lifesaver Award

7th September 2012

Rail Engineer of the Year

Signal Engineer of the Year

Rail Infrastructure Person of the Year

Station Staff of the Year

Public vote closes:

Rail Manager of the Year

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13th September 2012

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NEWS

High speed to Florence Nigel Wordsworth reports

The much-vaunted high speed service between Milan and Naples in Italy got underway on 28 April.

Launched by independent operator NTV (Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori), the initial route runs from Milan Porta Garibaldi, via Bologna, Florence (Firenze) and Rome to Naples Centrale.

To run the service, NTV purchased a fleet of 25 new 11-car AGV (Automotrice à grande vitesse) trains from Alstom. These are the second generation of Alstom very high speed trains and are quite different from the earlier TGV and Eurostar trains.

Traction motors are mounted under the carriages rather than in dedicated power cars, so every car can carry passengers giving the 200 metre long NTV trains a capacity of 460 passengers.

To see what all the hype has been about, RailStaff’s Nigel Wordsworth took a trip on one of the first trains to run between Milan and Florence.

Porta Garibaldi station is the main commuter station for Milan, www.railstaff.co.uk

and all the NTV ticket machines were located down the escalators from the main concourse. They worked perfectly well in the English language, the tickets were easily collected and it was off to the platform to find the shiny red AGV train.

Novel features NTV has named its service Italo, and has introduced some novel features. Each train is divided up into three areas, rather than classes, with a total of five different ways to travel. The claim is that the comfort remains the same. It is the level of service which changes to give each passenger the choice of how they travel.

The Smart area has leathercovered seats arranged four across with a central aisle. Catering is by self-service machines and there is free Wi-Fi. The end car is laid out as a 39-seat cinema fitted with eight high-definition 19-inch screens.

In the centre of the train is the Prima area. Seats here are wider

and only three across and there is a catering service. There is also a Relax car where mobile phone calls and loud conversations are banned, and a standing room Break area where passengers can stretch their legs and chat.

At the other end of the train is the Club area. Here there are only 19 seats and two 4-seater “compartments” for use by families or for company meetings while on the move. The seating is extremely comfortable and the hostess service very attentive.

With a stop at Milan Rogoredo and then at Bologna, the trip to Florence took just under two hours. Further south progress is quicker, and Rome comes up in another hour and a half and Naples just over an hour later.

With ticket prices starting from only €35 each way for the 400 miles from Milan to Naples trip, it’s not expensive either.

Each train is divided up in to three areas, rather than classes, with a total of five different ways to travel…

29

Someone is listening at last!!

Asking supervisors, workers and even subcontractors how to improve safety!

SAFETY COLIN WHEELER colin@rail-media.com The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has published its report on the track maintenance trolley that ran away at around 3 am on September 11th last year.

The incident happened at Haslemere but although the trolley ran downhill for 2.9 miles reaching a speed of about 10.5 miles per hour it remained within the overnight possession limits and no-one was injured.

It might easily have had consequences similar to the Tebay tragedy we all remember. Indeed the errant trolley ran through a site where another gang had been rail grinding. Fortunately a short section of level track and then a 1 in 93 rising gradient brought the trolley to a stand before it reached the next long section of downhill gradient.

Jammed brakes on a 1 in 80 gradient The trolley was well laden with an estimated total laden weight of between 150 and 200 kg (below).

The locomotive came to rest part way down the slope and its first five wagons also de-railed all wheels.

The RAIB is investigating but I would be interested to hear whether or not any local track staff had voiced concerns prior to the accident.

The man in charge did not realise that they were on a falling gradient of 1 in 80. The brakes failed to operate automatically and the investigation identified failures in maintenance as a factor, stating that the “mechanism probably jammed with the brakes in the “off” position due to bent pushrods, the significance of which was not appreciated by either the maintainer or operator”.

letter ten days later”. The trolley remained in use.

The report says “staff went on using the trolley believing that it did not need to be examined or quarantined”. Predictably the report highlights “the training and competence of trolley operators as an issue”. But for me the most important factor which I am pleased to see in an RAIB report is identified as “the safety culture at Havant Depot”. I would add or lack thereof!!

Lack of safety culture at Havant

Train struck a boulder

The most significant element of the report is the fact that no-one initially reported it! The RAIB report says “none of the staff involved reported the incident within Network Rail prior to receipt of the whistle-blower’s

Headlines were made following the accident on June 28th when a diesel electric locomotive hauling 24 wagons from the North Blyth Alcan site to Fort William struck a boulder at Tulloch near Loch Treig and de-railed (pictured above).

Two derailments in July On 7th July this year another freight train derailed just north of Shrewsbury Station on facing points as it crossed from Down Main to Down Main Crewe. The train stayed upright but all wheels of the 16th coal carrying wagon came off. There were 19 wagons on the train and according to the initial report from RAIB “the left hand switch rail showed signs of wear”.

The investigation will focus on the condition of the track, including the points and the wagon. The RAIB are also busy investigating the derailment of a passenger train at Letterston Junction between Carbeston Road and Fishguard at 1845 hours on July 12th. The 2-car Class 150 DMU was travelling at 55mph when it ran into cattle on the line.

Seven cows were killed or fatally injured but the 28 passengers and two-crew on the train were unhurt.

The suspicion is that the cows got onto the line at a footpath crossing half a mile away. I question whether local staff were aware of any defects in a cattle grid, if there was one?

Faulty neutral section splices Network Rail’s Safety Central website features three ‘new to me’ Safety Bulletins. 261 refers to Seaward Line Testing Units for Direct Current (DC) lines which unbelievably some have been using without isolations being “proved” first. In another case the erroneous reading was due to the probe being used on a contaminated part of the conductor rail head.

30

www.railstaff.co.uk

TRACK SAFETY

Carillion Lifeguards I was pleased to read in RailStaff last month’s report on “Carillion Lifeguards” and by what I have learnt since. I believe that improving the safety of rail workers is down to listening to those who do and supervise the physical work, be it manual or by machine.

Carillion’s campaign began on 23rd February this year following a forum attended by “operators and supervisors who shared their views on why more people didn’t complete “Don’t Walk By” forms (DWBs)”. Their opinions were heard. Subcontractors were rightly included in the launch event and most of their major subcontractors have launched the campaign to their people.

Operatives or workers

262 describes the accident which befell two contractor’s men who were working on a 4-5 metre tall GRP scaffold when a cross member sheared. Both fell to the ground but are expected to make full recoveries. 263 reports on the discovery of a faulty batch of Arthur Flurry Neutral Section contact wire splices and the reasons for stocks being “quarantined until further notice.”

Track Safety Alliance Reports I am pleased to see that addition of “Track Safety Alliance Reports” submitted by organisations working for Network Rail. The picture of the wrecked van following a road accident caused by its driver not taking enough rest before a night shift is a timely reminder to anyone tempted not to rest or to drive back after a long shift instead of lodging.

The identification of fraudulent CSCS cards is highlighted as are the dangers of using unmarked fuel containers and injuring finger ends when assisting with site unloading.

The example quoted is of injured finger tips as a result of trapping www.railstaff.co.uk

them in the chute hinge of a ready mix concrete wagon whilst helping out with a concrete delivery.

Safety by Design Last month’s article titled Safety

by Design has resulted in correspondence. I have no argument with the principle. I recall inexperienced engineers with little or no site experience needed detailed supervision in the structural choices made at the initial concept design stage in particular.

When choices had been made, it was all too easy for detailing to be left to the young engineer who in many cases would need to modify details on site having been challenged by the Site Foreman; “How the *** do you think we’re going to build that??”

Safe to build and maintain choices need to be complementary to the structural and economic choices for designs. Safer to build designs make sense. But are our choices of design life and value engineering made with due regard to our railway inheritance of Victorian structures?

Project managers meet weekly, talk about DWBs and select a top 4. These are then included in that week’s task briefs and displayed in canteens. Each month a “Lifeguard Champion” is chosen from each site and is rewarded with a voucher and T-Shirt.

Their details are announced at the team brief so that they are recognised by everyone on that project. Their names, sites and specific safety concerns etc. are published every month in “Crew News”, a newsletter that is put on display in subcontractors’ offices.

Also each month a results sheet is published showing the chosen top 16 DWBs from all their sites so that everyone knows about issues raised elsewhere and can decide if they are applicable to their own site.

The one thing I don’t like is the use of the word “operatives” to describe those who do the work.

We used to describe work gangs as “men”, nowadays we have many women workers on site so why not use the word “worker”?

The word “operative” sounds impersonal and reminds me of the bad old days of Railtrack when some of their people even referred to labour only subcontract workers as “the grunts”!

46% raised by workers in June Carillion tell me that before they launched their campaign in January, 92% of DWB concerns were raised by “management”.

This has dropped to just 4%, with 46% of the June DWBs being raised by operatives and the total number of DWBs each month has risen from around 20 to 100.

Categories used in the reports are “operatives, subcontractors, engineers, supervisors, managers, office and anonymous”. Mailboxes are provided and each listing also gives an 0800 number for those who prefer to ring in.

Subcontractor numbers still look a bit low in the couple of examples I’ve seen. In the May report although there were 17 anonymous, 14 operative, 9 supervisor, 5 engineer, and just 2 subcontractor reports there were also 51 from managers. So far as rail infrastructure is concerned I imagine CIRAS (Confidential Report and Analysis System) would be pleased to have such a level of reports.

Principles and Safety Culture The principles are clearly right and it would be wrong of anyone to draw conclusions from a couple of months’ statistics. I welcome the initiative which is one of the very few I have heard of that attempts to get close and listen to the concerns of the site workers.

I am concerned that management and safety advisors may be tempted to take over the campaign. I would recommend the exclusion of most statements by and pictures of managers (or even worse, safety professionals). I recommend the regular repeating of last December’s Forum involving workers, subcontractors and supervisors giving them the risk free opportunity to give their opinions and guidance on how this excellent initiative can be further improved.

I commend its principles to others who are serious in wanting to improve their safety performances, especially those who have already accepted that improving their safety culture is the way to go!

Finally spare a thought for the multi-sponsored rail professional who may work for a number of contractors and subcontractors.

He or she is faced with a variety of safety systems like Carillion Lifeguards, all worthy but all different. Time to get the act together for safety’s sake?

31

Rail Britannia 32

A £9 billion rolling investment in Britain’s railways looks set to underpin massive capacity expansion over the next seven years.

The Coalition Government sought to rebrand itself as a unifying force for economic rejuvenation ahead of the start of the London Olympics. Nick Clegg and David Cameron took the stand together at Soho Traincare Depot in Smethwick to announce a £9 billion investment in railway projects and to renew backing for High Speed Two. David Cameron said, ‘From Crossrail, high speed rail and now the billions of pounds of investment we are announcing today, this government is committed to taking the long term decisions to deliver growth and jobs.’

The High Level Output Specification programme for 20142019 confirms continuing

investment worth £5.2 billion on Crossrail, Thameslink, and electrification between London and Cardiff, Manchester, Liverpool and Preston. Highlights of new schemes totalling £4.2 billion include:

• Wales: Further electrification in Wales - from Cardiff to Swansea and the Welsh Valley lines, including Ebbw Vale, Maesteg and the Vale of Glamorgan.

• Spine: Electrification of the Midland Mainline between Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby and Leicester and Bedford. A new electrified railway from Nuneaton and Bedford will link Oxford, Reading, Basingstoke and Southampton.

The spine will increase freight capacity between the south coast and the north.

• Northern Hub Plans for Manchester and Liverpool include the full completion of the

Northern Hub track and capacity upgrades. These are in addition to £477m of Northern Hub schemes already approved across the North of England such as electrification of the North Trans Pennine route between York and Manchester.

• Heathrow: A new £500m rail link between the Great Western Main Line and Heathrow will allow direct services to the airport from the West and the Thames Valley.

• East Coast: £240m of improvements along the East Coast Main Line from the North East down through Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire to London.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said, ‘Whilst we inherited a deficit greater than any in our nation’s peacetime history, we knew that we had to give the www.railstaff.co.uk

NEWS

country the boost it needs, to build great railways and make journeys better for the millions of hard working people who use the train every day.’

The need for an expanded railway and a high speed rail system is clearly a unifying factor in coalition politics. Clegg continued, ‘As someone who cares deeply about the environment, the opportunity to dramatically expand rail, a greener form of transport than aviation or road is very exciting indeed. This investment will help people to choose trains over cars, reduce carbon emissions and provide a rail system that is faster, more reliable and greener.’

The rail industry has welcomed the news. Says Rail Industry Association director general, Jeremy Candfield, ‘(The) commitment to future investment in the railways rightly recognises the importance to the economy of www.railstaff.co.uk

fast, reliable train services for passengers and freight. It will bring great benefits to the travelling public, freight hauliers and the nation as a whole. The railway suppliers now look forward to working with Government, Network Rail and the train operators to develop plans in more detail so that these proposals can be delivered as efficiently as possible.

‘Greater confidence in future workloads will help suppliers to invest in the people and equipment that we need for tomorrow’s railway. The central role given by the Statement to a rolling programme of electrification work, which industry has long advocated, will

facilitate the economic delivery of this important upgrade.’

Vernon Barker, Managing Director of First UK Rail division said, ‘This is an unprecedented level of investment in the rail network and will do much to increase capacity and reliability.’

That Cameron and Clegg staged the subsequent cabinet meeting at Soho Traincare depot underscored the rehabilitation of the rail industry. Ministers travelled by rail to New Street in Birmingham using the West Coast Main Line returning on Chiltern Railways from Snow Hill. The news of bigger and better railways provided a warm dose of pre-Olympic sunshine in an otherwise rain soaked summer.

“As someone who cares deeply about the environment, the opportunity to expand rail, a greener form of transport than aviation, is very exciting indeed…”

NICK CLEGG, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

33

The riddle of Grange-over-Sands Passengers have long puzzled over similarities between the railway station at Grange-over-Sands and the nearby Grange Hotel.

The railway station was built to serve a growing seaside resort and in fact was designed as a miniature copy of the hotel. Glass canopies at Grange-over-Sands station have been restored to their former glory. The glazing has been replaced and when the sun does not shine, new lighting takes over.

The station first opened in 1867 and was designed by EG Paley as a miniature version of Grange Hotel, which he also designed and is situated across the road. Says Andy Morgan, Network Rail’s route asset manager (buildings), ‘This is a fine old station that has remained largely unchanged for nearly 150 years, and we have tried to be sympathetic to the original design when carrying out

Going Up Over 50 lifts will be installed at Crossrail stations including five that will slide up and down inclines alongside escalators where vertical shafts are not possible.

Crossrail and TfL have awarded the contract for the lifts to Kone.

Crossrail will pioneer the use of incline lifts in London. Four innovative incline lifts will run alongside escalators at Farringdon and Liverpool Street. London Underground will also install an incline lift at Greenford station by 2014.

Says Martin Rowark, Crossrail’s Procurement Director, ‘All Crossrail

stations in central London will have step-free access from street to train. The new incline lifts offer an added benefit by allowing groups travelling together to have passengers with wheelchairs, buggies or large baggage to take an incline lift while friends and family take an escalator directly alongside.

‘These incline lifts will allow Crossrail to provide full step-free access at Farringdon and Liverpool Street stations where the platforms will sit below existing buildings, preventing the installation of traditional vertical lifts.’

renovations.’

The platform and station entrance canopies have been completely re-glazed as has the platform 2 canopy support wall.

The steel and timber superstructure have been repaired or replaced, along with the all the guttering and downpipes. Painted in red, green and cream, the work cost nearly £250,000 and was delivered by Network Rail’s LNW property works team.

Pride of the Clyde A new-look station has opened at Gourock.

The main station building has been rebuilt, platforms and canopies renovated and the sea-wall redesigned. It now includes glazed sections offering unobstructed sea views across the Clyde. Alex Neil MSP officiated at the opening of the £8 million station. A new covered walkway connects the station to the ferry terminal.

Alex Neil saluted industry

collaboration in bringing about the new station. ‘The way in which rail industry partners have worked together to deliver this project, without disrupting rail services, is an example for future project delivery. The Alliance agreement recently signed between Network Rail and ScotRail can also build upon the good practice which has been evident at Gourock to help progress upcoming rail projects across the country,’ Neil said.

Model fund raiser Sales of a model railway station have helped raise funds for the Bluebell Railway.

Bachmann’s, a model railway kit company, created a model of the 1882 station at Sheffield Park, on the Bluebell.

Bachmann managing director David Haarhuss gave a cheque for £3,285 to the railway, arising from the sale of these models.

The money will go towards restoring the original station.

34

David Simpson, Alex Neil MSP and Steve Montgomery.

www.railstaff.co.uk

STATIONS

Andrew Bingham MP, Mark Barker, Northern Rail and Cllr Simon Spencer, Derbyshire County Council.

Watertight partnership caps Buxton Passengers and railway staff at Buxton are now enjoying a spruced up station thanks to efforts by Northern Rail, Derbyshire County Council and Network Rail.

As part of the DfT’s National Station Improvement Programme the partnership has delivered £340,000 of refurbishments. These include a new look ticket hall with a disabled-friendly ticket counter

and an additional waiting shelter on platform one. The station has been tidied up, more ticket machines and passenger information systems installed.

The new look completes the

Holt tickets please Business is ramping up at the hugely popular North Norfolk Railway.

The railway has put out a plea for more volunteers to help staff Holt Station. The line attracts 150,000 visitors a year and many start their trip at Holt. Volunteers are needed to work on the platform and the ticket office as well as staffing the museum and the buffet.

www.railstaff.co.uk

£620,000 major refurbishment of the platform and roof by Network Rail.

Local MP Andrew Bingham unveiled a plaque to commemorate the station improvements and was joined by members of the Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership, the County Council and railway staff.

Says Lee Wasnidge, Area Director for Northern Rail, ‘Confirmation of successful partnerships working well here in Buxton is clear to see at the station today. These improvements are testament to our commitment to improving passenger journeys in the region.

We hope passengers will see the benefits of providing such welcoming facilities and improved safety here at Buxton station.’

Adds Patrick Cawley of Network Rail, ‘The work carried out at the station has been completed in sympathy with it’s status as a listed building. We used natural slate for the roof covering and natural stone was used for repairs to the two chimney stacks. All the guttering, drainage pipes and roof flashings have been renewed making the whole building watertight.’

Barriers recede at Thorpe Bay

The new informal booking hall at Thorpe Bay.

Local MP James Duddridge has reopened Thorpe Bay station after extensive refurbishment work by c2c.

The new look booking hall has been redesigned to remove barriers between passengers and staff. Says c2c managing director Julian Drury, ‘Thorpe Bay is the first of what I hope will be many c2c smart stations, a new concept for the rail industry that breaks down the barriers between

customers and staff, and gives passengers more freedom to serve themselves while retaining the traditional booking office option for those who wish to use it.

‘This station has more customer information, more ticket machines, and is ready for smart ticketing when it is introduced, and I hope local residents will be very pleased with the results.’

The £500k project also includes a refurbished waiting room with

direct access from the ticket hall.

Adds James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East, ‘It’s an enormous privilege to re-open this, my home station. It looks gorgeous inside, airy, light and bright. One of the great things about c2c is they listen to what the community want, and it makes a great first impression for Thorpe Bay.’ Former BR man, Jim Snelling, 81, who worked at Thorpe Bay in 1946, attended the reopening resplendent in his British Rail uniform.

35

STATIONS

Day Return for Transport Secretary Secretary of State for Transport, Justine Greening, made a welcome return to her home town Rotherham, to unveil a plaque marking the opening of the £8.5 million station.

The rebuilt Rotherham Central Station sports a distinctive new

curving roof, new lighting, CCTV, a new waiting room, ticket office and retail kiosks. Disabled access to the station, which has around half a million visitors each year, has also been improved with the introduction of new lifts.

‘The rebuilding of Rotherham’s

train station will deliver real benefits for passengers and the wider community,’ says Justine Greening.

‘It will boost competitiveness, stimulate the local economy and showcase Rotherham as a vibrant town with many exciting opportunities for new businesses.’

Step by step Three stations in London have been made more accessible.

Camden Road and Gospel Oak stations now have two new lifts to carry passengers between street level and the platforms. At Hackney Central, two new lifts have been installed from the existing footbridge. All three projects have been funded by the Department for Transport’s Access for All programme.

Ricoh restart After many false starts the long awaited go-ahead for a station serving Coventry’s Ricoh Arena has been approved by Coventry City Council.

Work on the station, on the Coventry to Nuneaton route, will start this December and be finished by December 2013. Lack of a rail connection to this popular 36

sporting venue, which has hosted many of the Olympic football matches, has been a contentious issue for a long time, with plans submitted and rejected over the years. Supporters hoped the station would be opened six years ago, at the same time as Ricoh Arena, but this was rejected by the government of the day.

During events at Ricoh Arena there will be four trains an hour from Coventry and two trains an hour from Nuneaton. The station will also have its own car park with around 50 spaces.

The line between Coventry and Nuneaton is an important freight route, used mainly by container trains. www.railstaff.co.uk

Remember the Railway Children BBC Radio 4 Charity Appeal

Sunday 2nd September 2012 at 7.55 am and 9.26pm Thursday 6th September 3.27pm PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD Every gift to the BBC Radio 4 appeal will bring us closer to reaching another child vulnerable and alone on the streets. It will help to highlight the issue of children at risk on the streets of the UK, India and East Africa to the general public.

Presented by Ian Hislop, supporter, broadcaster, journalist and editor of Private Eye.

If you miss the broadcast, listen again at: bbc.co.uk/radio4 To find out more about Railway Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work in Howrah station, India visit www.railwaychildren.org.uk/howrah

1 The Commons, Sandbach, Cheshire CW11 1EG Telephone: 01270 757596 Registered charity number: 1058991

Transpennine tree planting First Transpennine Express is continuing to support the Forestry Commission by donating £30,000 to tree and woodland conservation projects.

Community groups can apply for up to £2000 in green grants.

FTPE and Forestry Commission representatives assess the projects. Recently Partington Primary School and Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, both in the Trafford area of Greater Manchester, planted out fruit orchards on their schools grounds.

Teachers, pupils and staff from First Transpennine Express helped.

The apple, pear and plum trees will aid teaching and better eating.

Environmental Manager for FTPE Simon Barber said,‘The Green

Return to the West

The first of five refurbished class 180s has returned to service with First Great Western.

Wabtec’s Kilmarnock works is refurbishing the 25 vehicles which in turn will enable FGW Turbo trains to be released for use on Thames Valley services. First Great Western originally used class 180s 38

until March 2009, before they were returned to the leasing company and subsequently transferred to other rail operators.

The huge growth in passenger figures along the North Cotswold route in recent years, requiring large parts of the route to have its double track reinstated, meant

Grants Scheme has helped many worthwhile schemes and it is great to have the opportunity to do this again and enable the communities in and around Manchester and the North West to benefit.

‘We are also looking forward to working with the Forestry Commission again and I hope that it will inspire people to make a positive improvement to their local environment.’

that FGW needed the class 180s once again. However, FGW realised the trains needed to be refurbished to a high specification before they could enter passenger service. All five refurbished class 180s should be in service by the end of this year.

In November FGW signed a £29 million deal with the Department for Transport to introduce an additional 48 vehicles into the fleet.

Says FGW’s managing director, Mark Hopwood, ‘I am delighted to be able to launch the return of these trains onto the Great Western Network. Progress has remained on target for the vehicles to be in place before the end of the summer.

‘This will mean virtually all the peak time services we run from Worcester and Great Malvern will now be offered by high speed Class 180s rather than turbos, with five carriages rather than three. These trains are more comfortable on board, there are more tables for the seats and they can travel faster, offering a more pleasant travelling experience.’

Welsh watch on Crossings BTP and Network Rail are stepping up efforts to tackle level crossing misuse in Wales this summer.

New monitoring vans are being deployed. Network Rail is funding the vehicles which will be used by the British Transport Police to target barrier dodgers at level crossings.

Says Dr Paul Clark, Network Rail’s safety improvement manager for Wales, ‘We will be looking to deploy the vehicles at high risk locations and places where there has been a history of misuse, to raise the profile of this issue and to act as a deterrent. We have identified initial locations that we wish to target and are developing a plan with BTP in Wales for roll out in the coming weeks. We see this as a really positive step.’ www.railstaff.co.uk

NEWS

Last steam locomotive set for return A locomotive which operated one of BR’s last scheduled steam train services in 1968 looks set to return to main line working.

The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway - proud owner of LMS Black Five No. 45212 - has concluded an agreement with Bury-based engineering company Riley & Son (E) Ltd to overhaul the loco. It will then be able to run main line services.

Peak promise After launching its first ever social media campaign in aid of the Railway Children, a team from National Rail Enquiries has raised more than £3,000 following a successful 24 Peaks Challenge.

The board of National Rail Enquiries has pledged to match public donations, bringing the total raised to more than £6,000 and counting. The 24 Peaks Challenge involves climbing 24 peaks in the Lake District, each one over 2,400 feet high, in 24 hours. The route includes many of the more famous peaks such as Red Pike, Scafell Pike, Helvellyn

and Great Gable.

‘Each year in the UK more than 100,000 children under the age of 16 run away from home, which is a huge social challenge. All the team agreed that this was one of the hardest physical challenges any of us have ever done, but even scaling 24 peaks in 24 hours is a walk in the park compared to what some of these children face.

‘We battled hot weather, injuries and extreme terrain, but ultimately we were successful and are delighted that the public have supported the cause,’ said team member, Gary Winstanley.

Says KWVR’s Sam MacDougall, ‘This locomotive has a remarkable pedigree as it was the very last steam locomotive to operate a scheduled passenger service on the official Last Day Of Steam back in 1968. We look forward to it returning to the mainline almost fifty years after its withdrawal.’

In recent years the locomotive has been based at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

L.M.S. Black Five No. 45212 is to return to the main line.

Paris triumph for Amey

A cycling team from Amey has raised over £17,000 for the Railway Children charity.

In a riveting curtain raiser for Bradley Wiggins’ triumph in the Tour de France a few days later the seven strong Amey team www.railstaff.co.uk

pedalled into Paris after covering the 191 miles from London to Paris via Newhaven and Dieppe.

The team included Andy Milner, Managing Director of Amey’s Consulting division; Steve Withers, Managing Director of

Amey’s Inter Urban division; Gillian Duggan, Managing Director for Amey’s Built Environment division; Business Directors for Rail and Track, Nick Kurth and Simon Bunn; Business Improvement Director Richard

Butterfield and Bidding Director Simon Rhoden.

Says Nick Kurth, ‘It poured with rain for a lot of the time and we were drenched but the aches and scrapes all fell away as we rode into Paris. It was a great moment.

Local people did a double take, I believe, as they were not expecting the Tour de France for another week. The similarity was of course uncanny!’

The team celebrated in the French capital before returning home. The team can be sponsored at: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/ AmeyCyclingTeam

39

New trams for Manchester Twenty years since trams returned to the streets of Manchester the Metrolink’s oldest trams are to be replaced by 2014.

Last September transport leaders agreed to replace 12 of the 32 original Firema T68 trams with M5000 vehicles. Now they have agreed to replace the rest. An order

for 20 new M5000s will be placed with a consortium of tram manufacturer Bombardier and propulsion supplier Vossloh Kiepe.

When the order is complete in 2014, all services on the Metrolink network will be operated by brand new vehicles.

Bombardier and Vossloh Kiepe

are already supplying 74 new M5000 trams to serve the existing and expanding network. New lines to Droylsden and Ashton-underLyne, East Didsbury, Oldham and Manchester Airport are being built.

Says Andrew Fender, chair of the TfGM Committee, ‘Our T68 vehicles were the first of their kind in the UK and served the first modern light rail network of its kind in the country.

‘The arrival in service of our first

new vehicles in December 2009 demonstrated just how far the industry has come in that time and it is clear that our T68s no longer live up to the standards that passengers expect. The time has now come for them to enter a well-earned retirement.’

The M5000s are 10 tonnes lighter and more energy efficient. The tram featured in the opening credits to Coronation Street will be updated, rail chiefs stressed.

Green Flag for Eurotunnel

Formal proposal for RDG

Samphire Hoe nature reserve, which is owned by Eurotunnel, has won the prestigious Green Flag award for an eighth consecutive year.

Samphire Hoe is a 30-hectare site reclaimed from the sea using almost 5 million cubic metres of chalk extracted from the Channel

The Rail Delivery Group will be given added powers and placed on a more formal footing as the government ramps up plans for closing the gap between train operators and infrastructure provider.

Proposals will be considered under the auspices of the Office of Rail Regulation. Says Tim O’Toole, chairman of the Rail Delivery Group, ‘Placing RDG on a more structured footing will enable it to take on a leadership role in which it will formulate strategies and policies for the whole industry.

The government’s command paper expects the Rail Delivery Group to take a leadership role within the rail industry in order to drive efficiency and improve value for money for the passenger, freight customer and taxpayer. Formalising the group will reinforce RDG’s ability to fulfil this role.’

The RDG could become a

40

Tunnel during its construction.

Opened to the public exactly fifteen years ago to the day the nature reserve at the foot of the famous White Cliffs of Dover is home to some 200 different sorts of plants, among them rare orchids and 30 species of butterfly as well as 208 bird species.

“Placing RDG on a more structured footing will enable it to take on a leadership role…”

TIM O’TOOLE, CHAIRMAN, RAIL DELIVERY GROUP

company limited by guarantee. An obligation will be placed on industry players to join the RDG by the introduction of a licence condition requiring participation in the group. Currently the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) brings industry leaders together on a voluntary basis to provide leadership to the rail industry. The group was set up in May 2011 after the Rail Value for Money Study, chaired by Sir Roy McNulty. www.railstaff.co.uk

NEWS

Welsh work prepares for electrification

Work has begun on a £220m scheme to boost capacity on the railway in South Wales.

Starting with the Vale of Glamorgan line, the three-year programme will include the replacement of over 300 signals, 12 miles of track and 59 sets of

points. Seven more platforms will be built at stations including Cardiff, Barry, Caerphilly, Pontypridd and Tir-Phil. The scheme will remove the rail bottleneck between Cardiff Central and Queen Street, allowing 16 trains per hour to run through the area, a 25% increase.

The extra capacity will also allow more freight trains to run through Cardiff helping to support businesses in their transport of goods to and from Wales. Cardiff Central (south side) and Cardiff Queen Street will also see new entrance buildings. These stations account for 67% of passenger demand on the South Wales network and cater for almost 12.5m passengers every year. A new station will also be built to serve the growing community at Energlyn.

The work is an important first step towards electrifying the Welsh

Rail return for BTP family A former British Transport Police officer is bringing his son home by rail from Abu Dhabi after the boy developed a psychological aversion to flying.

Joe Thompson, 11, tried to board four flights but on each occasion became too distressed to get on the plane. The phenomenon occasionally afflicts older people. Joe’s father, former BTP superintendent Tony Thompson, has been working in Abu Dhabi but is returning home to take up a new job in England.

Joe, a keen rugby player, has tried hypnotherapy but to no avail. His father is keen to make Valleys network. The recent decision to electrify much more of the South Wales network was based on the three year plan to boost capacity.

Says Mark Langman (pictured), route managing director for Network Rail Wales, ‘We need to expand today’s railway to cater for

From Russia above

www.railstaff.co.uk

tomorrow’s needs, and we are getting ahead of the game.

Through this investment, passengers will significantly benefit from the potential to run more services and a better performing railway, which is also vital to support Cardiff as a key economic centre for Wales.’

BTP help for Olympic Fan

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev with president of RZD, Russian Railways, Vladimir Yakunin.

A new airport rail link has been launched connecting Knevichy Airport and Vladivostok.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev officially opened the new service. Aeroexpress Vladivostok uses new six car ED9M trains made at the Demikhovsky Engineering Plant.

sure his son is back in time to start school in September. The first part of the trip is the most daunting - the Thompsons are keen to avoid transiting Iraq and Syria.

Abu Dhabi on the Persian Gulf borders Saudi Arabia. Once across the desert, or round it by ship, the pair can continue to Europe by ferry from Egypt or Israel. The rest of the journey from Athens can be made by rail right the way to London. Says Tony, ‘I’ve no idea what the overland journey will cost but it doesn’t matter. We have to get him home.’

Each train has 475 seats.

The first passenger on the new service was Vladivostok citizen, Vadim Nozdrin, who received flowers and a commemorative certificate from railway officials.

The trains run every two hours and will be stepped up to hourly frequency from September.

Journey time is set at 55 minutes.

Vladivostok is Russia’s main warm water port in the Far East and the head quarters of the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet. Says Mr Medvedev, ‘This is a good train; it is very convenient. Now it takes less than one hour to get from Vladivostok to the airport.’

Officers from British Transport Police in Cardiff helped keep one Team GB fan’s Olympic dream alive when she was reunited with her precious tickets.

The 25-year-old woman was travelling from Swansea to London to see the Olympics but when she arrived at Paddington she realised her suitcase, which contained her tickets, had been stolen.

A Police CCTV operator observed a man near the Millennium Stadium rummaging through a suitcase. Officers attended and arrested the 31-year-old man for theft. Officers established that a woman, upon arrival at Paddington, had just reported her suitcase stolen. An officer liaised with the victim and confirmed all the property had been recovered.

She was able to attend the Olympic boxing and was very thankful for everyone’s help.

41

NEWS

Cat flap at Bedford Station staff at Bedford have been praised for saving the lives of four kittens left abandoned in a carrier bag on the station.

Staff spotted the day old kittens, all thought to be related and immediately took steps to keep them warm. They then alerted the local RSPCA. Says Gayle Simpkins

of RSPCA North Bedfordshire, ‘It was only the quick thinking members of staff who made sure the kittens were warm that saved them. I have no doubt that without their help, they would have died.

All four kittens are now in the care of an experienced hand-rearer and are doing well.’

Bubble cars romp home The fledgling Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway, located on the site of the former Cynheidre colliery has taken delivery of former Chiltern bubble car 55019.

Saving 55019 from being cut up was only possible after considerable help from Chiltern Railways. This ensured that the bubble car had a secure future after it became surplus to their

42

requirements.

Chiltern is well known as the only train operator to use bubble cars in everyday service. Two of them, both restored to pristine condition, are based at Aylesbury depot where they see daily use on the Princes Risborough branch.

Locally they are affectionately known as the Risborough Rompers.

Underground rail orchestra Musician Shaun Buswell is recruiting a whole orchestra from people he meets for the first time on the London Underground this summer.

Shaun is approaching people carrying instruments and then outlining his scheme. The idea is to play a concert in London on 12th December. Says Shaun, ‘We

have a venue pencilled in for 12th December and I’m pretty certain it’s the one I want to use.’

The intrepid subterranean impresario is already winning musicians over to his cause. His rules are strict. No musician can be known to him and they must be carrying the instrument or part of it on the tube. More info: 121212.org.uk

The LMMR would like to see 55019, in its original BR green livery, in passenger use within two years but need more volunteers to achieve this. The railway houses two steam locomotives along with a number of diesel units and shunters.

Says project manager Des Thomas, ‘We must express out thanks and appreciation to Chiltern Railways for the assistance which they have given to us during this process and for the enthusiastic support they continue to give our project.’

BS11000 accreditation The Rail Tech Group has become the first rail SME, small and medium enterprise, to achieve accreditation to the BS11000 Standard for Collaborative Business Relationships.

Collaboration and cross boundary co-operation has emerged as an essential tenet of the McNulty report and has been eagerly embraced by Network Rail, train companies and major suppliers.

Network Rail itself achieved BS11000 accreditation in April 2012.

Simon Kirby, Managing Director of Network Rail Infrastructure Projects, presented the accreditation certificate to Simon Jamieson, Managing Director of the Rail Tech Group, at a ceremony in the House of Lords attended by industry leaders and other accredited companies including Atkins, Balfour Beatty and Costain.

The McNulty Report, published in May 2011, made numerous references to the benefits of collaborative working in railways and specifically mentioned BS11000. www.railstaff.co.uk

CAREERS

Job Title

Location

Ref

Principal Engineer Specialist

Bristol

88186

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Leicestershire

88184

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Across Scotland

ORSGLA4

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Chippenham

89168

Senior Category Manager

Warwickshire

89065

Orion Rail Services (ORS) are part of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest engineering recruitment specialists Orion Group.

ORS are a Network Rail approved company and are Link-Up accredited to supply a number of rail related positions.

The Group work with some of the largest industry players across rail providing manpower throughout the UK and overseas.

Visit our website for a complete list of Rail positions across the UK and apply online today quoting the ref above.

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Upload your CV today orionjobs.com or email - ors@orioneng.com

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43

www.railstaff.co.uk

Job Opportunities for Rail Staff with CarmichaelUK Rail Division Due to the growing demand from major clients within the railway

Register your CV today online or

infrastructure, CarmichaelUK Rail Division are looking for skilled

via email in word format to:

personnel for Permanent and Contract opportunities.

rail@carmichaeluk.com

We would like to hear from the following for prestigious projects

or call one of our consultants on:

starting in London, South East and South West of England:

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Engineers

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trac

www.carmichaeluk.com ENGINEERING PERSONNEL RAIL DIVISION

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Road Rail Vehicle Operators Required Due to continued growth and expansion of the company and fleet of Road Rail Vehicles, TRAC Engineering are currently recruiting Road Rail Vehicle Operators.

Ideally candidates will already hold RRV competency in one of the following along with a current Personal Track Safety (PTS) certificate and have a minimum of 2 yrs experience Highway based vehicles above & below 5t Excavator Tractor Lorry In addition, we are also looking for welding and OHL experienced personnel.

Please apply by CV to recruitment@trac.com

Rail and Infrastructure Vacancies TRS Staffing Solutions are international engineering recruitment specialists.

We recruit for major National and International projects for leading National Rail organisations, main contractors and consultancies. Currently we have vacancies for the following:

Senior QS & Commercial Managers

Rail Project / Construction Managers

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UK, UAE, Australia & Africa £350 - £500/day or £50 - £80K Experience on rail & station enhancement project

Signal Designers, Engineers and Managers

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UK & Australia - £400/day or £45 - 65K IRSE license or significant relevant experience

London and Warrington - £35 - £55K Rail experience Pway design, Bentley MicroStation V8, XM and Inrail and Inroad

HV/LV Electrical Engineers

Senior Planning Engineers

London - £45 - £70K or £450 per day OLE Traction Power, AC/DC or construction experience

London, York & Birmingham - £350 - £450/day or £40 - £55K Rail, LUL experience. P3e/P6 essential

Please send your CV or if you’d prefer to discuss a role in more detail and in confidence, please contact one of our specialist consultants on www.tracengineering.com

+44 (0)1698 831111

+44 (0)20 7419 5800 or email rail@trsstaffing.com

Rail, Infrastructure & Construction 44

www.railstaff.co.uk

CAREERS

Job ID: 109832

Business Development Engineer Rail Systems | Westminster Established in the UK for over a decade, Siemens Global Rail Systems has an award-winning portfolio; from trams, light rail and metro services, to commuter stock and high speed services. Safety, reliability, customer service and efficiency are our top priorities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which benefit the operators, their passengers and the environment. With ambitious targets to continue growing our business, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for talented Business Development Engineers and Managers to develop, market and sell our broad range of Rail Systems products and services.

Based at our HQ in Westminster, this is an exciting opportunity to build your career with a global business. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be part of a world-leading team that is at the forefront of exemplary rail systems.

What are my responsibilities?

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll work closely with key stakeholders and our existing Sales and Service organisations to identify market opportunities, and optimise products and service propositions to meet customer requirements.

Preparing tender documents and liaising with customers, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ensure we hit our growth targets.

What do I need to qualify for the job? t " SFMFWBOU &OHJOFFSJOH PS #VTJOFTT .BOBHFNFOU EFHSFF PS FRVJWBMFOU experience. t " TUSPOH UFDIOJDBM CBDLHSPVOE BOE BO VOEFSTUBOEJOH PG FOHJOFFSJOH and life cycle costs. t $MFBS DPOGJEFOU DPNNVOJDBUJPO TLJMMT JO QFSTPO BOE JO XSJUJOH t &YQFSJFODF PG XPSLJOH PO CJE BDUJWJUZ JO B SBJM FOWJSPONFOU BOE QSFWJPVT project management and sales experience would be a bonus.

Contact To find out more and to apply, please visit www.siemens.co.uk/careers click on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;searchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on the drop down box and then enter Job ID 109832 JOUP UIF SFRVJTJUJPO GJFME $MPTJOH EBUF TU "VHVTU

siemens.co.uk/careers

Advance-TRS has more than 25 years experience of recruitment on Network Rail and London Underground Infrastructure. This has provided us with an extensive network of professional clients and candidates at all levels throughout this niche sector.

We are currently engaged with some of the industry leaders assisting in the delivery of key projects such as Crossrail, HS2, MAFA Frameworks, and major station upgrades.

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For more information on these or any other current vacancies contact us on 01483 361 061 or send your CV to

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info@advance-trs.com

www.railstaff.co.uk

45

CAREERS

Rail Staff Required With the award of several new contracts TES has a range of exciting opportunities for experienced rail staff at various locations throughout the UK including London, Anglia, Home Counties, Midlands and the North West.

Qualifications and experience Full driving licence and access to transport is required for most roles.

As leaders in the field of Possession Management we are looking for safety critical staff with:

Salary and Benefits Competitive rates of pay apply and excellent training & development opportunities will be available to successful candidates.

S/PICOP Handsignaller (AOD HS) Engineering Supervisor (ES)

COSS/IWA Level Crossing Attendant (AOD LXA) Points Operator (AOD PO)

With an established and fast growing Overhead Line Isolation and Construction capability we are also looking to appoint the following: Nominated Persons OLE Linesmen HGV Drivers

Authorised Persons Machine Operators/Controllers

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Creating safe railway working environments

46

Applications To apply or to find out more about the opportunities on offer please visit www.tes2000.co.uk or contact our HR team: Tel: E-mail:

01206 799111 human.resources@tes2000.co.uk

www.TES2000.co.uk

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If rail moves you, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hiring.

URS is a leading provider of engineering, construction and technical services. Due to recent major project wins in the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s railway industry we are recruiting at all levels of qualification and experience. URS has a strong heritage in rail through our acquisition of Scott Wilson Group and extensive experience of rail design around the world. In the UK we have delivered major multidisciplinary projects, such as West Coast Route Modernisation, Airdrie Bathgate Reopening and Crossrail ONW. Our current portfolio includes High Speed 2, Borders Railway, new programmes of work for Crossrail, North Doncaster Chord, CASR and the national S&C Renewals programme.

As a provider of design services spanning the entire project lifecycle, we are hiring across a broad range of disciplines, including civil and structural, permanent way, signalling, telecoms, OLE, electrical, geotechnical engineers, ops managers, project and engineering managers.

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URS is a major global business with exciting growth plans in rail that can provide great opportunities for career development.

Please email your CV and covering letter to transportation.recruitment@urs.com

URSGLOBAL.COM/CAREERS