RailStaff January 2012

ISSUE 170 JAN 2012

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The Greening of Great Britain

Numbers soar on High Speed One

Scotland and the North to have direct services on High Speed Two

The second anniversary of the start of domestic passenger services on HS1 has seen passenger numbers powering ahead.

Page 4

Forth Bridge paint complete Network Rail’s ten year, £130M painting and refurbishment of the Forth Bridge is complete.

Page 12

Work starts at Three Bridges Construction of the new rail operating centre at Three Bridges has begun.

New high speed trains will be 400 metres long with 1,100 seats, travelling at speeds of up to 250mph. Double-decker trains, compatible with HS2 and HS1 loading gauge, will further boost capacity and comfort.

Although HS2 runs through 13 miles of the Chiltern’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty all but two miles of the line will be hidden below surface level. Environmentalists have welcomed the project.

Says Shaun Spiers of the Campaign to Protect Rural England,

‘We are pleased the Government has shown its commitment to Britain’s railways while being sensitive to the impact that HS2 will have on communities and the countryside.’

Mr Spiers welcomed the promise of further tunnelling under the Chilterns. The news marks a personal triumph for Justine Greening who faced well organised opposition from the Tory heartlands and her own party.

HS2 also acknowledges the strengths and accomplishments

of the new rail industry and represents a big boost for staff up and down the network. Says Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of ATOC, ‘HS2 is a vote of confidence in the railways and recognition of the vital role the industry has to play in supporting jobs and driving sustainable economic growth.’

Phase One will see construction of a new 140 mile line between London and Birmingham by 2026. In the second phase lines will be built to Leeds and Manchester by 2033.

Page 14

Lost Leviathans

Colin Garratt outlines the story behind his amazing world travels to document the Last Steam Locomotives of the World.

Rail Safety Summit 2012 19th April 2012

Holywell Park Conference Centre, Loughborough

www.railsafetysummit.com

Page 16-17

SEE PAGE 9

SEE PAGE 9

High Speed Two, linking Birmingham and London with Leeds and Manchester, will act as a rail motorway hosting trains direct from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Liverpool, Preston and Lancaster.

Purpose built high speed trains will run directly from the WCML and ECML onto HS2. Secretary of State for Transport, Justine Greening, announced the added bonus together with direct links to the Channel Tunnel and Heathrow Airport in a special statement to parliament.

2 | RailStaff | January 2012

RailStaff Editorial It seems almost indecent to be rejoicing at the good fortune of the rail industry. Abroad, the European Union lurches deeper into crisis. Britain has avoided the euro and the ill considered fiscal treaty botched together to save it. The United Sates has announced an ominous draw down of its forces in Europe. This is not a time to be found wanting in foreign affairs. Yet announcements of a retreat from Afghanistan and failure to confront Iran underscore the weakness of the west.

Nevertheless 2012 promises to be a great year for the rail industry.

High Speed Two is to go ahead. Justine Greening is to be commended for having the personal and political courage to launch High Speed Two, a doubly daunting exercise after just a few weeks in the job. The Coalition Government understands the importance of the scheme and of a rail network that will unite and strengthen Great Britain.

Railways now enjoy the confidence of the political class, a bizarre change of fortunes from the dark days of John Major’s splintered sale of British Rail. Major railway projects are now routinely delivered on time and on budget. The actual cost of running the railway is being fundamentally reduced by the Rail Delivery Group and Network Rail.

However, the opponents of High Speed Two are never far from the platform edge. Look at any article over the last few days on HS2. Comments are heavily against the project. Most are spurious and un-researched. Opposition will not let up and High Speed Two needs continuous and industry-wide support.

Retaining confidence and arguing the case for railways and High Speed Two are imperatives for all supporters. It is legitimate to admit to doing this because it’s good for the industry, for jobs, careers, pay and profit.

There is a deeper reason. Britain is a more isolated country than at any time since the Second World War. The Obama presidency has deflated the once special relationship between the US and the UK. David Cameron’s spirited defence of British interests at Brussels has left us isolated on our island. Britain thus needs to be strong and united as it faces up to the political, economic and social challenges of this century.

High Speed Two is a statement of faith in the future. Britain has to be able to compete and win. A country that can design and build a new railway is a place with vision and purpose. Can it be achieved? The courage and daring of the people who make up our industry provide the answer.

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High Fives - How to Back HS2

High Speed Two is good news for the rail industry. However it is not a done deal Despite cross party support its opponents are powerful and well organised. Expect it to surface as an election issue. Five main arguments can be used by rail industry supporters to advance the case for HS2.

The first point is the non-altruistic one and basically says: this is my industry and I want it to prosper. Let’s hear a bit more about beefing up the fortunes of the railway business and the careers of staff who have invested their professional life in it. The other points highlight direct benefits to Britain as a whole.

1 INDUSTRY HS2 is a big vote of confidence in our industry and means more jobs, contracts and stability of employment. The rail industry has proved it can deliver major new projects on time and on budget - High Speed One is the most apposite example.

After years of being the poor transport relation it is about time railways received premium investment. We want this work because we’ll build the new railway, staff the stations and crew the trains. Railway staff stand to benefit as a result and we’d be failing in our duty not to support it.

So it is not simply about shaving a few minutes off Birmingham - London journey times.

High Speed Two means opening up the wider railway to enable more journeys for more people, more often.

3 ECONOMY Getting out of recession means stimulating business and trade.

Capital investment projects generate wealth, boost employment, encourage local businesses and directly benefit trade and enterprise. Better transport means better business, a quicker exchange of skills, ideas and commerce.

To prosper Britain needs a more cohesive transport network. Assuming the heavily trafficked West Coast Main Line, the M1 and M6 are equal to the task of spreading south eastern economic promise is naïve in the extreme.

4 ENVIRONMENT People want to travel quickly and responsibly. As a society we are much more conscious of the carbon we burn and the time we waste. High speed rail can help.

Train travel is a lot less harmful to the planet than cars and planes. We use less carbon and there’s less waiting about. Using electricity drawn from a nuclear or renewal source is clean and green. Doing something positive for the environment is in everyone’s interests.

5 SOCIAL For generations politicians have backed expensive social programmes aimed at narrowing the social and economic disconnect between north and south. The long overdue high speed rail network will bridge that divide.

No one could have predicted the economic boom that has revolutionised London over the last 20 years. It’s a rich and growing city with an insatiable appetite for technocrats, entrepreneurs and every conceivable trade. The capital desperately needs better connections with the rest of Britain.

High speed rail not only brings it nearer but transmits its own magic. Remember High Speed Two will have trains using it that start at Edinburgh, Newcastle and Lancaster and other cities that even now hold the key to Britain’s sustainable and prosperous future.

In conclusion backing railways, improving local services, stimulating growth, going green and doing something constructive about prospering the north country means supporting High Speed Two.

King’s Cross crew celebrate

2 CAPACITY The railway network is full up.

We’re carrying more passengers, a billion journeys a years, than at any time since 1948, on about half the amount of track.

The new high speed railway will draw people away from existing express services freeing up paths for hard pressed local services.

Rail freight - which itself is expected to double by 2030 will also benefit from more capacity. HS2 directly benefits people working in London, Birmingham and eventually Leeds, Manchester and cities linked by the ECML and the WCML - these will be connected to HS2 by high speed through services.

Over 600 people, from engineers, electricians and builders to carpenters, stone masons and abseilers, working on the King’s Cross project came together recently to celebrate the end of major construction work on the new western concourse.

The new concourse is the stand-out feature of the £500m redevelopment of King’s Cross.

The domed roof covers an area

three-times the size of the existing concourse.

Says Ian Fry, Network Rail’s King’s Cross project director, ‘With the major construction completed on schedule we can focus on fitting out the retail units and installing the new passenger facilities so passengers can take full advantage of their new station when it opens next year.’

Work to build the Western concourse, which started in 2009, involved up to 1,150 people on site at any one time. The majority of the station redevelopment will be completed by 2012 in time for the Olympics with the transformation complete by 2013. Once completed, 50m passengers will use the new station each year, 10m more than today.

RailStaff | January 2012 | 3

Rail News in brief > Sophie names express Sophie English is all set to name a locomotive, Eco Express, at the National Railway Museum in York.

Eco Express is named to celebrate the partnership between Drax and GB Railfreight in the moving of biomass material. The locomotive was chosen following a children’s competition held at the Great Yorkshire Show.

> Name change for Scott Wilson Since it was acquired by URS last year Scott Wilson has been trading as URS Scott Wilson. It will now trade under the name URS and the Scott Wilson logo will be removed.

> Severn heaven

March debut for Tunnel Machine Crossrail has unveiled the first of eight 1,000 tonne, tunnel boring machines (TBM) that will burrow under London excavating the tunnels for the new west to east rail link.

The 140 metre long, fully assembled tunnel boring machine is currently undergoing factory testing in Germany. The machine will then be dismantled and shipped to London where it will be re-assembled at Westbourne Park. Tunnelling should commence from Royal Oak in March.

Eight tunnel boring machines

will be used to drill 13 miles of twin-bore tunnels. The TBMs will undertake ten individual tunnel drives as they excavate the 6.2 metre diameter tunnels.

Building Crossrail is a round-theclock operation and the TBMs will run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week stopping only for scheduled maintenance.

As the TBMs advance forward, precast concrete segments will be built in rings behind the TBMs. Construction of the concrete segment factory for the western running tunnels between Royal

Oak and Farringdon is now complete at Old Oak Common. The plant will begin manufacturing over 70,000 segments for the western tunnels from January.

Says Chris Dulake, Crossrail’s Chief Engineer, ‘Crossrail tunnelling will get underway in March 2012 when the first of eight tunnel boring machines will begin burrowing below the streets of London. Work is continuing across the Crossrail route to prepare for construction of the major new rail tunnels.

‘The new Tunnelling and Un-

derground Construction Academy has welcomed its first students and will train at least 3,500 people with the skills required to work below ground while the first of the tunnel segment manufacturing plants will shortly commence full operations.’

The eight Crossrail TBMs are being manufactured by Herrenknecht AG, Germany which also manufactured tunnel boring machines for the Jubilee Line Extension and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) Extension to Bank.

The Severnside Community Rail Partnership has clocked up a small but significant success.

Passenger loadings at several stations are up thanks to the hard work of local volunteers. Ridership soared from 135 to 201, or by 49%, at Severn Beach station between 2009 and 2011.

The SCRP covers the network of routes radiating from Bristol, bounded by Gloucester, Bath/Freshford, Weston-super-Mare, Taunton, and the Severn Estuary - including the branch line to Severn Beach.

> Blackpool investment Run down station platforms at Lytham, St Annes and Ansdell, on the popular Blackpool South line, are to receive an investment of £100,000 to make the stations more attractive ahead of July’s open golf tournament, when thousands of golf fans are expected to use the line.

Fylde Council is putting £42,500 towards the scheme and the Local Strategic Partnership is also contributing £40,000. The balance will come from Lancashire County Council, St Anne’s Town Council and South Fylde Community Rail Partnership.

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4 | RailStaff | January 2012

Numbers soar on HS1 The second anniversary of the start of domestic passenger services on High Speed One has seen passenger numbers powering ahead.

More services are being introduced to meet demand. Local people want more. Says Charles Horton, managing director, Southeastern, ‘This year we

have responded to passenger and stakeholder needs and have introduced new services from Maidstone West, Sandwich and Deal and we are grateful for the support of Kent County Council, local MPs and other stakeholders in making this possible.

‘The service continues to prove

popular with 89 per cent of passengers telling the independent Passenger Focus satisfaction survey they think it is good or very good.’ In the second year of operation Southeastern has recorded an additional million passenger journeys compared to the first year of operation, now totalling 8.2 million.

Life saver honoured Matthew Barrow, who works at Neath station, has received a special award from Trenau Arriva Cymru.

Matthew was recognised for his life saving actions in resuscitating a baby girl at Neath railway station on 17 May 2011.

Says Matthew, ‘I’d just started my shift and was in the office talking to my manager when a female passenger came in and asked if there were any first aiders available.’

Another passenger was taking her two year old daughter to Morriston Hospital in Swansea to

be treated for a virus. While waiting for the train, the baby girl had stopped breathing. Matthew continued, ‘We cleared a desk and brought the mother and daughter in where I gave her CPR, a technique which I’d learned following the death of my 15 month old son Samuel in April 2009. I didn’t really think about what to do, it was an automatic reaction, which thankfully had a happy ending despite the young girl stopping breathing twice.’

Speaking at the company awards in Cardiff, Matthew said, ‘I’m completely shocked to be

given this award. It’s been a very emotional evening and Ruth, my wife, is very proud.’

ATW Human Resources Director Lynne Milligan, said, ‘Matthew’s award is fully deserved as he was faced with the most challenging of situations to respond to. He didn’t think twice about going beyond the call of duty to help a complete stranger in need of help.

His quick thinking response and life-saving skills ensured a happy ending to what could have been an incident with tragic consequences.’

Rail estate bonus

Australian win for Unipart Unipart Rail has won a big contract in Australia.

Together with partner UGL Limited, Unipart Rail will be providing fleet maintenance and logistics services for RailCorp in Sydney. The contract is expected to generate £900 million in revenue over the initial seven years. A joint venture company has been established

between Unipart Rail and UGL to deliver the scope of works under the contract.

Says John Clayton of Unipart Rail, ‘This contract sees us joining our established supply chain and ‘Lean’ expertise with UGL’s proven maintenance and engineering skills, to deliver significant operational and financial benefits to RailCorp in Sydney.

Railway stations are good for business, the community and commerce.

Investing in them boosts urban regeneration, drives up employment levels and increases property values by up to 30 per cent, says a study commissioned by Network Rail. The report, by Steer Davies Gleave, confirms that station investment can have a major impact on urban regeneration within

the surrounding area, stimulate development, and increase economic activity and employment levels.

Says David Biggs, Network Rail director of property, ‘This report confirms that investing in stations not only delivers improvements for passengers, but also boosts economic activity and leads to further investment in the local economy. The continued growth in passenger

numbers has allowed Network Rail to attract partners to regenerate the areas around major transport hubs.

‘Birmingham New Street is a great example; we are delivering a radically new station gateway in partnership with the council and John Lewis, transforming the south side of Birmingham city centre.’ It’s official - railway stations can act as catalysts for wider regeneration.

We very much look forward to delivering success with our joint venture partner, UGL.’ Says Rob Mason, chief executive of RailCorp, ‘The contract with UGL and Unipart Rail will play a key role in RailCorp’s commitment to deliver safe, clean and reliable passenger services, while delivering value for money to the taxpayers of NSW.’

Top cop awarded QPM British Transport Police Federation Chairman, Inspector Alex Robertson, has been awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in the New Year’s Honours List.

Alex Robertson, from Glasgow, joined BTP in 1978 and became Chairman of the BTP Federation in 1999. Alex has had a distinguished 33-year police career. He was Scottish Area Secretary within the BTPF and then Assistant General Secretary in 1995, and has been an expert voice on transport policing issues, from the day-to-day realities of crime

and disorder to the long term terrorist threats to the rail network.

Alex has also taken an active part in EuroCop, the European Confederation of Police, which deals with issues such as crossborder cooperation, as well as the Police Dependants’ Trust and the National Police Memorial Day. He holds the Police Good Conduct and Long Service Medal, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and, for his Army service in Northern Ireland, the General Service Medal.

Says Inspector Robertson, ‘I am absolutely delighted and thrilled, as are my family. It is a really humbling experience.’

PEOPLE MOVES

RailStaff | January 2012 | 5

Tipping the Scales

Neil Scales is quitting his job as chief executive of Merseytravel and heading for Australia and a new career as ceo of TransLink, the public transport authority in Brisbane, Queensland.

Mr Scales has spent 15 years at Merseytravel and takes up his new post in March. ‘It was a hard decision to make and one I spent some considerable time agonising over but I have received an offer which was too difficult to refuse,’ says Neil.

‘For me this is a challenge to make a real difference on the

other side of the world and an opportunity of a once-in-a lifetime experience ‘down under.’

In a message to staff he said, ‘There is much I will miss, in particular the tremendous support I have received from you all during my time here. I truly thank you for your loyalty and hard work and wish you all every success in the future.’

Born in Sunderland, County Durham in 1956 Neil Scales studied at Southmoor Technical School and played rugby for Durham Schools. Leaving school at 16 he took an engineering apprenticeship with Sunderland Corporation Transport.

He continued his studies at Sunderland Polytechnic, eventually gaining an MSc in Control Engineering and Computing Systems and an MBA at the Open University. He even became a part-time associate lecturer with the Open University

and is proud of a pass-rate of over 90 percent for his students.

Before joining Merseytravel Neil was an independent transport and engineering consultant working for the World Bank on projects across Europe. After his apprenticeship, he first worked for Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive before becoming Director of Engineering and Purchasing at Greater Manchester Buses, and then Managing Director of Northern Counties Ltd in 1990.

In 1997, he was appointed Director of Customer Services, Merseytravel, two years later becoming the Chief Executive and Director General. He is credited with completely reversing the fortunes of Merseytravel which is now recognised as one of the best transport authorities in Britain. Merseyrail is one of the best performing rail networks in Britain.

to be made a director at NRL. Our rail business has gone from strength to strength and I look forward to developing the Rail division further, with the help of an excellent team.’

Mike Barber, managing director of NRL Ltd, says, ‘Jim has worked tirelessly over the last few years to build and develop our Rail Division and with the support and hard work of his loyal team he has created a fantastic business unit.

‘The team has, under Jim’s leadership, delivered consistently good financial results throughout 2011

whilst at the same time diversifying its supply capability. There is already a strong order book and pipeline for 2012 and we are confident that the ongoing success of the Rail division will continue to contribute significantly to the NRL Group’s performance.’

NRL Rail operates from offices in Grangemouth, Scotland where Jim is based and Wigan in Greater Manchester.

Olympian role for Andrew Andrew Williams has been appointed c2c’s new Olympics Project Manager.

He will be liaising with Network Rail, Transport for London, ODA, LOCOG and the British Transport Police as c2c prepares for the London Olympics. c2c serves West Ham station, which is one of the of-

Nick Donovan is the new managing director of First TransPennine Express.

Nick, 48, who was FTPE’s engineering director, succeeds Vernon Barker OBE now heading FirstGroup’s Rail Division as managing director September 2011.

Having joined the company as new trains project director, Nick has worked for FTPE since the start of its franchise in 2004.

He successfully managed the introduction of a new 51-strong fleet of Class 185 diesel trains.

Says Nick, ‘I am delighted to be given this opportunity to take on the role and to build on the

tremendous successes that have been achieved. FTPE has always been a company that has innovated and we are entering a really exciting period.

‘There are a range of infrastructure projects upcoming and we are working closely with the Government to increase capacity and provide more carriages by 2014. My aim is to lead FTPE’s already successful team through these great opportunities and provide an even better service to our customers.’

Nick joined British Rail as a trainee engineer in 1981. He worked in project development in the UK, Australia and Taiwan.

ficial gateways to the Olympic Park and Excel venues for the Games. c2c’s Leigh-on-Sea station is the official station for those arriving by rail for the BMX events at Hadleigh. Andrew joined the railway as part of the National Express Graduate Training Scheme in 2008.

He worked for National Express East Anglia and spent 8 months as a c2c Assistant Group Station Manager. At the conclusion of the scheme he took up a permanent position as Duty Station Manager for NXEA at Stratford, before moving to Chiltern Railways as Performance Planning and Project Manager.

Says Julian Drury, c2c’s Managing Director, ‘The London Games are extremely important for c2c and our customers and Andy will be working in partnership with the c2c team and our stakeholders to ensure that everyone travelling by train on our network during Games time has an enjoyable experience.’

He worked for Alstom from 1997 and joined FirstGroup in 2001. In 2011 Nick completed the London to Paris bike ride in aid of the Railway Children and raised over £7,000.00.

First footing for Richard Richard Parry has joined FirstGroup to help bid for more franchises.

Richard joins FirstGroup’s bid team from Transport for London (TfL) where he worked for 19 years in a range of senior roles, most recently as Deputy Managing Director and Director of Strategy and Commercial for TfL’s London Underground and Rail divisions.

His new role will focus on First’s bid for the pres-

Taylor-Made Jim Taylor’s new year gets off to a good start with an internal promotion to the board.

Jim, the divisional manager of NRL Rail, has been appointed a director with effect from 1st January 2012. He has been with NRL Ltd since 1994 and was the driving force behind the establishment of the Rail Division in 2001.

Under his guidance, the division has achieved Link-Up accreditation in over 140 product categories and has earned significant contracts with Network Rail, Story Rail and Balfour Beatty Rail. Says Jim, ‘I am delighted

Donovan to head TPE

tigious InterCity West Coast franchise. Says Vernon Barker, Managing Director UK Rail, ‘I am delighted to have attracted someone of Richard’s talent and calibre to the Group. The wealth of experience that he brings will be invaluable as we seek to build on our market leadership position in rail and progress the opportunities created by the Department for Transport’s new franchising programme.’

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Navigation progress at Birmingham Rail turns tables on road haulage Birmingham New Street station’s Gateway project took a visible step forward over Christmas with the removal of part of the Navigation Street footbridge.

A new section of footbridge was lifted neatly into place.

When the extended bridge opens at the end of 2012, it will provide access to Platform 12 for the first time and create a new station entrance on Hill Street.

Says Geoff Inskip, chief executive of Centro, ‘Whilst a lot of the work so far has not been visible to passengers, the installation of this new bridge clearly shows the excellent progress being made towards delivering a bigger, brighter and visually stunning New Street Station - a world class facility the whole West Midlands can be proud of.’

Prior to the bridge lift the old platform 12 bay platform had to be closed and the track covered. Since the ending of parcel traffic at Birmingham New Street there has been no need to stable an 08 shunter and the platform had become redundant. Working from Christmas Day through to 27 December, engineers used a 700 tonne crane to do the job.

The Gateway project should be completed in 2015. Natural light will flood across the concourse.

More lifts and escalators will

Network Rail is moving furniture for its new national centre in Milton Keynes by rail.

Thousands of desks, chairs and tables made by furniture supplier Vitra, based in Weil am Rhein, Germany, will be transported by train from nearby Basel in Switzerland to Hams Hall rail freight terminal in Birmingham. The combined length of wagons required to move the furniture is more than half a kilometre.

Says Tim Coucher, Network Rail project director for The Quadrant:MK, ‘Our new national centre in Milton Keynes will be one of the most sustainable

help speed passengers on their way.

Says Chris Montgomery, Network Rail project director, ‘The work we have completed over the Christmas break represents a major step forward in our exciting plans to rebuild Birmingham New Street for the thousands of passengers who use it every day.

‘Undertaking projects on this scale in the heart of Birmingham city centre represents a huge lo-

gistical challenge and we planned the work carefully to minimise disruption to passengers and Christmas shoppers visiting the city centre.’

Better facilities for rail staff are an essential part of the scheme. Over the Christmas break new train crew accommodation was built above Platform 1. Other major works included the construction of a tower crane outside the front of

the station. The crane will be used throughout 2012 to construct the new public square opposite the Bullring.

The old Pallasades link bridge and escalator above Station Street was removed along with other redundant structures.

The first half of the new station concourse is expected to open in time for next Christmas.

The project itself should be complete in 2015.

Ops manager awarded MBE A former Northern Rail manager, who dedicated fifty years to the railway industry, has received an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

Phil Thickett, 65 of Darlington, was recognised for services to the railway industry. He began his career as an apprentice in 1961 and worked his way up to become Northern’s Area Operations Manager, where he managed more than 700 staff and more than 1,200 trains every day across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, until his retirement last May. Phil was recognised for his long term commitment to the railway and his willingness to help others, both inside and outside the industry. He has mentored many school children, on a voluntary basis, on work experience schemes. In addition he has been involved with many

projects and charity events.

Says Phil, ‘I couldn’t believe it when I was told the news about the MBE. I have seen many changes to the railway industry over the last fifty years and for me it was about embracing those changes and providing a service for thousands of people every day.’

Phil was praised for encouraging staff. Says Ian Bevan, Managing Director of Northern Rail, ‘We are proud of Phil and delighted he has received this fantastic honour. He has helped develop so many of our employees, in both their daily duties and further education aspirations and is a true ambassador for Northern Rail and the whole rail industry.

‘Phil’s kind and unassuming nature has a positive effect on everyone he comes into contact with and makes him a pleasure to work alongside.’ Phil is married with two children.

buildings in the country, so it makes sense that we encourage the use of rail wherever possible throughout the supply chain.

‘We’re proud to be supporting the rail industry by choosing DB Schenker Rail to transport our furniture from Europe, removing a huge number of lorry journeys from our roads and cutting carbon emissions by more than 90%.’

The Quadrant:MK, will be home to around 3,000 Network Rail people when it opens later this year. It will bring together all the company’s planning and support activities under one roof.

Crossing closures Network Rail says it has now closed 500 level crossings in Britain since April 2009.

The company intends to close a further 250 by 31 March 2014.

Many of these are user-worked crossings often connecting private land and are not public rights of way. Located in rural areas, many cross busy main lines.

The barriers or gates need to be operated by the person crossing and not the railway. Warning measures include miniature warning lights, signs or telephones. In many cases an alternative access for the user is either available or has been provided to secure closure.

Says Robin Gisby, managing director for network operations for

Network Rail, ‘In closing these 500 crossings we have removed the risk of a vehicle or person being struck by a train at these locations and improved safety across the network for everyone working or travelling by rail.

While this is good progress, there is much more to be done.

‘We aim to close a further 250

by April 2014 and we will work to further improve other crossings across the network and continue to raise awareness of the dangers of misuse. Closing a level crossing is not always an easy process, and we often need the support of land owners, local authorities and users. I hope we can count on their continued support.’

Network Rail intends to close a further 250 crossings by March 2014.

8 | RailStaff | January 2012

EGIP spring

Operation Tornado blows thieves off track © BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE

No pants day In what has become an annual event, the idea of riding subway cars without your trousers on has spread to 59 cities globally.

In London earlier this month over 200 passengers rode the tube in their underwear. More daring was Istanbul where ten trouser-less travellers were

A new trial scheme aimed at combating metal theft has been launched in the north east.

Operation Tornado requires anyone selling scrap metal to participating dealers in Northumbria, County Durham and Cleveland to provide proof of identity via a photo card.The trial will last for six months.

Lord Henley, Minister for Crime Prevention and Anti-Social Behaviour Reduction, launched the scheme at the metal recycling centre in Shildon, Co. Durham. Cable theft remains a serious problem in the railway and rail chiefs will be watching the scheme closely.

tailed by police and later arrested. Photos of the event were confiscated and deleted and the riders later released.

Warsaw did better with 150 riders. In Paris participants in the event had the inspired idea of meeting up in a bar called ‘Sans Culottes.’

New York still tops the ratings with over 4,000 people joining the bare legs brigade. The event is organised by Improv Everywhere, a New York Citybased prank collective that aims to cause scenes of chaos and joy in public places.

£1bn EGIP scheme.

The Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme will see the electrification of 220 miles of the existing rail network in the central belt, including the main Edinburgh Waverley-Glasgow Queen Street line. The project is being funded by the Scottish Government.

Says David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, ‘The investment announced today will transform Haymarket, delivering a facility which will better serve customers and offer the city as a whole a station it can be proud of.

‘The track and bridgeworks

Network Rail in Scotland has placed £55m-worth of contracts as the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme powers up.

Morgan Sindall will construct a new £25m station at Haymarket in Edinburgh, to create a fully accessible station as well as an integrated train, tram, bus and taxi transport hub.

BamNuttall will be working on railway structures around the central belt in a £27m project and Carillion will deliver a range of track alterations in a deal worth £3m. The contracts, all of which will see work commence in 2012, form part of the

contracts we have awarded also mean that preparations are well under way to deliver the electrification of rail lines in the central belt, which will cut journey times and increase capacity on key routes into Scotland’s two biggest cities.’

Haymarket is Scotland’s fourth busiest station and handles four million passenger journeys a year. This is predicted to soar to 10m by 2025. Work at Haymarket includes refurbishment and the construction of a new modern concourse to the west of the existing building as well as a new access bridge and a spruce up for the platform canopies.

New Year’s Eve farewell

REPTA 2012

Membership open to: all rail and transport industry staff, active or retired, including immediate family.

New for 2012: Family Membership £9.00 - 2 Adults and Children up to age 10.

Plus Discount Cinema Tickets.

Membership Card and Yearbook Price: £4.50 inc P&P. Extra family members: £3.00 You can also now join and pay for membership online at www.repta.co.uk please send cheques / postal orders payable to REPTA to: 4 Brackmills Close, Forest Town, Mansfield, Notts, NG19 0PB. (REF: RS)

Tel: 01623 646789 or see our website: www.repta.co.uk

an Open University programme about how modern signalling works. Opened in 2008, the EMCC

should see control for the whole of the region’s signalling based there in the next decade.

© JONATHAN WEBB

The signalling of the East Midlands and transfer of the region’s signalling to the East Midlands Control Centre in Derby, took a big step forward on New Year’s Eve with the closure of Leicester Signal Box. Opened in 1986 Leicester controlled a vast area, stretching from Sharnbrook to Loughborough, along with various branches that came off the Midland Main Line. Numerous manual boxes were closed as a result.

For the last shift three local operating managers who had worked in the box over the last quarter of a century came together to say their farewells to the signal box. Shortly after it opened, Leicester Signal Box featured in

The final Leicester local operations manager Nick Allsop is joined by retired Leicester LOMs Garth Lewin and Trevor Willett, the first Leicester LOM, in Leicester signal box on Dec 31st just hours before it closed.

Wild card for FirstGroup FirstGroup has donated £10,000 to its national charity partner, Save the Children.

This brings its total in-kind support and cash donations to just over £4.5 million since the partnership began in 2007. Rather than sending traditional Christmas cards this year, First posted a Christmas message on its website, including a reference to Save the Children. As a token of the savings made, FirstGroup was able to donate an extra £10k to its charity partner.

‘I’m thrilled that our £10k donation breaks the £4.5 million mark and hope it helps bring some much needed joy to the children in the UK that need it most this Christmas,’ said Avril Gill, FirstGroup’s Marketing Manager.

Rail Safety Summit 2012 19th April 2012

Holywell Park Conference Centre, Loughborough

The Rail Safety Summit is a conference for rail safety managers, infrastructure owners, rail stakeholders and training professionals.

Leading figures from the rail safety, security, risk assessment and training professions will be in attendance.

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Conference speakers include: Colin Wheeler Chairman

Dr Liesel von Metz HM Inspector of Railways

Andrew Livingston QSE Business Partner, Atkins

Seamus Scallon Safety Director, UK Rail, FirstGroup

Catherine Behan General Manager, HSQE, London Underground

Steve Diksa Assurance Services Director, Bridgeway Consulting

Jeff Espenship Target Leadership

Willie Baker Major Rail Incident Planning and Training Expert

BONUS: Network Rail Safety 365 Truck on site

www.railsafetysummit.com

10 | RailStaff | January 2012

Join the Rail Alliance now

log on to www.railalliance.co.uk

Rail Alliance membership starts

email jo.bennett@railalliance.co.uk

from just £500 per year

or call 01789 720026.

Positive news for 2012 where £270 million will open the western section of the Oxford Cambridge ‘Varsity Line,’ as a 100mph mixed traffic route.

Tyne and Wear Metro With Chiltern Railway’s previously confirmed upgrade of the Bicester - Oxford section of this route, the funding will link fast-

£290 million to limit the planned January 2012 fare rises to 1% above inflation rather than the 3% originally proposed.

At the same time the Chancellor backed the extension of the Charing Cross branch of the Northern Line through to Battersea, including two new stations at Battersea and Nine Elms.

expanding Milton Keynes with Bedford, London Marylebone, Oxford and Reading.

Additionally the Chancellor confirmed a further £390 million for station improvements, £290m for bridge renewals, £4m to upgrade the Tyne and Wear Metro, £45m on extending the Oyster scheme in London and © TIMO ARNALL

As 2012 arrives and both the Euro crises and the recession continue, our good fortune is to be in an industry that is still spending money and attracting investment.

High Speed Two is head line news but Rail Alliance members will benefit from a plethora of positive developments. In his Autumn Statement, Chancellor George Osborne underlined the government’s continued belief in the recession busting role of the railways by confirming £1.4 billion of investment as part of the economy revitalising national infrastructure plan, the Rail Alliance’s Rail Industry Liaison Manager Neil Stevens reports.

Projects included the £290 million electrification between Manchester, Leeds and the ECML. Another beneficiary was the Oxford - Bedford railway,

Bombardier There’s good news for rolling stock with the announcement of £80 million support for Southern’s acquisition of 130 new Class 377 Electrostar vehicles.

These will supplement Southern’s existing fleet and provide a timely boost to the fortunes of Derby train builder Bombardier.

Rail freight has also fared well with Government commitment to modal shift and rail freight reinforced with the publication of the DfT’s Logistics Growth Re-

Make a date for MacroRail Rail Alliance’s MacroRail 2012 will be held on the 12 and 13 September.

The Rail Alliance is building on the success of last year’s event where 60+ exhibitors pi-

oneered the idea. The aim this year is to have 100 exhibiting companies with plenty of outside exhibitors carrying out demonstrations.

So, reserve space in your diary

for the second week in September to come and visit Macrorail 2012 at our Long Marston headquarters. For member companies wishing to exhibit, they can reserve a standard 3m x 3m

exhibition space for £300 plus VAT (roughly the cost of 1m x 1m space at a ‘standard’ rail exhibition!). For more information please contact: robert.hopkin@rail­alliance.co.uk.

view. Welcomed by developers of major inland rail terminals the Policy Guidance on Strategic Rail Freight Interchanges will help them negotiate the ever burdensome planning process.

Freight The review also sanctions Network Rail to invest a further £55 million in the development of the Strategic Freight Network. This work includes track doubling between Ely and Soham eliminating a major bottleneck on the Felixstowe - Nuneaton corridor.

Other works include the gauge clearance of additional routes in the midlands to allow the passage of 9ft 6 containers, support

for new services from both Felixstowe and Southampton ports and improvements to the 24 hour availability of the network by enabling diversionary routes to be available.

Direct Rail Services has announced the placing of an order with Vossloh España for the supply of a new fleet of 3750 hp, diesel-electric locomotives expected to become UK Class 68s. All of this backs up optimistic forecasts predicting a doubling of rail freight volumes by 2030.

2012 looks like being a good, positive year as the renaissance of Britain’s rail network continues.

New members Gatwick Construction | www.gatwickconstruction.co.uk (Specialised Construction and Engineering Business Delivering a Wide Range of Project Building and Maintenance Services to UK Airport, Rail and Road Markets) Horizon Specialist Contracting | www.horizonsc.co.uk (Provider of Specialist Services for Lightning Protection, Earthing, Structural Maintenance and Height Technology) Keltbray Rail | www.keltbray.com (Suppliers of Road Rail Vehicles and Equipment for the Rail Industry who also Carry out Civils Work including Piling) Premier Pits | www.premierpits.com (Global Manufacturers and Installers of Steel Prefabricated Vehicle Inspection Pits) Elma Electronic UK Ltd | www.elma.com (Global Manufacturer of Products for Housing Electronic Systems) Entire Engineering Ltd | www.entire-engineering.co.uk (Sub-contract Machining and Fabrication Engineers Specialising in the Rail Industry) Anderton Concrete Products Ltd | www.andertonconcrete.co.uk (Market Leading Supplier of Cable Protection Products to the Rail Industry) Green Dragon Rail Ltd | www.4greendragon.com (Provider of Safety Health Environment & Fire (SHEF) Risk Management Solutions in all Minor Railway Sectors)

EVENTS UKTI/Rail Alliance NW Regional Rail Briefing Event 27th Jan tbc - Location... Crewe tbc Members’ Meeting & Networking Event Feb tbc - Location... TRaC Global, Skelmersdale - tbc Infrarail 2012 1st-3rd May - Location... NEC, Birmingham InnoTrans 2012 18th-21st Sept - Location... Berlin, Germany

RailStaff | January 2012 | 11

Translink ticks m-ticketing Naming boring machines Rail passengers in Northern Ireland can now use Translink’s new mobile phone ticketing system, mLink.

Passengers can buy, receive and display an electronic ticket on their mobile phone doing away with the need for a paper ticket. Says Catherine Mason, Translink Group Chief Executive, ‘With Northern Ireland having the highest mobile phone penetration in the UK at 92 per cent and almost one quarter of people using smart phones, we are confident that mLink will soon prove to be the preferred option for train travel.’

Trapeze Group (UK) Ltd helped Translink develop the scheme.

Crossrail has launched a competition seeking names for six of its giant tunnel boring machines.

The TBMs will be constructing the new rail tunnels under London. Londoners and people living along the Crossrail route have been asked to propose pairs of names for the machines.

The winning entries will be painted onto the tunnel boring machines.

This spring, the first two 140 metre long TBMs weighing 1,000

tonnes will burrow four miles east from Royal Oak via Paddington, Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road before reaching Farringdon in summer 2013.

Later this year, the second pair of machines will launch from Limmo in Docklands driving 5.2 miles west towards Farringdon via Whitechapel and Liverpool Street.

In the winter, two TBMs will be launched from Plumstead tunnelling 1.6 miles and under the

River Thames to North Woolwich. A Crossrail panel will select a shortlist before the public is invited to vote online for their favourite pairs of names in February. Prizes will be awarded to the three entrants who receive the most votes.

Winners will receive either Eurostar vouchers or an annual family pass to Merlin Theme Parks and will be invited to attend the tunnelling launch event at Royal Oak Portal.

The DfT is to look in more detail at a scheme to convert the Bombardier built CrossCountry Voyager fleet to hybrid operation, by inserting a pantograph-carrying carriage.

The e-Voyager project would provide more work for Bombardier’s Derby workforce. Transport Minister, Justine Greening, has asked the department to check out costs and described herself as enthusiastic about the project.

Large parts of the CrossCountry network, such as Devon and Cornwall, will not be electrified in the medium term. However a number of CrossCountry journeys, such as those between Birmingham and the north-west, are made entirely along electrified routes.

© JONATHAN WEBB

Pan up for Voyagers

Says Paul Roberts, president of Bombardier Transportation in the UK, ‘It is encouraging news from Ms Greening on her plans for the eVoyager project, where we hope a contractual agreement can be reached in the first quarter of 2012.’

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12 | RailStaff | January 2012

Forth Bridge paint complete

Mystery hero A woman who fainted and fell onto the tracks at Rochester has thanked the mystery hero who jumped down and lifted her back to safety.

A fellow passenger witnessed the rescue. Linda Evans, from Strood in Kent, was standing nearby on the platform waiting for a London train. Says Ms Evans, ‘It was a couple of minutes before the train was due. She ap-

tonnes of scaffolding, painting over 230,000 square metres of steel and all 6.5 million rivets in the structure.

Says David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, ‘Our staff and contractors can take real pride in their achievements on this project, not least in the fact that through their efforts this amazing structure will remain free of

major maintenance work for at least two decades.’

Traditionally painters started at one end of the bridge, worked across it and then painted back.

Says Marshall Scott, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty Regional Civil Engineering, ‘Balfour Beatty is immensely proud to have successfully delivered the programme to refurbish the Forth Bridge over the past decade.

‘It is a testament to the skill and commitment of the project team, and the subcontractors and suppliers, involved in this significant and complex programme of works that the iconic Forth Bridge has been returned to its original condition.’

In the years ahead, a small team of specialists and engineers will continue to monitor and maintain the bridge.

Wise men follow Electrostar © JONATHAN WEBB

Network Rail’s ten year, £130m painting and refurbishment of the Forth Bridge is complete.

For the first time there are no decorators working on the bridge. With the scaffolding which has encased the bridge for over a decade now removed, the 125-year-old structure will not need a full paint job for at least 20 years. The project involved caging the bridge in 4,000

peared to have fainted. Nobody seemed to do anything and this young man jumped down onto the track to help her.’

Paramedics rushed to the scene and took the woman to Medway Maritime Hospital. The casualty suffered a head injury and scratches to her arms after the fall. Meanwhile the mystery hero has disappeared without trace.

Better news for staff at Litchurch Lane.

Rewiring initiative at Shenfield Ahead of the summer Olympics, engineers at Network Rail are pressing ahead with an overhead line upgrade on the Shenfield and Witham line on the Anglia network.

It’s all been made possible by the hard work of railway engineering staff over the Christmas break. Working round the clock teams completed challenging improvement works between Stratford and London Liverpool Street.

Now the £200m overhead line upgrade is to enter its next phase. From 9 January to 21

railway and deliver a better service for passengers. This line is one of the busiest rail routes in the country and we need to carry out crucial works to maintain and renew the railway.’

Network Rail has 22 scheduled engineering-free weekends through the summer, including the 11-week period between late June and early September when all disruptive engineering work on key rail lines around the country will be suspended for the London Olympics.

March, Network Rail engineers will be carrying out improvement works on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights between Shenfield and Witham. Engineering staff are replacing 60-year-old overhead line equipment on the Great Eastern main line.

Says Dave Ward, Network Rail route managing director, ‘The completion of work between Liverpool Street and Stratford marks a major milestone in this project. The work we are doing is a once-in-a generation opportunity to enable us to run a more reliable

Tram extension for Nottingham © JONATHAN WEBB

Nottingham’s tram network is set to double in size with a similar boost to the tram fleet after funding was agreed.

Work on the five mile extension to Clifton and the six mile route to Beeston starts soon.

The new services should be running by 2014.

Tramlink Nottingham has taken over the running of the railway on 16th December

and will be responsible for building the new lines.

The consortium includes Vinci Investments, Alstom, Keolis, Wellgrade, Meridiam and OFI Infravia. The DfT will contribute £371 million of the £570 million needed to complete the scheme. Nottingham City Council plans to raise most of the rest through the

Workplace Parking Levy, a scheme that charges employers based in the city a fee for providing 11 or more car parking places for employees. The 22 new Citadis trams will complement the 15 Incentro trams already in service.

Says transport minister Norman Baker, ‘I am delighted that we are able to finally approve funding so that construction of Phase Two of the tram system can begin. Line One of the Nottingham tram has proved to be a great success in encouraging people onto public transport.

‘These extensions provide the opportunity to build on that success, and give people in the south of Nottingham quicker, more convenient access to the city centre as well as providing an alternative means of accessing the city centre for people commuting by car.’

Advanced works including utility diversions start over the next few weeks with the main tramway construction starting in March.

The future for Bombardier’s Litchurch Lane works looks brighter this year after it secured an additional order for 130 Electrostar cars for Southern.

The new trains will beef up Southern’s existing fleet and the contract is valued at £189 million.

‘We are delighted to be awarded this contract by Southern. This is a significant project which emphasises the performance of Bombardier’s products in the UK,’ said Paul Roberts of Bombardier Transportation UK.

‘These vehicles have a proven track record for their excellent reliability and environmental performance which will now benefit many additional passengers in London and the South East. The new trains will be manufactured in the UK with initial production commencing in the latter half of 2012.’

Bombardier Transportation has people at production facilities in Derby and Plymouth and 15 maintenance and overhaul centres across Britain.

Hastings shock and Ore Work has begun on a major upgrade of the railway between Hastings and Ashford.

Drainage will be improved in Ore Tunnel and track renewed.

The tunnel lining inside of the structure will be repaired to prevent water seeping through.

Whilst the line is shut nearly a

mile of track between Rye and Winchelsea and around one mile of track between Ashford and Ham Street will be replaced with continuous welded rail.

Two rail-over-road bridges at Doleham and Three Oaks will be replaced. Work is scheduled for completion on 9 March 2012.

RailStaff | January 2012 | 13

A Christmas gift for life Staff from First TransPennine Express helped provide gifts and support for Leeds-based charity Caring for Life.

Staff donated hours of volunteer time to the charity which assists homeless and vulnerable people by providing accommodation, ongoing support, friendship and rehabilitation. 21 colleagues from FTPE worked over three days sorting and packing 250 food hampers. In addition one FTPE employee donated a further £300.00 as a personal gift.

Says Pam Parkinson from Caring for Life, ‘It was lovely to meet up with the team from FTPE again, who came to wrap and pack 250 Christmas Food Hampers. They have helped to make this Christmas a special time for

the people we are trying to help.

FTPE’s continued support of our projects is making a real difference to so many people who would otherwise not be able to

enjoy this festive time of year.’

FTPE and parent FirstGroup have previously donated nearly £2,500 to Caring for Life to help funding for the charity’s minibus.

Platform promise for Peterborough More platforms and a new ticket hall feature in a £43m plan to upgrade Peterborough station.

The redevelopment heralds longer, more frequent trains and anticipates a surge in passenger volume. Four million people a year use the station and this number is expected to double over the next 25 years.

Says Phil Verster, Network Rail route managing director, ‘We are making a significant investment to improve the railway in Peterborough, providing a better station and more trains for passengers. Rail is vital for Peterborough given its position as a strategic transport hub and this upgrade will provide a real boost to the local economy.

‘When we’re finished in December 2013 the station will have a modern main building, extra platforms to increase capacity and reduce congestion, easier access thanks to new lifts and longer platforms ready for new, longer trains serving more destinations.’

Peterborough is a major railway centre and hosts a complex mix of commuter and long-distance services travelling both east-west and north-south as well as burgeoning freight traffic - the station itself has two freight passing loops.

Network Rail’s redevelopment will increase capacity through the station, with two new platforms constructed on the west side of the station for use by

trains travelling on east-west routes, freeing up the existing platforms for north-south services. The current platform 3 will also be widened and a new platform added for future Londonbound high-speed services from Peterborough.

In addition to the new platforms, platforms 2 and 3 will be extended to facilitate future 12car Thameslink services, which will provide direct connections from Peterborough to London and destinations across the South East. Platforms 4 and 5 will be extended for future Intercity Express services, which will provide new trains on long-distance routes to the north of England and Scotland.

A new goods loop will also be created to the west of the station to increase freight capacity on the key cross-country route from the port of Felixstowe to the Midlands and beyond. A separate £3m scheme will provide a brighter, bigger entrance and a larger concourse at the station.

Olympic gateway for Calais

A giant set of Olympic Rings has been unveiled on the entrance to the Channel Tunnel at Coquelles near Calais.

The tunnel itself and High Speed One will be one of the

main gateways to the London 2012 Games. Athletes anxious to avoid the twin traumas of air travel and motoring are expected to catch the train. The rings have been put up by Eurotunnel

working with the French National Olympic Committee.

Says Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, ‘As the starting line for 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games fast approaches we want to say loud and clear to all our European neighbours that London is the only place to be next summer.

‘Whether you’re heading to the Olympic Park to watch some amazing sport, soaking up the best cultural events the city has to offer or coming to revel in the atmosphere at our Live Sites there is something for everyone to enjoy.’

Rail is poised to play a central supporting role in the 2012 London Olympics.

Dinner date for Young Railway Professionals The Young Railway Professionals will be holding their third Annual Black Tie Dinner on Thursday, 2nd February 2012 in London.

The event provides a unique forum for young people working in the rail industry to meet with their peers, be inspired and have a great time. The Young Railway Professionals is keen to ensure that everyone across all disciplines is given the opportunity to meet their contemporaries in style.

Held in central London, guests will enjoy a networking drinks reception before sitting down to a three course meal and entertainment. Mark Hopwood, Managing Director of First Great Western will be following in the footsteps of Chris Mole and Pete Waterman as he takes to the stage as the after dinner speaker, championing interdisciplinary working and railway apprenticeships.

Representatives from the Railway Children char-

ity will be on hand to oversee a raffle stuffed with generously donated prizes from across the industry. For more information, or to book a ticket visit: www.youngrailwayprofessionals.org

With special guest speaker Mark Hopwood, MD First Great Western

Sponsored by: by: Sponsored

Book your tickets online: http://tinyurl.com/yrpdinner ______________________________________________________________

dinner@youngrailwayprofessionals.org

Last chance to get tickets: only £40 per head!

14 | RailStaff | January 2012

Infrarail keynote speakers

Northern Hub plans promoted People across the north of England want to see more railways and better services.

Network Rail’s biggest ever consultation exercise in the north promoted plans for the Northern Hub and a vision for rail investment across the region. If fully funded the Hub would allow faster, more frequent journeys.

It includes the Ordsall Chord, a new short section of railway near Manchester which will reduce journey times by easing a major bottleneck; work to electrify the network between Manchester and Liverpool and the Lancashire triangle, and

An impressive line-up of keynote speakers will be a major draw for visitors to this year’s Infrarail exhibition.

Minister of State for Transport Theresa Villiers, Network Rail’s Managing Director Investment Projects Simon Kirby and Howard Smith, Chief Operating Officer, London Rail at Transport for London, will all be making presentations as part of the show’s seminar programme, organised by our sister publication the rail engineer.

Free to attend and open to all,

plans to fully restore Manchester Victoria station.

Says Network Rail’s Graham Botham, ‘The scale of this consultation clearly demonstrates our ambition to stimulate economic growth by better connecting the towns and cities of the north. It is hugely encouraging that the overwhelming majority of the public in the region support our plans to make it easier for people to get to work, do business, go shopping and visit friends and family.’

80 per cent of local people interviewed said the plans would make them more likely to use the train.

the seminars will be a highlight of this ninth Infrarail event, which showcases the latest railway infrastructure products and systems from the industry’s leading suppliers.

With less then four months before the show opens its doors, momentum is now building.

More than 120 exhibitors have confirmed their participation in the event, with just a few stands remaining.

Space on the On Track Display is all sold, but some opportunities for exhibitors re-

main in The Yard, a new Infrarail feature for showing larger plant and machinery used for railway construction and maintenance.

Infrarail 2012 takes place at the NEC in Birmingham from 1 to 3 May. Pre-registration offering free entry to the exhibition will be available soon via the show website – www.infrarail.com Well worth a visit, the website also provides an up-to-date list of exhibitors and the latest news on all that will be happening at this year’s event.

Canfield backs better buy strategy The Railway Industry Association has backed a call by the Transport Select Committee for a clear strategy on future procurement of new trains.

Says RIA Director General Jeremy Candfield, ‘It is absolutely essential that the supply industry has a clearer understanding of future rolling stock needs if it is to plan resources for efficient delivery.

It is now 981 days since an order for mainline passenger trains was placed.

‘The current situation of long gaps between or-

ders and great uncertainty over timescales adds significantly to costs and deters investment in skills and equipment. We urge that a long-term rolling stock strategy is published, developing from the Initial Industry Plan and Network Rail Passenger Rolling Stock RUS documents that the railway industry has jointly produced.

‘We fully support the Committee’s recommendation that the Government explain how the very welcome improvements to procurement practices they have recently announced will be applied.’

Work starts at Three Bridges

North Norfolk’s record year The North Norfolk Railway is celebrating a new year’s bonus.

Last year the railway beat its records, carrying over 150,000 people for the first time in a single year. The final figure of 150,497 was 5 per cent up on 2010, which was itself 13 per cent up on 2009. The railway is based in Sheringham and runs along the spectacular Norfolk coast.

Says Colin Borg of NNR, ‘Coming on top of a 13 per cent in-

crease in 2010, the record result is a tribute to our volunteers who operated an intensive programme of services and special events throughout the year. It emphasises the importance of the Poppy Line to the tourist economy of North Norfolk.’

The railway plans a special three day event in June commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Ealing comedy film, ‘The Titfield Thunderbolt.’ © COOLDUDEANDY01

Construction of the new operating centre at Three Bridges has begun.

When completed in 2013 it will become the nerve centre of railway operations in Sussex.

Local MP Henry Smith joined railway staff at the site. The rail operating centre at Three Bridges will be one of 14 centres nationally, built to replace more than 800 signal boxes currently used to control train movements across the network.

The new centres will have more advanced signalling tools and technology and will help reduce delays, improve performance and increase capacity. The new operating centre at Three Bridges is one of three major projects in the area.

As well as the new centre these include a new 11,200 square metre traction and maintenance depot for the new longer Thameslink trains and an array of station improvements at Three Bridges. New car and cycling facilities will also be built for staff.

Says Henry Smith MP, ‘Three Bridges is a significant transport interchange hub that serves local commuters and business alike. I’m delighted at Network Rail’s commitment to invest in upgrading this important Crawley gateway.’

Major construction of the rail operating centre, which is being carried on behalf of Network Rail

by C Spencer Ltd, is expected to be completed by early 2013. Says Mark Ruddy, Network Rail’s route managing director for Sussex, ‘The new operating centre and train depot will make Three Bridges one of the most important places on the railway in the south east.

‘As well as helping to create a better railway, the 900 plus jobs potentially being created in the area will also give a vital boost for local

shops and amenities.The plans are also great news for passengers in Three Bridges who will get a better station and other improvements along the Brighton main line.

‘Thameslink will deliver longer, more modern trains, more seats and a wider choice of journey options and the operations centre will help us run a more punctual and reliable service.’

Work on the new rail operating centre at Three Bridges station was officially started by (from left): Chris Burchell, managing director of Southern trains; Mark Ruddy, Network Rail’s route managing director for Sussex; Henry Smith MP for Crawley; Brett Jarman, Spencer’s project director, and Peter Lawrence, Spencer’s rail director (south).

RailStaff | January 2012 | 15

Success Spotlight

Staff limber up

New Venture for Ironman Andy

Staff on London Underground are receiving special training ahead of the London Olympics.

The focus may be on customer care but the training includes a trip to the Olympic Park. Olympic authorities want to see athletes and spectators travelling to the games by rail.

The Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park.

employment figures, that 2012 will be an exciting year for those working in the rail industry. ‘There are some huge projects coming up, such as the MAFA frameworks and London Underground’s SSR project. Network Rail’s centralisation to Milton Keynes will create a host of new opportunities, not to mention the Olympics. The upshot is, if you’re getting bored and starting to wonder what else is out there, now could be the perfect time to do something about it.’

Starting a new company may seem like a

brave move, but then Andy never has been one to shy away from a challenge. As well as having run five marathons since 2003, Andy completed the Barcelona Ironman race in 2009 and has now begun training for the world’s toughest Ironman, the Norseman, in 2013.

Andy is inviting anyone to get in touch and find out what Advance TRS can do for them.

If you would like to introduce yourself, call 01483 230624 or visit www.advance-trs.com for more information.

Return of the Signalman

The man who signalled the last train from Swanage to Corfe Castle and Wareham on New Year’s Day 1972 has returned to the Swanage Railway to mark the 40th anniversary of the sad day.

Amidst high winds and heavy rain retired signalman, Bob Richards joined other passengers from the 1970s for a cheerful steam trip on what is now a flourishing heritage railway. Bob, from Corfe Castle, who went on

to work for Network Rail, joined Peter Sills and his father Frederick Sills from Wareham as well as Malcolm Munro from Wool who were passengers on that last fateful day.

Bryan Trent, from Parkstone in Poole also came along with his 1972 British Rail train ticket to watch the first steam train of the day carry a special commemorative headboard designed and produced by Malcolm Munro.

Bob was also reunited with

two pieces of equipment. The first piece of signalling equipment from 1972 was a single line staff, an inscribed section of steel tube with a metal ring in the end, used to allow a train on the line between Swanage and Corfe Castle. The single line staff was used from the summer of 1967 when the signalling at Swanage station was taken out of use and dismantled.

The second piece of signalling equipment from 1972 was an in-

© ANDREW P.M.

Bob Richards with Peter Sills at Corfe Castle on the 1st January 2012.

scribed Tyer’s electric key token made of steel which was the authority for a train to run on the single line between Corfe Castle and Worgret Junction near Wareham.

Peter Sills, also the volunteer chairman of the Swanage Railway Company, brought along a photograph of Bob using the same staff and key token to signal a British Rail train at Corfe Castle in late December, 1971.

A delighted Bob said, ‘It was great to hold the staff and key token again after 40 years. The British Rail signalling system at Corfe Castle back in 1972 was a traditional Edwardian manual system but it worked very well.’

Peter added, ‘I remember Bob because I rode on the trains between Wareham, Corfe Castle and Swanage as a child and so I knew the staff very well. The people who operated the branch line were like a large family and it was very sad indeed when the railway closed after a period of decline.’

The Swanage Railway service on New Year’s Day, 2012, was hauled by ex-British Railways Standard Class 4 Tank steam locomotive No. 80104 built at Brighton in 1955 and restored from a scrapyard condition by Southern Locomotives Limited during the 1990s. The railway forms a central attraction on the isle of Purbeck - Dorset’s hidden gem.

A Winter’s tale The station at Stratford upon Avon is to benefit from a new £1.26m footbridge for passengers.

The Government has approved a Warwickshire County Council funding bid. Transport Minister Norman Baker MP, who last month visited the station ahead of the announcement, approved the funding for a new disability compliant footbridge at the town station which will be fitted with lifts. The scheme will be completed by March 2014.

When it is built, the new footbridge will mean that people will no longer have to use the barrow crossing between the platforms when taking a train from the island platform. The barrow crossing is problematic for passengers who cannot manage the stairs because it requires a long walk and a wait for station staff to escort them across the track. The existing step footbridge will remain in place, following its recent restoration by Network Rail.

Says Peter Butlin of Warwickshire County Council’s transport section, ‘The new footbridge is a much-needed improvement which will help bring the station up to date by providing better access for passengers. The securing of this funding reaffirms our commitment to the long-term future of the town station and that it continues to be a vital transport hub after the opening of the new Parkway station.’

Flower Power Transport for London is hoping a new campaign featuring flowers painted on the ground at 15 spots around Croydon, where trams share the streets with cars and pedestrians, will help make people more aware of their surroundings and avoid accidents with trams.

The message accompanying the flowers is: Don’t be remem© JONATHAN WEBB

Andy Ridout has launched Advance Training and Recruitment Services, a Link Up approved recruitment company specialising in railway engineering and construction.

The move marks the high point of Andy’s 15-year career in the industry, including ten years as Director for Rail at a major Recruitment company. He is now using his wealth of experience to place candidates into engineering, management and project services roles, both contract and permanent, across all major rail disciplines.

Andy said, ‘I’ve always loved working in rail recruitment. I want to be dealing with candidates directly, as I believe they stand a better chance of success if their recruiter has extensive experience and a thorough understanding of the industry. At Advance TRS our knowledge and experience isn’t promoted up and out of the candidate’s reach, but right on the front line where it’s needed most.’

The philosophy is proving a success, with Advance TRS having placed over 30 candidates into permanent positions in its first ten weeks and appearing on the preferred supply lists of seven respected rail organisations.

‘We’re already seeing some cracking results,’ added Andy. ‘We’re looking forward to continuing our success into the new year by growing our team and getting more candidates into the jobs they deserve.’

Andy believes, despite the nation’s gloomy

bered like this. Watch out for trams. Other measures to improve the safety and comfort of the 71,000 passengers that use the system every day include the deployment of six Tramlink neighbourhood officers, improving sightlines for tram drivers and pedestrians and road markings showing the path of trams.

16 | RailStaff | January 2012

LOST LEVIATHANS

Colin Garratt outlines the story behind his amazing new album The decision to document the Last Steam Locomotives of the World was not taken lightly.

From the outset it was going to be a desperate race against time. By 1969, having turned professional to begin the task, steam traction had already vanished from the main lines of America, Great Britain and parts of Scandinavia. It was obvious that countries around the world would follow suit.

The steam age had been an incredible phenomenon by any standards.

Steam was the driving force behind the Industrial Revolution; anywhere that was anywhere had a railway. The steam locomotive was also a sensual and beautiful creation, the one truly living machine.

Some 640,000 steam locomotives are believed to have been built, embracing thousands of different designs and shapes operating over a multiplicity of different gauges around the world.

America built the greatest number with 177,000 examples.

Indian XE being broken up.

Great Britain - railway builder to an empire and the world - produced some 110,000 locomotives and these came from an amazing total of over 350 different foundries over more than one and a half centuries.

Remotest places on earth The diversity of railway operations led me to some of the remotest places on earth embracing all five continents.

The first long haul expedition was to Finland and Lapland in 1972 to capture the Arctic snows.

This expedition included an overnight footplate journey on a ballast train from Rovanemi to the quarries at Raajarvi inside the Arctic Circle from which we were to bring a loaded train.

Chilled and covered in snow, I mounted the footplate of Finnish Railway’s TR1 Class Mikado No.1074 which drew into the yard at Rovanemi with a long string of empties. The cheery crew seemed pleased if surprised that an English vis-

itor would be joining them.

We departed on time at 02.41 and entered a world of extremes. From the hot roaring locomotive to the arctic blizzard sweeping across the desolate white landscape. Our engine’s exhaust must have been audible for miles as, burning a mixture of logs and coal, the huge Mikado plunged into the darkness with headlamp blazing, the track ahead having disappeared under a blanket of snow.

Dawn broke whilst the wagons were being assembled at Raajarvi and coffee was brewed from a blackened kettle hung inside the firebox whilst huge Finnish skin sausages sizzled away on the Friedman injector mount. Never did food taste so good as in that remote Lapland quarry.

African expedition Within months of returning from Finland came the first African expedition embracing South Africa, Rhodesia, Kenya and Tanzania. This three month tour had many highlights, not least working with the 234 tonne condensing 4-8-4s, built to work over the waterless Karroo Dessert between De Aar and Beaufort West.

Ninety of these 108 foot long giants were built by the North British of Glasgow in 1953-54 at a cost of £112,000 each. Prior to their introduction, water had to be specially conveyed into the desert.

An unforgettable week was spent photographing these engines whose exhaust steam passed through condensing elements in the tender. One of the pictures from that week was captioned: Eruption screaming. Two condensers

Sunlight Smoke & Shadow, China.

ease up to the semaphores with fires made up and blow down valves screaming.

The steam giants which truly opened up the African continent were the Garratts. In Kenya I experienced the red liveried Mountain Class 2-8-4 and 4-8-2, thirty four of which were built by Beyer Peacock of Gorton in 1953.

These oil fired metre gauge giants were 104 feet long and weighed over 250 tonnes in full working order. They climbed the 332 miles long route from Mombasa on the Indian Ocean to the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, one mile above sea level.

Iron Dinosaurs 1974 saw the first incursion into south east Asia covering Java, Sumatra, Taiwan and the Philippines. This expedition gave rise to the term Iron Dinosaurs and rightly so as the island of Java was like a Jurassic park of locomotives.

Over a hundred different types worked hundreds of miles of sugar plantation

lines and many lines of the state railways. I saw engines of every colour and shape, many were hybridised and some were up to a hundred years old.

The diversity was enhanced by the exotic nutshell burning veterans of neighbouring Sumatra’s palm oil estates.

Incredible apparitions were also to be found on the Philippine island of Negros where on the logging and sugar railways the fabled Dragons of Sugar Island coloured the night sky with their fiery endeavours. These engines threw shrouds of crimson embers forty feet into the air, burning either wood or bagasse - the straw-like waste fibres of sugar cane processing.

The Insular Lumber Company of Negros Island operated their No.7, one of the world’s most incredible steam survivors in the form of a four cylinder Compound 0-6-6-0 Mallett from Baldwin of Philadelphia in the early 1920s.

For years I had dreamed of catching this mahogany burning giant alongside one of the company’s vertical cylinder Shays, Leicester Power Station.

RailStaff | January 2012 | 17 Indian F Class, Rameshwara Jute Mill.

the classic logging engine of the American Pacific north west the two veterans, side by side at the dead of night, spraying the tropical vegetation with fire.

It was also my dream to catch No.7 on the wooden trestle viaduct, built in the Wild West tradition under American colonial rule, with a line of active volcanoes in the background.

India and Pakistan By the late 1970s I had reached India and Pakistan whose prolific railway network was almost entirely built by Britain during The Raj. India was to become my second home. Not only did I find the Britain of my childhood but also the trains I grew up with. Many of India’s steam locomotives had their

spiritual home in the soft English countryside.

I was to make eight expeditions to India, including three to the Assam coalfield in the far north east corner next to the border with Burma and China.

Here I found an Inclined Plane operated by a Lancashire Boiler drawing coal from a hillside mine, whilst a few miles away was Ledo Brickworks, where the steam powered machinery for cutting and shaping the bricks came from Wooton Brothers of Coalville, whilst the two stationary boilers hailed from John Thompson’s works in Wolverhampton.

Two foot gauge Saddle Tanks from Bagnalls of Stafford provided the mainstay of motive power on the Assam coalfield for

Indian XC Pacific.

over one hundred years. I mounted a desperate campaign to have Ledo Brickworks preserved but to no avail.

Also in India I majored on the X Series of standard designs sent out from Britain during the 1920s to reduce the amount of different types being demanded by the various railway companies. Included were the handsome XC Pacifics, which resemble the L.N.E.R.Gresley A3s, and the massive XE 2-8-2 Mikados with their strong Gresley P1 aura. My attempts to have an XE preserved were successful but I failed with the XC which are now extinct.

Latin America The longest expedition was to Latin America where, in six months, Argentina, Uruguay,

Brazil, Paraguay and Chile were covered. It was a non-stop adventure ranging from a Beyer Peacock Compound 4-6-0 in Argentina’s high security naval base to the world’s last Texas type 2-10-4s, caught highballing 2,000 tonne trains across the metals of Brazil’s metre gauge Teresa Cristina Railway.

Equally thrilling were the wood burning Edwardian Moguls, built in Glasgow, heading passenger trains over the international main line between Ascuncion, the capital of Paraguay and Buenos Aires.

But perhaps the high spot was the journey into Chile’s Atacama Dessert in search of the world’s last Kitson Meyer, built by Kitson of Leeds in the Edwardian period. The British-owned railways

of the Atacama once brought gold and nitrates to ports along the Pacific coast.

I reached that wild place to find just one Kitson Meyer active on track demolition duties at Taltal. Amid the remains of an old office block I found a Girl’s Annual of 1912. What an incomparable history our tiny island has.

The World’s last great steam user Over more recent years I have focussed on China, the world’s last great steam user, with twenty expeditions to date. Until the 1980s it was almost impossible to get into China and there were many rumours of exotic types lingering behind the Bamboo Curtain.

These included an ex-Great

Western Dean Goods 0-6-0s, and 4-2-2 Singles, exported to the Shanghai and Nanking Railway in 1910 by Kerr Stuart of Stoke on Trent.

Then in December 1983, when I finally got access, the opposite proved to be the case. There were six standard types which, between them, amounted to some 11,000 locomotives with no sign of the exotic rarities of yesteryear.

Even more remarkable, steam locomotives were still being built at a rate of one a day. It was a strange feeling. I had turned professional some fifteen years earlier to document the Last Steam Locomotives of the World and here they were, still being built and some of them would possibly outlive me.

18 | RailStaff | January 2012

Charitable Training gets you fit

Too old to run?

Staring glumly at the postChristmas middle age spread it’s easy just to say, forget it.

I’m too old to do anything about this. Think again. It’s never too late to start running. The human frame was made for it.

Certainly it is worth checking with your GP before taking up the sport. However, the secret to running is stick at it and run very, very slowly at first until you naturally pick up speed.

Champion runner, Ron Hill, started life as the child of a railwayman, and was born and brought up in Accrington, Lan-

cashire. With his parents’ encouragement he trained hard at various sports and went on to excel at running.

Today he still runs every day, without exception, aged 73. In his time he has competed in the Tokyo and Munich Olympics and won the Boston Marathon, the first Brit to do so.

He has been running every day since December 1964.

A run, for Ron, has to be at least a mile. Even after surviving a car crash he kept going and also managed a mile after bunion surgery. He’s run thou-

sands of miles and is determined to keep on going.

‘This running has worked for so long I don’t see any reason to change,’ says Ron who runs a successful sports equipment business. A growing body of research supports the theory that mankind is descended from long distance nomadic runners, able to track and run down antelope simply by sticking with the animal pursued long before the invention of sharp metal knifes, spears and arrows.

Anthropologists conjecture we are only ever happy when on the move, running, slow and sure for long distances. Recommended reading: Christopher McDougall’s ‘Born to Run.’

Already by mid-January New Year’s Resolutions are fading fast.

Maybe you’ve relapsed and belted down a doughnut, a pint or a midnight slab of chocolate.

Getting to the gym can prove much more inconvenient than first thought. The good news is it’s never too late to get going and the Railway Children may have the solution.

The secret to getting fit and losing a few pounds is motivation. The best way to motivate is to commit to a course of action and tell everyone about it. The Railway Children charity has a range of events that people can sign up to and help raise money for. Committing to raising money for charity by running a 10K or a marathon helps ensure you get on and train for it. Moreover the Railway Children has expert advice on hand.

Make lifelong friends Says Katie Mason, events organiser at the Railway Children, ‘Sign up for one of Railway Children’s events and get fit, lose weight, go to somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit. It’s a chance to make lifelong friends and change your life in a positive way by helping children in need.

Just about anyone can compete in our events, as long as you prepare yourself.’

The idea is by committing to an

event - a fun run or a mountain climb - you stick at training. Katie has many ideas on how to ramp up fitness.

‘If you’re not quite at the peak of your physical fitness, don’t worry, we’ll give you lots of help and advice both with training and with raising your sponsorship.’

The Railway Children has a range of ideas to suit individuals, teams and corporate events.

Cycle challenges Cycling is a good sport, easy on the knees compared to running and burns calories steadily. The Railway Children offers several cycle challenges with a difference this year: Why not cycle 180 miles through the Spanish mountains of the Sierra Nevada to the beautiful coast on the Summit to Sea Challenge. Nearer home try The London to Paris bike ride which takes you 178 miles from capital to capital. For the truly bold the new event, Cycle India, begins at the mystical Taj Mahal and finishes 300 miles later at Jaipur.

If walking is a more realistic option the Railway Charity has a great new event, the Welsh 3000s. Climb the 15 mountains over 3,000 feet over three days.

The ever popular Three Peaks Challenge by Rail celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2012. ‘We are the only charity to do this event by train,’ says Katie.

Virgin London Marathon The Railway Children has places on several major running events. These include the Adidas Silverstone Half Marathon in March, the Virgin London Marathon in April and the Bupa Great Manchester Run in May. In London a 10k run sponsored by BUPA takes in several famous landmarks and will be held on the course which is expected to be used for the 2012 Olympic Marathons.

Looking further afield more intrepid fund-raisers can take part in an overseas challenge for an adventure of a lifetime in some of the world’s most spectacular destinations. Trek to the summit of Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain in the world and visit a Railway Children project in Tanzania to meet the children who benefit from your hard-earned sponsorship money.

Trek to the lost city of Machu Picchu or walk along the Great Wall of China. There are lots of different challenges to choose from all over the world. Says Katie, ‘These events are fantastic for corporate team building, comradeship, personal achievement and simply having fun.

Make 2012 a year to remember!’

The next few minutes will change Rani’s life forever...

Rani has some quick decisions to make.

Does she run from the man coming towards her, or does she talk to him? Should she trust him, or will he abuse her, or even rape her? She knows that it happens all the time. Should she agree to do things with men, bad things, if it means she can stop herself and her little brother starving? What should she do for the best?

Thousands of children at stations around the world are making decisions that can shape their whole futures. The dangers are many, and the adults who will abuse them are all too persuasive.

Rani was lucky - because Railway Children were there Rani arrived at India’s Lucknow Train Station with her little brother. Orphaned, she was left with relatives that didn’t care. Desperation led them to board a train to the nearest city, they were alone and incredibly vulnerable.

Fortunately, a Railway Children worker got to them first.

He gained their trust, and made sure they didn’t fall into the wrong hands. Now Rani and her brother are safe, happy and hopeful - as children should be.

Please help children like Rani today by calling 01270 757 596 or use the form below (please quote ‘PRRSTF’)

✁ Yes, I’ll help children on the streets or at railway stations. Here’s my donation to make sure Railway Children get there first.

I would like to give £10 or my own amount of £............

Title ......................... First name(s) .............................................................................

Surname .....................................................................................................................

I enclose my cheque/postal order made payable to Railway Children OR Debit/credit card. Type of card: MasterCard

Address ......................................................................................................................

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Card no:

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Start date:

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..................................................................... Postcode ..............................................

*Issue No:

CSV no. last 3 digits on reverse of your card

Data Protection: Railway Children hold your data for marketing purposes to keep you updated about our work. We will not share your information with any third parties.

If you do not wish to receive updates from us please call 01270 757596. Registered charity number: 1058991

(code ‘PRRSTF’)

Please send to: Railway Children, FREEPOST RRHJ-ESZK-EYCG, 1 The Commons, Sandbach, CW11 1EG or donate online at

www.railwaychildren.org.uk To protect identities, names are sometimes changed. Wherever possible we gained the consent of the child pictured in accordance with our child protection policy.

Find us: facebook.com/railwaychildren Follow us: @railwaychi1dren

TRACK SAFETY

20 | RailStaff | January 2012

A Safe and Happy New Year to all who work on rail infrastructure 44% of all serious accidents are a result of a slip, trip or fall you, like me, are awaiting gale damage repairs. For those who worked in possessions over Christmas the weather was considerably kinder than the last two years!

One standard please!

I guess that the majority of us will have indulged in a glass or two at some time during the festive season, and this will have added to our enjoyment of the celebrations. Those who work on railways know that alcohol and railway work don’t mix!

When it comes to drugs (both illegal and legal) one needs to be aware that the taking of over the counter medicines and prescribed ones can also put you the wrong side of a random rail drugs test. The consequences can be a ban from working on the railway for five years.

My real concern lies in the fact that Network Rail and London Underground apply similar but not identical rules to the problems of drug and alcohol use by those working on their infrastructure. Hence it has proved possible for a worker to be dismissed from his job by one employer following a positive drug and alcohol test to Network Rail’s standard, and to work totally legitimately a week later on London Underground doing similar work!

Another wasteful and unnecessary result of the differences in standards is that the railway medical screening providers have to carry out two sets of tests (one to each standard) if an employee is to work on both sorts of infrastructure.

On cost grounds alone Net-

“A Puff of Regret” It has been reported that the Government are developing legislation to tighten our laws on drug taking and driving. For those who work on the railway it is a “criminal offence to be unfit through drugs or alcohol while doing work that is safety critical”.

Network Rail, London Underground and others have detailed regulations and rules in place. Network Rail’s Safety Central website uses the title of “A Puff of Regret” to announce their latest safety campaign, stressing their rules on the use of drugs and alcohol by those who work on their railway, with graphic posters and presentational materials. The principles are sound and have my full support.

The details however should be challenged. Network Rail enthuses over its zero tolerance policy on drugs as does London Underground. I still find it hard to accept that Network Rail’s standard is set at a limit of 20 mg alcohol per 100 ml of blood whilst a driver on the motorway is supposedly fit to drive with up to four times that amount of alcohol in his or her blood (i.e. 80 mg).

The stories about inebriated airline pilots are I hope exaggerated, but do they work to any set limit? Surely these different responses can’t all be right? The Network Rail limit is equivalent to around one and a half units of alcohol and I am not advocating that they slacken their standard.

© SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Colin Wheeler writes...

Following an excellent if snowless celebration of Hogmanay may I wish you a very happy as well as safe New Year?

It made a change for travel not to be disrupted by snow, even if

work Rail and London Underground should surely be able to agree on just one standard. Doing so would strengthen the zero-tolerance message for both organisations. I have discussed this with senior managers of both organisations but so far the response from both has merely been it will have to wait until “they” agree with “us”!

“Dem Dry Bones” James Weldon Johnson (18711938) was the Afro-American author of “Dem Dry Bones” which is arguably the best known of all Spirituals. It is now used on the Network Rail Safety Central website to publicise their latest safety initiative aimed at reducing the number of slips, trips and falls that result in injury every year.

Astonishingly 44% of all serious accidents are a result of a slip, trip or fall. The website uses an X-ray type skeleton graphic with a number of click on points which reveal details of injuries sustained on the rail infrastructure and the both long and painful recovery of those who tripped, slipped or fell.

TRACK SAFETY

RailStaff | January 2012 | 21

19th April 2012

Holywell Park Conference Centre, Loughborough

SEE PAGE 9

Rail Safety Summit 2012 www.railsafetysummit.com

I was less impressed by the homily that says “taking an extra five minutes to assess the site for safety hazards can save a whole load of pain and injury later”. With tight possession times, detailed planning done in an office and extensive method statements and briefing packs, many of us have lost the focus on being responsible for looking after ourselves.

Safety Behaviours Perhaps of greater importance is the principle to be found in their Projects’ “Behaviour based Safety Programme”. It states that “strong safety cultures exist where the following are in place - leadership, commitment and clear expectations; critical positive behaviours identified and expressed; the right tools, processes and procedures; training and awareness of desired behaviours and clear metrics for performance measurement and monitoring”.

Sounds good to me! But if managers really know their people (and vice versa) I believe that the costly measurement and monitoring, may be reduced to a very low level. Of course this could upset many of those lawyers seeking no-win no-fee “work” whose charges rise with the amount of paperwork available to argue over.

An early Christmas present - “Ballast Broom Briefings” For underworked trainers and Machine Controllers Network Rail sent out an early Christmas present on December 19th. It came as an advice from the National Competency Control Agency - Sentinel (NCCA) organisation instructing employers that their Machine Controllers had to be briefed by March 1st and the briefing details recorded on the NCCA website.

The briefings give details of the equipment and how it may safely be used to distribute tipped ballast using ploughs, brushes and blades attached to various pieces of plant. The briefing material also stresses the need for operators of the machines to be trained in the use of each specific piece of kit.

The briefing is in response to an accident that occurred at Ashby back in September 2010.

This resulted in a Machine Controller suffering serious leg injuries. Network Rail issued an Infrastructure Safety Bulletin about it dated June 8th 2011.

Allegedly there are nearly 40 people employed writing these amendments to competency requirements, so I was not surprised to find this updating (which is complementary to a December Rule Book change) described as “Machine Controller Miscellaneous Module 2 Group 2 competence”!

Hopefully no one rushed to get started on this exercise since the training presentation was modified and reissued on January 12th!

How best to train?

The training module comes as a Power Point presentation together with the trainer notes etc.

Two questions; firstly, were the delays between September 2010, the June 2011 Safety Bulletin and the March 2012 briefing deadline a timely response to the accident and the findings of the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB)?

Secondly, is classroom training the best way for Machine Controllers? When I worked in the northwest we had both safety and productivity problems with plant due mainly to the limited understanding staff had of what it could and couldn’t safely do.

Our response worked well. We set up a series of on-track depot demonstrations explained by

Machine Supervisors to all who worked with the plant, including the normally office based people who deployed it. We recorded the details of those who went out to the depot for the training.

The results were dramatically good in terms of productivity and a reduction in incidents.

The train that ran into a lorry load of straw bales Also on December 19th an accident occurred which is currently being investigated by RAIB. The 0910 passenger train from Milford Haven to Manchester Piccadilly was a two coach Class 175 Diesel Multiple Unit.

About 14 miles from Carmarthen it was near the village of Whitland approaching Llanboidy Level Crossing travelling at 68 mph. The driver saw a lorry and trailer of straw bales on the crossing in front of him and applied emergency braking. He was still travelling at 41 mph when he hit the lorry.

The train cab was seriously damaged but the train did not derail, although it pushed the lorry and attached trailer 80 metres down the track. Several passengers received minor injuries and shock. The lorry on the crossing was stationary as the train approached and the exit side half barrier was down.

The RAIB website states that their inquiry will focus on why the lorry was on the crossing with the barrier down and the crashworthiness of the train.

Simplification and less fragmentation With the long awaited decision to go ahead with the construction of High Speed 2 now made there needs to be a fresh urgency to get our industry’s act together. The involvement of rail specialist contractors and consultants with all rail infrastructure owners is essential.

The errors made back in Railtrack’s days must not be repeated. Simplification of standards, specifications, tendering and contract award processes should all be made to reduce costs and improve both safety and efficiency.

I respect the professional work done by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) and the Railway Safety and Standards Board (RSSB). But surely now is the time when their functions need to be rationalised.

The ORR is described as the “independent safety and economic regulator” but its activities I understand exclude London Underground, city tram and metro systems. The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) is

funded jointly by a levy paid by its members and grants from the Department for Transport.

It works with its funders and Network Rail and describes its role as focussing on “the GB railway”. Its work is clearly more widely applicable than this suggests. In terms of competence and efficiency (and for the benefit of companies undertaking work with all and any railway infrastructure company in Britain) surely regulation and research needs to be less fragmented?

High Speed 2, 3 and more!

Whilst we have just High Speed 1 (still widely known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link) this may be excusable but as we add High Speed 2, 3 and more I

suggest the regulation system needs rationalising.

Hopefully after overcoming the nimby-isms of the Chilterns area we will as part of the country’s economic recovery rediscover the importance of the north and even Scotland! I write as an Englishman living in England some way north of Hadrian’s Wall from where Gateshead is considered to be the south and Manchester and Liverpool are in the south west!

Arguably we will be the last major country in Europe to develop a high speed rail system.

Doing so will redefine the economics of internal air travel and help all parts of mainland Britain to contribute to our economic recovery and future.

22 | RailStaff | January 2012

Razing the roof

Waterloo Sunrise One of Waterloo’s four disused Eurostar platforms is to be returned to service in 2014.

Longer trains are to serve the terminus as the DfT announced plans to add extra carriages and upgrade the SWT commuter fleet. The carriages, which will allow around 8,000 extra peaktime passengers into Waterloo every morning, will begin arriving from May 2013, with all new services in place by July 2014.

Government funding means lease company, Porterbrook, will be able to create a fleet of 36 fivecar suburban trains to run on South West Trains routes. This new fleet will enable around 8,000 extra peak-time passengers to travel into London’s Waterloo station every morning, as 8-car trains will be lengthened

to run in 10-car formation on certain routes.

Alstom is masterminding the project. Known as Class 458/5, the improved fleet will be made up by converting two existing Alstom-built fleets, the Class 458s, used by SWT and Class 460s, formerly used by the Gatwick Express.

Modifications will include cabs, couplers, gangways, as well as conversion of baggage areas into passenger saloon areas. Up to 92% of the material content of the project will be sourced from the UK supply chain. Doncasterbased Wabtec will carry out the work. Alstom is recruiting around twelve engineers in order to provide a team of twenty five dedicated to supporting the conversion project.

Says Transport Minister Justine Greening, ‘These extra carriages will help ease those conditions, while opening an extra platform will provide space for additional trains to run. But our plans do not stop here. We are now embarked on one of the largest programmes of rail investment since the Victorian era and we expect to introduce further carriages on Waterloo routes and bring more platforms into use in the future.’

Waterloo’s former Eurostar platforms have been out of use since 2007 when services switched to St Pancras. Since then the only rail activity the platforms have seen is a steam locomotive being propelled into the station as part of the Railway Children theatre production.

station more accessible and easier to use. Says David Higgins, Network Rail’s chief executive, ‘London Bridge is one of the busiest stations in the country and this investment is vital for passengers who want more space, less congestion and better services.

‘Our proposals will breathe life back into London’s oldest rail terminus and help build on the programme of regeneration along the South Bank and Bankside. It will provide a focal point

Plans to transform London Bridge station have been given the green light by Southwark Council.

The station will have a completely new platform layout allowing high frequency trains on the Thameslink route.

Britain’s largest station concourse will provide more space for passengers. Sadly the historic station roof will be demolished.

However new eye-catching entrances on Tooley Street and St Thomas Street will make the

for the local communities it serves as well as the tens of millions of passengers who use it every year.

‘We are grateful for the support we’ve received and will continue to work closely with our partners and the local authority to deliver the project efficiently and considerately over the coming years.’

The station will remain operational throughout the redevelopment and will be complete by 2018.

Depot handover for Edinburgh Trams I did my initial training in Nottingham and will be training the other drivers that come on board throughout 2012, which is something I’m really looking forward to.’

The depot will be home to the new tram fleet and will also host the network control centre when the service opens in 2014.

Says Jenny Dawe, of the city

The official handover of the Gogar tram depot to the City of Edinburgh Council took place shortly before Christmas.

Four tram drivers are currently on site testing fleet. Graeme Healy (37) from Edinburgh is the fleet’s first driver. Says Mr Healy, ‘I am proud to be able to say that I am the first of the city’s next generation of tram drivers.

council, ‘Looking around the depot, it is clear that we have a world class facility from which to run the tram network. We are already well into the testing programme and it was a real boost to see the trams in motion along the test track - a very visible indication of the momentum we have built up over the past few months.’

West Wales rail boost ‘We hope that local authorities, passengers and the local community share our vision of the long term benefits and support us during the construction works to deliver the scheme successfully.

The scheme promises to bring huge social economic benefits in south west Wales by improving capacity and connectivity to key employment centres such as Swansea, Llanelli, Carmarthen, Fishguard and Milford Haven.’

The new viaduct over the River Loughor will be strong enough to support two tracks. Doubling the track will improve performance.

Cut to the Chase reversed The increasingly popular Chase Line between Walsall to Rugeley is to be upgraded.

Line speeds will be increased to 75mph on many sections of the route once the £5.4 million project is complete. Currently much of the route is limited to 45 mph. Originally closed to passengers during the Beeching era, passenger services were restored by Centro, the transport authority for the West Midlands during the 1990s. It has become an increasingly important commuter service in and out of Birmingham.

Says Tom Ansell of Centro, ‘We are delighted that Network Rail is making this important investment, which will hopefully © JONATHAN WEBB

A £40m plan to improve the rail infrastructure between Swansea and Gowerton, developed by Network Rail, has been backed by the Welsh Government and the South West Wales Integrated Transport Consortium (SWWITCH).

Under the plan six miles of track will be laid between Cockett West Junction and Duffryn West Junction. In addition, the disused eastbound platform at Gowerton station will be reinstated to serve the new track. The Loughor Viaduct will be replaced. The bridge is a grade II listed structure.

Says Mark Langman, route managing director for Network Rail Wales, ‘Today’s announcement of our plan is another affirmation of Network Rail’s commitment to growing the railway in Wales. This scheme has come about by a shared vision with the Welsh Government and SWWITCH, and the recognition that investment in rail infrastructure is good for the economy and will help support and nurture Welsh economic growth.

act as a catalyst for further improvements such as additional services on both routes and electrification of the Chase Line.’

RailStaff | January 2012 | 23 RailStaff editor, Andy Milne, urges readers to get involved with the RailStaff Awards.

nothing and are always helpful. Emphasise how good you feel about a colleague or a member of staff by putting them forward for a RailStaff Award.

The good thing about the RailStaff Awards is that everyone is a winner.

Nominations can be posted up on web sites, reprinted in staff newsletters and of course we feature the winners and nominees on our web sites and in RailStaff.

STAND BY ME

New Year’s resolutions are all very commendable but in the main they concentrate on the ego, the self: Me. It’s all about me losing weight, me meeting that someone special, me paying off the loan, me running that marathon, me pulling down a new job or promotion. Maybe a better new year’s resolution, and one that can prove a lot easier to stick with, is simply this: Be a better friend.

Third party endorsement

Expanding, challenging industry For some years now RailStaff’s editorial policy has been simply to support and encourage all who work in the rail industry, and that’s a pretty wide definition. Everyone from a tram driver in Croydon to a cleaner in Edinburgh Haymarket is part of the industry.

Readers also include senior politicians, people who have just joined from other industries, new immigrants who do not have English as their first language, hence our insistence on plain, clear English, and a steady core crew of long term staff.

It makes no difference to us who you are or where you work. We are here to support your career in an expanding, challenging industry. RailStaff seeks to do this by running good news stories about new investment, rolling stock orders and acts of heroism by passengers and staff alike as well as triumphs like long service awards and sporting achievements.

Colleagues of Jenny Calvert celebrate as she wins Rail Person of the Year at the RailStaff Awards 2011.

Boost morale The idea of the paper is to boost morale and reassure staff. We start from the unshakable conviction that Britain needs more railways, more tram systems, freight railways and high speed railway lines. Best of all we believe the industry needs more people like our readers to build and operate the railway of the 21st century.

Too often in what is a busy, public-facing, labour intensive industry the achievements of the men and women who make up the railway can be over-

looked. As well as the newspaper, RailStaff, created in the dog days of privatisation when every one assumed the railway was doomed, we started the RailStaff Awards six years ago.

For the people The idea is to shine a light on the acts of good sense, bravery, courage and professionalism which many staff regard as just routine. Industry and showbiz have lots of awards for actors and rocks stars, for hard headed businessmen and investors but what we want is an

awards scheme for the people who actually do the work.

The RailStaff Awards are for the engineers and track workers out in all weathers, the driver checking a train at four in the morning, the cleaner hiking into work through a sub-zero snow storm, the platform dispatcher who saved a heart attack victim’s life. It’s a long, long list… However, the success of the RailStaff Awards depends on you the reader.

Encouraging a friend is free. The words, ‘Of course you can do that...’ cost

The point about the awards scheme is that it amounts to third party endorsement. You saying your fellow rail colleague is the best might be quite true and sincerely meant but give the remark the added impetus of a RailStaff Awards nomination and suddenly the whole compliment takes on a stronger more exciting meaning.

This year will be challenging economically. Abroad the fate of the European Union and disagreeable developments in Iran and Afghanistan overshadow us. However 2012 will also be one of great strides forward as planning in earnest for High Speed Two gets going and Crossrail tunnelling forges ahead along with a dramatic array of other rail capacity projects.

2012 is a year to affirm our faith in each other and in this industry. Enter that special person or team for the RailStaff Awards. Read what happened last year. We will run articles on how best to write nominations. Make that resolution: ‘I will encourage my colleagues.’ It’s a good New Year’s resolution and could make 2012 extra special for rail staff.

© STEPHEN GORMAN

Train driver wins picture competition

An Edinburgh-based train driver has won a top photography competition for his stunning photograph of a passenger train near Ballencrieff.

Stephen Gorman of CrossCountry has won the Arriva Photo of the Year 2011 award for his picture taken looking east towards North Berwick, with North Berwick Law providing stunning background terrain. His image of the Cross-

Country train was judged alongside other finalists’ images from across the Arriva group for the annual award.

Stephen, aged 44, is from Gullane, East Lothian. He said, ‘I can remember that day was very cold and I was standing in a foot and a half of snow to get the photo.’ The competition, open to all 47,500 Arriva employees across 12 countries, receives hundreds of entries every year.

24 | RailStaff | January 2012

Rail debut for peace train A freight train has run for the first time on a recently opened railway linking Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.

The seven-car train pulled into a new station at Mazar-e-Sharif after a trouble free journey from Hairatan on the Uzbek border 50 miles away. Noor Gul Mangal of the Afghan government was there to meet the train. ‘This is a matter of pride for us and a very important issue for Afghanistan,’ he said speaking in Mazar-e-Sharif.

NATO forces could soon be using the railway. Military commanders are keen to re-supply troops from the north instead of Pakistan. The railway expects to start passenger operations soon.

Model railway

Railways will help unite Afghanistan.

Eleanor Carling, 16 from Newcastle and Morris Pendlebury, 17 from Skipton have won the East Coast Premier Model Search.

Staff from train company East Coast and Premier Model Management, stars of Channel 4’s the Model Agency, conducted an exhaustive search up and down

Salmon check for Cummersdale Viaduct Hard working rail engineers were out in force over the Christmas break renewing the deck of Cummersdale Viaduct, which carries the twin track Cumbria coast railway over the River Caldew between Carlisle and Dalston.

The deck is being completely replaced as part of a £1m project designed to keep the vital rural rail route open for years to come. Says Chris Chatfield, Network Rail’s scheme project manager, ‘Compared to many other railway lines, the Cumbria coast line is relatively lightly used.

However, it provides a vital link for all the communities it serves,

which is why we are investing such a large sum of money in it.

‘The deck of the existing viaduct is made of timber planks, which are now life expired and need replacing. We will use rail mounted equipment to lift out the old timbers and install the new steel deck units, which come in 46 pieces.’

The River Caldew is a noted spawning ground for wild salmon. Scaffolding was attached to the underside of the viaduct and covered in an environmental wrap to protect the river below. This part of the project had to be completed in September before the start of

the salmon spawning season.

The fish breeding also means work can’t be completed before June 2012.

Mr Chatfield explained, ‘We need to carry out scour protection work. This stops the flow of the river eroding the viaduct piers, but to do this, we actually need to work on the river bed.

However, the salmon breeding season lasts from September to June so we will have to come back next summer to finish the work.’

The new viaduct will be painted a holly green colour to blend in with the surrounding countryside, fooling the fish.

The closure of the A4 Hammersmith Flyover in London is thought to have stimulated rail ridership on Thames Valley services.

According to First Great Western more people than normal travelled on its London and Thames Valley services during the traditionally quieter period between Christmas and New Year. The Hammersmith Flyover was closed after a series of inspections carried out by Transport for London showed up structural defects before Christmas. While diversions are in

place, motorists can expect delays, particularly during peak periods.

FGW operates four stations within 3.5 miles of the M4, all with car parking facilities and fast times into London Paddington. These include Theale, off Junction 12 of the M4 and Slough, 1.5 miles from junction 6 of the M4. Reading is also a good alternative and Taplow is just 3.5 miles from Junction 11 of the M4.

Says FGW’s managing director, Mark Hopwood, ‘Rail passengers numbers in the London

Track cops commended Two sergeants who disarmed and arrested a knife-wielding man on rail tracks in Leeds, have been commended by British Transport Police.

Sgt Robert Pedley and Acting Sgt Mark Mowvley went onto the tracks near Redcoat Lane in Kirkstall and tackled the man.

Thames Valley are higher than the same time last year, and it looks like the closure of the Hammersmith Flyover is contributing to that. We’re pleased that we’re able to offer a fast, affordable and convenient alternative for journeys into London.’

The flyover was forced to close after water corroded and weakened the cables that give the bridge its strength. TfL has vowed to make good the damage and reopen the road well before the start of the London Olympics.

The two officers, along with West Yorkshire Police officers, arrested the man and took him into custody.

Says Chief Constable Andy Trotter, ‘Their fast actions helped minimise any danger to the public. I am very proud to be able to congratulate and commend

them for their brave actions.’

The incident shut the railway line for over two-and-a-half hours. Certificates of commendation are awarded by the chief constable to police officers, rail staff and members of the public who have shown special skill and resourcefulness.

Subway salute for Anne © PATCHE99z

Westway ho!

the railway between London and Edinburgh. Eleanor and Morris have both won a 12 month contract with Premier Model who will represent them and help to establish their career in the fashion industry.

Both Eleanor and Morris will also receive a two-day trip to

London, with First Class travel and £250 in prize money, and in addition, £250 worth of rail travel vouchers, courtesy of East Coast, to help with their travel expenses to London when they begin their modelling work.

Says Paul Williams, communications manager at East Coast, ‘We are really pleased that Premier has found some future fashion stars during the search along the East Coast route, and excited to see how their careers progress after their discovery.

We’re really proud of the East Coast Premier Model Search and have enjoyed working with Carole and the team at Premier over the last five months.’

The search consisted of Premier scouts travelling on East Coast trains to various destinations along the route, and holding scouting events at stations along the route including Glasgow Central, Harrogate, Peterborough, Doncaster, Newcastle, Edinburgh, York and Leeds.

The 115th anniversary of the opening of the Glasgow Subway is particularly poignant for 80year-old passenger, Robert Connor.

A regular user of St George’s Cross station it was there Mr Connor met Anne, a subway ticket collector, who he’d later marry. He handed her his ticket one winter evening in 1974 and never forgot the encounter.

Says Bob, ‘I knew the staff at St George’s Cross well as I used the station all the time. A lot of them had worked on the tram cars before so you’d recognise all the faces. The Subway had ticket collectors in those days, often girls, standing at the rear end of the platform at the bottom of the stairs.

‘I remember coming off at the station one night coming home from work and handing my ticket to a girl at St George’s Cross I hadn’t seen before.

We’d see each other most days after that and always say hello.’

Bob knew the stationmaster quite well and one night was talking to him about a Christmas party. Says Bob, ‘The Subway staff at that time had a party for all of the kids at the Salvation Army function hall on Butterbiggins Road. I was in for my usual chat and Anne was talking about taking her two nieces along to the party. Another member of staff, I forget their name, volunteers ‘Bob will go with you’. I said I would and that was that.’

Bob approached the date with some trepidation.

‘I remember being quite nervous and had visions of having to get all dressed up like a waiter in a hotel, but we got on really well. After that we’d use the Subway to go to the cinema together and we eventually got married in August 1981, although we had a car take us to St Aloysius rather than the Subway!’

Anne worked at St George’s Cross until the Subway closed for modernisation in 1978 and had worked as a ticket collector on the Glasgow Corporation buses before that. Bob worked as a draughtsman for over 20 years at a variety of companies in Glasgow including Rolls Royce.The couple lived near St George’s Cross station after retiring, although sadly Anne passed away ten years ago.

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, which owns and operates the system, has already begun a multi-million pound modernisation project to ensure the Subway remains at the heart of the city for generations to come. Mr Connor still travels on the Subway and still has time for a chat with staff. Recent work on the line means the path of true love should be running smoother than ever for another century or so.

RailStaff | January 2012 | 25

Wake up call for sleeper The London to Scotland overnight sleeper service has been saved after London and Edinburgh agreed a joint £100 million funding pledge aimed at refurbishing the fleet.

However, Scottish transport minister Keith Brown, sounded a note of caution. ‘I am delighted to now confirm that we have submitted proposals to the

Treasury that will see us invest, as a minimum, £50m to ensure that the Caledonian sleepers are enhanced to offer better facilities and a more responsive service to passenger needs.

‘I now await the decision from the Treasury on whether it will stick to its promise and make the funding available to maximise the improvements to the

service.’

The service is run by ScotRail even though it connects London with Edinburgh, Inverness and Fort William. Options suggested by a recent Transport Scotland consultation included abolishing the sleeper. The sleeper service costs about £21 million a year to run, excluding track access charges.

Pembrokeshire restoration riva Trains Wales, ‘During the four weekends spent on the project, their efforts have helped make a noticeable improvement to the general appearance of the station, which has been well received by local rail users.

‘Projects such as this can help young people make a valuable contribution to their local community. They have also been given the opportunity to learn new skills and gain work experience which they may not otherwise have had. This can then help with future employment aspirations.’

Speaking at the station, the

As part of the restorative justice system, eight young people have been helping do up Haverfordwest station in Pembrokeshire.

They took part in the painting and restoration project as part of their community service reparation. The partnership involves Arriva Trains Wales and Pembrokeshire County Council Children’s Services. The team of young people worked with railway staff to repaint concrete flower planters, seats and canopy supports as well as planting new shrubs.

Says Geraint Morgan, community affairs manager for Ar-

Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, Councillor David Pugh, said, ‘The project enabled the large number of young people engaged in the work to learn new skills and disciplines and participate in a useful local community project.

Furthermore they were able to complete their reparation promptly within their local community, a very visible form of payback.Pembrokeshire County Council, after this successful start, is looking to continue working with Arriva Trains and improve the appearance of other rail stations in Pembrokeshire.’

Rail rescue for school kids © JONATHAN WEBB

The Institution of Railway Signal Engineers has taken delivery of an historic locomotive nameplate.

Class 37 locomotive no. 37232, belonging to DB Schenker, previously carried the name: ‘Institution of Railway Signal Engineers’ and had been designated for preservation by the Railway Heritage Committee (RHC). The nameplate was handed over by Nicky Morgan, MP, chairman of the newly-created All Party Parliamentary Group for Heritage Rail to IRSE President Claire Porter.

‘We are delighted to have the opportunity to provide a permanent home for this name-

plate,’ said Colin Porter, Chief Executive of the Institution. ‘It was a great honour that the Institution’s name should have been carried on such a fine locomotive, and it is wonderfully appropriate that the nameplate should now be coming to us, just before our centenary year.’

The nameplate was initially carried by locomotive 37411, which was named by Margaret Hale, wife of the then IRSE president, Cliff Hale, at Fort William on 28th May 1987. The nameplates were transferred to a second locomotive, 37232, which was named by British Rail’s Director of S&T Engineering Ken Burrage at

Perth station on 6th November 1990. Latterly the locomotive worked on engineering trains.

RHC Chairman Peter Ovenstone said, ‘This event once again illustrates the excellent working partnership which the Railway Heritage Committee has enjoyed with the railway industry.’ He went on to explain that it had been agreed that the power of designation and the statutory protection it affords should be transferred to the Trustees of the National Museum of Science and Industry.

‘We have been greatly heartened by the Government’s decision which recognises the significance of the nation’s railway heritage and the value of continuing to maintain the statutory protection system which has worked so well over the last 18 years.’

The government had intended to disband the committee but is now understood to be re-thinking this. The Railway Heritage Committee has long been valued by the railway industry. A final decision on the way ahead is expected in February. The Institution of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE) was founded in 1912 and has members word wide.

School children who have been let down by their local council and had their bus service withdrawn are turning to rail to get them to school.

For several years now thanks to better computer generated route measuring software, local councils have been re-evaluating the distance children live from school. If it is less than three miles, even by a yard, measured school gate to front door, then they no longer qualify for free travel. Among exemptions is if the walking route is unsafe.

Dry run for Merseyrail Merseyrail plans to ban the consumption of alcohol on its trains.

In an unofficial local press survey 88 per cent of voters supported the booze-ban. Following a successful campaign that saw antisocial passengers prosecuted for putting their feet on seats, Merseyrail is proposing making all its trains and stations dry to deter alcohol related crime.

Merseyrail’s new managing director, Maarten Spaargaren, is right behind the idea. ‘I want to make the railways a more attractive, safe, pleasant environment to be in, and one way of doing that would be to prevent people who are too drunk to travel using the service.

‘We think an alcohol ban would give greater protection to passengers and staff at all times of the year. The practicalities of

enforcing the ban are still being looked into, such as whether it would need a specific by-law or the extension of an old one.’

A similar ban, prohibiting the carrying of open bottles and cans of alcohol, was introduced on public transport in London in 2008 and has proved popular with rail staff and passengers © JONATHAN WEBB

Signal success for Heritage Supporters

Leicestershire County Council withdrew the free bus for children in Sileby who attend Humphrey Perkins School, in Barrow Upon Soar at the end of the Christmas term. In a controversial move the council decided the three-mile walk between the villages was safe after it trimmed back a few trees that force pedestrians to walk in the road.

Head teacher Peter Nutkins is concerned for the safety of the children. ‘They (Leicestershire County Council) are arguing it is reasonably safe. However, when I walked it with David Parsons, the leader of the council, it took us an hour and a quarter, along a busy road. There are pavements less than a metre wide, pot holes, ditches, and that is what the local authority says is reasonable for our children to walk on. It’s just crazy.’

The school has 900 pupils and 51 of those live in Sileby. Mr Nutkins has now negotiated a deal with East Midlands Trains allowing the pupils to travel between Sileby and Barrow for about 50p per day.

School staff will be on hand at Barrow station in the morning and afternoon to help pupils.

alike. The Travel Safe campaign is part of a wider drive to make Merseyrail more attractive to potential passengers.

Maarten Spaargaren took over from Bart Schmeink as managing director at the end of November last year.

Merseyrail is run by a SercoAbellio consortium.

26 | RailStaff | January 2012

© SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Vienna match for Railsport Rail industry plans University Challenge The Railsport Games Great Britain Chess Team took part in a strong Railway International Tournament in Vienna recently.

The team took on Czech Railways, who went on to win the tournament, Swiss Railways and Austrian Railways. Eight players and a non-playing captain travelled to Vienna. The team included Graham Bolt and John Bass of Network Rail, Peter Eldridge and Barry Kocan of South West Trains, Tony Lee of CSC, Dave Perrett of Arriva Trains Wales, Alan Giles of Virgin and Trevor Jones who is retired.

Nicholas Mahoney of DB Schenker was the nonplaying captain.

The match is an annual event, apart from every fourth year, when the European Railway Championships take place, with the next one set for 2012 in Hungary. Railsport GB is keen to recruit additional players. If you want to find out more about Railsport Chess activities, including over the board matches in London, please contact Mike Broad on 020 7904 or 07771 670896 or E mail: mike.broad@networkrail.co.uk

Staff special launched

The rail industry has launched a new scheme designed to attract graduates onto the railway.

The scheme - Track and Train - will provide an allround industry experience over 18 months, where graduates will enjoy three, six-month placements: one at Network Rail and two at either a passenger or freight operator or another company within the rail sector.

Says Patrick Butcher, Network Rail’s group finance director, responsible for the scheme, ‘We know that there are many smart, talented individuals out there that haven’t had their break yet and as a growing industry we can work together to provide challenging, valuable and paid work experience to kick start their careers.

‘What sets this scheme apart is those involved will work across the rail industry and by linking it all together, develop a fantastic knowledge and understanding of the challenges we all face and the opportunities for the future.’

Graduates already at work in the railway are recommending the scheme. Says Karl Grewar, a graduate working at Network Rail and on secondment to London Travelwatch, ‘Being at university is very different to the workplace so it is vital graduates know how to behave in a business environment. Learn to plan, to multi-task and to prioritise your workload.

‘Any work experience you can get under your belt

and refer to in interviews is well worth it. Get used to the sound of your voice and to speaking in front of people as you’ll be talking to people at all levels. I have been surprised at how many graduates’ communication skills aren’t up to scratch leaving university.’

Record success for Bodmin and Wenford

Direct Rail Services has started trials of a staff train, aimed at reducing traffic congestion at Sellafield.

The week day service from Carlisle will be made up of three reserved carriages for Sellafield workers and one additional carriage for members of the public hauled by a class 37. After Sellafield, all carriages will be made available to the

public through to Barrow.

In a further development DRS has ordered 15 new diesel locomotives. The Vossloh Espana Eurolight UK locomotives will be based on the Eurolight locomotive and will be built in Spain. The locos have a 3750hp Caterpillar c175 engine and ABB AC traction equipment and a top speed of 100 mph.

Fishguard fanfare The station at Goodwick near Fishguard in Pembrokeshire could reopen as soon as March.

Network Rail has now lowered and realigned the track closer to the existing platform at Goodwick. The progress has been welcomed by local rail campaigners.

The existing Fishguard station at the ferry terminal is too far outside the town, locals say.

Hatti Woakes, secretary of the North Pembrokeshire Transport Forum, says Goodwick station is better and more accessible. ‘The

problem with the station (at Fishguard) is it’s quite far out, at least 10 minutes walk from the town and most people are taken there by car.

There is a car park which is expensive, it’s £7 a day. It’s a bit of a disincentive and it’s putting some people off, especially people who live outside of Fishguard.’ Trains have not stopped at Goodwick since 1964. ‘Goodwick is more convenient for many people. It’s going to be very simple because of the funding constraints but people will be

able to park for free and the bus service will stop right outside the gates,’ says Hatti.

Services on the line have been increased and railways are experiencing higher levels of passenger ridership. Services at Fishguard have increased from two a day to seven thanks to funding by the Welsh government. Pembrokeshire council owns the station site while the work to reopen it is being funded through the Welsh government’s regional transport plan.

The Bodmin and Wenford Railway has notched up a third successive record-breaking year.

Passenger numbers are up and turnover at an all time high. After the last train, the Mince Pie Special, had returned to Bodmin General Station on New Year’s Eve, the BWR had recorded its best ever results in a calendar year. A total of 55,789 passengers marked an increase of 6.6 per cent on 2010 which itself was a record year.

Achieving such impressive re-

sults for the second consecutive year is a major milestone for the railway and its staff, the majority of whom are volunteers. The good news marks a fitting finale to its 25th anniversary year.

The preserved line started in June 1986. In December 2011 alone, over 5,300 people travelled on the Railway’s Santa by Steam and Mince Pie Specials, 7.9% more than in the same month last year. The 6½-mile line between Bodmin Parkway and Boscarne Junction was originally opened in 1887-88. Passenger

services ceased in January 1967.

‘The success of the 2011 season is a further tribute to all our staff, both paid and volunteer, who have worked extremely hard throughout the year to present a caring and professional image to our visitors. We are all naturally delighted that 2011 has again been our best year ever with a record number of passengers and turnover, and are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported us this year,’ says Richard Jones, General Manager of the BWR.

APPOINTMENTS

RailStaff | January 2012 | 27

Success Spotlight This year sees Coyle Personnel celebrating 24 years in the business, and the business is getting busier.

Coyle is looking for signalling professionals, tunnelling engineers, quantity surveyors, site agents and safety officers.

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With over 100 in-house recruitment consultants Coyle Rail delivers confidently every time. Current clients include; Invensys, Balfour Beatty, Amey, Crossrail, Halcrow, Network Rail, BAM Nuttall, Carillion, Birse Rail, Buckingham Group, Kier Group, Morgan Sindall, Laing O’Rourke, DLR Serco and Signaling Solutions Limited.

Coyle Rail has also been actively involved in the delivery and on going presence on the following projects; West Coast Route Modernisation, Crossrail, Reading Regeneration, Major contracts for Network Rail, East Kent Resignaling, Bletchley &

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Candidates for Coyle Rail

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Please send your CV to: whitecollarjobs@coyles.co.uk

APPOINTMENTS

RailStaff | January 2012 | 29

Right now, you have a unique career opportunity.

Having successfully secured new orders, Bombardier Transportation are actively seeking skilled and motivated engineering and science professionals to work within our world leading Derby based UK Engineering team.

Opportunities exist in: s -ECHANICAL AND %LECTRICAL 3YSTEMS Ref: T-RS1-ENG-UKDY-10

s 6EHICLE %NGINEERING Ref: T-RS1-ENG-UKDY-15

s 4RAIN #ONTROL INCLUDING 3OFTWARE %NGINEERING 3OFTWARE 4EST %NGINEERING Ref: T-RS1-ENG-UKDY-11

s )NDUSTRIAL $ESIGN AND (UMAN &ACTORS Ref: T-RS1-ENG-UKDY-16

s 0ROJECT %NGINEERING Ref: T-RS1-ENG-UKDY-12

s $ESIGN !SSURANCE Ref: T-RS1-ENG-UKDY-17

s 3TRUCTURES %NGINEERING Ref: T-RS1-ENG-UKDY-13

s %LECTRICAL 3YSTEMS #OMPATIBILITY Ref: T-RS1-ENG-UKDY-18

s %LECTRICAL -ECHANICAL )NSTALLATION % #!4)!

Ref: T-RS1-ENG-UKDY-14

s -ATERIALS AND &IRE Ref: T-RS1-ENG-UKDY-19

As part of this team, you will be responsible for engineering the entire rolling stock lifecycle – from inception through to decommissioning, including manufacture and testing at our Derby facility. In return for your work, you will be rewarded with competitive contractual benefits including the opportunity to participate in our awardnominated flexible benefits scheme.

If you believe you can effectively bring your engineering expertise to our leading edge rolling stock design, manufacture and maintenance business, please visit: http://careers.bombardier.com/home for further information on these roles and to apply, quoting the relevant reference number.

Bombardier Transportation – 2011 Winners of the Power Panels Award for People Effectiveness at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Manufacturing Excellence Awards

Property Asset Managers Bridge Engineer

Environment Managers

Community Liaison Managers

Fast track your career

Community Liaison Advisors Community Forums Managers

hs2 is one of the most exciting engineering projects of our generation.

Following the Secretary of StateÕs announcement, we are now establishing the implementation team and are therefore seeking experienced professionals with expertise in:

Engineering Environment Management Property Management Community Liaison Management/Advisors For full details please visit

www.hs2.org.uk/jobs

Tunnel Engineer

Railway Operations Manager

Chief Architect

Lead Ergonomist

APPOINTMENTS

30 | RailStaff | January 2012

Job Opportunities for Rail Staff with CUK Due to the growing demand from major clients within the railway infrastructure, CarmichaelUK Rail Division are looking for skilled personnel for Permanent and Contract opportunities.

Opportunities in Rail and Infrastructure

Asset Engineers and Asset Project Managers UK wide, £300-£400 per day Structural, Bridge and Building Asset Management within the Rail sector

We would like to hear from the following for prestigious projects starting in the South East of England:

Engineers Engineering Managers Agents Sub Agents Project Managers Works Managers

Surveyors Planners Commercial personnel Safety Critical personnel General Foreman Site Managers

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

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

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

CarmichaelUK Rail Division is expanding its services into the Australian market with new offices opening soon in 2012. This expansion puts CarmichaelUK Rail Division into a unique market position for recruiting railway staff for clients in the UK and Australia. For more information about opportunities in Australia, please email: international@carmichaelau.com Register your CV today online or via email in word format to:

rail@carmichaeluk.com or call one of our consultants on: +44 (0) 208 522 8888

Job vacancies posted daily on our site

www.carmichaeluk.com

TRS are a global organisation and we are currently recruiting for rail specialists in the UAE, Australia & Far East, West Africa and Canada. If you are interested in working abroad contact TRS today.

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

+44 (0)20 7419 5800

Mechanical Superintendent/Construction Managers West Africa, Guinea, 70K-100K Rail, Port & Mining Experience Senior P-Way Design Engineers London & Warrington, 60K-80K Working on major new rail projects + station upgrades Senior Geologist/Geotechnical Engineers London Area, £300-450 per day Experience in Rail, Mining or Quarrying experience.

(3D Resource Modeling) Electrical Design Engineer London £300-£500 per day Chartered status is preferred Senior Project Planners/Project Controls Managers London £40-60K Rail and Mining projects Signal Designers & Project Engineers and Manager UK + Australia, Contract and Permanent IRSE license or significant relevant experience Bridge Engineers & Structural Engineer UK £300-450 per day Bridge design for heavy rail freight, heavy-haul bridges over water is preferred Civil Estimators London £40-60K Rail and Civil Projects. NEC contract experience ideal

JanuaryTRSAdvert.indd 1

9/1/12 14:21:29

www.sw-gr.com

Technical Sales Manager Field Based – Midlands or South East Competitive Salary + Car Unipart Rail - Dorman is a leading UK manufacturer of LED solutions for rail & traffic signalling and hazard warning lights, its name is recognised globally for quality and innovation.

The organisation is part of Unipart Rail who provide the most comprehensive portfolio of products, services and solutions available for the rail industry, using its deep expertise in continuous improvement processes to support its customers in the development of the railway system.

We are looking for an experienced Technical Sales Manager to develop sales for Dorman LED rail products for both trains and infrastructure in the UK rail market. As a field based Sales Manager operating out of either the Midlands or South East region, you will have responsibility for technical sales and account management for both new and existing markets covering the whole of the UK. Excellent interpersonal and negotiating skills will be paramount to your success in the role, as is the ability to work independently generating leads in new and emerging markets.You will have a track record in developing and delivering new sales opportunities and markets within a technical environment.

Ideally qualified to degree level or equivalent in an engineering discipline, you should have proven experience in the railway industry, preferably with experience in railway signalling and / or LED products.

Key customers will include Network Rail and principal contractors for signalling projects. Previous knowledge and experience working with these organisations would be a distinct advantage.

Interested applicants should submit a CV and covering letter detailing current remuneration package via e-mail: hr@dorman.co.uk The closing date for all applications is: 17th February 2012.

Unipart Rail is an equal opportunities employer Visit our website www.dorman.co.uk

Manpower

Rail

Recruitment

Opportunities in Australia for Railway Staff (Competitive Salaries)

with relocation packages for the right candidates & immediate starts available

Further to our recent attendance at AusRail in Brisbane, and the continuing substantial investment being made in Railway Infrastructure Projects, in Australia, SWGR are keen to hear from the following individuals who are interested in pursuing an exciting new career path in a variety of locations throughout the country and different industrial applications such as Mining, Urban Rail, Tunnelling, Ports and Oil & Gas Infrastructure projects.

We have an urgent requirement for highly skilled Rail professionals for our clients across Australia for Rail Upgrades and Capacity Improvements.

We are particularly keen to hear from the following:

H & S Advisor

Senior Civil Engineers

Structural Engineers

Project Engineers/Managers

Signalling Engineers Senior M/E Engineers

Commercial Managers BDM (Mining & Rail)

Essential Skills / Qualifications required: • A Trade qualification in an Engineering discipline • A proven track record in Rail Construction or associated area • Experience of delivering results in a fast paced target driven environment • Excellent written and oral communication skills • A desire to live, succeed and excel in an exciting new environment Please send your CV in Word Format to aus@sw-gr.com

U K

W I D E

S E R V I C E

C E N T R E S

Principal Signalling Designer - £Excellent – London

Sourcing Manager - £380 - £450 depending on experience- London / Milton Keynes

Signalling Designer - £Excellent – York, Birmingham and London

Rimini / SSOWP Planner - London - £32k

A leading UK rail company is currently searching for an experienced Signalling Designer to work on cutting edge new projects. Please get in touch if you are working towards or currently hold an IRSE Principles Signalling Designer License. The position is available for both contractors and permanent designers.

Contact: James Tidman / 02086001618 / james.tidman@talascend.com

There are currently vacancies at UK locations including York, Birmingham and London for IRSE Licensed Signalling Designers. Now is a great time to make a move in the Signalling market.

Talascend have both permanent and contract positions available for experienced Designers.

Please get in touch to discuss these opportunities further.

Contact: James Tidman / 02086001618 / james.tidman@talascend.com

Comms Project Managers, £45k to £68k + benefits - London or Midlands

Working for a leading supplier within the UK rail infrastructure sector, we require experienced Communications Rail Project Managers for projects on Network Rail infrastructure (or LU).

Ideally you will have experience working for one of the rail contractors along with commercial, budgetary, formal project management qualification and solid operational comms experience in rail. Two roles; London or the Midlands.

Contact: Ewen Alcorn / 01373 464005 / ewen.alcorn@talascend.com

Field Engineer (x3) – Circa £350 per day - London

A top UK rail project is currently seeking Field Engineers to be based out of Central London.

Please get in touch if you have strong experience in tunnelling, tunnel boring, excavation, piling and large infrastructure projects. The positions available offer a great opportunity for Field Engineers to gain experience on a high profile rail project on long term contracts. If you are an experienced Field Engineer, Construction Manager, Site Manager or Site Engineer then please get in touch.

Contact: James Tidman / 02086001618 / james.tidman@talascend.com

Signalling Designers - £Excellent – London

A large mass-transit client is currently seeking Signalling Designers from a mainline background to attend a 5 day conversion course allowing them to work on mass-transit projects. Mainline designers with at least 5 years experience can diversify their skill-set and open up new opportunities. Please get in touch if you are interested in exploring this exciting opportunity.

Contact: James Tidman / 02086001618 / james.tidman@talascend.com

Project Planner / Manager - £37k or £270 per day - London / Swindon

Our client is looking for a candidate who will be managing the operational and planning and logistics risk associated with delivering the work. You need to have a strong understanding / experience in managing investment portfolio, Primavera P3e, CDM, Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Wider Project Management Framework, Risk Assessment Competence and be a member of a Chartered status / Degree level.

Contact Joanna Janczaruk / 02086001198 / joanna.janczaruk@talascend.com

Leading UK Rail Client is looking for an individual who possesses experience within Rail and understanding in GRIP stages, Strategic, quality, cost, negotiating with internal stakeholders, tender processes, writing contract letters and schedules and extensions.

If you have passion for developing and sustaining a Supplier Relationship Management best practice ethos, then this is the opportunity you have been waiting for.

Contact Joanna Janczaruk / 02086001198 / joanna.janczaruk@talascend.com

Urgently seeking an experienced Planner in RIMINI or SSOW (Safe System of Work) packages to start ASAP! Experience is required in quarterly work plan, data analysis, understanding of Company Standards RT/LS/S/019, Hazard Directory, Sectional Appendix and 5 mile Signal Diagrams.

Contact Joanna Janczaruk / 02086001198 / joanna.janczaruk@talascend.com

Senior Project Engineer, Operational Comms, £45k - £50k + bens Gloucester, Midlands We are working on behalf of the leading provider of engineering solutions to the UK rail network. They require an experienced rail telecommunications Project Engineer with strong experience of Network Rail and rail operational comms. Customer facing and managing a small team.

Contact: Ewen Alcorn / 01373 464005 / ewen.alcorn@talascend.com

Health & Safety Advisors - £Excellent package - London

An opportunity has just opened up to work on one of the most exciting projects in Europe.

We are sourcing highly experienced tunnelling Health & Safety Advisors to be responsible for this interesting and complex project.

Experience of tunnelling activities with experience of BS6164 regulations is essential. You will be either a chartered member of IOSH or working towards being chartered with at least an NVQ4/5, Diploma, or Degree.

Contact Rob Duncan-Anderson on / 0208 600 1606 / robert.duncan-anderson@talascend.com

Contract Administrators - Contract and Perm opportunities - London

Fantastic opportunities for Commercial/Contract Administrators with NEC experience.

You will support the Employer by assisting the Lead Contracts Administrator in relation to the development and implementation of a Contract Management Program for the project consistent with Contracts Management Policies and Work Processes, Procedures and Systems. Checking that commercial and contract issues are dealt within the Project at the lowest level, deputising for the Lead Contracts Administrator when requested and performing duties allocated by the lead Contracts Administrator for the successful commercial management of the project goals and objectives.

Contact Rob Duncan-Anderson on / 0208 600 1606 / robert.duncan-anderson@talascend.com

Site Manager - Great Project - £Excellent - London

Great opportunities for experienced Site Managers working on an exciting project in London.

If you have worked on large multi-discipline rail projects and ideally have SCL and tunnelling experience then please make contact ASAP. A heavy Civil's background coupled with Station refurbishment and excavation experience will set you apart from the rest of the field.

Contact Rob Duncan-Anderson on / 0208 600 1606 / robert.duncan-anderson@talascend.com

Your first stop for rail jobs... www.talascend.com

Currently Hiring We have a number of open positions for Recruitment Consultants in our London office. Please contact Matthew Roberts on +44 (0)20 8600 1600 or email matthew.roberts@talascend.com

Talascend worldwide technical resources

Looking after the health of your business Medical expertise with first-class service levels helping to increase productivity, reduce absenteeism and minimise risk.

Rail Medicals

Physiotherapy

Travel Health

Drug & Alcohol Testing

Counselling

Vaccinations

Occupational Health

Blood Testing

Wellbeing

Health Surveillance

Skin Assessments

Customer Service Team

020 7500 6900 www.expressmedicals.co.uk