Hatfield wins Rail Infrastructure Team of the Year
network Rail’s hatfield Recovery team which reinstated a land slipped railway, wins this year’s Rail Infrastructure team of the Year award. Between 9th and 12th February 1.4 million tonnes of colliery spoil slipped causing the railway next to Hatfield Colliery to move sideways. The four track railway between Goole, Scunthorpe and Doncaster was blocked. The closed route, one of the busiest in the north put in jeopardy a number of other major projects planned for summer 2013 as it was to be used as a diversionary route. However, initial forecasts saw the railway reopening in November unfeasible given the heavy usage of the line. Working in partnership with the colliery, a new approach was devised which would allow the railway to be re-opened well in advance of winter 2013 and secure the long term operational capacity and viability of the colliery. 44
Network Rail Infrastructure Projects SNE, based in York, immediately mobilised an incident response team to start work on the railway recovery…As well as replacing over 450m of a four track railway and coal siding, the team liaised daily with Hatfield Colliery to ensure all efforts were focused on the recovery plan. Says Caroline McGuigan of Network Rail, ‘The project team effectively took a £20m project through all essential development and delivery stages in just five months. The team worked extended hours sacrificing nights, weekends and holidays to focus on Network Rail’s customers by reopening the railway as soon as feasibly possible. ‘The railway was fully reinstated and re-opened at 05:00 on 8th July 2013, a little over three months earlier than originally anticipated. During the blockade, Network Rail also undertook a number of accelerated renewal and enhancement projects to
maximise the access they had, minimising the need for any future disruption. ‘Network Rail has been highly commended from a number of stakeholders and observers for its pro-active approach and the speedy recovery of this important stretch of railway. The Hatfield recovery project is a fantastic example of what can be achieved by committed individuals, coming together as a team, working towards a shared goal and with clear leadership.’ ‘We’re absolutely thrilled. It was a hard effort but I think it showed the railway in its true spirit,’ says Steve Poole. ‘When things go wrong we actually bring out the best in people.’ As well as Steve the team included, Rob Clark, Tony Heap, Charlie Chell, Alistair Boyle and Paul Siemiamwicz. Says RailStaff editor Andy Milne, ‘The initial incident with its pictures of buckled track and mud caught the national headlines. Less widely reported was the
tremendous achievement wrought by the Hatfield Recovery team proof again that this industry takes every challenge bowled at it and turns it around. ‘The Hatfield Recovery Team award goes some distance to recognising the sheer determination and hard work that went into putting this right. Hatfield Colliery has a place in the hearts of all coal industry supporters. It was saved from closure by a management buy out in 1994. The rail industry has historically partnered coal mining and it is good to see a team which went to enormous efforts to help Hatfield Colliery win this award.’
McGinley Support Services The Rail Infrastructure Team of the Year Award is sponsored by McGinley Support Services a LinkUp accredited supplier of personnel and services to the national rail and urban metro rail industry. McGinley Support Services www.railstaffawards.com