Rail Magazine

CHRIS
HEATON-
HARRIS MP,
MINISTER OF
STATE FOR
RAILWAYS
14
04 LABOUR’S PRIORITIES FOR RAIL,

Jim McMahon MP
20 EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND

INCLUSION CHARTER
Adeline Ginn MBE
54 GATWICK TO THE UK
Ailsa Cowen
CONTRIBUTORS
Editorial Advertising Commercial

Business Development Managers
RTM Lead Business Development Director

Ailsa Cowen Steve Delanty Roy C. Rowlands
Matt Roberts Patrick Bowley Accounts / Finance

Heidi Rowlands
Daniel Gibson
Office & Administration Manager
Alex Wight
Production Marketing & Events Team Leader

Lucy Brien
Art Director
Marketing & Events Apprentice
Paul Shillitto
Jacob Flint
Publisher
Roy V. Rowlands
EDITORIAL BOARD
Cognitive Publishing Ltd

ISSN 1471-0668
The opinions and views expressed in the
Registered in England. Reg. No. 4011145 magazine are not necessarily those of the
A subsidiary of Cognitive Business Media Ltd management or the publishers.
Phone: 0161 833 6320
All rights reserved. No part of this
publication may be reproduced, stored
in retrieval systems or transmitted in
any form or by any means, including
photocopying, without prior written
permission from the publishers.
To view our full terms and conditions go to

© Copyright 2020 Cognitive Publishing Ltd. www.cognitivepublishing.com
1
Reflecting &
Moving Forward
Click here:
Text only view Aa
I
write this editor’s comment shortly after
consuming a mince pie and partaking in the
office secret Santa, meaning this must be
the last edition of RTM for the year 2020,
a year which we’ll never forget.
The past twelve months have seen some Click to listen:

momentous moments for the industry. Such as Ailsa’s Comment
Network Rail publishing world-first targets to
tackle global warming, RIA and Women in Rail
launching the ‘Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Peter Walley, Strategic Rail Officer at Transport
Charter’, HS2 placing a 914-tonne bridge in for Greater Manchester tells us why the
45 minutes, Grant Shapps committed to a continuing growth of rail freight is vital for the
more resilient railway following the tragedy city-region and Network Rail and BAM Nuttall
at Stonehaven and Captain Tom Moore was come together to tell us about WaveWalker 1
presented with first-ever Veterans’ Railcard. and how it has helped their construction project
at Dawlish.
In this edition of RTM, we hear from Jim
McMahon MP, Shadow Secretary of State for This year has been undoubtedly challenging but
Transport who highlights why we need a clear our industry has innovated around these. Such
long-term plan for our wider rail network and as Gatwick Airport station and the East Coast
Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris discusses how Main Line upgrade continuing to progress and
digital technology can play a vital role in driving the gas hasn’t been taken off HS2.
innovation in the rail sector.
We also hear about Freightliner’s only female From everyone here at RTM,
driver in Scotland and how GTR are working we wish you a very Merry Christmas
to double their number of female train drivers and a Happy New Year.
following a successful year of intake.
2 December / January 2021
Contents
Comment 4
04 Jim McMahon MP
Labour’s Priorities for Rail 08 Maria Machancoses
From station to destination
“Yes, HS2 will

revolutionise the
way we travel”
14 Chris Heaton-Harris MP
Going forward
Diversity & Inclusion 19
28 Zoey Hudson
This Is Not a Man’s World
26 Ola Ogun
What More can be Done? A diverse team is happier,
better motivated, and
ultimately more successful”
34 Karen Lewis
Becoming stronger by
embracing difference
3
Civils & Stations 37
46 Cllr Liam Robinson

St James station scheme 48 Network Rail and BAM Nuttall-
Bring in the WaveWalker
54 Ailsa Cowen
Gatwick to the UK
“I’d like to see train

travel being the
number one choice”
Catriona Taylor,
Scheme Project Manager
Digital Railway 60
70 David Clarke
The race to replace
78 Rebecca Richardson
Accessibility awareness
training
“We must invest and act
now to help build a railway
fit for the future”
00
82 Peter Walley
Future needs of rail freight
in GM
Labour’s
But now there’s talk of not extending
HS2 to Leeds which will affect those
areas in Midlands north of Birmingham.
Priorities
This is another example of a Tory failure
to invest in areas outside of London.
Just like their delayed electrification
for Rail
upgrades or failure to invest in new
and emerging rail technologies.
It would be wrong to not mention that

Labour is still very much committed
By Jim McMahon MP, Shadow Secretary of to bringing the railways into public
State for Transport ownership but we want to work with
the industry on how we do that. We’ll
have to see what the rail landscape
Click here:
Text only view Aa looks like in 2024, at the time of the
next election, before we can sensibly
start suggesting how we’ll work
towards that goal.
T
he past year has proven extremely tough for
our whole country, and our transport sector In the meantime, we’re still waiting
has been no exception. Whilst some businesses for the Williams’ review - if it ever
may be starting to recover as we look to come does get published. And we’ll look to
out of this latest lockdown, key industries such as rail critique the Government’s proposals
are set to feel the effects of this crisis long into 2021. on concessionary rail models. LNER
has again shown that publicly owned
I want to be clear that whilst we welcomed the providers can run a rail network.
Government’s swift response to ensuring that the rail
network keeps running at the beginning of this crisis, it’s The current crisis has revealed the
perplexing that Government hasn’t made similar deals for Government is not afraid of taking
other modes of transport or provided better support for an active stake in the running of
the supply chain. the network whole scale. Whilst the
concessionary model may not be our
It can’t be right that rail franchise holders are receiving preferred way of doing things, if the
such favourable terms, when virtually every other Government brings it in they must
company in the industry is having to survive through allow a publicly owned providers to bid
grants or loans whilst operating with the constant risk for these contracts.
of bankruptcy.
My constituents will not forget just
In midst of the current crisis, Europe’s largest how long it took for the government
infrastructure project has again come to fore of our to act when Northern rail failed us all,
public consciousness. Labour has always believed that it took years of failure, of delays, of
we must invest in developing rail capacity, including inadequate pacer trains on rush-hour
high speed rail, to address the climate crisis and better commuter routes for the government
connect our towns and cities. to remove the franchise. It should not
5
be as difficult as it is get around the North. We’ve got to put an end to the abandoning of
We need to make it easier, cheaper and more projects only to bring them back a few years
appealing for people to travel by rail if we’re later as part of a pre-budget announcement.
being serious about the climate emergency. One area we will look to invest in is accessibility
of our rail network. Currently nearly 40%
Above all, we need a clear long-term plan for of stations in Britain do not have step-free
our wider rail network across every region access. If updates to stations continue at
rather than the ad hoc piecemeal investment. this rate, our rail network will not be fully
accessible until 2070.
The economic divide that has grown over the
last ten years due to austerity, which successive Finally, I am proud of Labour’s record in
Tory Prime Ministers have dealt out, have held government of investing and developing our
certain areas of the country back, whilst others public and wider transport services. It is a
have been allowed to grow. legacy I hope we can live up to when we get
into power. But until the next election, we will
Undoing this and levelling up our country or work hard to scrutinise and challenge ministers
restructuring our economy so business isn’t to improve our transport sector, in order to
so concentrated in one area, is the true test deliver the services that people need.
of the Government agenda on this issue and
one for which Labour will be judged when we
come to power.
Aa
Click here:
Text only view
Reflecting
on 2020
As the year draws to a close it is fair
to say that 2020 will be marked in
the annals of history.
By Tim Wood, Northern Powerhouse Rail

Director, Transport for the North
T
hat is not to suggest that next year is Reaching this stage of development has been
the flick of a switch moment with life years in the making, something that is expected
returning to normality, there are many on infrastructure projects of this magnitude,
challenging months still ahead of us, and it’s been reached in collaboration with the
but news of an effective Covid vaccine suggests Department for Transport, delivery partners
there is some light at the end of the tunnel. and the North’s local transport authorities.
The last 12 months have thrown up some At the start of the journey a key aim of NPR was to
significant challenges, most notably the impact better connect the six main cities in the North of
of the pandemic and the associated collateral. England and Manchester International Airport,
Despite the hurdles, NPR has continued to and while that has remained at the centre of the
progress at pace and on budget. scheme throughout, the programme has evolved
to include serving new places, such as the City
As we approach the end of the calendar year of Bradford, too.
and move into the next, Transport for the North’s
members will make important decisions about Bradford is widely acknowledged as being
NPR’s phasing and preferred network. These one of the most poorly connected cities in
choices form part of the strategic outline case, the country, for instance a journey between
due to be submitted to government in March Leeds and Bradford by train, which is around
2021, and will demonstrate deliverability and eight miles, can take up to 23 minutes. To
affordability across the network. Manchester, passengers are looking at a journey
time of nearly an hour, which is often on an
In a matter of weeks, the North’s political and overcrowded service in a carriage that has been
business leaders - speaking with one voice in use since the 1980s. This is unacceptable in
through Transport for the North - will have chosen the 21st century.
their rail future. A future that is transformative
in terms of connectivity, capacity and efficiency
to unlock the region’s economic potential.
Comment 7
“Bradford is just Meanwhile, connectivity will be revolutionised

with journey times to Leeds, Manchester,
one example Liverpool and York more than halved, putting

the city at the heart of an integrated Northern
of many that economy and providing access to 750,000

more job opportunities across the North for
illustrates Bradford residents.
how Northern Figures indicate that more than 45,000 people
Powerhouse Rail
commute to Leeds from Bradford each day, but
nearly three-quarters of these travel by car. By
will transform building a modern, fast and resilient electrified

line between Manchester, central Bradford and
places across Leeds more commuters will choose rail over

road, helping the environment by removing
the North, going thousands of car trips from the region’s road
network every day once NPR is delivered in full.
some way to
finally level up
Bradford is just one example of many that
illustrates how NPR will transform places across
the country.” the North, going some way to finally level up the
country. For decades investment in transport
infrastructure in the region compared to the
South has been drastically disproportionate.
The time has come for the Government to

make good on their pledges and deliver the
much needed and long overdue rail connectivity
Northerners have deserved for years.
Additionally, the city itself, the seventh most
populous district in England according to recent The plans and the potential are in place, we
figures from the Office for National Statistics, stand ready to work with government to make
is not on the mainline rail network. A shocking NPR a reality.
reality for nearly 540,000 people who live in
Bradford and a barrier for many job seekers to
find employment further afield.
NPR proposals for the Manchester to Leeds line

will unlock opportunity and transform growth
in Bradford, increasing its appeal as a place to
live, visit, study and invest in by doubling the
number of people and businesses within reach
of the city.
From station
to destination By Maria Machancoses, Director of Sub-
national Transport Body Midlands Connect
Click here:
Text only view Aa
T
alk to a local about the reopening of London’s St Pancras
station in 2008, and you’re more likely to hear feedback
about the food court and shopping centre, than you are
about the international connections to Paris and Brussels.
Muse about the regeneration of nearby Kings Cross and it is not

the number of trains per hour that will dominate the conversation,
but the transformation of the area from seedy and unseemly, to
safe and sleek. Investing in the building of a new railway station,
or the upgrading of an existing one, can send ripples of renewal
and prosperity throughout the surrounding area and beyond.
With High Speed Two (HS2) set to serve six stations across the
Midlands, we must ensure plans are in place now to make the
most of this once-in-a-generation investment, and that means
shifting our focus to placemaking.
There are many forces at work in the creation of a successful

regeneration strategy. Firstly, it needs the involvement of both
the public and private sectors. For example, the land surrounding
Birmingham’s Curzon Street Station is subject to a £1bn
regeneration plan masterminded by the city council, but also
brings in Birmingham and Solihull’s Local Enterprise Partnership,
property owners, existing businesses and potential investors,
who are shown the latest opportunities on offer at international
events such as MIPIM (several virtual versions were held this
year for obvious reasons).
Article continues on the next page
Comment 9
Click here:
Find out more
Specialised on-track machinery for all Glasgow +44 (0)141 212 5630
aspects of railway engineering works Manchester +44 (0)161 694 4240
operating throughout mainland Reading +44 (0)118 950 3380
Europe, the UK and Australia.
[email protected]
Connecting communities to the new station and

associated development is also an intricately
important exercise. Large cities often have to
build ‘out’ from their traditional centre onto
brownfield land, and in Birmingham that means
using sites in Digbeth, near to the old Curzon
Street Station, which closed to passenger
traffic in 1893, as well as repurposing land and
warehouse space nearby into shops, restaurants
and new housing.
Linking people to this more

peripheral part of the city
means investing in tram
extensions, opening new rail
links to the adjacent Moor
Street Station, and redesigning
the city’s bus network, cycle
network and pedestrian
infrastructure to feed and
meet this new demand.
When finished, Birmingham’s new high-speed

station will have transformed the South side
of the city and drawn millions of people each
year to its leisure destinations, street art and
new boulevards. Crucially, it will become part
of the fabric of the city, seamlessly intertwined
with the services, public spaces and wider
infrastructure used by the local community.
Of equal significance will be the HS2’s

Interchange Station at Solihull where an
existing wealth of nationally-important assets,
including the NEC, Birmingham Airport and
Jaguar Land Rover will be boosted by the
Arden Cross Masterplan, set to oversee the
development of over 3,000 new homes and six
million square feet of commercial space.
Comment 11
Meanwhile, creating a successful station in a less-

established settlement presents its own set of Yes, HS2 will
challenges – as is the case at the site of HS2’s East
Midlands Hub in Toton. Plans are drawn up to create a revolutionise
state-of-the-art innovation campus on site, bringing
together start-ups, universities and established
the way we
businesses to drive world-leading research and
development.
travel.
It will be surrounded by newly-built garden villages,
installing around it a captive community, and crucially,
will be connected to over 20 villages, towns and
cities across the East Midlands by public transport,
including tram, bus, rail link and rapid bus transit. This It will slash journey times and bring
super connectivity and combination of employment, together communities from across
commercial and residential development will lead to the UK. However, for the investment
a high number of organic journeys to and from Toton, it prompts to truly transformative,
notwithstanding its high speed connections. HS2 cannot just be a rail project, it
must be a project focused on sensitive
This combination of local and national connectivity, regeneration, tasteful development and
as well as access to employees and community proper integration with surrounding
facilities is essential in creating a true destination settlements. Putting placemaking at the
station. heart of our Midlands HS2 strategy will
boost patronage, improve quality of life
Finally, the promise of HS2 and the anticipated uplift and drive employment growth.
it will cause in rail travel over the next two decades
has spearheaded the renewal of several important
sites across the Midlands, including Wolverhampton
and Coventry stations, and Stoke and Stafford
stations, due to be served by HS2 trains. The
regeneration of existing stations must be completed
with sensitivity to the surrounding environment and
minimum disruption.
This is nowhere more important than in Chesterfield,

where the arrival of high-speed services is set to
boost passenger numbers and allow local leaders
to create a new gateway to the Peak District, one
of the UK’s most popular tourist destinations. Here,
plans for new commercial development and better
pedestrian access to the station include a new
walkway connecting the station with Chesterfield’s
13th Century marketplace. Linking the historic and
futuristic in a sensitive and authentic way is essential.
A new dawn
on the horizon
By East Midlands Railway
E
ast Midlands Railway is pushing
forward its plans to introduce
its new state of the art Intercity
fleet by 2023.
The new bi-mode trains, which were

recently given the name Aurora in a
public competition, will serve the main
cities and towns on the Midland Main
Line including Sheffield, Chesterfield,
Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and
Lincoln as well as Kettering and London
St Pancras.
The name Aurora appealed to the

judges who were won over by the
name’s two meanings which mirror the
ethos and technological advancements
of the new trains.
Click here:
Text only view Aa
Comment 13
Aurora is the name of the Roman They have the ability to run using
goddess of the dawn, representing electric overhead lines wherever
the new start Aurora provides for the possible, taking advantage of the
railway serving the East Midlands and £1.5bn Midland Main Line upgrade and,
South Yorkshire. It is also inspired by when running in diesel mode, will cut
the Northern Lights, created by the harmful emissions (particulate matter)
transfer of the sun’s solar energy - by up to 90% compared to the legacy
matching Aurora’s ability to run under High Speed Trains.
electric power.
This new order for Hitachi will benefit
The new trains will offer significant suppliers across the country and, in
advances on the existing fleet, with particular, the East Midlands. Hitachi’s
passengers benefiting from more seats UK train factory at Newton Aycliffe,
and modern interiors. County Durham has worked with
65 different suppliers from the East
In total the company has ordered Midlands, awarding various multi-
33 five-carriage trains, which will million-pound contracts to support
regularly be operated in 10-carriage skills and high-quality jobs in the region.
formations.
EMR has also chosen to work with
The trains will include features that local supplier to create the interiors for
passengers and local stakeholders the new trains.
have said they want to see, including
air conditioning, free WiFi throughout, DGDESIGN, which is based at Friar
plug sockets and better passenger Gate Studios in Derby, provides design
information screens. There will be an services to companies all over the
improved and more consistent ‘seven world and has worked with many of
day’ catering service in both First and the world’s leading rail manufacturers
Standard Class. and operators on products ranging
from award winning high speed trains
to innovative personal automated
people movers.
The new Hitachi EMR chose the local company to make

trains are also sure its new fleet of Aurora trains
quieter and greener, offered passengers a calm, comfortable
meaning lower and accessible environmental to enjoy
carbon emissions their journey.
and a better
environment for
passengers, stations
and communities
along the route.
Click here:
Text only view Aa
Going forward
By Chris Heaton-Harris MP
W
e have come a long way since the Now it’s our turn to be transport pioneers,
era of Victorian signallers pulling building on our great traditions to deliver a
heavy metal levers to provide railway that is fit for the future.
safe passage for trains rolling
into and out of stations. I am proud as Rail Minister to be working on
an ambitious programme to modernise the
Advances in technology mean we no longer railways, which includes introducing digital
have to arduously log each train movement by signalling across the rail network in Great
hand – or use hand-held signal lamps to usher Britain; a cutting-edge technology for the oldest
trains past in the dead of night, through tunnels passenger rail network in the world.
or falling snow.

Comment 15
Click here:
Find out more
rail
mancHe
finance
RMF is a leading provider of railway reservation based

international settlement and clearing services, providing
sophisticated revenue and cost allocation, including
business critical management information
Times House, Bravingtons Walk, Regent Quarter

London N1 9AW Tel: +44 (0)20 7042 9961
[email protected]
www.rmf.co.uk
Just last month While conventional signalling means the

network can struggle to recover quickly
we announced following disruption, this technology gives

signallers much better real-time information
£1.2m of new so they can communicate with train drivers

continuously to reduce the impact of delays.
funding to Signalling is brought onto a screen in the cab,
accelerate providing drivers with real-time information,
development
removing the need for line-side signals. This
can help ensure the safer operation of trains
work for digital and increase track utilisation by allowing

vehicles to run closer together, travelling at
signalling on their optimal speeds.
vital sections We’re now asking industry to work collaboratively

and at pace to develop new digital schemes to
of the West unleash the jobs, skills and economic benefits of
Coast Main Line,

investment in digital signalling.
Midland Main AND THERE IS SOME GREAT WORK

ALREADY UNDERWAY.
Line and East Since we announced £350m of new

Anglia route. investment toward the East Coast Digital
Programme back in the summer, which will
introduce digital signalling on the East Coast
Main Line, between London King’s Cross and
Stoke Tunnel in Lincolnshire, we have seen
real progress.
Learning lessons from the East Coast Digital
Programme, I have tasked engineers to look An integrated industry programme has been set
at the most effective way to apply this type up, which has allowed for early engagement with
of technology to the railway, and bring about key suppliers to help shape the development
a new way of working. It means we can work and delivery of the scheme.
with the supply chain from the very beginning,
creating further opportunities to encourage And the East Coast Digital Programme has
innovation and drive efficiencies across regions. incorporated lessons learned from others
I know how frustrating it is when disruption such as the Thameslink, which already uses
on one part of the railway, often miles away on digital signalling.
another part of the network, causes knock-on
delays to your journey still many hours later.
Comment 17
We have also gained invaluable insight from Alongside digital signalling and related systems
digital innovations in other countries. which will help to optimise train operations,
rail companies, suppliers and academia will
The European Train Control System - the global make the railway easier to use for all by giving
standard for digital train control - is deployed customers real-time information about their
across Europe, Canada, Australia and other journeys, including alternatives in the event of
countries in south east Asia and has given us disruptions.
inspiration on how to apply those developments
in the UK. Account-based services will also make paying for
and reserving a seat easier, as well as booking
I was pleased to recently chair a virtual panel and providing assistance for disabled passengers
event with leading voices from across the and enable more personalised services.
rail and technology sectors. We had expert
panellists including from Siemens, the RSSB and The sector is also focusing on using sensor and
the Railway Industry Association discuss the AI technology to develop and deploy remote
impact and progress of vital digital signalling condition monitoring on more rail assets, so that
projects, and the wider innovations that digital inspection and maintenance is based on actual
technology can bring to rail. need, supported by data, thereby reducing the
withdrawal of rolling stock from service and track
It was clear that digital technology can play a possessions, and the effects of these on services.
vital role in driving innovation in the rail sector
beyond signalling. We’ve come a long way since mechanical
levers. Now, as then, harnessing technology
In the long term, this will deliver real benefits presents huge opportunities as we build the
for passengers, operators and the network as railway of tomorrow.
a whole – some of which have already been
explored through the Rail Technical Strategy.
Digital technology has

a big part to play as we
transform our rail network
in years to come.
The industry’s new Rail Technical Strategy

launched in October of this year, and committed
it to working together to achieve a variety of
goals for the railway, which can be facilitated
by developing and implementing digital tools
and systems.
Aa
Click here:
Text only view
O
n 8th November we in this country. We’re also very
received the exciting new small in comparison to the U.S so
Working time:
that the team at Virgin it’s questionable whether we would

had reached a significant ever be able to justify the journey
time to work
milestone in development of time reduction to travel even the

Hyperloop technology; testing length and breadth of the nation,
passenger travel for the first time. assuming there was enough of a
market for such travel.
Zooming through the Nevada
desert, this builds on over 400 Nonetheless, I hope there will be
tests of various kinds undertaken peripheral benefits to the progress
to date, and shows that Project made on Hyperloop. In an industry
Pegasus (a white winged horse, where we aren’t known for moving
rather than a white elephant) is rapidly with innovation, we need
making significant progress. moonshots like this to create a
slipstream for other developments.
The aim is to be able to transport
passengers at 670mph. That’s 10 The recent urgency created around
times faster than conventional rail developing the Covid 19 vaccine
travel and three times faster even will undoubtedly bring with it
than what is currently known as lasting benefits in challenging
‘High Speed’ rail. I can see how the usual timescales involved in
this will work when deployed on a developing medicines. Sometimes
straight, clear stretch of the Nevada it takes a crisis to create that
desert but I remain to be convinced urgency but hopefully, in the case
that this technology will ever have of Hyperloop, a good old dash of
a part to play in the UK railway. PR ‘hype’ will be enough to fuel
acceleration in conventional and
As we grapple with early high speed rail innovation.
By Anna-Jane Hunter, development and construction
Partner, Winder Phillips of HS2 and TRU we see just how
Associates complex it is to build new railways
19
Diversity
& Inclusion
20
THE NEW EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION CHARTER
Adeline Ginn MBE
30
THE ONLY FEMALE FREIGHT TRAIN DRIVER IN SCOTLAND
Glynis Appelbe
34
BECOMING STRONGER BY EMBRACING DIFFERENCE
Karen Lewis
The new
Equality,
Diversity
and Inclusion
Charter
Women in Rail and the Railway Industry
Association (RIA) launched a joint
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Charter,
on the 6th November – the final day of
Aa
Calendar
Click here:
the annual RIA conference. Text only view
By Adeline Ginn MBE, Chair of Women in

Rail and Director at CPMS Group
and Kate Jennings, Policy Director at the
Railway Industry Association.
T
he Charter is intended to support and opportunity and the RIA Rail Industry Supplier
celebrate action on equality, diversity Excellence (RISE) awards celebrated the
and inclusion and the conference innovation, growth and diversity of the sector.
also heard from many speakers and
panellists on why diversity matters. Mark For example, Amey Consulting’s Rail Degree
Thurston (CEO, HS2 Ltd), Sir Peter Hendy Apprenticeship Programme won the Equality,
(Chair, Network Rail) and Nick Smallwood Diversity and Inclusion Award, Porterbrook
(CEO, Infrastructure & Projects Authority, Head won the Environment and Sustainability Award
of Project Delivery Function, UK Government and the Client of the Year Award went to
at Cabinet Office), all recognised the power of Innovation and Projects Director (job-sharing
diversity and inclusion to drive social mobility partners), Helen Simpson and Chandra Morbey,
innovation and success. Dyan Crowther (CEO, also from Porterbrook.
HS1) chaired a panel on skills diversity and
Community-driven festival of
Join rail industry influencers, leaders and

decision-makers for a community-driven festival of
innovation, education and collaboration.
We’re working in partnership with over 320 industry

leading speakers over the next twelve months to deliver
a series of lively and engaging virtual events that provide
unfettered access to your target customers.
17/03/21 14/04/21
Rail Investment | Getting Back on Track Rail Safety Technology
12/05/21 16/06/21
Green Light for a Clean Rail Industry Equality & Diversity in the Rail Industry
14/07/21 11/08/21
Rail Passenger Experience | Keeping Connected More Action for Rail Traction
13/10/21 15/09/21
Multimodal Rail | Making Rail Freight Great Preparing for Winter
10/11/21 08/12/21
Light Rail | Keeping our cities moving The Future of Rail Technology & AI
Click here
Contact the team Register

Tel: 0161 833 6320
for more info
This new EDI Charter drive financial performance. These are essential
contributing factors to supporting the rail
aims to build on current
industry, and the UK, navigate its way out of the
industry-wide efforts to current crisis.
create equal opportunities
for everyone, increase The Charter also aims to support the United
workforce diversity, Nations Sustainable Development Goals
and sits alongside the transformation of the
including social mobility,
railway as the greenest and most sustainable
throughout all grades and mode of transport. It recognises that there
roles and foster a positive are significant levels of investment going into
culture in the UK rail sector. the rail network – new trains and services
including HS2.
It acknowledges that rail is central to

government plans for zero carbon travel and
We are living through very difficult times and that it provides a modern, safe and low carbon
rail will face some huge challenges over the next mode of transport, which enhances connectivity
few years. Tackling these will require a strong, and supports active travel, contributing to
diverse and inclusive workforce, with the right boosting UK exports and providing much needed
skills and talents, that can enable our sector to employment and investment opportunities for
play a key role in our nation’s recovery. communities across the UK.
The crucial part to be played by the joint An open and public commitment to equality,
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Charter in diversity and inclusion will help rail attract the
achieving this is undeniable. The Charter reflects talent and harness the skills and knowledge
the commitment of rail companies to champion it needs from everyone representing all parts
equality, diversity and inclusion in UK rail and of our society and our customers to meet the
to work together to build a more balanced, fair Government’s environmental targets that have
and high performing sector. received particular focus in recent months.
It recognises that we all have a collective The Charter is inclusive – it is open to

role to play in making a positive change and organisations of all sizes and disciplines, from
demonstrates a real commitment from rail Governments to major contractors and small
companies to having Equality, Diversity and businesses, who wish to play a key role in
Inclusion built in, not bolted on, and thus deliver promoting innovation and agility in the UK
tangible outputs for the benefit of our industry rail sector.
and its employees.
To date, over 120 organisations from the UK
The Charter aims to encourage not just equality, railway industry have signed up to the Charter
diversity and inclusion, but also diversity of which sends a strong message to the rail
thought, innovation and a positive workforce workforce in these difficult times.
culture. This, in turn, will help unlock new talent,
improve customer relationships and ultimately
It shows the Signatory companies also commit to make

recruitment and progression processes
passion for accessible and attractive to all so as to

attract, retain and develop people of all
change that was backgrounds, ages, genders and identities

into the rail workforce.
already there The Charter does not include targets but
and just had to encourages goodwill and collaboration
be harnessed.
between signatory companies, recognising
that each organisation will have a different
starting point and available resources and
that progress will not look the same for
each company.
Rail as a career has the potential to support

It also demonstrates rail companies’
social mobility, grow UK Science Technology
commitment to working together to build on,
Engineering and Maths (STEM) skills, and
if not accelerate, the progress made in the last
create opportunities across the country. One
few year to create opportunities for everyone
of the objectives of the Charter is to help the
and build an inclusive culture.
rail sector attract younger generations and
more diverse people into rail.
Those signing up to the Charter commit to
publicly report on their progress, to lead by
The collaborative and outcome-based
example and to promote positive change
approach envisaged by the Charter supports
in three key ways - by empowering and
the continued development of a positive culture
educating leaders, by making employees
within rail, stimulating staff engagement and
feel comfortable to challenge discriminatory
thus making our industry attractive to a wide
behaviours in the workplace and by
variety – and diversity – of applicants.
collaborating to share best practice.
It also commits signatory companies

to support the progression of diverse
individuals into senior roles and develop
the talent pipeline with a view to improving
representation at senior and executive level
of the railway industry.
In terms of specific pledges, the Charter

commits signatory companies to appointing a
member of the senior leadership team as an
‘EDI Champion’, to develop an action plan and
to create a culture that fosters inclusion and
encourages ‘quiet voices’.
24 December / January 2021 Diversity & Inclusion
RBF
continues
to support
families over
Christmas
By Ailsa Cowen, RTM Editorial Lead
Click here:
Text only view Aa Last year, the McIntosh vouchers were
gratefully received by railway families that the
A
charity helped. One parent said: “I received in
fter a year full of unprecedented the post today a £40 gift card for Argos to give
circumstances, many working in to my little girl for Christmas. I just wanted
the rail industry have struggled to say thank you. It was so lovely to receive
financially and have required support something so unexpected.”
from the Railway Benefit Fund (RBF).
Another parent said: “I am truly overwhelmed
The charity has helped hundreds of rail families & truly grateful. Both my children will be very
facing hard times throughout the year, by happy & grateful when they receive the gift
providing help, signposting and financial cards on Christmas day and will have pleasure
support to help with crisis solutions, such as spending it on things they want. As my funds
priority debt, rent arrears, illness and disability are low and we do not have family that they
and other difficult circumstances. receive presents from, this is so nice and I
cannot thank you enough.”
Helping the children from railway families
has always been the sole focus of what RBF To help a railway family in need this Christmas,
do, which is why they are continuing with the you can donate via the Railway Benefit Fund
McIntosh voucher scheme this year, especially Just Giving page, which you can find here.
due to the hardship brought on by the Covid-19
pandemic. The charity will gift a £40 Argos
voucher to every railway child this Christmas, Click here, find out more:
giving to nearly 100 families. Railway Benefit Fund
Aaron Group
25
Multi Disciplined Contractor in Click here:

rail, civils & building services Find out more
Aaron Rail provides rail and civil Aaron Rail – Aaron Rail is a specialist services
engineering solutions to the rail business in rail and civil engineering
sector across the UK, offering a full • Fixed price projects
planning and installation service
through to fitting and maintenance. • Drainage surveys
• Blue and white collar
Aaron Guard – Provide bespoke manned

guarding and innovated cctv services
• Pts & Sia manned guarding
• Suicide prevention
• Anti-trespass
• CCTV
Aaron Access – Automation specialist services

• Roller shutters
• Turnstiles
• Gates, barriers
• Car park systems
• 24 hour call out
Aaron FM - Multi Disciplined Contractor in

building services
• Design, projects, maintenance
& repair
Click here for more information • Joinery, passive fire, flooring
• Roofing, plumbing, heating
and electrical
Aaron Rail HQ, 4A Bramhall Moor Technology Park, Pepper RD, Hazel Grove,
Stockport, SK7 5BW
0161 302 3670
[email protected]
What more
can be done?
By Ola Ogun,
Chief Financial Officer at the Rail Delivery Group
W
hen I started at the Rail Delivery
Group (RDG) over two years ago,
one thing that struck me from
my first conversation with the
executive team was the commitment to ensure
equality through the organisation.
To be clear, we’re acutely aware we’ve ‘only

just’ embarked on our Equality, Diversity and
Inclusion (EDI) journey – ‘only just’ in this
context probably spanning the last five years but
arguably turbocharged in the last 12 months.
About this time last year, the RDG agreed we

should give even more focus to EDI, a decision
which resulted in several key initiatives across
our business. We set up executive sponsored
employee network groups, including our Disability
Awareness Network, Embrace (our Black, Asian,
Minority Ethnicity network), our Mental Health
Awareness Group and Platform (our LGBTQ+
network). We ensured there was a standing
agenda item at each executive committee meeting
to discuss EDI across the organisation.
But it was the launch of an EDI survey earlier

this year that provided the springboard for even
more action to be taken across so many areas
of the business. The survey provided insight into
our current EDI posture and areas that required
more focus.
Click here:
Text only view Aa
Following the feedback received from the survey All these have contributed to an environment
and from engagement with our network groups, and culture where we’re actively seeking to
we’ve implemented (or are in the process of improve EDI, across all characteristics within
implementing), several initiatives: RDG, and one where members of staff feel
supported and able to challenge in areas where
• We’ve compiled our ethnicity pay gap we can do more.
data and have published this on our website.
More importantly, we’re carrying out a deep Personally, the ongoing pandemic and Black
dive into our data, working with the Embrace Lives Matter (BLM) movement challenged the
network, to better understand any barriers to separation between personal and corporate life
attraction, progression and retention. which I’d always maintained, and prompted me
to ask, ‘What more could I do in the EDI space?’
• We’re ensuring that our recruitment
practices are robust in terms of EDI. This is ONE ANSWER: more conversations with people
carried out in conjunction with our network from different backgrounds across the business.
groups and has resulted, for example, in
changes to the application process with The same question was being repeated across
summary profiles being submitted instead the RDG BAME community; so much so, that
of CVs, to reduce unconscious bias in the individually, and collectively as Embrace, we’ve
recruitment process. started to engage the business in a series of
conversations to educate ourselves on how to
• We’re increasing engagement with make the working environment even better,
employees via our network groups and our and conversations about how our allies can
newly formed Inclusion Forum, comprising of support with driving equitability and equality
network group leads and allies from across the in all we do.
company. In the short time since inception, the
Inclusion Forum has driven several changes, Needless to say, the top team at the RDG is very
including an ongoing review of the employee conscious that we need to do more. That’s why
journey at RDG – key to understanding how we we’re providing unconscious bias training for
might further improve EDI. all RDG employees – available for the executive
team through to every member of staff.
• We’re undertaking quarterly reporting We’re also launching a mentoring and reverse
and analysis of our diversity data. Whilst the mentoring scheme – the latter to provide
Inclusion Forum and our network groups focus leaders with insight into the issues being faced,
on changes to the culture of the company, or (dare I say) positive feedback from our staff.
there’s a place for measuring our stats and
ensuring the various initiatives are having the Hopefully, we’re on the right track to achieve
desired impact. For example, in the last six the I in EDI, and I firmly believe we have the
months, 52% of starters were from BAME foundation, and the support of our allies across
background. The Executive Team at the RDG all characteristics, with which to continue our
reviews and discusses this report during our EDI journey.
regular meetings.
Aa
Click here:
Text only view
This Is Not a
Man’s World By Zoey Hudson,
Head of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion at GTR.
A
ny major organisation faces A diverse team is happier, better motivated and
challenges of representation. But ultimately more successful.
in the rail industry, we know better
than most that recruiting and Failing to reach out to all elements of society
retaining women remains a challenge. when recruiting for a role limits a company’s
ability to reach the very best candidates.
As the biggest Train Operating Company (TOC)
in the UK, Govia Thameslink Railway knows That is why we set ourselves the ambitious
that leading the charge for more women in the target of doubling the number of women
industry means putting our money where our train driver applicants across our Southern,
mouth is. GTR is a fantastic place to work and Thameslink, Great Northern, and Gatwick
widening our talent pool to be more diverse and Express services and are now seeing the
more inclusive brings countless benefits for our success of our focus here.
entire workforce.
In 2019, we had a total of 413 women apply That is why we have also introduced a
to GTR for train driver roles. In the six months programme of ‘Unconscious Bias’ training for
from February 2020 we doubled that to 825. all managers to make GTR as inclusive a place
While there is more to do, this brilliant result to work as possible. With this, we are aiming
proves that, with the right approach, the to boost representation, and change hearts and
industry can broaden its appeal and attract minds all at the same time.
people from different demographics to consider
frontline roles. Some of our newly qualified train drivers have
applied from our dedicated push to recruit more
To get there, we ran a series of dedicated women in recent years, across all ages and
recruitment and marketing campaigns, targeted backgrounds. Paige Lunn (29) was working in
at women. We partnered with fantastic groups retail but saw the campaigns actively seeking
like Working Mums and aimed to show that a to recruit women train drivers and jumped at
career in rail is widely accessible. The stereotypes
the challenge.
of the industry needed to be challenged, and we
found the perfect outlets to do so. Lisa Gibbs (56) wanted to be a train driver
from the age of 21 but her career path took
By investing heavily in a recruitment campaign a different turn; she returned to the idea over
packed full of programmes and initiatives, such 30 years later and has found driving a train
as reaching new audiences through partnerships, everything she wanted. Beau Hawkins (26) has
we ensure our campaigns are aimed at debunking been on working in rail for seven years in ticket
the stereotypes associated with careers in the offices and on platforms, but now has made the
rail industry. Presenting these opportunities leap to driving trains and loves the view from
through real colleagues means we can humanise the cab.
our brands while also demonstrating the huge
versatility of roles available. All of which supports Across all ages and all walks of life, talented
our focus on attracting a more diverse workforce women are ready and waiting to join the
to the industry. industry; the future of the sector requires
greater diversity at its centre.
And what the targets of our outreach found
was that ultimately, a career in rail is one that is We have made enormous strides this year in
rewarding for everyone regardless of who they doubling the number of female applicants from
are, and an exciting challenge at that! 2019. Next year’s challenge?
Doing it all again. By 2021, we aim to once

again double the number of female train driver
applicants, improving diversity in teams across
It is worth noting that our entire talent pool, and achieving a 50/50
revitalising workplace gender split on all training programmes by the
culture means more than just end of next year.
boosting application numbers
– it has to be part of the
company’s wider ethos.
Aa
Click here:
Text only view
The Only Female Freight

Train Driver in Scotland
Glynis Appelbe,
HR Director, G&W UK/Europe Region companies
L
ike any responsible reap the benefits, especially with the
organisation, G&W UK/ recruitment of females into frontline
Europe Region companies, operational roles, including train and
which include the UK’s largest truck drivers.
intermodal rail freight provider,
Freightliner, and leading UK container Following a complete relaunch of
logistics services provider, Pentalver, their company website last year,
place great emphasis on improving the careers pages now feature
diversity and inclusion across their testimonials and videos of female
three business platforms of rail, road colleagues in engineering and
and terminals. frontline roles.
This is reflected in their company All external recruitment advertising

value of ‘respect – we treat all people promotes and celebrates a diverse
with dignity and fairness, fostering workforce using imagery and by
diversity and inclusion.’ highlighting the development and
career opportunities available to all.
Attracting highly skilled and diverse Ensuring equal opportunities are
talent to G&W UK/Europe Region available regardless of background,
companies has been an ongoing ethnicity, age, sexual orientation,
priority for the group. With a disability, or gender is of the
stronger focus on diversity and upmost importance – particularly
inclusion in the last few years, they in historically non-diverse industries
are slowly and surely starting to such as rail and logistics.
Freightliner WORK180 is an international

jobs network that connects smart
has also been businesses with talented women.

They pre-screen every employer
approved on their jobs board to see where

they stand on pay equity, flexible
to join working, paid parental leave,
equal opportunities, and a range
WORK180 as of other criteria.
an Endorsed They also consider diversity
Employer for initiatives focusing on age, ability,

ethnicity, and sexual orientation.
Women. The information uncovered is made

public on their website, so that
everyone knows what to expect
from each employer before applying
for a job.
Click here:
Find out more
As a WORK180 endorsed employer for women, Actively participating in events such as the
Freightliner has demonstrated their commitment Women in Rail sponsored Big Rail Diversity
to creating a workplace where women can thrive. Challenge has provided an opportunity to
They have gained their endorsement in 2019 showcase that teamwork and diversity is
through transparently sharing their benefits not only beneficial, but also essential to the
and policies with candidates and proving their productivity and success of a business.
commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Freightliner also supports the Women in Rail
Over the past year, Freightliner has also promoted Awards and is proud that one of their female
their internal advocates to share their career train drivers was highly commended in the
stories and workplace experience. A particular ‘Inspirational Woman of the Year’ category at
highlight was train diver Heather Waugh’s this year’s awards.
story. Through sharing Heather’s experience,
Freightliner help shatter misconceptions about The winner, Heather, Freightliner Train Driver
a career as a freight train driver. said: “Despite having worked in a male
dominated industry for my entire career, the last
15 years within the rail industry, it wasn’t until
I joined Freightliner that I felt encouraged and
Despite being the only valued enough to speak out as a woman. When
woman freight train driver the company took me to the 2019 Women in
in Scotland, Heather believes Rail Awards, it was a real turning point for me.
there’s no reason for women
“To be amongst so many inspiring women who
to be intimidated by the job. supported each other made me feel empowered
and I realised, probably for the first time, why
it was so important for women to be visible
Heather said: “My only regret is that I never and heard.”
considered the freight world sooner, and that
was all based on false perceptions!” Gary Long, CEO of Freightliner, said: “When
we hire and promote talent that is diverse,
Freightliner also joined WORK180’s annual we become a smarter, better functioning and
Women in Engineering campaign, to showcase forward-thinking organisation. To not support
the breadth of opportunity available and to open inclusion, of whatever kind, would significantly
up the stories of the women who are excelling in limit our talent pool, thereby inhibiting
this field. opportunities for future growth and innovation
in our industry.”
Freightliner has also shown a commitment to
creating safe and welcoming spaces for those
who identify as LGBTQA+, and were proud to
share Devon Johnson’s experience in this year’s
Pride in the Workplace campaign.
Click here, find out more:
Work 180
GKD Technologies
on protecting
man & machine Click here:
Text only view Aa
Click here, find out more:

GKD
G
KD Technologies design, develop The 3RCi+ also features a touchscreen graphical
and produce height, slew and load display inside the cab where the operator can
safety control systems for Road see all the details about the machine and its
Rail vehicles (RRV’s) and general capabilities in its current position. The display
construction equipment. is water resistant with IP64 rating. An ambient
light sensor has been included to control the
THE GKD 3RCI+ SYSTEM IS THE LATEST screens brightness automatically.
VERSION OF THE MOST POPULAR RETROFIT
RATED CAPACITY INDICATOR FOR ROAD 3RCI+ SPACEGUARD ROAD RAIL, RATED
RAIL APPLICATIONS. The 3RCi+ has been CAPACITY INDICATOR The 3RCi+ benefits
developed with the newest technology to from an additional SpaceGuard feature which
meet the growing safety requirements of the has dual sensing for extra accuracy and
rail industry - enabling RRV’s to work to their protects against system sensor malfunction,
maximum capacity whilst operating safely inconsistencies, and electronic failures. The
and securely. SpaceGuard feature certifies the RRV to
work adjacent line open (ALO) and under live
Slew limits, virtual walls and height limits overhead wires (OLE), increasing productivity
are included, featuring selective intelligent by allowing work to be carried out without the
hydraulic motion cut of any boom or slew need for adjacent line closure and or power
function at limit to prevent movement further supply isolation.
into danger, but allows recovery into the “safe”
zone. Selective intelligent hydraulic motion cut 3RCi+ SpaceGuard also features new gyro tilt
also provides graduated, smooth control of sensors included in the system which provide
hydraulic functions as they approach the set a true clean angle of the excavator boom, even
limits. Full data logging of all functions and in the presence of high shock, acceleration,
operational state is included. and vibration.
Becoming
stronger by
embracing
difference
By Karen Lewis,
London North Eastern Railway, People Director
Click here:
Text only view Aa
W
e know that our
diversity within the industry, our recruitment processes are
people are the
further removing some of the free from bias and creating a
beating heart of
barriers people face when it great place to work for all.
our organisation
comes to rail travel.
and we are committed to We want all groups within our Whilst we are active in all
creating a diverse workforcelocal communities to see both these areas, we acknowledge
and fostering an inclusive travel and employment with that LNER needs to
culture where our people feel
LNER as an accessible option. improve in the areas of
able to be themselves at work
Our workforce must represent gender balance (currently
and achieve their potential.the diverse communities we 58per cent male, 42per
serve, and we want our people cent female) and ethnicity
Our diversity and inclusion to have the confidence and (BAME currently eight per
strategy is championed freedom to bring their whole cent against a population
across the business, with selves to work and thrive. of 14per cent). That is why
Executive sponsors owning we have established Board-
each diversity strand. Not In practise, this means working level targets to improve
only is this helping us to with schools, supporting representation across the
create a more inclusive training programmes, organisation. Creating a more
culture, we are working, creating opportunities representative workforce is
towards our ambition to through work placements and essential.
have the best levels of apprenticeships, making sure
Our Inclusion committed to making progress More than half (52 per cent)
each year in the Inclusive of women say that if they
Network and
Employers benchmark. were aware of a competitive
Inclusion salary rate and benefits in the
Trade Union In the autumn, we were proud industry, they would be more
Representatives to sign both the Women attracted to applying for roles.
are working with in Rail and Rail Industry
Association Equality, Diversity Our research therefore shows
us to make our
and Inclusion Charter and the that there is a clear need for
culture more Business in the Community the industry to work together
inclusive. Race at Work Charter. By to demonstrate the unique
signing these charters, we opportunities on offer with
made a public commitment a career in rail, and by doing
to build a more balanced so to help drive an increase in
and fairer workforce and are the number of women in the
We have invested in a
holding ourselves accountable workplace.
programme of inclusion training
to making progress against the
tailored to the needs of each
Charter principles, which will Ultimately, we want to ensure
role across the business, and
create positive change within that everyone feels able to
each year arrange a calendar
our industry. be themselves, can fulfil their
of events to raise awareness
potential and have a career of
and support all aspects of
As part of International Women’s which they can be truly proud.
diversity, including workshops
Day 2020, we conducted We are making real progress,
through Women in Rail and
research that found 85 per cent but it will require the entire
regional Pride celebrations.
of women of working age in industry to continue working
the UK have never considered in partnership in order for us to
We are also working with
a career in rail. The primary unlock the many benefits that
experts such as Inclusive
reason given by women polled come with having a genuinely
Employers and Stonewall, and
was due to the perceived lack of inclusive and diverse workforce.
have made improvements to
a match between their skills and
our recruitment and selection
the jobs our sector offers, with
processes by introducing
six out of 10 women saying the
gender neutral advertising
industry is not relevant to their
and blind screening. We are
skills or expertise.
Aa
Click here: Diversity & Inclusion
Text only view
A data driven
approach to
decarbonisation
T
he race is on to reach net- KeTech’s Connected Driver Advisory
zero carbon emissionsSystem (C-DAS), uses real-time
by 2050, along with the route data to intelligently advise the
expectation for punctual most efficient driving techniques
journeys and meaningful information. to the driver to consume minimum
Trains have a life of around 40 years,energy, reduce wear and tear, thus
any trains built today will only be reducing the energy and cost used
mid-life by 2050 and will need to in maintenance. The reporting-
be re-engineered or scrapped before tool provides driver feedback and
meaningful, useable data, aiding
they get to the end of their useful life.
The demand for new trains is ever- efficient route and timetable
present with a distinct shift from management. Coupled with constant
road to rail in both passenger travel connectivity, delays are reduced,
and freight. stop-starting is avoided and looping in
freight is kept to a minimum, reducing
Apart from electrifying 100% air pollution, fuel consumption and
of the railway, how else can the journey time.
industry get on track to a zero-
carbon future? Through turning In order to truly accelerate
problems into solutions, KeTech decarbonisation, the industry
has been the market leader in must work together, investing in
real-time information for over 20 sustainable innovation for the future.
years. The environment is at the
forefront of KeTech’s design process.
Creating future proof, modular,
truly connected products with Click here, find out more:
the capability to design bespoke KeTech
interfaces into third-party or legacy
systems, enabling fleets to get to
the very end of their useful lives
with the newest technology.
37
Civils
& Stations
38
SOUTH WALES METRO CONTINUES TO GROW
Tim Lewis
42
NEW SUBSTATION POWERING TRANSFORMATION
Errol Douglas
48
BRING IN THE WAVEWALKER
Network Rail & BAM Nuttall
Click here:
Text only view Aa
South Wales
Metro continues
to grow Tim Lewis, Media Relations
Manager, Transport for Wales
W
hile the coronavirus pandemic Cwmbach and Fernhill stations on the Aberdare
continues to present huge line is key preparation for the electrification of
challenges across the rail the line, which in the future will provide a more
industry, the recent completion sustainable and efficient way of travel.
of two key areas of work by Transport for Wales
(TfW) as part of our delivery of the South Wales Work on the Control Centre frame was completed
Metro have brought some welcome positive during the period of local lockdowns and the
news this autumn. subsequent two-week ‘firebreak’ in Wales, but
following the end to travel restrictions within
The first was the construction of the steel Wales on November 9, those travelling between
frame for the South Wales Metro’s new Control Cardiff and Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) will get
Centre in Taff’s Well, six miles north of Cardiff, their first sight of the impressive structure.
which was erected in October and provides the
first glimpse of how this section of the £100m The Control Centre will oversee Metro operations
Taff’s Well Metro Depot will look. including signalling and train movements and
will be a vital part of the Taff’s Well Metro
This symbolic milestone was quickly followed Depot.
by the first major railway track transformation
work for the South Wales Metro at the There will also be a modern maintenance facility
beginning of November. The work to lower built to service and home brand-new Metro
almost 200m of track at Old Colliery between vehicles (tram-trains).
On completion, the Control Centre will

control the Core Valleys Lines, which
TfW took responsibility for earlier
this year. It will use the latest Traffic
Management System, combining
operations and infrastructure control
with driver and passenger information
.
Due for completion in 2022, it will be
home to approximately 400 train crew,
35 train maintenance staff and 52
control centre staff, with around 150
staff using the depot on a daily basis.
Ken Skates, Welsh Government

Minister for Economy, Transport
and North Wales welcomed the
development of the Control Centre and
the track transformation work at Old
Colliery on the Aberdare line.
Despite very poor weather conditions,

with non-stop rain throughout the
duration of the work, teams from
TfW and delivery partner Balfour
Beatty worked around the clock to Click here:
Find out more
lower nearly 200 metres of railway
track at Old Colliery between
Cwmbach and Fernhill stations, Work has been progressing with industry partners CAF
increasing the clearance from the and Stadler to design and build the new trains that will
track to the over bridge. operate on 95% of their rail services.
Alongside the track transformation Significant progress has been made on the Class 398
work, progress continues to be made tram-trains and work has begun on the Class 231 trains.
on the construction of TfW’s new Both are being built by Stadler for the South Wales
trains for the Wales and Borders rail Metro. Alongside these, the Class 197 Civity trains being
network and the South Wales Metro, built for use on other Wales and Borders routes are
despite the challenges posed by the currently being assembled at CAF’s factory in Llanwern.
Covid-19 pandemic.
The South Wales Metro project has been part-funded
TfW is investing £800 million into by the European Regional Development Fund through
new trains and tram-trains to totally Welsh Government.
transform the customer experience
throughout their Wales and Borders
network.
Aa
Click here:
Text only view
3Squared secures a
3-year renewal of its
RailSmart platform
D
igital transport solutions provider,
3Squared announced recently that they
had secured a contract with GB Railfreight
for renewed and expanded use of its Click here, find out more:
award-winning RailSmart software platform. 3squared
This renewed three-year contract marks the third
successful renewal of the partnership between
3Squared and GB Railfreight which has continued
to develop over more than half a decade.
The renewal further cements the long-term Tim Jones, Managing Director of 3Squared,
commitment of both parties to advancing the use commented: “We are delighted to be working with
of digital solutions whilst exploring even more GB Railfreight for another 3 years. This renewal
ways to innovate and add value to GB Railfreight. solidifies a fantastic and successful partnership.
This long-term renewal provides both parties with
3Squared and its freight operating client have a a strong platform to continue working together
shared commitment to make the UK rail freight towards achieving an improved railway.
sector more efficient, sustainable and cost
effective while keeping Britain moving through
current challenges.
“This investment from GB Railfreight is a “Our latest collaboration, the award winning
significant demonstration of its commitments Railsmart RCM (Remote Condition Monitoring)
to digitalisation. This is more pertinent than provides us real time locomotive telemetry and
ever considering the current challenges that alerts, allowing our Control, Engineering and
our industry faces. It is also testament to the Operations teams greater asset and resource
value and benefits our RailSmart platform management. I look forward to further
delivers for operations when implemented collaboration with 3Squared in the coming
correctly. We look forward to our continued years, not only benefiting GB Railfreight but
working relationship” also the wider rail freight community.”
Alfredo Giangregorio, Head of IT at GB RailSmart is an award-winning suite of software

Railfreight, added: “GB Railfreight first applications that support the operations,
engaged with 3Squared back in 2014 with the safety and compliance of today’s modern
introduction of its Railsmart EDS (Employee transportation companies. A platform that
Development System), and they have been turns information into insight and helps drives
instrumental in partnering with us to deliver efficiencies all across the business.
our digital roadmap over the last 6 years.
Click here:
Text only view Aa
New substation
POWERING
transformation
By Errol Douglas,
Senior Project Manager, at FirstGroup.
D
espite the upheaval caused by the The fleet will be supported by a new state-of-
coronavirus pandemic, our teams at the-art depot at Feltham and my team has been
South Western Railway have continued working hard throughout this challenging period
to invest and build for the important role to achieve its latest significant milestone and be
the railway will play in the country’s economic on track to complete before the end of the year.
recovery next year.
In partnership with FirstGroup, Network Rail,
One significant element of those plans is the role the Department for Transport, and engineering
out of our new £1 billion Arterio fleet, which will firm VolkerFitzPatrick, the £60m depot has
significantly enhance the customer experience dramatically changed since our last update in May.
on our Reading, Windsor and West London Following the completion of initial engineering
suburban routes. works connecting the site to the mainline, the team
at Feltham have worked tirelessly to install and

construct a whole host of new infrastructure
critical to the smooth operation for the next Delivering
generation of electric trains.
East Feltham
One of the most crucial elements was the
installation of a new electrical substation.
Substation met
Primarily providing traction power to the new with several
significant
depot sidings and two arrivals roads, the new
substation is also essential to Network Rail’s
new signalling infrastructure installed as part
of the mainline connection works. challenges, not
The new electrical system consists of an AC least a global
(alternating current) module, two auxiliary
transformers, two transformer rectifiers, and
pandemic in the
a DC (direct current) module which supplies
the power downstream to the depot tracks at
form of Covid-19.
750 volts.
The manufacturing of the substation equipment had

just commenced when the government announced its
lockdown restrictions in March. These measures required
our suppliers to adapt to new ways of working (i.e. social
distancing) and restricted supply chains as the pandemic
affected countries around the globe. This resulted in our
programme for on-site installation being delayed until
the latter part of summer as lockdown restrictions eased.
To tackle these delays, the delivery programme

needed to be reworked in the weeks leading up to
the commissioning of the substation to make use of
planned weekend engineering possessions. Despite the
challenges, collaborative working with Network Rail
and their contractors enabled these vitally important
works to be safely commissioned in time for the original
October deadline.
The substation will also have a new state-of-the-art

Traction Power Centralised Management System (TPCMS)
installed. TPCMS is currently being rolled out by Network
Rail nationwide to help improve security and monitoring
capabilities, replacing existing legacy technology, and is
the first to be built and commissioned with this system on
the Wessex network.
The new technology allows the Electrical Control Rooms

(ECR) across the network to remotely monitor, manage
and control the system 10 miles away at Network Rail’s
Control Centre in Raynes Park.
As a traincare deport, Feltham will have modern facilities

to ensure the stabled trains are clean, serviced and ready
for passengers each day. Over the summer, prefabricated
buildings have been erected to accommodate our cleaning
and engineering colleagues, as well as the construction
of a new plant room to store the waste from the fleet’s
Controlled Emission Toilets (CET), a carriage wash-machine
and a shunter’s cabin. High level walkways alongside each
siding have also been constructed to ensure safe access to
each stabled train.
Feltham depot is also designed to play an important role

in helping ameliorate service disruption on the suburban
network through providing extra stabling capacity.
Commissioning works to upgrade

and install new interlocking signaling,
signaling panel alternation, installation
of nine new point-ends, 700 metres
marrivals road which runs adjacent
to the mainline, as well as platform
modifications at Feltham Station, have
now been completed.
These improvements, together with

our existing Wimbledon and Clapham
Junction depots, mean trains can
be quickly and safely taken out of
passenger usage temporarily to help
even-out and restore services back to
normal.
The depot is now approaching the

final stages of completion before
Network Rail and the Department for
Transport grant Feltham certification
for passenger usage this month.
Commissioning of the site in South
West London is planned for the end
of December 2020, before eventually
stabling ten 10-car trains as we
rollout the Arterio fleet across the
suburban network.
Feltham Depot’s success is a result of

the successful collaboration between
FirstGroup and SWR, Network Rail,
ATKINS, and VolkerFitzpatrick
and their supply chain. Despite the
challenges the pandemic has brought,
I want to thank colleagues for their
hardwork and dedication in keeping the
project progressing.
We must look to the future in these

difficult circumstances. When more
people do return to our network, we’re
working hard to make sure a modern,
reliable and punctual suburban railway
will be at heart of our region’s recovery.
Aa
Click here:
Text only view
St James
station scheme
By Cllr Liam Robinson, Transport portfolio holder
for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
D
espite the on-going challenges that By giving commuters and leisure visitors to
public transport is facing during the the area a direct connection to the Merseyrail
coronavirus pandemic, we’re extreme- network, we can help to reduce car journeys
ly proud that we are continuing with to the area, contributing towards reducing
our plans to improve and invest in services in traffic congestion and aspirations to improve
rail network our city region. This includes con- air quality across the city region. It will be a
tinuing to fulfil Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram’s huge boost to the area and help it continue to
manifesto pledge to build a new station in Liv- thrive and grow.
erpool’s Baltic Triangle, with a further £1.5m
funding recently announced. The funding we announced recently will help
progress the station scheme onto the next stage
Building a new station on the location of the of the GRIP process with Network Rail, as well
former St James site is something that has as funding a land purchase which will safeguard
been discussed for many years in Liverpool and the possible site of a future ticket office.
it is particularly popular with rail enthusiasts.
While we want the scheme to progress as
quickly as possible, there are a number of big
But we aren’t looking to open a station here for challenges we face in building a new station
nostalgic reasons – the Baltic Triangle is one of in a deep railway cutting on a busy line which
the fastest growing areas in our city region. It is sees four trains in each direction an hour at
home to a diverse range of over 350 creative and peak times.
digital industries, with over 1,000 apartments
built since 2012 and future plans for at least The original St James station was built in 1874
3,000 more, alongside the various popular between the current Liverpool Central and
creative and leisure facilities that have opened. Brunswick stations on the Northern Line of the
Merseyrail network. It closed in 1917, but you For this reason, consideration is being given
can still see remnants of the old platforms to to access and parking for cycles at the station
this day when travelling through. with the creation of a cycle hub. We will also be
working closely with our Active Travel colleagues
It isn’t as simple as refurbishing the old to make sure it links in with existing and planned
platforms – the cutting is currently 110m long cycle infrastructure and walking routes.
and our new trains for the Merseyrail network
are 130m in length when coupled together, While it’s important to make sure the station
meaning there is a need to investigate how best meets modern standards, we are looking at how
to do this with Network Rail. we can be sympathetic to the historical features
of the old station, with the possibility of retaining
We are proud of the fact that our new rolling and upgrading the original staircase as one of
stock project will see us offer step-free access the emergency access options being considered.
from platform to train, but with this station
being over 10m deep from street level, there will We also want to make sure that we develop
need to be considerable work done to make sure a station that is an attractive and welcoming
it remains step-free from street to platform too. facility that meets local architectural aspirations,
whilst at the same time providing a functional
Our demand forecasts also suggest that the and cost-effective station solution.
station could end up as the fifth busiest on the
network after opening, meaning there is a need To achieve this, the project is liaising with the
to consider passenger capacity and potential Liverpool City Region Architectural Design
future growth in any design work. Champion Paul Monaghan and will also be
subject to external architecture design reviews.
Understandably, the 1874 station was built
to Victorian standards and did not take into While we continue to face challenges during
consideration many of these and other issues this pandemic, it is important that we also plan
faced when building a modern railway station. for the future and work towards Building Back
This makes the project a more challenging and Better. For us, that means progressing with the
costly one that other station schemes we are Metro Mayor’s vision to deliver a London-style
currently working on. transport system across the city region that
is quick, affordable and easy to use, as well as
There are also great opportunities for us. Being expanding our network so our communities can
so close to the city centre means there is no be better connected. This scheme is just one
requirement for extensive parking facilities beyond part of those ambitious plans.
blue badge, station staff and taxi drop-offs. But
we are keen to make sure the station provides
interchange opportunities for onward journeys.
48 December / January 2021 Civils & Stations
BRING
INWAVEWALKER
THE
Click here:
Text only view Aa By BAM Nuttall & Network Rail
49
I
n February 2014, severe storms
battered England’s southern coast and
the sea-front railway running through
Dawlish, Devon, felt the full force of
the wind and rain. Under severe duress,
the sea wall gave way, compromising an
80-metre stretch of railway, which washed
into the sea.
Network Rail reacted quickly, completing

emergency repairs and opening the railway
within six weeks and re-opening the restored
sea wall in August 2015.
Even as the railway opened, Network

Rail was aware that a more extensive
improvement to the sea wall would be
required to guarantee the future of the
coastal railway. Advice from climatologists
and coastal erosion experts suggested that
the events of 2014 were highly likely to
happen again. In an era of rising sea levels
and increasingly severe weather events,
a more robust, long-term solution was
required to safeguard the railway.
In 2019, work began to Phase One of

the new £80 million Dawlish sea wall,
a reinforced concrete design which will
provide increased protection for the
railway and Dawlish town centre while also
providing locals and holiday-makers with
an attractive sea-front promenade.
Click here:
Find out more
Phase One opened to the public on 28th July, Ewen Morrison, Network Rail senior programme
with the final elements due to be completed in manager for the Dawlish sea wall project, said:
2021. This phase focused on the stretch of the “Construction of this next section of the sea
wall to the west of Dawlish Station, which was wall will take around two years to complete and
considered the most straightforward section follows years of detailed studies, designs and
to build. joint working between world-leading marine,
coastal and railway engineering experts.
Phase Two will see a 415-metre stretch of the
sea wall rebuilt to the east of the station. Once “As with Marine Parade, building Phase Two
complete, the new sea wall will be higher than requires the installation of steel piles into the
the existing wall. It will have a curved edge coastal bedrock to form a solid foundation for
to send waves back towards the sea, a high- the sea wall and to counter the impact of tidal
level, wider and safer promenade, pedestrian erosion. This presented our engineers with
access to the beach and an accessible station significant challenges.
footbridge with lifts.
MAX PAYLOAD:
“The tides in Dawlish mean that the site is only
accessible by foot for 6 hours a day, our team
needed to find a delivery method that provides
24-hour access and makes carrying out our
work safer and more efficient.”
Design and delivery of the sea wall upgrade

850T
rested with BAM Nuttall as part of their
framework contract with Network Rail. BAM’s
engineers looked at three options for delivering
the upgrade.
Yan Sayles, BAM Nuttall’s senior agent at
Dawlish explained:
“Our first option was to reclaim land, temporarily

raising the level of the ground to allow piling
machinery to access the foundations. This
approach would have required the movement
of thousands of tonnes of stone and resulted in
significant environmental impacts.

“The second option was to use static barges WaveWalker 1 is the world’s most advanced
which would need to be floated into position dynamic jack-up barge, jointly owned by Fugro
at high-tide. The draw-back of that approach and Van Oord. It can walk over the seabed,
was that, due to the draft of the static barge, through surf zones and across beaches to provide
the existing beach level would need to be a safe and secure solution for nearshore marine
lowered by approximately 2m, generating operations affected by tides and weather.
thousands of tonnes of material that would
need to be removed from the site. In addition With bi-directional movement and walking speeds
to this, a static barge would need to be of up to 40 metres per hour, WaveWalker 1 can
manoeuvred by tug boat after every few piles, reposition independently without having to float,
putting the project at the mercy of the tides which eliminates the need for tugs and maximises
and the weather.” uptime for work on a 24/7 basis, regardless of
tides, to reduce project risk and cost.
“The solution agreed with Network Rail was to
bring in the ‘WaveWalker’, a jack-up barge that Navigation of the WaveWalker is performed
can walk along the seabed. The barge will allow from a cabin on-board the barge. It is guided
us to move close enough to shore to install piles, by GPS, allowing it to avoid sensitive marine
easily move to our next location and to work environments. In Dawlish, detailed topographical
continuously regardless of tides.” surveys were undertaken and a marine licence
granted before the WaveWalker began its long
walk to shore.
MAX DISPLACEME
2400
Helen Popperwell, Fugro’s WaveWalker

Business Coordinator, said:
“We are so proud to be involved in the Dawlish

railway project, which is the first time the
WaveWalker 1 has supported the rail industry.
Furthermore, this jack-up barge was designed
and is operated out of our Cornwall office, so
we understand first-hand the importance of
this project to provide a resilient rail link into
the south-west for generations to come.”
In order to deliver work at Dawlish, BAM

Nuttall need to modify the WaveWalker,
installing a retractable piling rig onto the
barge deck that can be extended out over
the piling location. Modifications were
made at Newhaven Port and any movable
equipment was welded to the deck before the
WaveWalker was transported by sea along
the coast to Devon.
Network Rail’s, Ewen Morrison continued:
ENT:
“We are thrilled to have started work on
delivering the next section of this vital
upgrade that will protect this rail artery to
the South West for the next 100 years.
0T
“The railway in Dawlish is uniquely positioned,
leaving it enormously exposed to the worst
weather that the English Channel can
produce. Working in this environment requires
imaginative solutions and innovative thinking
and our team’s use of the WaveWalker is a
great example of that.”
The WaveWalker will provide a

new, temporary landmark in Devon
for around three months before it
makes its way back out to sea.
54 December / January 2021 Civils & Stations
Gatwick
TO THE UK By Ailsa Cowen
Click here:
Text only view Aa
G
atwick Airport station is undergoing a
momentous £150m transformation to
relieve crowding, improve accessibility
and reduce delays for commuters and
leisure travellers across the South East.
RTM’s Editorial Lead Ailsa Cowen spoke to

Stephen MacCallaugh, Gatwick Express General
Manager, and Catriona Taylor, Scheme Project
Manager, to find out where the project is up to,
what they are doing in terms of accessibility and
what the developments will mean for the future.
When the first lockdown began back in March,

the project took advantage of the lack of
passengers and pressed on with construction,
but was it the right decision?
CT
explained that early on they realised
there were numerous third-party suppliers who
wouldn’t be able to commit to coming to the site,
meaning they had to assess and find alternative
ways to ensure how they could continue with the
programme without delays.

55
RAISING
YEARS
1980 - 2020
OF COLUMN LIFTS
STANDARDS
RAILWAY LIFTING JACKS
EXPERIENCED MORE INFO

With over 40 years’ expeience in heavy duty
liﬁting solutions, Totalkare combines world CLICK HERE TO VISIT SITE
class products with industry leading support
to facilitate effective maintenance and repair, CALL 0121 585 2724
keeping you on the track for success.
Click here:
Find out more
“GTR reduced their timetable, giving us more

access, which meant we could look at platform
7 again and continue with demolition activities,”
she said.
“As a result of that, and being able to crack

on earlier and quicker than we thought we
would be able to on platform 7, there was the
opportunity to bring stage two forwards by two
months. It has its challenges but I think we’ve
done really well as a project collaboratively with
all parties to ensure that didn’t stop us with our
programme.”
“It’s vital to the

local economy to
keep pushing on
and construction is
key, we need to be
continuing what
we’re doing.” CT
Catriona
Taylor
SM said: “Even though we have seen a dip

in passenger numbers and demand, we need
to keep our mind on the longer-term picture:
passengers will come back, growth will return.
The airport station must be redeveloped.
“Collaboration has been vitally important. There

has been some great work done by the team
of GTR, Network Rail, Gatwick Airport, and
Costain by coming together and saying, ‘Look,
we’re in this position [with Covid-19] so what
opportunity have we got now to try to bring
things forward?’”
SM “Collaboration is
Stephen key and we’re all
in this together.”
MacCallaugh
Click here:
Find out more
In terms of progress, CT said even in the last two weeks

it’s a very different looking station with Network Rail
footbridges, that run from track four to seven, being
demolished.
She added, “A lot of items that maybe would have

happened at Christmas have been pulled forwards. For
example, we’ve installed the first part of what we’re
calling a temporary access bridge for us to install
materials onto the island platforms.
“That work would have all happened at Christmas

previously, whereas now we’ve got it in two stages.
We’ve always got the passenger at the forefront of our
minds in terms of planning and trying to bring works
forward when we can.”
SM said, “Improved access is of the utmost

importance. We want everyone to be able to use
the station easily. As well as improving matters for
wheelchair users, we have large numbers of people with
heavy bags and there isn’t enough lift space.
“Lift capacity was built very much for the demand back
in 1980. As we know, passenger numbers have increased
at Gatwick station and the airport, so we’re putting in
five huge lifts, each carrying almost four times as many
as we had before.
“It’s also about what we do in the interim construction

phases, it is a key part of what we look at in terms of
how people move through what could be a construction
area at certain times of the project.”
The digital customer experience is another vital

element for people travelling through the station. SM
explained that with the project they’ve taken special
care in where digital information screens have been
placed within the designs. He also said he sees great
value in ticket gates as a means to ensure people pay
to travel, “protecting revenue” for the government to
reinvest in schemes such as these.
“Ticket gates also help us control the Speaking of perseverance, SM said, “We’ve
passenger flow – that can be really been dynamic as a team in looking at these
important given we’re one of the busiest challenges and finding of different ways
networks in the UK.” of working. Growth will return so we need
to be doing the hard work now within the
CT also pointed out that public Wi-Fi is going restrictions we’re under.”
to be improved at the station which links to
the demand for online ticketing. Despite this project to transform the station,
it’s hard to know what the future holds for
The station will have a modern look once rail but SM and CT both know what they’d
complete and the infrastructure itself will like to see.
be future-proofed.
In terms of this, CT explained that the station

was “originally built for five to ten million
users and pre-Covid we were upwards of 20
million.
“I’d like to see
train travel being
the number one
“So, if you’re looking at projections of up
to 2040, you’re seeing a huge increase in
numbers. If you look at the government’s
sustainability targets trains should be the choice” CT
first option when it comes to transport and
that’s something we’re looking to help and Catriona
improve that modal shift to trains. Taylor
“Currently, the station isn’t where it needs to

be so you can only see that becoming more CT said she’d like rail travel
of a problem as we go forwards. So, by doing to be the primary choice of transport and
this project we’re future-proofing for the “Gatwick station is a vital part of that.”
next generation.”
SM added, “The station needs this SM added: “I want the rail industry
huge injection to transform it into a world- to be seen leading the way in innovation
class facility to match this world-renowned and customer experience. This amazing new
airport. Gatwick is a gateway into the UK station at Gatwick will help us achieve that.”
and quite often the very first impression
visitors have of our country.”
Thankfully, everything is still on track to Ailsa Cowen, Editorial Lead, RTM.

be completed by 2023 thanks to a huge Interviewees: Stephen MacCallaugh, Gatwick
amount of resilience and collaboration Express General Manager, and Catriona
during Covid-19. Taylor, Scheme Project Manager.
0
The
Digital Railway
70
THE RACE TO REPLACE
David Clarke
78
FOOD AND DRINK STRAIGHT TO YOUR SEAT
Rebecca Richardson
92
FOOD AND DRINK STRAIGHT TO YOUR SEAT
Sarah McGuinness
The Digital Railway 61
Rethinking how
we make the
case for building
infrastructure
By Caroline Whittam, Head of Franchise Management
at Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM
Click here:
Text only view Aa
A
s the country looks to recover post- the Great Northern Conference saying “this
Covid and deliver major infrastructurevirus has just reconfirmed the defining purpose
projects, Caroline Whittam, explains of this government: the need to level up our
why there needs to be a shift in how country. So, far from downgrading the Northern
business cases are developed going forwards. Powerhouse project, it has made it even more
critical that we get on with it, than perhaps a
It’s been a busy old time. In amongst the year ago. Even more critical that we reinforce
whirlwind of a second national lockdown and and renew the North’s transport infrastructure.”
the pandemonium of the US election you would
be forgiven if two significant speeches made by He added “the Northern Powerhouse was never
the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, and the designed to be imposed by central government.
Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, at the end of October It was always intended to be owned and driven
passed you by. by the North.”
On Oct 22nd, whilst I was in a workshop The Transport Secretary then went on to name
looking at what the future rail network in many of the schemes that make up this ambition
Manchester might look like, Shapps was at including unlocking the Castlefield Corridor in

Greater Manchester, the “takeover” of Northern

Rail to ensure its reliability and new Metrolink But isn’t it our
trams in Manchester.
job to create a
This was music to the ears of those of us who
are sitting pondering the issues of the railway
different future?
in and around Greater Manchester on a daily
basis – and it got better. Three days later, the
As leaders,
Chancellor confirmed that some fully funded as members
of the rail
priority infrastructure projects would be
included in the Spending Review.
But, of course, you can’t build something unless community, as

you have a good business case, unless you know
it will bring benefit.
influencers and
Rail projects can be eye-wateringly expensive so
as inhabitants of
this is sensible, logical, laudable - right? But rail
business cases are predicated on official growth
this planet?
rates, and this is where we could get stuck if we
aren’t careful.
Official growth rates are set out by the

Department for Transport and are determined
by what is predicted to happen in the external As the organisation responsible for creating and
environment in terms of rail demand. In other delivering Greater Manchester’s future transport
words, growth rates are market led in that strategy, TfGM are all too aware of the need to
they try to predict what demand the market give people a compelling public transport offer
will generate. which means they don’t need to take the car (or
might not even need to own one).
A great deal of research is being done into
post-Covid rail demand and the future outlook Therefore, we have adopted a vision-led
is looking bleak compared to where we’d approach, to clearly set out what public transport
expect it to be. Does that surprise anyone? policy needs to achieve and what we refer to as
After all, we started this pandemic by telling ‘right mix’ which sees 50% of journeys by 2040
people not to use public transport unless they being made by public transport or by foot or on
absolutely had to. a bicycle. But, like everyone else, we are largely
dependent on Government policy and funding to
So, market forces are taken to their natural achieve this.
conclusion, it isn’t hard to see us ending up in
‘carmageddon’ as some have named one possible While there is a political consensus that
future. Everyone drives everywhere unless they investing in infrastructure will help drive our
have absolutely no choice whatsoever. economic recovery, traditional thinking is not
going to get us there. It is vital this opportunity
doesn’t pass us by.
Covid is damaging our economy massively in Rail has a huge part to play in that. It needs
the short-term, but if we don’t start thinking a combination of sustained and higher levels
differently, if we don’t start doing things of capital and revenue funding – plus a sober
differently, its shadow could last decades and evaluation of how strategic funding decisions
affect the lives of our children and grandchildren. are made – along with a huge effort to develop
Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s policies that are pro-rail and public transport
vision is to make the city-region one of the best to encourage the cultural shift for future
places in the world to grow up, get on and grow generations.
old. Surely, we all want that for the entire nation.
So, what can we do as the rail industry? We can
So, what is the answer? It is the same as it ask the question in a different way. Start with
is for every sector, every organisation, every where you want to end: how many people do we
nation: strong leadership, clear vision and need to be getting trains in the future to achieve
resonating purpose. our aims? How can we get there? What do we
need to do? What are the blockers in terms of
We need vision-led, policy-led growth. We process and how can we unblock them? Are we
need to join the decarbonisation agenda and measuring benefits correctly?
the rail agenda up properly. Decarbonisation
isn’t just about being able to electrify lines and
use hydrogen technology. It is about getting Shapps and Sunak have
unnecessary car journeys off the road and given us the vision. Let’s
changing the country’s approach to active travel
make it happen.
and public transport.
)
Aa
Click here:
Text only view
Finding the
Best Track
to Additive
By Sachin Patel, Senior Applications Engineer,
CREAT3D Ltd.
A
s an industry, rail is not alone in its Applications engineers at CREAT3D,
challenges; lowering operating costs the independent specialists in additive
and creating sustainable supply, manufacturing, have pulled together key
whilst preparing and adapting for fu- learnings from leading companies. Applying
ture technological advances, are key drivers in metal and composite 3D printing technologies
2021 for both manufacturers and their suppli- to hundreds of quick-win applications that can
ers to the rail industry. be translated easily into the rail industry.
Additive Manufacturing is not a new concept, From improved product performance through
but it is a more recent adoption into Rail. Withto faster prototyping, to manufacturing aids
integrating any new technology, the hardest partand production improvements with end-of-
is getting started, selecting which technologies,
arm tooling, jigs and fixtures, to bespoke
understanding the best applications and how it lightweight and miniaturised carriage furniture,
should be used. or brackets, casings and mounts, these are
all quick-wins achieved from integrating 3D
The good news is that 3D printing is now a printing technologies.
proven technology, and is integrated in leading
manufacturing companies across multiple CORE PRINCIPLE The key to integrating
industries, including automotive, industrial additive manufacturing into your business,
equipment, consumer goods, aerospace and is to focus not on the technology itself, but
automation. what the technology can achieve for you.
And the key thing is that you can now shortcut
your learnings to adopt this technology faster,
therefore seeing a faster return on your
investment.
ADAPTING END-USE COMPONENTS FOR Applying additive manufacturing to low

ENHANCED PERFORMANCE & SHORTER volume, high value components creates
PRODUCTION LEAD TIMES Learn from: immediate wins in production budgets and
Stanley Black + Decker, a diversified global lead times. Scaled and applied to multiple
provider of hand tools, power tools and components, the savings exponentially rise
related accessories, electronic security against the low investment in the original
solutions and engineered fastening systems. equipment.
The STANLEY PG10 Profile Grinder is used to REDUCING OPERATING COSTS WITH LIGHT-
perform surface finishing operations on rail WEIGHTING TOOLING Learn from: Wärtsilä,
tracks. The wheel shaft holds adjustable guide global leader in smart technologies and complete
wheels onto the body of the grinder. Each part lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy
is loaded with the full weight of the grinder and markets, who’s products span from engines, to
subject to shock loads. The geometry of this propulsion systems and renewable solutions
part, with its large flange and long aspect ratio, Wärtsilä’s Finnish and Italian factories oversee
means that it’s volumetrically inefficient and
expensive to manufacture.
Stanley Black & Decker used to machine these

parts out of a single block of steel. Because
of the size of the flange and the length of the
shaft, they wasted ~90% of the stock material
in each part.
Using the Markforged Metal X 3D Printing

system, Stanley Infrastructure Innovation
engineers redesigned the wheel shaft to be a
three-part assembly. By purchasing an off-the-
shelf shaft and key, they were able to easily 3D
print the flange on the Metal X.
SBD 1 Grinder
THE RESULTS 3D printing the shaft

in 17-4 PH Stainless Steel resulted in:
• Time saving: 98%
• Cost saving: 96%
• Light-weighting: 20% lighter
Stanley Infrastructure Innovation tested three

samples with drop tests. The parts passed
durability testing (many small drops of the
grinder onto a steel work surface) and abuse
testing (extreme shock testing involving drops
of the same grinder from high heights, such as
SBD 2 Frog Grinder
a truck bed).
capability over time. There are so many

immediate quick wins that can be achieved
with 3D printing, with instant results on
reducing costs, improving your supply chain
and ultimately better business performance.
“These are often the hidden applications – the

cogs that keep your production lines turning,
rather than the finished item, but these
applications are the key to future successes
Wartsila 1 and developing a competitive advantage.”
the manufacturing of large engines that power

one third of the world’s largest cargo ships.
The teams often need to fabricate tools to
solve problems and optimise efficiency, and
usually have to rely on third-party suppliers to
manufacture them.
Wärtsilä usually machines its lifting tools out

of solid steel, but found the resulting tools to be
expensive, too time-intensive to manufacture
and too heavy for people to use and transport.
Teams were also unable to make quick design
changes when needed.
Wartsila 2
Each cost and weight increase has a significant
impact when scaled across hundreds of tools
— especially when the tool is needed to service
or perform maintenance on parts in a large
commercial ship where space is limited.
THE RESULTS With additive manufacturing,

the lifting tool was re-designed and 3D
printed in nylon with continuous carbon
fibre on the Markforged Industrial 3D
printer, resulting in a 75% weight reduction
and 100,000 euros saved on tooling costs.
GETTING ON TRACK WITH ADDITIVE

Simon Chandler, Managing Director, CREAT3D
said: “With all our clients, irrespective of
industry, the key is getting additive in now, Click here, find out more:
integrating it across your design, development CREAT3D Ltd.
and production processes and building your
Aa
Click here: The Digital Railway 67
Text only view
The green
rail revolution
On this episode of RTM’s Track Talk, host Ailsa
Cowen is joined by Maria Machancoses, Director
of Midlands Connect.
Maria discusses the importance of HS2 to the
Midlands and the UK, their collaborative work
with the Department for Transport, and how we
need to embrace the railways again.
In terms of HS2, Maria says that it cannot, “be
looked at as Phase 1, Phase 2… it needs to be
looked at as a whole network. That’s what will
make a real difference to the UK.”
She also says there has been, “an appetite for the
government to work with the East Midlands in
regards to future franchises, future timetabling
and in terms of what’s next.”
Electrification is another big talking point,
with Maria pointing out that only 30% of the
network is able to carry electric trains and that
during, “a climate change emergency this isn’t
good enough.”
Passenger confidence is a big concern for the
industry right now, and Maria is very aware of
this obstacle, “we’ve got to give people a sense
that this horrendous pandemic will go away.”
In terms of looking ahead to the future, Maria
wishes for the “world to see Britain bring in again
another revolution in terms of the green railway.”
Click to listen:
Maria’s episode
Aa
68 The Digital Railway
December / January 2021
Click here:
Text only view
The The Secretary of State is known
railways
for his interest in technology and
as we accelerate flexible working
arrangements there should be new
future
impetus to improve smart ticketing
as a way to support passengers
back onto public transport in a cost-
with
effective and flexible way.
The South Yorkshire TravelMaster
smart
was established by the South
Yorkshire Passenger Transport
Executive (SYPTE), working with
operators, and covers all buses,
ticketing
trams and trains in South Yorkshire.
It is now a commercial organisation
owned by the region’s transport
companies. The engagement and
By Mark Lynam, Director of Transport, Housing & support of the operators and
Infrastructure & Jenny Holmes, Assistant Director the underpinning commercial
Strategic Transport, Sheffield City Region. agreements are vital to success.
E
ngland’s city regions have ambitious plans to Each month in South Yorkshire there
achieve integrated smart ticketing systems that are 1.7m multi-mode/operator smart
are seamless, intuitive and good value for the journeys (excluding concessionary
customer. fares). The TravelMaster has simple
zones ensuring that passengers don’t
South Yorkshire has benefited in recent years from the pay too much. This provides low and
well-established TravelMaster product which covers all simple pricing, reduces queuing and
modes and operators and uses a simple zoning structure makes it easier to replace tickets should
across the City Region. they get lost. This should increasingly
be part of enabling sustainable travel
On ending the rail franchising model Grant Shapps, the choices in any City Region.
Secretary of State for Transport, set out his commitment
to simplify people’s journeys ‘ending the uncertainty and Transport for the North (TfN)’s
confusion about whether you are using the right ticket or Integrated and Smart Ticketing
the right train company’. programme includes a commitment
to account-based travel providing
This is in the context of Covid-19 upending the transport a ‘tap on – tap off’ system where
system and calling into question some of our most customers are charged the best
fundamental assumptions about the volume and nature price across the North, similar to the
of future demand – will we still travel longer distances Oyster system in London.
or go back to daily commuting? And how frequently will
we do this?
Click here:
Find out more
Work on contactless pay-as-you-go on rail is on hold

pending the publication of the long-awaited Williams
Review or further policy guidance from Government.
TfN has put forward proposals to the Department to
take forward these ambitious proposals as part of an
economic recovery plan.
Local smart ticketing schemes are also being developed

to support place-based integration in the North. The
South Yorkshire ambition is to offer daily and weekly
EMV contactless capping payments on bus, tram and
tram-train ensuring that all modes are integrated.
A tailored city region approach in the coming years

would include supporting smaller bus operators with
infrastructure costs, a contactless capping solution for
the unbanked, development of a digital young person’s
concessionary smartcard and developing a digital
platform that supports mobility as a service (MaaS).
Click here:
Text only view Aa
The race
to replace:
The challenge of upgrading the UK’s
digital signalling infrastructure
By David Clarke, Technical Director, RIA

T So, there is no
he UK railway industry has a serious
challenge on its hands to fully digitalise
its signalling system. Most of the
network still relies on conventional question the
signalling, which requires the driver to interact
with physical infrastructure. 60 per cent of this
future of rail will
signalling will need to be replaced in the next
15 years.
be digital, but
the question of
how the industry
While this will not come as a surprise to anyone
in the industry, it is absolutely vital that we
work together with clients, operators and
Government to address the challenge. There will get there
are huge opportunities in using data and digital
technology, chief among which is to improve
remains.
customer experience. Unsurprisingly, ageing
signalling infrastructure is more likely to fail,
causing delays and disruption to our customers.
A digital railway will enable more train

journeys, reduce crowding and improve
reliability and safety for passengers.
Secondly, it can increase freight capacity,
which reduces pressure on the network and
allows for greater timetable flexibility. Recently, Government and major clients have
demonstrated a clear desire to speed up the
There is also a strong environmental and digitalisation of the network. Rail Minister Chris
economic case. Continuous communication and Heaton-Harris announced this week a £1.2m
real time driver information will help optimise investment into digital signalling on three vital
train performance, save cost and carbon by rail lines, the West Coast Main Line, Midland
reducing energy consumption and improve asset Main Line and East Anglia route.
management, extending the lifecycle of railway
assets. Installing digital signalling can also help At a roundtable hosted by Department for
spur growth and provide high-skilled jobs across Transport (DfT), the Minister also emphasised
the entire UK, as well as provide a significant they have an ambitious programme for
economic boost from exports of world-leading digitalising the UK’s railways and challenged the
technologies and delivery methods, many of industry to work collaboratively and at pace to
which already exist. deliver these schemes.

Network Rail’s Long-Term Deployment Plan It is reassuring to see the impetus and
further aims to provide some visibility for the engagement from Government on digital
industry of future signalling projects. This plan signalling, and to see some of level of investment
sets out how the backlog of signalling renewals in this area.
will be delivered by the industry through new
digital signalling. However, more can and needs to be done if we
are going to unlock the full potential of the UK
Even when replaced with digital counterparts, rail network and the economic benefits which
the plan is not considered affordable and so, come hand in hand.
through the Rail Sector Deal, the industry has
put forward a detailed strategy to bring down RIA is advocating for funding for projects
costs including much greater use of simulation scheduled in Control Period 7 (2024-2029) to
or ‘synthetic environments’ to reduce the be brought forward to CP6 to fund more pilot
amount of site work and testing. projects now, which will help the industry get
‘match fit’ and demonstrate its readiness for
Despite these encouraging signs however, the increase in signalling delivery scheduled to
progress up until now has been slow. During the take place.
roundtable with the Rail Minister, I highlighted
that signalling upgrades are only happening This more certain pipeline of work will give
at a rate of 1,000 units per annum. With the confidence to clients and the supply chain
railway network comprising over 60,000 units, to invest in the necessary digital skills and
the current rate of progress is, as Siemens’ Rob technologies.
Morris described, at a “snail’s pace”.
Industry-backed initiatives such as the Rail
Many of the issues with signal enhancements Technical Strategy (RTS) will also be vital to
on the railways revolves around training and encourage collaboration to address the key
keeping a digitally skilled workforce in the UK. challenges in technology in the sector. The
RIA have long advocated for an end to the ‘boom RTS aims to help innovators work together
and bust’ nature of investment into rail, which and prioritise R&D investment decisions, as
has a huge impact on skills in the workforce. well as highlight areas where progress needs
to be accelerated.
On this point, I have made clear that to enable
the ramping up of signalling enhancements, we The message from events this week is clear, we
must have a clear pipeline of work to give the must invest and act now to help build a railway
supply chain the confidence to invest in people, fit for the future.
plant and processes.
At our recent Annual Conference, Crossrail

Chief Executive Mark Wild also emphasised this
point. He stressed that many of their highly-
skilled staff are likely to leave the UK after the
project finishes due to the lack of opportunities
in UK rail.
Click here:
Text only view Aa
Innovation
across
Babcock
for our
customers
By Andrew Cupples,
Digital Workspace Project
Manager, Babcock
B
abcock International other rail industry customers
Group (Babcock) is a in providing a safe, reliable and
global organisation efficient rail network.
which delivers complex
and critical engineering services Over recent years our customers
across the UK and internationally. have been turning more frequently
Around the world countries and to us to find the right technology
communities rely on Babcock’s solution for their business, so here
services to ensure the safety and is what we did for CP6.
security of their people.
In 2019 Babcock Rail was awarded
Babcock Rail is part of Babcock’s a 10-year framework contract
leading engineering business in as part of the CP6 Rail Systems
the rail infrastructure market packages, worth up to £1bn over
supporting customers such as the 10-year period.
Network Rail, Translink and
Digital technology,
and the integration
of it within such a
critical project, has
transformed our
approach.
As part of the team’s digital strategy, they

identified three key areas of the track renewal
process that could be improved with the
integration of technology within operations.
DATA CAPTURE Information from site is

traditionally captured by staff physically walking
the site and taking notes. The key focus on data
capture was to not only create efficiency in
the collection of information from site through
moving from paper to digital, but also to provide a
method of driving collaboration through real time
reporting and feedback.
To achieve this, over 50 electronic forms have BENEFITS While this was initially proposed
been developed and trialled which enable real as part of the CP6 Alliance bid, the principles
time progress tracking of multiple tasks within of the digital strategy equally suit to the rest
a single site or project. of the rail business and have been extensively
used within other major contracts.
DIGITAL CONTROL ROOM The Digital
Control Room is an interactive control room The implementation of data capture has
that enhances critical operations and brings allowed data to be captured and shared with
all site information into one room for effective the office and client in real time providing
employee engagement and decision making. actual savings. One test case showed savings
The platform can be used to carry out safety in excess of £1,500 on a single survey due to
briefings, planning meetings, and stakeholder capturing issues early.
meetings, as well as run 3D plans in real time,
and live stream data and video from the site. The digital forms with elements such as drop-
down fields, the ability to attach photographs
DIGITAL WORKSPACE Babcock Rail has and comments and automatically capture
rolled out a Digital Workspace, a BIM Level location coordinates reduces the likelihood of
2 common data environment which enables error. Furthermore, automated reports through
the full digitalisation of project management digital data capture has led to reporting time
processes. Digital Workspace has been being reduced by up to 50% in some cases.
developed to be more than a document storage
area but a platform which breaks down silos The Digital Workspace has facilitated realisation
through collaborative storage, sharing and of overall project efficiencies and improved
approval of project documentation. collaboration. This has enabled accessibility,
allowing data sharing and document control
between all parties involved. Furthermore,
the reduced data duplication is forecasted to
By using cloud storage produce savings in excess of £250k per annum
technology, Digital according to industry standards.
Workspace underpins
the integration of the
technologies above,
and ensures seamless
collaboration with our
customers and supply
chain. The workspace can
be accessed from any
device and any location
to allow documentation
to be accessible,
whilst still maintaining
necessary securities.
Aa
Click here:
Text only view
Business growth
prompts Totalkare
relocation to
accommodate larger
product portfolio
• Investment in state- • Introduction of • Company recruiting
of-the-art facility the new IT system to despite COVID-19
latest phase in five- underpin quality of pandemic
year expansion plan customer service
O
n the back of several years of sustained management software is expected to further
growth, Totalkare will relocate to a improve the company’s service capabilities.
new, purpose-built facility on Monday
21 September 2020. These developments signal the beginning of
a five-year expansion that will see more than
The modern facility, located at Pensnett Trading £750,000 invested into the business.
Estate in Kingswinford, near Dudley, will enable
Totalkare to optimise the workflow on the shop “Following the introduction of testing products
floor and increase capacity for holding stock to our portfolio of heavy-duty workshop
of mobile column lifts, in-ground and mobile solutions, Totalkare has outgrown its current
brake testers, headlamp testers, smoke meters, premises,” said Managing Director David Hall,
railway lifting jacks and other future products. whose two years in the business have overseen
substantial growth.
The move comes at a time when Totalkare is
also implementing a new ERP system expected
to drive a lot of internal and external efficiency Click here to visit website
improvements for the business. Alongside Totalkare
these, a further investment in enhanced service
The last 18 months has seen Totalkare add brake in an agile capacity before lockdown happened
testers (mobile and in-ground), headlamp testers, in March,” said David, “But the absence of social
diesel smoke metres and galvanised mobile column interaction in an office environment can negatively
lifts to its portfolio. Most recently, the company impact on one’s mental health, so it’s important we
has introduced vehicle inspection pits to support get people back in – safely of course – as soon as
customers seeking a pit in addition to the purchase we can.
of an in-ground brake tester.
“Where it is possible for staff to continue to work
“Moving to the new premises – approximate from home, they will be able to do so, but those
four times the size of our Halesowen site – is a coming into the office will be able to do so with the
necessary move to facilitate further development. peace of mind that Totalkare has taken every step
to ensure their safety.”
“The additional space gives us room into which
we can expand, not just in terms of headcount but RECRUITMENT DRIVE While Totalkare has not
also product portfolio and shop floor processes. It been immune to the impact of COVID-19 this year,
enables us to build on our founding principles of recent months has seen headcount increased with
customer care and being experts in our field - it’s several key appointments aimed at further improving
an exciting moment for Totalkare.” the way the business supports its customers.
PEDIGREE This year marks the 40th anniversary A product manager has been recruited to identify
of the company supplying its first mobile column and source products to complement Totalkare’s
lifts in the UK. Many of its clients have benefited portfolio of heavy duty lifting and testing products,
from Totalkare column lifts for 40 years, including while the business has also appointed a new sales
some of the biggest names in the bus and coach, manager following a restructuring of its sales team.
commercial vehicle, heavy haulage and rail sectors.
David said: “I’m proud to say that, while it hasn’t
David explained: “Unfortunately, because of been easy, we’ve been able to navigate 2020
Covid-19 we’ve had to curtail some of the events without making anyone redundant due to COVID-19.
we had planned to mark this major milestone, but Expanding and restructuring the sales team will
we remain intent on celebrating next year when – enable us to give our customers more attention
hopefully – normality has been restored” and respond swiftly to their needs, enhancing the
excellent relationship we currently enjoy with them.”
SOCIAL DISTANCING Increased office space will
also enable more staff to return to the office while Block G1
observing proper social distancing rules. Dandy Bank Road
Pensnett Trading Estate
In addition to non-contact anti-bacterial hand Kingswinford
gel dispensers installed at the new premises’ West Midlands
entrances, the business has also invested in DY6 7TD
anti-viral fogging machines, forehead infrared
thermometers and desk partitions are being T: 0121 585 2724
extended with perspex dividers.
“We’d introduced Microsoft Teams into the Click here to email

business in 2019, so were already set up to work [email protected]
Accessibility
awareness
training:
Greater Anglia staff continues in virtual format
Click here:
Text only view Aa
By Rebecca Richardson,
Accessibility Manager, Greater Anglia
T
he Coronavirus pandemic has forced Greater Anglia’s team of trainers have worked
some organisations to pause training, behind the scenes to convert the training
postpone plans and rethink strategies. programme into a virtual format to ensure
But train operator Greater Anglia there is no break in its aim to train all 2,500
has remained agile and resilient with its staff in improving the journeys of people with
training scheme, and has moved its pioneering accessibility needs.
accessibility awareness training courses online,
to ensure staff maintain high levels of customer
service during the ongoing pandemic
The training This is a priority for Greater Anglia, which

welcomes tens of thousands of customers every
- all delivered year, who have additional needs.
by professional This makes Greater Anglia the first operator in

the country to implement accessibility courses
disabled trainers that meet the rail regulator’s new standards,
ahead of new rules that come in in 2021 requiring
- aims to improve all train operators to undertake such training.
customer service The programme is ‘disabled-led’ – as the sessions
for disabled are all delivered by disabled trainers, after

Greater Anglia last year commissioned Equality
passengers. Trainer, Sarah Rennie, to put together a team.
Click here:
Find out more
Sarah said: “Online training has been a real

success. The teams are pleased to see each other The accessibility
via video calling and take the opportunity to
reflect on really topical disability equality issues features on the
such as face coverings and lip reading. As a
trainer, it’s a privilege to be in the [virtual] room.”
new trains were
The course covers meeting and greeting disabled
designed with
customers and how to talk to them about the help of access
and inclusion
their access needs, language and terminology,
communication, body language, etiquette and
practical examples of assisting customers with
different impairments, as well as the business and stakeholders and
legal case for why it’s important to understand
the issues.
professionals.
At the end of the course, delegates are invited
to make an ‘Inclusion Promise’, naming one thing
they plan to do differently to improve accessibility
and inclusion for customers. The operator took a group to Switzerland to
participate in the design process and made
Greater Anglia’s Accessibility Manager, Rebecca bespoke changes to the finished design based
Richardson said: “At Greater Anglia we are on their recommendations. Changes made to
really serious about doing better in this area. We the layout of the accessible area as a result of
want everyone to have a good journey with us, the consultation included the location of priority
so giving our staff the skills and knowledge to seating and charging points, installation of
always have accessibility in the forefront of their privacy screens, design of the coffee table, colour
minds will help us achieve that step-change in contrasts on handrails and an additional “call for
customer service that we are seeking to provide. aid” button in the accessible toilet.
“This training is going to make a real difference Greater Anglia continues to focus on improving
for staff as it will give them more confidence service standards for disabled people, through
when assisting disabled customers. its Stakeholder Equality Group.
“And it will really help disabled customers with Other initiatives already delivered have included
their journey experience as staff are better able participation in the Sunflower Lanyard scheme for
to understand what they need to do in order to those with non-visible impairments; work to secure
support somebody through their journey and to improved accessibility at stations such as Bury St
provide a good passenger experience.” Edmunds, Colchester and Needham Market and
cross-industry collaboration on a new Passenger
Greater Anglia continues to roll out its new fleet Assist App to provide better information and
trains which have an improved accessible area easier booking of journey assistance.
and accessible toilets on every train.
We help businesses
like yours become
key suppliers within
the rail industry
Want to know how?

Future
This ranges from maritime containers moving
to and from the deep-sea ports at Felixstowe,
Southampton and London Gateway; to
needs
energy from waste facilities in Runcorn; and
aggregates from the Peak District quarries.
of rail
When you factor in that each freight train
replaces up to 60 Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs),
the impact of moving goods by rail directly
supports GM’s commitment to become a
freight
carbon neutral city-region by 2038 and makes
a positive contribution to reducing pollution and
greenhouse gas emissions.
in GM SECURING THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS OF

RAIL FREIGHT Volumes of freight transport are
determined by demand in the wider economy for
goods and materials. Shippers will select the most
appropriate transport mode based on commercial
By Peter Walley,
considerations, such as costs, practicalities and
Strategic Rail Officer at Transport for Greater
transport times. Cargo currently transported
Manchester (TfGM)
by rail would therefore continue to move in the
absence of the required rail infrastructure and
D
uring lockdown the rail freight sector terminals, most likely by road haulage.
stepped up, taking advantage of the
quieter network and reminded the Securing the long-term benefits of rail freight
public of their vital role in keeping the was a key driver behind a recent study
country running – ensuring supermarket shelves undertaken by Jacobs and MDS Transmodal
were stocked, medical equipment moved to (MDST) on behalf of TfGM. The Rail Freight
where it was needed most and maintaining our Routing Study’s primary objectives were to
power supplies. identify and understand the current and future
needs of rail freight in GM and to determine how
The sector should be proud of what it best to support the growth of the sector.
has achieved under exceptionally difficult
circumstances and fully justifies its status A significant consideration before we
amongst the ranks of appreciated key workers. commenced the study was the commercial
nature of the freight market, recognising that
TfGM recognises that moving goods and its operation sits wholly within the private
materials by rail is not only beneficial during sector. In order to establish a baseline of current
times of crisis. Rail freight’s ability to cost- activity and understand its’ potential future
effectively transport high volumes of cargo direction, we engaged in a series of face-to-
across long distances makes an important face meetings with key personnel from across
contribution to the functioning of a dynamic the industry. Throughout these discussions the
local economy and brings environmental and appetite to seek opportunities for growth in rail
decongestion benefits to the city-region. freight were evident.
Click here:
Text only view Aa The Digital Railway 83
KEEPING YOU
AND THE RAIL
NETWORK SAFE
to pp and
to ev
w
G ‘Ne nd ere
he
th ort w
KD w s ve
su er
n
ha No rve r yo
s f rm o u
ul
a h
ly ’ an r cu ee
ad d
e
ju is tom us
st re
ed ad er ex
u
s
n
y , t.
d
s
n
In 2019, over five
million tonnes of KG
rail freight cargo SLEW HEIGHT LOAD
either originated The GKD 3RCi+ system - easy to install, easy to operate.
or terminated in Manufacturers of the most intuitive motion safety
Greater Manchester indicators on the market, enabling your operators to
work more safely within your environment’s height,
(GM) – serving its slew and load restrictions.
10 rail-connected Reduce risk and improve productivity by

choosing GKD Technologies.
terminals.
Visit us online at gkdtec.com
Call 01202 971 972,
E-mail [email protected]
This enthusiasm, however, was tempered by

concerns that these opportunities could be
impacted by limited network and terminal
capacity or from network enhancements not
delivering the required rail freight benefits.
The second stage of the study developed a

series of future demand forecasts for all freight
services operating in GM by 2043. These
forecasts ranged from an incremental growth
based on Network Rail’s freight forecast, to
a more radical approach that explores the
opportunities of changing policy drivers making
road haulage less attractive.
The latest version of MDST’s GB Freight Model

was used to generate these forecasts, which
were then tested against an unconstrained
network to understand how these translated
into the number of services on each route.
Across all forecasts, it was clear current

infrastructure would be unable to accommodate
rail freight demand growth alongside pre-
Covid-19 passenger demand levels. The study
demonstrated significant rail freight growth
across the GM network, including on the Chat
Moss, Hope Valley, Mid-Cheshire, Calder Valley,
Trans-Pennine and West Coast Main Line routes.
The scale of the challenge in accommodating

freight growth is epitomised by the impact of
demand for services through the congested
Castlefield Corridor.
The rail industry must Here, even the most conservative growth forecast
also do more to help showed an increase in services converging
between Piccadilly and Trafford Park from 23
reinforce the environmental
daily freight movements in each direction to 47,
credentials of rail freight therefore requiring a second hourly freight path.
by promoting investment in In the case of accommodating demand in the
electric traction as outlined more aspirational forecasts, further additional
in Network Rail’s Traction freight paths would need to be acquired.
Decarbonisation Strategy.
A key conclusion identified within the study
is the need to consider freight train routing Finally, waste flows operate in an almost opposite
in GM – which is primarily dictated by the manner to aggregates. These need access to waste
location of terminals. processing terminals within the built-up areas and
are then transported to processing plants located
For intermodal traffic, the terminals are located outside of urban centres. Our study suggested
at Trafford Park and the access arrangements that this market is likely to remain relatively static,
requires traffic to traverse the Castlefield Corridor. however as with the aggregates and inter-modal
Options for addressing growth in intermodal flows, the urban nature of the terminals means
traffic range from providing more capacity for there will continue to be interaction between
paths through central Manchester, looking at freight and suburban passenger services which
alternative access to the west of Trafford Park will need to be managed.
or considering developing or relocating to new
terminals (such as Port Salford). As well as these services originating or
terminating in (or near) to GM, there are
Aggregates traffic consists of flows both to significant national flows that travel through
terminals located within the city-region and the city-region which need to be factored in. A
outbound flows from aggregate sources to significant flow is the Anglo-Scottish intermodal
destinations outside GM. The incoming flows services using the West Coast Main Line, which
serve several storage and distribution depots are also forecast to grow significantly.
close to central Manchester, such as Hope Street,
Ashburys and Brindle Heath. These sites support An emerging market is also developing for shorter
construction activity and reduce the need for distance east-west flows across the Pennines,
long distance HGVs to access the city centre. An from destinations such as Teesport, Liverpool and
observation of recent construction activity in the Humber ports to the city regions of Manchester,
city centre, with the forest of cranes, illustrates Leeds and Sheffield. The challenges facing road
the importance of construction activity. It is haulage, such as congestion, driver shortages
widely recognised that for “bulk” flows such as and increasing awareness of carbon impacts are
these, rail retains a competitive advantage, even helping to make rail more competitive across
over short distances. these shorter flows.
The location of the Peak District quarries and Determining the right solutions to supporting
aggregates terminals beyond the GM boundary freight growth will require a balance of land use
provides a different challenge, as an increase planning, the demonstration of value for money
in demand for construction will require further for investment and ensure benefits are available
services to traverse the south Manchester to both passenger and freight sectors. We know
network to access destinations in the Midlands there are no simple or cheap fixes to accommodate
and the South. additional freight on the rail network.
Options to accommodate growth in aggregates Therefore, we must ensure the needs of

outlined in the study include significant freight are not lost in the development of rail
capacity enhancements in the Stockport area investment solutions on our mixed-use railway.
and potential development of storage and As an example, the emerging solutions for
distribution facilities with direct access to key central Manchester capacity, the Hope Valley
aggregate rail routes and the M60. upgrade and future HS2 and NPR plans need to
recognise the needs of freight.

In the case of the Transpennine Route Upgrade,

we require a solution which offers full gauge
clearance, continuous electrification and
enhanced capacity to support the potential
cross-Pennine freight flows.
The rail industry must also do more to help

reinforce the environmental credentials of rail
freight by promoting investment in electric
traction as outlined in Network Rail’s Traction
Decarbonisation Strategy.
The complexity of these solutions calls for

a joined-up approach between public and
private sector stakeholders to devise and
implement an appropriate long-term strategy.
This should take account of the rail freight
network at a national level, as issues outside
of GM have a direct impact.
TfGM will continue to advocate solutions to

accommodate greater levels of rail freight on
the network. We recognise this won’t be easy,
but the continuing growth of rail freight is
vital for future growth and propensity of the
city-region.
How Click here:

Text only view Aa
intelligent
infrastructure
is helping
restore
passenger
confidence
By Colin Rowcliffe, General Manager,
Communication and Information Systems, Siemens
Mobility Ltd
P
assenger numbers fell sharply when the UK
Government announced a stringent lockdown
in March, and whilst these numbers have re-
covered as travel restrictions have largely been
lifted, they still remain well below pre-pandemic levels.
The industry clearly has much work to do to rebuild

the public’s confidence and arguably it has never been
more important for people to have trust in the railway,
with the assurance that they are travelling in a safe and
secure environment.
A number of solutions are already available and in use

to help achieve this and by further deploying them,
we can help to both increase confidence and protect
passengers, operators, and their staff.
As an example, Siemens Rail Infrastructures In combination with Siemens Inter Modal

portfolio includes technologies that support Solutions MS Trip Planning solutions passengers
these objectives, providing staff and passengers can receive real time information about different
with real time, accurate and reliable information aspects of their journey, whether on board or
about journey options from door to door. travelling to and from the station.
This is achieved by integrating a number To enable operators to manage stations at a safe

of operational systems that enable service capacity and to identify potential pinch points, the
information to be provided, whether the railwaysolution includes an occupancy and incident alert
is operating to a planned timetable or recovering
system, which notifies the operator whenever
from a disruption. This information is distributed
a threshold of passenger numbers in specific
over a range of channels with a dedicated channel
zones is reached or incidents are detected. These
for station staff. incidents include people on the track, crowd
formation unseal behaviours, abandoned objects
The company’s Digital Station Manager is the or specifically relevant for Covid-19.
over-arching tool that enables this, providing
operators with an overview of their stations Additionally, the passenger flow within the
to enable them to operate the railway as an station can be analysed and improved in order
integrated part of the transport system. to reduce bottlenecks, causing passengers not
having the possibility to keep a minimal distance
to each other. which shows how passengers
move within a station, analysing how many
people are there, where they entered the station
and how long they stayed in it.
This data can not only be used to provide a

comprehensive overview for operators or trigger
The Digital announcements on station displays and public

address systems, but can also send messages via
Station Capacity apps directly to passengers, reinforcing the need

for social distancing to keep people safe.
Solution provides While overall flow and numbers are important to
operators with keep passenger and workers safe, the system’s
live data and

Wayfinding functionality helps individual
passengers to move safely and efficiently
resulting accurate through a station, making sure they get to the

right platform at the right time.
information Providing bespoke information directly to a
about current and passenger’s mobile phone (again through apps),

means they can receive information about the
future passenger availability and location of station facilities (such
as lifts and escalators) as well as directions to
numbers. carriages that have seats available.
This direct and tailored

communication to
passengers can continue
through their whole journey.
For example, before they arrive at their

destination, they can receive up to date
information about their onward journey, with
details about alternative route options and
modes of transport if necessary.
The Digital Station Manager also has an

analytics suite which works hand-in-hand with
other station sub-systems such as CCTV, and
which make use of the valuable information
these systems can provide.
This means more accurate forecasts can be

made about passenger flow, allow operators to
make informed decisions not only about where
and when additional staff may be required,
based on service levels, but more importantly
what they can do to reduce bottlenecks and
maintain safety of passengers and staff.
Although a number of digital systems were

providing benefits to operators and passengers
prior to the pandemic, they have subsequently
proved to be an essential tool in the industry’s
armoury to rebuild passenger confidence and
demonstrate that the railway provides a secure
travelling environment.
One which continues to put the safety of its

customers and its workforce at the heart of its
operations.
ThinkHire gains
major investment
after record year
Click here:
Text only view Aa
T
hink Hire has announced a major new Neil Richardson Think Hire Managing Director
inward investment following an out- explained, “It is fantastic to have the backing
standing performance that has seen of investors who see our potential and share
sales increase 400% year on year. The our goals. Over the next three years, we aim to
North-West-based company specialises in the quadruple the size of Think Hire and take the
hire of site accommodation and renewable and business national, expanding from the North
hybrid power supplies. West and South East to new sites in the West
Midlands and across the UK.”
The multi-million-pound investment comes from
a consortium of three local businessmen: Craig A rare success story in the Covid pandemic, Think
Ainscough, Steve Connelly and Aidan Grimshaw, Hire have seen sales grow substantially across
who will not only offer financial support but alsomany sectors as they have worked to keep sites
bring extensive hire experience from their time supplied with the additional welfare facilities
together at the hugely successful Ainscough and other equipment needed to facilitate social
Group of Companies. distancing. They have also successfully adapted
their remote management systems to continue
The investment will be used to fuel a significant to deliver 24hour support for site infrastructure,
expansion of the Think Hire operation over the without the need for direct attendance.
next three years.
The company’s growth has been underpinned by

a major expansion of their range of renewable,
sustainable hire services to meet the demands
of modern companies and environmental
regulations. The company already lead the
way in renewable energy battery systems,
solar-hybrid power and solar lighting. The new
investment will see ThinkHire expanding their
range in renewable power, as well as adding
new services, including waste and water
management.
It was this combination of impressive growth

and innovation that attracted the new
investment, and the funds will be used to add
both new depots and new product lines to the
Think Hire business.
Craig Ainscough said: “The carbon neutral

elements of the company were the main
attraction. We know there are many projects
and businesses that share these environmental
goals and who face stringent sustainability
Click here to email targets. This multi-million-pound finance
[email protected] package will ensure Think Hire is perfectly
placed to support these companies.”
The investment will create new job opportunities

across the business. Neil said: “We have an
ongoing recruitment drive starting right now.
This is an exciting time for Think Hire and we
will be looking for the very best in the business
to join our team and drive us forward.”
As part of the deal, Neil Richardson will be

joining the three investors on the board Kensite
Services as a non-executive director.
Click here to email

Neil Richardson, Managing Director
[email protected]
Click here to visit website

ThinkHire
Y
ou’re travelling by rail on The trial was split into two options.
your own, need a snack Customers can have items delivered
or a drink and you have to their seat after choosing and
Straight to Your Seat to walk to the onboard

shop. But what about your belong-
ings? Do you leave them on the
seat, or pack them away and take
paying for them on their device. Or
they can opt for “click and collect”,
where they go through the same
process, but they collect the order
them with you? themselves at the onboard shop at
a time convenient to them.
What’s the solution to this age-old
problem? We think we’ve solved Click and collect means the customer
this, and it could change rail travel avoids queuing at the onboard shop
for our customers in the future. for their items, another situation
that many are keen to avoid.
We began trialling our At-Seat
Food and Drink
Order service in August and it’s A dedicated range of items, hot and
a product our team has been cold, are on offer for customers
extremely excited about in the to purchase through the At-Seat
pre-planning stages. Order website.
Using the Wi-Fi on the train,

customers visit the dedicated
website to make their order. This
is transmitted to the onboard team
who are notified that an order has
been placed.
We knew An SMS message is then sent to the

customer when the order is ready
this could and, depending on what service

they opted for, a customer service
improve the assistant delivers the order to the
seat or alternatively, the customers
customer collects it.
experience While Covid-19 saw the trial
on the delayed, we were able to start

testing At-Seat Order in August
railway. on selected Pendolinos travelling

between London and Manchester.
The trial has now completed after

By Sarah McGuinness, ten weeks and although the click
Project Manager, Projects and collect option has proved
Directorate Avanti West Coast
Click here:
Text only view Aa
popular, it is certainly the delivery

to your seat which has captured our
customer’s imagination.
We’re now developing this further

alongside our software supplier, Omnifi,
to make sure the experience is as user-
friendly as possible and provides the
high level of quality our customers

would like to see from this service.
The feedback following the trial was

overwhelmingly positive with the
majority of customers stating the
service was good or excellent.
As customers look to return to rail,

this service gives them reassurance
that social distancing can be
maintained, and they can travel with
the confidence they need.
Click here:
Find out more
Customer comments have included: The new At Seat Order service is a new,
easy way to enjoy great food and drink
“I’m halfway through a six-hour journey during the journey, and we will be looking
and very tired so having food and drink to see how we can develop and expand
delivered was really nice!!” the service after a very encouraging few
month. Essentially, it’s about improving
“It saves me waking through the train. Even the service for all our customers which is
without the COVID issues, the delivery at the heart of everything we do.
service is good because I don’t have to
leave my belongings to go to the shop.”
“It improved
the journey
because it
made me feel
safer about
travelling
during the
pandemic.”
“Being able to enjoy a coffee without

walking through the carriages was great.”
It does not mean the end of the catering

services we already provide. Many of our
customers will still prefer to visit our
onboard shop during the journey, and we
will be modernising the shop as part of a
complete refurbishment of our Pendolino
trains. We will also be continuing to serve
complimentary meals and snacks for
customers in First Class.
95
A
s we celebrated entering a
new decade in January, it was
full of promise and excitement
for the industry. Three months
later we were in our first lockdown.
We were instructed to stay at home and

not to travel where possible, we clapped
for keyworkers every Thursday, we
listened to numerous briefings at 5pm
and became accustomed to Zoom.
As summer rolled in some restrictions

were relaxed but then brought back in
again as cases of Covid-19 increased
and the country was divided up into the
tiers system.
Despite all this, our industry hasn’t

stopped. Projects continued safely,
important discussions still took place
over video call and our key workers were
still able to travel via our railways.
Nevertheless, what this year has shown

us is that the rail industry is a resilient
one, with a hard-working community
that will always band together in times
of need.
Therefore, as the year draws to a close,

we would like to wish all our customers,
readers and listeners a very Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year.
From everyone here at Cognitive

Publishing and the Rail Technology team.
Click here:
Aa
Text only view
COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT

ABOUT YOURSELF AND HOW YOU
GOT TO YOUR CURRENT ROLE? I’ve
been a Member of Parliament for Pendle in
Lancashire since 2010. Alongside my work
on behalf of constituents, I’m also a Minister
in the Department for Transport, responsible
for the delivery of HS2, Northern Powerhouse
Rail and the Transpennine Route Upgrade.
Before my current role, I was Minister for

Africa in the UK Foreign and Commonwealth
Office and Department for International
Development, which involved coordinating
Industry Voice
the UK’s aid policy and working to build closer

ties between the UK and 48 African countries.
Previously, I was a Minister for Business and
Industry, with a brief across the automotive,
aerospace, construction, nuclear, rail supply
and steel sectors.
Outside of work, I’m currently a volunteer

Community First Responder with the North West
Ambulance Service, which is hugely rewarding
and has kept me busy the last six months!
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE

FOR YOU? I typically start my day with
constituency work and reading briefings
for the day ahead. After speaking with my
private office team, I generally have a series
of meetings – anything from calls with officials
Andrew Stephenson
in the Department for Transport, to chairing

an industry roundtable or event. The Covid-19
pandemic has meant that I haven’t been able
HS2 Minister
to go out on site visits as much as I would have

97
wanted this year. Significant headway has been and provide better services for passengers.
made on some of our biggest infrastructure Another key direction the rail industry is going
projects – construction on HS2 started in in is towards a greener decarbonisation of the
September and last month we saw the arrival railways, with new technology helping to drive
of two giant tunnel boring machines at Long us towards net zero carbon by 2050. Finally,
Itchington Wood. So, there’s a lot of exciting this Government is completely committed to
work going on and I’m really keen to get out bringing forward vital sector-wide reforms
more and more to see the works developing following the Williams Rail Review – the first
first-hand, as soon as it’s safe to do so. root and branch review of the rail industry in
a generation.
WHAT PROJECT/PIECE OF WORK ARE
YOU MOST PROUD OF? I’m extremely proud WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
that the main phase of construction of HS2 started FACING THE INDUSTRY AT THE
under my watch. It’s taken a while to get going MOMENT?The pandemic has of course
since the Prime Minister gave the project the go created a significant challenge for our
ahead in February, but we’re well underway now. railways. Since March, with people rightly
following Government advice and working
This new railway is vital to our plans to build from home where they can, we’ve seen the
back better from the pandemic – it’s already largest change in passenger usage since
supporting more than 13,000 jobs, including records began. We believe we will swiftly
400 apprenticeships, with many more to see passenger growth trends return to pre-
be created. We are working on design and Covid levels once it is safe, particularly on
parliamentary approvals for the next two long-distance and inter-city journeys, where
phases of the route which will see it stretch you would expect demand for face-to-face
further north. HS2 will become the backbone business interaction and leisure travel to
of our rail network and, in addition to the continue. However, there may very well
lasting impact HS2 will have on jobs, skills be longer-term changes to the way people
and businesses, it will bring our biggest cities commute, and therefore we could face a
closer together, rebalance opportunity right period of adaptation ahead of us.
across the country and play a key role in the
UK’s transition to net zero carbon by 2050. A key measure of our success over the
next few years will be how we mobilise to
This project is an investment that will benefit improve the experience for all who use our
our society for decades to come and I’m railways – by adapting to new trends, driving
hugely proud to play a part in its delivery. forward modernisation and investing in new
technology. The Williams Review is a golden
WHERE DO YOU SEE THE RAIL INDUSTRY opportunity to reform how the rail industry
IN 10 YEARS’ TIME? We are investing operates and ultimately, to build a railway that
heavily in rail infrastructure across the country is fit for the future and works for passengers.
to create a rail network that better connects
all nations and regions of the UK. Improving
connectivity within and between regions
will spread opportunity and create jobs and
economic growth, supporting our mission to
level up disadvantaged regions. HS2 is a key
part of that and will reshape the network and
unlock vital new capacity to cut journey times

Rail Magazine

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rail Magazine

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rail Magazine

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CHRIS

04 LABOUR’S PRIORITIES FOR RAIL,

20 EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND

Editorial Advertising Commercial

RTM Lead Business Development Director

Matt Roberts Patrick Bowley Accounts / Finance

Production Marketing & Events Team Leader

Cognitive Publishing Ltd

To view our full terms and conditions go to

The past twelve months have seen some Click to listen:

“Yes, HS2 will

Diversity & Inclusion 19

Civils & Stations 37

46 Cllr Liam Robinson

“I’d like to see train

It would be wrong to not mention that

By Tim Wood, Northern Powerhouse Rail

“Bradford is just Meanwhile, connectivity will be revolutionised

one example Liverpool and York more than halved, putting

of many that economy and providing access to 750,000

how Northern Figures indicate that more than 45,000 people

will transform building a modern, fast and resilient electrified

places across Leeds more commuters will choose rail over

The time has come for the Government to

NPR proposals for the Manchester to Leeds line

Muse about the regeneration of nearby Kings Cross and it is not

There are many forces at work in the creation of a successful

Connecting communities to the new station and

Linking people to this more

When finished, Birmingham’s new high-speed

Of equal significance will be the HS2’s

Meanwhile, creating a successful station in a less-

This is nowhere more important than in Chesterfield,

The new bi-mode trains, which were

The name Aurora appealed to the

The new Hitachi EMR chose the local company to make

Article continues on the next page

RMF is a leading provider of railway reservation based

Times House, Bravingtons Walk, Regent Quarter

Just last month While conventional signalling means the

we announced following disruption, this technology gives

£1.2m of new so they can communicate with train drivers

work for digital and increase track utilisation by allowing

signalling on their optimal speeds.

vital sections We’re now asking industry to work collaboratively

Coast Main Line,

Midland Main AND THERE IS SOME GREAT WORK

Line and East Since we announced £350m of new

Digital technology has

The industry’s new Rail Technical Strategy

that the team at Virgin it’s questionable whether we would

milestone in development of time reduction to travel even the

By Adeline Ginn MBE, Chair of Women in

Join rail industry influencers, leaders and

We’re working in partnership with over 320 industry

Contact the team Register

It acknowledges that rail is central to

It recognises that we all have a collective The Charter is inclusive – it is open to

It shows the Signatory companies also commit to make

passion for accessible and attractive to all so as to