The Institution of Railway Operators carried off a major rail industry award, winning the
People Development category at the Railway Industry Innovation Awards in June.
From left: Scott Siwicki from AndersElite, Chris Daughton Chief Executive, Tricia Meade (is currently taking the degree course) and Tom Birch (a member of IRO's Board responsible for the education programme).
Presented for the Institution’s achievement in creating Diploma and Degree courses in railway operational management, the AndersElite Award for Innovation in People Development was accepted on the Institution’s behalf by Chief Executive Chris Daughton.
Chris explained that the Bachelor of Science Degree and Diploma in Higher Education, launched in October 2005 in conjunction with Glasgow Caledonian University, are designed to afford railway operators similar recognition and status as that given to professional engineers.
Paying tribute to the original group of senior railway managers who in 2000 had the vision and inspiration to create an Institution for railway operators, Chris said: “Without their resolve together with the support of the late Sir Alistair Morton, then Chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority, the education programme that has won this prestigious award could not have been developed.”
Chris went on to praise the hard work undertaken by Tom Birch and Tony Cousins and their colleagues
on the Institution’s Education Committee who had turned the vision to reality.
Finally, Chris paid tribute to the Institution’s corporate members for their continued backing and financial support. “The Institution, and therefore our courses, would not exist without our corporate members,” said Chris. “I thank them wholeheartedly for their faith in our ability to deliver.”
Chris Green, chairman of the judging panel for The Railway Industry Innovation Awards, which are sponsored by The Railway Forum and Modern Railways, said: “Both the quality and the quantity of entries are up on last year, and the freshness and energy behind the new entries has made them a pleasure to read – but hard to judge. I would like to congratulate the rail industry for the sheer variety of entries – which demonstrate an industry that is alive with energy and ideas.”
For more info about the Bachelor of Science Degree and Diploma in Higher Education courses please contact Claire Wickes on admin@railwayoperators.org or 01444 248931.
Chris Daughton on the new Secretary of State for Transport
In a letter dated 10 May welcoming Douglas Alexander, the new Secretary of State for Transport to the Cabinet, Prime Minister Tony Blair set out the challenges he expects Alexander and his department to meet in the immediate future.
In my opinion, Chris said, the most significant message is contained in the final paragraph of the letter. Referring to investment the PM writes: “Your plans will need to be set against the background of lower growth in funding than in recent years.”
So Government appears to want it both ways, it says an “efficient and reliable transport system” is vital to the economy but admits “parts of our road and rail network are already under severe pressure” at the same time as saying “constraints on public expenditure mean we simply cannot build our way out of problems.”
Presumably by problems, the PM means pressing issues such as overcrowding and network capacity. The simple and obvious answer to both is longer trains, more of them and more rails for them to run on. But in a regime of restricted funding is that a realistic solution? If the projected increases in passenger numbers are correct Mr Alexander, his advisers and the rail industry as a whole will have to come up with answers – and fast.
Perhaps money is not the only answer. Could it be that the industry is not yet working to its full efficiency? If we work a bit smarter could the additional capacity be found to run more trains? Could the train leasing companies provide more rolling stock?
I will not attempt to even begin suggesting how some of these can be met but I do have one suggestion to make. The incoming Secretary of State. Mr Alexander would do well to get out and about among the people who make the railway work; the signallers, train crews and their line managers who have day-to-day contact with the actual running of the railway. They know where the inefficiencies are, what could be done better and how. Never forget, the doers are the experts, not the thinkers. There are a lot of good ideas out there but they are seldom heard. Now is the time to listen.
• To build on our unprecedented record of economic achievement to sustain the momentum of public service modernisation
• An efficient and reliable transport system is essential for our economy and future competitiveness.
• We have committed to record levels of investment in transport by 2015 in DfT’s long-term spending guideline.
• More people are travelling by rail than at any time in the past 40 years, while performance is back at pre-Hatfield levels and continues to improve.
• Many parts of our road and rail network are already under severe pressure, especially at peak times.
• While we have set out clear plans for future investment, constraints on public expenditure mean we simply cannot build our way out of these problems.
• The benefits transport can deliver must be measured against their impact on the environment; in particular transport will be critical to our long-term goal of reducing carbon emissions.
• We need to develop a clear long-term strategy for the future of rail by summer 2007, including an assessment of future investment levels, how we can continue to improve rail performance, and options for increasing capacity in the network.
• Finally we need to ensure we have identified a clear way forward on Crossrail consistent with sensible handling of the Bill currently before Parliament.
Mike Donnelly joins IRO Board
Mike Donnelly, Director at Balfour Beatty Management has been appointed to the Board of the Institution of Railway Operators as its Infrastructure Maintenance representative.
Mike’s appointment is for three years, until June 2009. He takes on the role in replacement of John Campbell of First Engineering, who stepped down recently upon retirement.
Chris Daughton, the Institution’s Chief Executive, said he was delighted that Mike and Balfour Beatty had agreed to the appointment. “Mike brings a wealth of experience that will further strengthen the Institution.”
Mike, who has over 35 years experience with British Rail and industry-related companies, said he was ‘over the moon’ at his appointment.
“I am thoroughly looking forward to working with the Institution. I have been involved in personal development my entire career. In my early days in Newcastle I led movements and ops planning courses and have always enjoyed helping young people get the most out of themselves.”
Mike has spent over 22 years with British Rail. His career saw him take on a range of senior operational roles including: Area Manager, Cambridge; Train Crew Planning and Resources Manager, Eastern Region; Operations Manager, South Central Division and Safety Audit Manager Network South East.
Mike left BR in 1992 to join WS Atkins on the Channel Tunnel Project as the Operations Technical Advisor to the Maitre d’Oeuvre. He was seconded to Eurotunnel in 1994 as the company’s first Director of Railway Operations.
In 1997 he became Managing Director of WS Atkins Rail Control and Systems Division, moving later to Business Development Director of Atkins Rail.
He became Director, Balfour Beatty Management in 2003 to help set up its professional services focusing on the management of major infrastructure projects and technical consultancy.
Are you a happy snapper?
We would like to invite all IRO Members, Associates, Fellows and Affiliates to enter our photography competition. The theme is ‘Operational Railway’.
The winning 12 photographs will appear in the 2007 wall calendar. The overall winner from the 12 will receive a free ticket to the next Members’ Annual Lunch.
Need Inspiration?
We are looking for:
• A good balance of light or heavy rail, freight or passenger, outside or inside shots.
• Scenic views (to make it an attractive calendar) showing a train or some track or other infrastructure to maintain the theme of “the operational railway”.
• Stations.
• Operating or performance or safety work, showing the operational railway (main line, light rail underground and tramways etc) at work.
• Signal boxes or trains/trams, inside or outside.
• Scenic landscapes with a railway feature (e.g. signal box, viaduct, stations).
All photos must be taken from a position of safety – please be careful. Think safe!
The winners will be chosen on the basis of:
• Relevance to the operational railway theme
• Good composition
• Originality
Please make sure that you have permission to take the photos if permission is needed.
Entry to the competition is also based on your written authorisation for us to use the photo. The photographer must have the permission of any persons who may appear in the photo (if they are recognisable).
Please send your entries to:
Debbie Gingell, Woodhouse Communications,
1st Floor Progress House, 141 Western Road,
Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3LH.
For more info please call 01444 473588 or
email debbie@woodhousecommunications.co.uk
(high res JPEG images 300dpi 10” x 8” minimum).
Closing date for entries is 2nd October 2006.
All photos will be returned.
A table collection at our Members’ Annual Lunch on 28 April 2006 in Manchester raised £1022 for the Railway Children Charity.
Thank you all to everyone their kind donations. The proceeds will go to good use, supporting runaway and abandoned children living around the world’s bus and railway stations, for children living in countries like India, Bangladesh, Mexico, Russia Africa and the UK.
IRO Young Professionals was established earlier this year to provide a forum for the younger managers within the industry to develop their knowledge and career prospects and help deliver tomorrow’s railway. There are monthly events in and around London, with recent speakers including Mark Hopwood (Managing Director of LondonLines) and David Reynolds (Chief Signalling Inspector, Network Rail), in addition to field visits to the Eurostar simulator at Waterloo and a trip on the New Measurement Train on the Midland Main Line.
Young Professionals members have the opportunity to develop a broad understanding of railway operations through the variety of events throughout the year and can put questions to senior managers. Members are able to network with similarly minded professionals and build contacts within other companies, as well as gain access to general career advice.
Chris Green, Non-Executive Director, Network Rail, says: “The future of the rail industry is very much in the hands of our young operators. It is you who will lead us to new heights of professional excellence and performance in the next decade. I therefore warmly welcome the creation of the Young Professionals.”
As part of the IRO’s South East branch, Young Professionals welcomes applications from anyone who is a new or aspiring manager within the industry, either already enrolled in the Institution of Railway Operators or applying simultaneously. Applicants can be members of any IRO Area, not just the South East.
For write-ups of recent events, as well as news on forthcoming events and information on how to join, see the Young Professionals website at www.iroyoungprofessionals.org.uk
Welcome aboard RWA Rail Ltd,
a new corporate member!
Robert Watson Associates was set up in 1999 to provide a range of services to the transport industry, its policy makers, customers and suppliers. In 2004 Robert Watson Associates became a limited company RWA Rail Ltd.
A small team of transport professionals has been brought together with skills in:
• Railway planning, from the strategic to the operational
• Demand forecasting
• Logistics and supply chain management
• Scheduling and timetabling
• Software and database specification
• Transport research
RWA Rail works mainly with the Rail Industry – Rail Operators in the UK and abroad, Franchise bidders, Network Rail, DfT and Scottish Executive. RWA Rail also has links with Universities in the UK and abroad.
“RWA Rail sees corporate membership of IRO as a great asset because it enables the company and individual team members to keep up to date with developments in the Rail Industry and to develop their skills,” said Jackie Rowe from RWA. In addition it may help us to spread the word on the latest developments in modelling techniques and packages and support proposals on service patterns, new infrastructure etc.
Local Area events
All our Area events are listed on our website: www.railwayoperators.org and you are very welcome to attend events in your own or any other Area. Unless the listing says otherwise, you do not need to advise us that you intend to be there.
South East Area
Monday 18th September 2006 Speaker (TBA)
Monday 20th November 2006 “Track for Operators” Operations Master Class
All South East Area meetings take place at the Union Jack Club, Sandell Street, Waterloo. Doors open at 18:00 and the talks commence at 18:30. To contact the South East area on any subject please email: Southeast@railwayoperators.org
Union Jack Club in London.
Midlands Area
Forthcoming events:
25 September Central Trains’ Soho Depot in Birmingham
30 October to be confirmed
27 November visit to Midlands Metro
To contact the Midlands Area on any subject, please call Julia Stanyard on 0121 345 5030 or email: Midlands@railwayoperators.org
South West Area
For information on all other South West events and matters, contact Lawrie Hall on 01453 822150 or email us at Southwest@railwayoperators.org
Scottish and Irish Area
For information on all Scottish events and matters, please contact Scottish@railwayoperators.org or phone Jim Summers, Acting Chairman on 01324 625284
North East Area
All North East Area meetings normally take place at 1730 for 1800, at York.
For further news on the IRO in the North East contact us by email at: Northeast@railwayoperators.org
North West Area
To contact the North West area on any matter, please contact Clive Evans on 01270-629009 or email us at: Northwest@railwayoperators.org
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