The Office of Rail & Road says it will be monitoring safety and how passengers are kept informed of disruptions during forthcoming industrial action, with HM Railway Inspectors undertaking safety checks on the main line and London Underground networks. ORR says it is ‘content’ with Network Rail’s contingency plans for operating a reduced service, ’but continues to monitor the situation closely’. ORR’s consumer team will be monitoring the information that rail companies provide to passengers, including on changes to timetables and how to apply for a refund or submit a compensation claim, and help for people who need assistance to travel.
Technicians at Greater Anglia’s Romford control centre are using a decision support tool developed by IQM Software to respond to train faults reported by drivers. The software provides a set of questions relating to the symptoms of the problem that is being described, and a countdown timer which gives an indication of when further action needs to begin, such as isolating systems to get the train on the move again. It currently covers the Stadler fleets, with the Alstom trains to follow.
SPL Powerlines UK has promoted Simon Skinner to Engineering Director, with responsibility for developing engineering and design management arrangements.
Railcare has signed a new two-year maintenance services framework agreement with Network Rail. The Swedish company said the agreement, which includes the use of its machines for cable lowering, ballast replacement, drainage, cable exposure, cable relocation and culvert cleaning, ‘is essentially the same as before’ although the pricing has been adjusted. NR can also now call off Railcare’s machines directly in its own vehicle system, NROL. ‘We are looking forward to continued and simplified collaboration’, said the contractor’s CEO Mattias Remahl.
QTS Group’s Rail Skills Academy has completed its first nine-week programme funded through the East Ayrshire Council’s Young Person Guarantee programme to equip people with essential skills for the rail industry, including PTS and Track Induction as well as health and safety, small tools and first aid. Five of the 10 participants have secured jobs with QTS, and the other five have been offered opportunities with other rail companies including McCulloch Group, A McKie Builders and Nelson Track Solutions.
Rail Forum is to host an event at the Barrow Hill Roundhouse on September 8 2022 providing SMEs with a chance to hear from universities undertaking rail R&D and learn about the support which is available to SMEs through local facilities and universities.
Following a number of recent deer strikes on the East Coast Main Line which resulted in severe delays, QTS Group’s fencing team has installed more than 3 km of 2 100 mm high steel post and deer fencing.
Steve Richardson-Frankton has joined Journeycall from Key IVR Ltd as Business Development Manager, while Donald has been promoted to the new role of Account Manager at the Arbroath-based company which provides customer service and smart card services for the transport operators.