Network Rail Wales & Borders is to use Tended’s geofencing technology as part of a pilot programme to improve track worker safety within complex possessions at Cardiff West. An online dashboard is used to define safe working zones and access points, and small wearable devices then alert workers in real-time if they cross a geofence boundary.
Sir Jonathan Thompson has been named Chair of HS2 Ltd, having been Deputy since March 2022, and Elaine Holt has been appointed Deputy Chair. Thompson was previously Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence and HM Revenue & Customs. He will initially split his time equally between his roles at HS2 Ltd and as Chief Executive of the Financial Reporting Council, before stepping down from FRC to work for HS2 Ltd three days per week.
Network Rail is undertaking a pre-tender market engagement exercise to determine interest in supplying a new-build fleet of 27 wagons for carrying autumn railhead treatment modules. They would need to be interoperable with the current fleet of 50 FEA-F wagons.
Sekoura Benissad, Systra Programme Director North West & Central, has been named as the first Chair of the Railway Industry Association’s Midlands & Eastern region. ‘It’s an honour to be able to take an active role in the continued roll-out of RIA’s Nations & Regions Network’, she said. ‘It’s an exciting time for rail in the region, with the launch of the Midlands Rail Hub outline business case, the progress of Midland Main Line, CP7 and not forgetting HS2.’
Alstom has appointed Telent as its telecoms partner for the Cambridge Resignalling project. ‘Telent has a good understanding of the technology used to update and maintain the telecom systems to ensure that they are efficient and reliable, and we look forward to being able to give the public more assurance that their trains will be running to time’, said Telent Transport MD Steve Dalton.
WeMaintain has opened a Manchester office to support a contract to maintain five escalators and 36 lifts for light rail operator KeolisAmey Metrolink. This builds on an existing contract with KeolisAmey Docklands. ‘Once our technology is installed, we can furnish KeolisAmey Metrolink with early warnings of potential equipment failure, allowing us to resolve this and other issues with unique speed’, said WeMaintain UK Managing Director Tom Harmsworth.
Northern is introducing weekly and monthly Barcode Season Tickets within its app which update repeatedly throughout the day to prevent fare evaders from being able to screenshot and share season tickets for others to use. Passengers must upload a profile photograph when purchasing a Barcode Season Ticket, which displays alongside the barcode within the app and forms part of the ticket inspection.
The Railway Industry Association’s Consultants Group, which represents the rail consultancy and design community, has elected Jessica Ellery of Jacobs as Chair and Chris Pike of Arcadis as Vice-Chair. ‘I see a brilliant opportunity to harness the collective influence within the Consultants Group to become a driving force — challenging and supporting clients in equal measure to accelerate delivery and deploy our combined capabilities to drive up service levels and contribute to industry improvement and development’, said Ellery.
Cecilia Hansen-Saunders has joined VolkerRail as commercial director for Specialist Businesses, succeeding Simon Gallagher who has retired. Hansen-Saunders has spent almost 20 years in the rail sector, working for Balfour Beatty, Alstom, Colas Rail and AmeyColas
RAIB makes two recommendations to Network Rail in its report on a pedestrian struck by a train on a foot crossing near Ashtead in Surrey on April 21 2022. The first is intended to address the risk to pedestrians from an approaching train being hidden from view by another train. The second recommendation concerns the implementation of appropriate interim risk mitigations at level crossings that are awaiting long-term interventions.
Craig Scott has joined telecoms and technology specialist ADComms and rolling stock maintenance company Gemini Rail Services as CEO, succeeding Austin Wallace.
QTS Group has promoted Lisa McKellar to Marketing & Social Value Director, continuing to lead the contractor’s marketing offering and also taking responsibility for driving its social value work.