(Article from Journal 2022/07 Vol140 Pt3)

As I scanned the proof of this edition of the Journal, I was struck by the wide range of technical topics covered, albeit all within the scope of railway infrastructure engineering.

This quarter’s articles go to the heart of the PWI’s mission of supporting our members as they work to develop and maintain informed and up to date professional competence. And, in due course, those articles will join the ever expanding body of learning within the PWI’s Knowledge Hub. If you haven’t tried out the Hub, I recommend a visit to the PWI website to access and search its decades’ worth of accumulated railway technical knowledge and experience, and to see how others have solved the myriad of technical problems posed by railway infrastructure.

CRITICAL INTERFACES

I’m particularly pleased to see the focus on climate change and weather, and their potential impact on railway networks and infrastructure assets, in this edition of the Journal. The accelerating pace of world climate change has exposed new vulnerabilities in our infrastructure.

The realisation that some railway route sections will be exposed to unprecedented extreme weather events and that many of our earthwork structures are at a critical point in their fatigue life mean that the balance of risks associated with railway infrastructure is changing: and will continue to do so. Safe operation of the railway requires these changes to be understood and reflected in corresponding adjustments to the management regimes that control those risks.

As the tragedy at Carmont in 2020 well illustrated, the interface between track, and earthworks and drainage assets is a critical area where mutual understanding and knowledge sharing between engineering disciplines is key to railway system safety. So, it’s good to see this interface forming the topic of a new PWI technical course. The course provides the detailed knowledge, understanding, and insights necessary to manage safety risks effectively, within the context of the whole railway “system of systems”.

Railway infrastructure is characterised by its multiplicity of interfaces between engineering disciplines, and it is imperative that engineers from one discipline understand the potential impact the work and asset condition for which they’re responsible can have on assets managed by other disciplines. A track engineer doesn’t have to be an expert in electrification or signalling, nor vice versa, but a good appreciation of interfacing disciplines and assets is an important element of competence for all railway engineers.

SUPPORTING PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Technical courses are only one of the ways in which the Institution promotes learning, and PWI events in Spring and early Summer provide a clear illustration of this. As reported later in this Journal, our seminar in Manchester in early March brought those attending up to speed with the significant challenges presented to the railway industry by climate change and the decarbonisation imperative.
At the end of March, the Practical Trackwork Challenge (PTC) introduced another cohort of early career engineers to hands-on trackwork. This event, held on the Churnet Valley Railway in Staffordshire, used single line track renewal (with added snow flurries) to illustrate the importance of logistics and planning in track renewal work (and the importance of all-weather PPE). My thanks go to the PWI corporate members and experienced volunteers who supported this task-focussed event by providing plant and a core of expert practitioners to demonstrate how such work is delivered. All being well a further PTC will take place in November, where participants will engage with another, different, set of trackwork tasks.

Our April and May seminars, respectively in Glasgow exploring developments in electrification, and in Birmingham looking at how technology has been harnessed to deliver step changes in staff safety, gave those attending an unparalleled opportunity to meet technical experts in these fields, and a very welcome chance to catch up on face-to-face networking. The positive combination of learning and networking was also clearly evident at the April PWI Technical Board, attended by corporate members, and at the PWI’s stand at Rail Live in June.

Rail Live has made a name for itself as the UK’s premier railway infrastructure event. The range of infrastructure equipment, components, and services on show was impressive, as was the stream of visitors at the PWI stand. Friends old and new sought answers to questions on education, professional development, and technical matters: others just popped by to say “hello”. Several interesting technical developments were evident, and I trust these will be the subject of future Journal articles.

FOR THE FUTURE?

The PWI was represented at the general assembly meeting of the UEEIV (the umbrella organisation for railway engineering institutions across Europe) in Münster, Germany at the beginning of June.
In recent years the UEEIV has been somewhat “low profile”, but the general assembly endorsed a new mission, to connect those engaged in railway engineering across Europe and share technical knowledge, particularly amongst those in the early stages of their railway careers. The PWI strongly supports this new direction and I look forward to the UEEIV’s facilitation of new development opportunities for our members: hopefully including technical exchange visits. The UEEIV meeting was held alongside the IAF (international exhibition for track technology) railway infrastructure engineering show. This international event, normally held every 4 years, is Rail Live’s “big brother”, showing off the latest railway infrastructure plant and equipment, and technological developments from across Europe. I enjoyed a full day touring the event, my only regret being the very small number of UK engineers and exhibitors I encountered. The next IAF show is in 2025 and I’m wondering how the PWI can encourage greater UK participation: members ideas on this would be welcome…

OUR PEOPLE

As I write, the PWI team is preparing for the Institution’s July AGM. This meeting always involves some comings and goings, and this year is no exception. After many years of valued service to the Institution, Andy Cooper stands down as a non-executive director. I must place on record my thanks for Andy’s help and support to the wider Institution, and to its CEOs. In the same breath I welcome Simon Blanchflower as a new non-exec. Fresh from his recent Chief Executive role at East West Rail, Simon brings long and wide-ranging railway industry experience to the Board which I’m sure will help keep the PWI “on the straight and narrow”.

This year also sees the departure of several Vice Presidents, and new arrivals in those positions. Again, I thank the retiring VPs for their tireless efforts in promoting the Institution: and I extend a hearty welcome to those who’ve elected to take on our VP roles (and the associated tasks!). Whilst Joan Heery leaves the Presidential chain this year after completing her four-year term, I’m very pleased that she’s chosen to remain with the PWI, as an outstanding Membership Director.

Finally, I’m very pleased to welcome Chrisma Jain to the Presidential Chain. I was fortunate to work with her at Transport for London and I have no doubt that the Institution will benefit hugely from her considerable leadership skills, knowledge of railway infrastructure, familiarity with professional engineering institutions, and boundless energy.