We started the new 2016-17 session with a change of leadership in the Railway Network.
Jon Hemsley, Head of Fleet Project Engineering (Services), WMA Engineering, Bombardier Transportation has recently handed over the Chairman’s role to Dr Martyn Chymera, Maintenance Performance and Reliability Manager, Crossrail Operations Team, London Rail, Transport for London. I'd like to thank Jon for the help and support he has given me during his time in office and welcome Martyn to his term as Chairman.
During September, we had a couple of excellent visits, one to the South West Trains-Network Rail Training Campus at Basingstoke, organised by Peter Sheppard Peter and the other participants on the visit seem to have had an excellent time on the simulators and exploring the other training facilities at the campus. Peter wrote this blog which contains some images and also a link to a video in the driving simulator.
The other visit organised by David Lawes, Vice Chairman, Network Young Professionals Group was to the Crossrail Tunnels. Again, this was another informative and enjoyable visit judging by the feedback. David has written this blog following the visit.
I’m looking forward to November, when we have the prestigious event in the Railway Network’s calendar of events for this year coming up i.e. the Railway Lecture on the 30 November 2016..
This year’s guest speaker will be Adrian Shooter CBE who will be drawing on his years of experience in the rail industry to present on how engineers are best placed to lead/deliver innovation in the industry. I hope to see some of you at this lecture, which is followed by an optional drinks networking reception/dinner which will provide excellent opportunities for further networking and judging by last year’s event will be both enjoyable and informative for those attending.
We had a great committee meeting in September when the volunteers got together to discuss activities and strategy for the 2016-17 session. We are looking to build on the success of the ICRE 2016 conference in Brussels in May by linking up with the IET’s Events team to develop this into a world class event that will complement the already excellent ICRE conferences held in Hong Kong every three years.
I’m also currently working with David Lawes who will be taking over from Matt Bagshawe as chairman of the YP Group in January 2017, in relation to recruiting more YPs onto the Group. See David’s blog for more details. We hope all YPs working in the Railway Industry or academia will consider joining the group so that we can deliver some excellent events in 2017 and beyond.
Finally, one of my colleagues has written this blog listing ten movie scenes featuring trains, are there any great ones we’ve missed off? If so, please go into the blog and let us have your comments.
I look forward to welcoming some of you to forthcoming events.
Deborah-Claire McKenzie
Community Manager
Railway Network