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PROJECT MANAGEMENT


Network Rail enlists the talents of some extremely experienced project managers to deliver its major infrastructure projects. Heather McPherson is among them and tells RTM more about the job.


a major piece of infrastructure, a project manager will take charge to ensure every- thing goes to plan.


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It can be stressful trying to stick to budget and strict deadlines, but project managers are experts at both.


Working as a project manager on the Thameslink project at Farringdon station, central London, Heather McPherson knows all about the pressures these professionals face on a daily basis.


The work being carried out at Farringdon is essentially a platform-lengthening project, but there are a lot of other works going on to support it.


She explained: “We are building two com- pletely new station buildings, one of which will eventually interface with Crossrail, along with lots of staircases and other works to facilitate that platform lengthen- ing project.”


82 | rail technology magazine Feb/Mar 11


hether it is the installation of a lift at a small rural station or managing the delivery of


Above image: How the interior of the new Farringdon station will look.


McPherson is one of four project managers at Farringdon station. Her responsibilities include the building of a new two-storey building on Turnmill Street and works tak- ing place to the station building, which is being totally gutted and refitted. She is also in charge of station-wide mechanical and electrical station services.


As you might expect, her days are often very busy.


She said: “On an average day I have progress meetings with our several contractors and conduct readiness reviews so we have got our work planned and co-ordinated ap- propriately. That means when we do things like close certain lines, we are minimising the risk of any delay or negative impact to customers.


“We also need to deliver the work accord- ing to budget and on a daily basis I would review the work that has happened on the previous day and evening to make sure I can follow up on any designs issues to en- sure they are resolved. I also have to follow up on any health and safety issues.


“The main challenge is keeping the station open while we are undertaking a major construction project; it is really difficult to do that and I am not sure how many under- stand how hard it is. Obviously, we are try- ing to minimise any disruption to the pub- lic and so a lot of work we have to do has to be carried out at night. We do have to close the railway occasionally and keeping it open and safe is very challenging indeed.


“Another big challenge is dealing with stakeholders. We have a lot of them on the Farringdon project as, although the project is being led by Network Rail, the station is actually owned and operated by London Underground, so everything we do has to be approved by them.


“The station building is also Grade II Listed, so English Heritage is very interested in what we do. And there are a lot of utilities running through and around the station, so we have to work very closely with the utility companies.


“Then there is, of course, the travelling pub- lic and residents who live around the area;


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