THE NEXT GENERATION
Tim Dugher, chairman of the IMechE rail division and chief operating offi cer of Angel Trains until his retirement in March this year, discusses the future of the industry.
O
ften overlooked or misunderstood by graduates, the UK rail industry
offers some of the brightest career oppor- tunities out there. Tim Dugher, the former chief operating offi cer of Angel Trains, and IMechE railway division chairman, gave the Distinguished Lecture at this year’s iRail 2011, in which he discussed the chal- lenges that the railway industry faces and why new skills need to be actively attracted.
He said: “The number of engineering graduates choosing a career in the railway industry is a pressing concern that needs to be actively addressed. After talking to a number of graduates at this year’s iRail 2011, it is clear that engineering students are still not realising the breadth of oppor- tunities that are out there. We need to be securing home-grown talent now and mak- ing sure this new generation of minds is put to use in the rail sector, where fresh inno- vation is key to continued growth.
“I believe that the UK railway is a suc- cess and one that we need to shout about. Freight traffi c has grown by 60% over the last 12 years, whilst passenger numbers of 1.2 billion were recorded in 2010. There are of course a number of challenges that will need to be faced in the future and this is why a constant stream of young talent is vital to the future of the UK railway.
“The carbon challenge is one that faces all areas of industry, but when you look at the emissions from rail in comparison to other transportation methods there is a huge op- portunity. With just 1.9% of emissions com- ing from the railway, it will be increasingly seen as a more environmentally friendly*
Above: Tim Dugher giving the iRail 2011 Distinguished Lecture
mode of transport. It is anticipated that there will be a 30% growth in passenger numbers by 2031, raising questions of ca- pacity and further levels of investment.
“Another challenge is the price of commodities such as steel and copper and what that means for train manufacturers and maintainers as well as infrastructure renewals and track maintenance. Similarly, questions about the future availability of energy and its impact on the progress of rail systems need to be taken into account – what will it mean for the proposed work to make all lines electric and will this drive further innovation in areas such as regenerative braking,
clean energy
generation or energy effi cient driving techniques? These are all huge areas of opportunity for innovative engineers.
“So what can the rail industry expect to see in 10 or 20 years’ time? By 2021 we expect to see Crossrail fi nished and the Thameslink completed with Greater Western lines elec- trifi ed. We might also see signifi cant pro- gress on HS2. By 2031 we should anticipate a 30% increase in passenger numbers*, the need for cleaner electricity, high speed ser- vices from the North to London and better real-time customer information. From just these estimates, it is clear to see that there are vast opportunities for UK engineering graduates looking to start an exciting and rewarding career.
“Innovation is key to the progress of this industry. Students need to be inspired by the impact people in rail engineering have on the UK economy and the everyday lives of the general public. They need to be
shown the opportunities that lie in modern developments such as tilting trains, state of the art signalling or even greater use of automatic train control. It is the responsi- bility of industry leaders to provide this in- spiration and to act now so that these skills are attracted and secured. Politicians need to be lobbied to provide clarity on future needs for rolling stock and infrastructure, while incentives need to be introduced for companies to employ higher levels of grad- uates and school leavers.
“This is why iRail 2011 is so vital. By intro- ducing these opportunities to pupils who are deciding which GCSE subjects to take as well as those completing higher educa- tion qualifi cations, a real difference can be made before it is too late. New skills need to be secured if the four Cs of customer satisfaction, capacity, carbon emissions and cost are to be solved and the railway is to remain a signifi cant part of the UK economy.”
iRail 2011, supported by Rail Technology Magazine, was organised by Transport iNet working with the Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum (DDRF) and Derby Railway Engineering Society (DRES), supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
* Statistics from the Department for Transport
Tim Dugher FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit
www.eminnovation.org.uk/transport or
www.angeltrains.co.uk
rail technology magazine Apr/May 11 | 81
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