INFRARAIL REVIEW


(c2c), include explicit evaluation of non- fi nancial factors, allowing for a greater analysis of quality and customer service aspects of the bids. The DfT has been spending more time with the bidders, at events like ‘bidder days’, to ensure all parties understand exactly what is wanted from the franchise.


She said innovation is vital, and that it has been given a higher weighting for the East Coast, Northern and TransPennine franchise competitions, including the ring-fencing of 1% of revenue for research and development.


She spoke of the vital importance of spreading enthusiasm for rail to the next generation – as the UK Rail Industry Training Trust is doing – and the importance of the National Training Academy for Traction and Rolling Stock.


Exhibition


There were plenty of fascinating demonstrations, technologies and exhibits on show around the hall, both on the stands and in ‘The Track’ section, sponsored by Tata Steel, which allowed larger vehicles and track- mounted equipment to be showcased on two lengths of track in the hall. Rosehill Rail, BCM, and Tata Steel itself all made use of this area.


The show featured technology and products across the whole gamut of rail infrastructure, including signalling and communications, track construction and maintenance, civils, electrifi cation, station facilities and security systems. Other companies were showing off cable products, lighting, clothing, products to improve safety, and professional services.


RTM was present, as always. Our new stand attracted lots of interest and attention, with many people stopping to watch the videos we had playing from the UK Rail Industry Awards 2014 in February – many people spotted familiar faces in the videos, some collecting their awards and others being interviewed afterwards.


Thanks to everyone who stopped by, who picked up a magazine, who praised the quality of the title, and who sat down with us to see how we could help grow their business through exposure to tens of thousands of rail industry professionals and decision makers.


The team enjoyed meeting exhibitors, readers and advertisers around the hall, and was


delighted to see so many of them recognised for their hard work at the Infrarail Awards (see page 34).


Top topics


The co-located CITE exhibition broadened out from just rail infrastructure, with exhibitors also showing off equipment for services for the highways, ports, utilities and communications industries.


There is coverage from the various seminars and talks at both Infrarail and CITE throughout this edition of RTM, with topics including electrifi cation, collaboration and sustainability.


Mark Bullock, managing director of Balfour Beatty Rail, stated that there is a shift in the rail industry to developing more collaborative relationships across key infrastructure projects, citing Crossrail, Track Partnership and the National Electrifi cation Programme (NEP) as important examples.


Bullock added: “CP5 is an exciting time for the industry with £38bn being invested into the network. During this time we need to improve the safety and reliability on the railway for our customers and workforce, while delivering value for money. Greater partnerships in the supply chain highlighting best practice lessons, driving innovation and developing training can help us achieve this.


“We want to see greater alliances across the supply chain as this will allow everyone to share best practice lessons, drive innovation, increase training and improve safety.”


He said Balfour Beatty Rail has already taken a lead with collaborative working on projects including F2A (Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace), Track Partnership and the National Electrifi cation Programme.


For example, the Track Partnership is a strategic alliance between London Underground and Balfour Beatty Rail. The partnership delivers essential track and drainage renewals on London


Underground, keeps four million


people moving every day, and benefi ts from an integrated delivery team – more on page 108.


The Platform


The Platform sessions at Infrarail were a chance for more interactive debate, with a panel of


Event organisers Mack Brooks say planning is already “well underway” for Railtex 2015 on 12- 14 May at the NEC in Birmingham. RTM will see you there.


www.infrarail.com FOR MORE INFORMATION


rail technology magazine Jun/Jul 14 | 33


speakers discussing a core issue, hosted by Rail Champions.


The panel on collaboration and the supply chain is covered on page 64, while the sustainability panel on 21 May saw a panel of four experts identifying a number of areas where improvements can be made in the industry.


Shaun McCarthy OBE, director at Action Sustainability, revealed that the rail industry is starting to develop an understanding of sustainability policies, but noted that many still do not know what they want from sustainability.


He advised that developing measurable metrics is one way to know if sustainability policies are being delivered and that they should be embedded into organisations just as importantly as cost and quality objectives.


Liane Hartley, director of Mend London, agreed that there were areas for improvement. However, she also noted that Crossrail has raised the game with regards to social sustainability in rail, which has been delivered by creating more jobs, apprenticeships and pursuing ethical sourcing.


As well as the social aspects, the panel added that there can be environmental benefi ts too. And in the seminar that followed Roger Dickinson, regional director of Infrastructure Projects for the Southern region at Network Rail hailed the eco-benefi ts of electrifi cation (more on page 40).


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148