Rail Tech Group News

Rail Tech Group awarded Investors in People accreditation

2012-01-10T13:25:54Z

In December 2011 the Rail Tech Group was once again successfully accredited with the UK’s Investors in People Award. The Rail Tech Group achieved the award after the successful completion of an onsite assessment that involved input from all aspects of its business. Launched in 1991, Investors in People is the UK's leading people management standard. The Investors in People is a business improvement tool designed to help all kinds of organisations develop performance through their people.

Rail Tech Group’s Managing Director Simon Jamieson said “Whether you achieve the Investors in People Standard at either Bronze, Silver or Gold accreditation, becoming an Investors in People organisation is a tremendous achievement. It demonstrates a commitment to the development and success of our people and a desire to continually improve and grow. When you take into consideration that Rail Tech was also awarded Network Rail’s Investors in People Award, it shows that as a business, we are getting well deserved credit for the amount of time and expense that we are putting into the development of our people.”

Rail Tech complete Depford Station Redevelopment Signalling Works

2011-12-06T14:39:37Z

The £7million Depford Station redevelopment programme was jointly funded by Lewisham Council and the National Station Improvement Programme. The redevelopment itself included the construction of a new station building, modern ticket office, a ticket window for people with disabilities and improved passenger information. The redevelopment works also accomodated for the provision of two new station staircases as well as two new lifts to create step-free access between the station entrance and platforms. The existing station canopies along both platforms were replaced with longer canopies to provide passengers with better protection from the weather

As part of the main works Rail Tech Group worked in partnership with VolkerFitzpatrick to deliver all the associated signalling changes associated with the redevelopment scheme. Rail Tech provided a dedicated in-house nominated Signalling CRE throughout the scheme, with all works undertaken in accordance under NR/L3/SIG/11303/2M05.

The main signalling deliverable was to reposition an existing Banner repeater signal that was to be replaced with a new LED type Banner Repeater signal. This involved the installation of new cabling, Signal ID Plate and associated location case wiring changes. Works were successfully completed on time and to budget.

Other significant items that were delivered as part of the signalling remit included:

Production of SSOWP / Work Package Plans / Task Briefing Sheets
Installation of new Banner Repeater Signal & ID Plate
Signalling CRE’s responsibilities & Signalling site supervision
Alterations in existing location cases
Termination of 7 cores cables
Installation of new equipment into existing locations
Running and terminating new lineside cables
Signalling Commissioning
Recovery & Disposal of redundant signalling assets

Rail Tech complete Signalling works at North Fambridge

2011-08-24T06:39:47Z

The Rail Tech Group recently completed its signalling work at North Fambridge on behalf of C Spencer who in turn were undertaking the main platform extension works for Network Rail. The primary aim of the North Fambridge Loop Extension project was to provide the appropriate infrastructure to facilitate the introduction of 12 car trains between Liverpool Street and Wickford stations, some of these continuing albeit with rear 4 carriages locked out of use to Southminster Station.

The Rail Tech Group was selected by C Spencer Ltd to undertake all the signalling changes that were required as part of this overall platform extension scheme. This included all GRIP 6-8 deliverables such as the project management, CRE responsibilities, task briefing, work package planning and the procurement, installation and test & commissioning of all signalling assets.

The signalling in the station area was controlled from London Liverpool Street via a SSI style interlocking and utilised colour light signals and track circuit block. The existing arrangements for train detection in the area around Fambridge station were predominantly DC medium voltage, AC immune track circuits and these were retained throughout to maintain uniformity of design and to retain the required levels of immunisation.

Deliverables that were encountered during the project included:

Alterations to existing track circuits (BC, BD, BE, BH & BJ)
Installation of New LED Signals 696 & 651
Installation of New TPWS Equipment
Installation of New AWS
Installation of New In-Bearer Clamplock Point Machine
Installation of New Pre-fabricated Location Case
Alterations & Wiring Modifications to the existing interlocking & locations.
Repositioning of Signal Post Telephones
Signal Works Testing / Commissioning of New Signalling equipment.
Decommission and Removal of redundant signalling equipment

During the programme of works, the major blockade date was significantly brought forward and an accelerated programme was put in place. Despite this major change all deliverables were met and the project remained on time and within budget.

Rail Tech Group successfully complete S&T works at Billinghurst Station

2011-03-09T11:30:39Z

Network Rail’s strategic business plan is to increase passenger capacity by 12% over the UK network within the next 4 years. As part of this target, Billingshurst Station was one of the first stations selected for significant platform extension works required to accommodate 8 car trains and the use of class 377 EMU rolling stock.

Rail Tech Group’s involvement with the project was to manage and deliver all of the signalling installation and test & commissioning works on behalf of main contractor Barhale Rail. This included the provision of a CRE, the production of Work Package Plans, Task Briefing sheets, Safe Systems of Work and Test Plans.

During the works it was imperative that the physical trackside works did not interfere with signaller’s duties at Billingshurst Signal Box and additional care was required when undertaking, working and inspecting the mechanical locking frame that dated back to 1874.

All the implemented changes were tested and checked over a 2 stage commissioning. Signalling works involved with the project included the following deliverables:

Extension and shortening of track circuits.
Recovery of existing fibre optic banner repeater signal and structure. The provision of new LED banner repeater signal (State 2 type) and structure.
Recovery and renewal of existing location case.
Installation of new stop boards & speed board signage
Assisting with alterations to mechanical locking.
Recovery of signal BT12.
Extension to existing trough route
Re-positioning and installation of SDO

The Rail Tech Group was highly commended by both Barhale Rail and Network Rail on their professional and flexible approach to the works. All works were commissioned on time and to budget.

We are UK National Training Award Winners!

2011-03-01T13:03:16Z

The National Training Awards are run on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) by UK Skills. They are designed to inspire and encourage UK industry to invest in training and development as a route to achieving outstanding organisational and individual success.

Winning an Award is recognition of best practice and provides a benchmark for standards of excellence in training in the UK. City & Guilds is the premier sponsor of the 2010 National Training Awards.

Following our success at the 2008 National Training Awards where we were awarded winner of “Best Medium Sized Employer”, we are now delighted to announce that we have received two further awards at the 2010 event.

We were winner of the regional award: “Best Medium Sized Employer” in the East of England. This was due to the quality of training and overall investment given to all of our staff and clients. We then went on to win the UK award for “Best Medium Sized Employer”. This award is only given to exceptional examples of excellence chosen from the regional award winners in each category.

Rail Tech Group Scoops Network Rail's Investing in People Award

2010-09-13T13:35:08Z

During the recent Network Rail Annual Partnership Awards we were both delighted and honoured to be awarded the title of Winner for the category “Investment in People.”

The Network Rail Partnership Awards provide an occasion to reward and recognise excellence and best practice among organisations who have worked with them helping to achieve the companies’ aims and objectives over the past year.

The winners for 2010 were announced at an awards dinner hosted by comedian Rory Bremner at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Thursday 15 July 2010 and were attended by many of Network Rail’s senior managers, including Peter Henderson, Simon Kirby, Patrick Butcher and Iain Coucher.

The Investing in People Award recognises and celebrates “projects and organisations who have demonstrated excellence in investing in people”.

The judges awarded the title to Rail Tech Group for its “continual commitment and first-class development of its employees,” whilst also recognising its ethos in recruiting and bringing in fresh people into the rail industry.

This achievement coupled together with our recent award as regional winner of the “Investors in People” title at the National Training Awards strengthens our reputation as a company that develops and continues to produce first class Signalling and Telecoms engineers for the rail industry.

Rail Tech Group Sponsor the IRSE 46th Annual Dinner

2010-05-28T15:08:56Z

Rail Tech Group sponsored another very successful annual dinner for the Institute of Railway Signalling Engineers at The Sheraton Park Lane Hotel in London on the evening of 23rd April 2010.

Presentiations were made by the President of the IRSE, Paul Jenkins, the Guest of Honour, John Drake and the Chief Executive, Colin Porter.

After an excellent meal, everyone had time to network and socialise.

Basingstoke Stage 3 Successfully Commissioned

2010-04-21T11:02:55Z

During the recent Easter Bank Holiday period the Rail Tech Group won high praise from Network Rail for their part in the successful commissioning of the prestigious Basingstoke Stage 3F Resignalling Project. The commissioning took place between 2nd April and 6^thApril and had been pre-ceeded by 8 months of installation works that was overseen and delivered by an integrated Rail Tech Group and Network Rail project team.

Commissioning works for the project included:

Renewal of the Signalling covering BML lines North of Basingstoke Station towards Woking (Deep Cut Cutting)
Migration of control for the area into the Area Signalling Centre NXPanel at Basingstoke with commensurate decommissioning of the existing Basingstoke PSB
Introduction of 5 Banner signals & 8 Ground Position Light signals utilising Fibre-Optic & LED technology
Introduction of TPWS & TPWS+ according to standard
Modifications to the Train Describer & Panel Multiplexors at Basingstoke & Woking ASC
Update of the Telephone Concentrators & provision of new Signal Post Telephones & Associated Direct Lines
Decommissioning of Signalling and Panel at Basingstoke PSB

The commissioning itself was controlled from a central point at Basingstoke with Rail Tech Group teams covering areas from Hook to Winchfield. At its peak the commissioning resource levels reached 120 staff, including supervisory signalling personnel overseeing all works. Vital on-time information was fed back to a central project control point team that enabled Rail Tech teams to also provide swift and pro-active responses to the ever changing demands throughout the commissioning period itself.

The commissioning plan encompassed the coverage of the following signalling assets:

186 Ti21s Track Circuits
27 HVI Track Circuits
Plug Coupler Changeovers at Winchfield and Farnborough
Points Changeovers at Farnborough
Installation of 16 Impedance Bonds
Installation of 81 Permanent Magnets & 35 TPWS Installations

With the success of Basingstoke Stage 3, Rail Tech Group believe that it has once again proved itself as a reliable and forward thinking company. With the high importance placed on competence and team-work mentality, its employees have once again delivered the desired outcome for its customer.

Prince's Trust working with Rail Tech Training

2010-03-16T15:01:24Z

Rail Tech Training have now been partnered with The Prince’s Trust for over a year, we continue delivering our unique youth training programme for young unemployed people who are interested in working within the rail sector.

A rigorous application process reduced a group of 48 candidates down to 6 determined students. Our three week tailored training process then commenced which accredited the group with various Technical , Telecoms and safety skills.

During the three week training process each candidate spent time at our main training academy in Ipswich. All students successfully demonstrated their team working skills and their ability to grasp technical disciplines.

On 26^th February Rail Tech Training hosted a ceremony day in order to congratulate the students for their achievements and hard work. Friends, family and clients were in attendance and Certificates were presented by Rail Tech Training’s professional head of signalling Mr. Gary Brackley.

The event was a success and the students had the opportunity to meet some influential people within the rail industry and demonstrate what they had learnt over the past three weeks. Now that the training is over, we are placing the successful students on a 13 week paid job placement programme which may lead to full time employment being offered.

Adam Tye was one of the graduating students and had this to say:

“Before getting involved with the Prince’s Trust I was working part time in a sport centre. I enjoy sports and keeping fit but I have always wanted to work in some capacity on the railway.

Some of my family and friends work in the rail industry which helped build my enthusiasm. I heard about Rail Tech Training through the Prince’s Trust and applied for the course.

I was delighted to be selected for the training programme and worked really hard to pass all of the modules.

I feel that the Prince’s Trust and Rail Tech have helped me to make a step in the right direction and I am looking forward to my new career.”

City & Guilds Certify Rail Tech Training Academy.

2010-03-09T10:53:13Z

Rail Tech Training’s key objective to become a City & Guilds approved training centre was successfully achieved following a final audit during February 2010.

This additional certification now complements Rail Tech Training’s approval as a Network Rail training provider for the industry and sets the path for both Rail Tech’s own employees and its many customers to achieve National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ’s) and City and Guilds accreditations within their related fields of competence.

Rail Tech’s commitment to the ongoing training and general growth of its people was recently recognised when it was voted the winner of “The East of England’s Best Medium Sized Employer” at the UK Skills National Training Awards. Through this certification from the City & Guilds the route plan has been set to ensure that every employee of the company can achieve a relevant NVQ.

As part of the approval process Rail Tech Training demonstrated they had trained and delivered over 40 NVQ modules in Levels 2 and 3 to standard 7588 in Railway Engineering. The City & Guilds then undertook an extensive audit of the company its instructors and techniques and of course randomly selected candidates from those that had received the training. The audit findings were excellent and in fact gave a high level of praise for the quality of work found and in particular the individuals audited.

Headed up by Gary Brackley, Rail Tech Training which is part of the Rail Tech Group aims to reach a diverse and varying range of companies wishing to train and develop their employees to a City and Guilds standard.This City & Guilds accreditation will now provide the platform to develop a diverse range of further training courses outside of its current portfolio, including Management, Instruction, Telecoms, Electrical and many more.

Gary commented “Every organization needs training of some degree to ensure that its workforce is equipped and competent to do what is asked of them. However by following a structured approach, like an NVQ program, both the employee and the employer have a clear defined view of their future. This may sound like an unaffordable ideal to some employers, but there are many funding opportunities for structured training, that as a City & Guilds approved centre we may be able to tap into on their behalf.”