Facing Points

Running the railway is a complex process and situations can arise that can be difficult to predict and manage. In this episode of the Facing Points Podcast, Simon Constable (Operations Director for Network Rail Scotland) talks about operational decision-making during times when following the rules will introduce risks and the best course of action may be to work outside of them. 

Simon talks about his experiences of encountering this type of situation, what the risks were and how they were mitigated. In doing so, Simon takes us through the updated national operations standard (NR/L3/OPS/045/3.06) on operational decision-making (previously known as dynamic risk assessments).

Our climate is changing. Hotter, drier summers, milder, wetter winters, more frequent and intense extreme weather events, and higher sea levels is affecting the resilience of our railway system.

Scotland Region are the first to recruit and deploy Weather Operations Delivery Managers – meteorological specialists situated in control rooms to help turn information into good decisions.

The Facing Points Podcast team travelled to the West of Scotland Signalling Centre to find out about Weather Operations Delivery Managers (WODMs), why the role was created, and how this expertise is being used.

In this episode, we hear from Karl Grewar (Head of Integrated Control in Scotland), Fraser Ralston (Weather Operations Delivery Manager) and Craig Reilly (Route Control Manager) as they discuss how the WODM role is making a significant impact on weather incident management in Scotland.

Our Facing Points Podcast Producer Paul Townsend speaks with Marie Orchard (Programme Manager), Sam Gibbins (Graduate), and Maeve MacDonald (Graduate) about our Operations Management Graduate Scheme and Train Operating Company Placements. 

Our Operations Management Graduate Scheme explores the full spectrum of operational railway including stations, signalling, control, incident response, electrical control, planning and freight. The learning experience includes key customer and supplier relationships by exploring connections with train and freight operating companies and the challenges we all face as we work together to deliver the very best customer experience.

Listen to this episode to hear about Sam and Maeve's experiences and what they learnt during their Train Operating Company Placements.

In this episode, our hosts are joined by Karl Grewar (Head of Integrated Control for Scotland’s Railway) who looks after both Network Rail (Scotland) and ScotRail elements of Route Control. The episode also features Brian McGilly (Route Control Manager – Network Rail), and David Donnelly (ScotRail Control Duty Operations Manager) to discuss all things Integrated Control.

We learn about the essential work being done north of the border to improve train performance and recovery – a journey which started in 2015 with the establishment of Scotland Integrated Control. By bringing track and train closer together, we are seeing huge improvements in communication between Network Rail Control and Train Operating Companies, and more focussed decision making.

Find out how a joined up Integrated Control delivers a safe and dependable service for our passengers and freight in Scotland.

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be involved in running a busy train station? Or had an interest in what happens on a daily basis at these transport hubs?​

In this episode we are joined by Kyla Thomas (Station Manager Liverpool Lime Street) and Jo Jones (Passenger Assistance Manager Manchester Piccadilly), who talk to us about their station lives, how they started working in stations, and what types of extraordinary events they deal with on a regular basis.

We also announce the competition winner of the signed copy of Greg Morse's book, Railway Accidents. 

Content warning: this episode addresses the sensitive topic of fatality management, which some listeners may find triggering.

In this episode, Emma Lowe (Network Rail’s Operations Professional Development Manager) speaks with Inspector Becky Warren from the British Transport Police (BTP) about the role of the BTP in managing incidents on the railway where a person has been struck by a train and has resulted in a fatality. 

Inspector Becky Warren leads the BTP to manage fatalities on the railway and in this podcast shares her own personal experiences as well as giving a comprehensive overview of what it means to be an agent of the Coroner, what the new BTP classifications are and why they have changed and BTPs responsibilities for body recovery including complex body recovery.

This is a sensitive topic to be discussing in a podcast and we are aware that it is a subject that may affect many of you listening. There is information at the end of the podcast about the support available to you and how you can access it.

In this episode, Gerry Kitchener (Station Specialist) and Amy Turnbull (National Events and Emergency Planning Manager) share with us their experiences working on Operation London Bridge - the funeral plan for Queen Elizabeth II.

Gerry and Amy discuss the pivotal role that the railway played in the planning and delivery of Operation London Bridge. They reflect on the collaboration and comradeship that was key to delivering a plan that was years in the making. Gerry and Amy also offer some best practices for large upcoming events, including the Coronation of King Charles III and The Queen Consort in May 2023.

In this podcast, we hear from the 21st Century Operations project team and Three Bridges Rail Operating Centre (TBROC) about their experience of taking the toolkit from the Integrated Train Service Recovery work and implementing it.  We hear about why the Integrated Train Service Recovery work is important and the importance of communications and working collaboratively between NR Control and the train operating companies.

This is an essential listen to those who have yet to experience the rollout of the Integrated Train Service Recovery project in their Control so you know what it’s about and to those interested in what the industry is doing to improve train service recovery.

In this episode of the Facing Points Podcast, Emma Lowe chats with Operational Capability Director, Tom Desmond, about his recent two-week Japanese railway exchange visit.

Tom shares with us how Japan runs their prestigious Shinkansen high speed railway, the challenges they face in running other parts of their network, some lessons learnt, and his personal highlights from the trip.

Our Facing Points Podcast is now available to listen to on Spotify and Anchor!

In this episode, Greg Morse from RSSB talks about his role at RSSB and how we, as an industry, can learn from accidents that happen here and around the world. He explains some of the ways data from incidents and accidents have helped to shape industry safety initiatives and campaigns.

Our Facing Points podcast producer, Paul Townsend, speaks to some Mobile Operations Managers attending the new Animal Care and Safety Programme together with three RSCPA inspectors, Vanessa, Jason, and Melanie, who deliver the course. They chat about why the training is important and some of the key topics such as practical strategies MOMs can use to help them retrieve animals safely without causing distress to the animal or harm to themselves and some of the legal requirements surrounding animal handling.

​​​​​​​Our host Matthew Head is joined by co-hosts Robert Thomas and Greg Woodbridge for this episode exploring the National Operations Centre (NOC).

They are joined by the current NOC Manager, Luke Gregitis, where they talk about the day-to-day workings of the NOC at Milton Keynes and how they differ from the traditional Route Operations Control.

*Content warning* The following media contains content which some people may find upsetting. Discretion is advised.

In this episode, our host Kevin Martin speaks with Gordon Pettitt, former General Manager for British Rail's Southern Region (retired), who reflects on the Clapham Rail Crash (12 December 1988) and the role he played during the incident. As we approach the 35th anniversary of the crash next year, Gordon gives a very personal account of his actions on the day.

On 12 December 1988, 35 people were tragically killed and nearly 500 people injured when 3 trains collided during the busy morning rush hour just outside Clapham Junction station.

The crash was initially blamed on faulty wiring that caused the wrong signal to be displayed. However, the report that was commissioned and then published by Lord Hidden highlighted other underlying contributing factors to the incident, including staff fatigue, organisational management and safety culture. A total of 93 recommendations were made in Lord Hidden's report, including the adoption of the automatic train protection system.

What is degraded working in the rail industry?

Our hosts Matthew Head and Rob Thomas were joined by Amy Clare at Birmingham New Street to explore the topic of degraded working.

Speaking with guests Richie Redfern (Incident Controller at Rugby ROC) and James Quinlan (Mobile Operations Manager at Norwich), they discuss the impact of faults and failures on the operational railway and how they use their knowledge and skills to manage the train service.

Please note competitions are for Network Rail employees only.

The highly anticipated Elizabeth Line opened on 17 May 2022.

The Elizabeth line is the most significant addition to London’s transport network in a generation, providing new journey options, cutting travel time and supporting regeneration across the capital.

To celebrate the opening of the Line, we invited MTR Elizabeth Line’s Service Delivery Development Manager Jon Bradley and Network Rail’s Anglia Route Operations Manager Sophia Morgan to discuss the MTR / NR partnership, challenges, and priorities for the future.

Please note competitions are for Network Rail employees only.

Our podcast hosts, Matthew Head and Robert Thomas, are live from the Westwood 'Roles in Rail' event which celebrated the various roles within the railway industry and the different career pathways available.

Our hosts speak to a variety of rail professionals to gain insights by exploring their roles in a little bit more depth, taking a look at their career history and encouraging any advice they would like to share. 

Some of the roles featured in this episode include an Incident Controller, a Senior Network Delivery Manager, a Route Control Manager, Operations Apprentices and a manager from the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators (CIRO).