RIA Update 80
For Members of the Railway Industry Association
10 October 2014
InnoTrans bigger than ever
RIA’s activities supporting UK exporters at
InnoTrans, the world’s largest rail sector event,
were greater than ever this year. With strong
support from UK Trade & Investment, the
Department for Transport and the British Embassy
in Berlin, we organised a programme of events as
well as hosting 36 companies on our two UK
Pavilions.
Secretary of State for Transport Patrick
MacLoughlin was the key UK guest and attended a
Rail Leaders’ Summit as well as welcoming the
first of the new Class 700 Thameslink trains from
Siemens. Other VIPs who visited to support UK
exhibitors included Robin Barnett, UK Ambassador
to Warsaw, DfT DG Rail Clare Moriarty and Paul
Heardman, Director UKTI Germany.
InnoTrans itself set new records, with over
138,000 visitors and 2,758 exhibitors.
See page 5 for a photo feature.
The main UK Pavilion in the Technology Area
Focussed around a ‘British Day’, RIA and UKTI
activities included:
 VIP tours of UK exhibitors
 Major Networking Reception
 Meet the Overseas Trade Adviser event
 British Business Lounges
Business up but skills a worry
The Quick Survey of Members carried out during
the summer showed that business levels were
higher than normal for most respondents, but
concern over skilled resources continues to
grow.
70% of responses said that business was above
normal, with 60% expecting improvements in the
short term, and 82% in the medium term.
Pressure on margins continued at a high level,
although slightly less than in the last survey.
52.5% reported minor and 35% significant skills problems
But 87.5% reported skilled resource issues,
compared to 74% in 2012, with 25% expecting
this to be a long term problem. We are already in
discussion with clients and industry bodies on
the issues raised in the survey.
Our thanks go to those who contributed; it is
essential to have your input for us to represent
your interests. A summary report will be issued
to respondents shortly.
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No
Minor
Significant
RIA UPDATE 80
GENERAL NEWS
10 October 2014
Rail Supply Group progress
The RSG continues to develop, with strong RIA
involvement. RIA chairman David Tonkin is
engaged in developing a series of cross-cutting
gateway themes that each workstream will need to
meet. Jeremy Candfield co-leads the exports
workstream with Andy Milner of Amey; Francis
How participates in the Technology and Innovation
workstream led by Andy Barr of Hitachi; and a
number of other RIA members chair, or are
involved in the other workstreams.
Members are urged to be active in their pursuit of
joining a workstream close to their interests as
the Workteam leaders are seeking to broaden their
reach into more diverse areas, to generate fresh
and relevant new ideas. An outline of workstreams
and their leaders is available here. If you are
interested and willing to contribute time and energy
to a workstream, please contact Jeremy
Candfield.
The RSG teams are also currently working on the
preparation of a sector ‘Vision Document’ of the
kind developed by other Strategic sectors such as
defence and aerospace, which will be issued late
Autumn. RSG Industry Co-Chair Terence Watson
will be speaking more about the ambitions and
vision for the Group at the RIA AGM in Cardiff.
Membership Survey
The results of the detailed Membership Survey are
currently being analysed and will be presented at
the AGM in Cardiff (see below).
New Members
We are pleased to welcome Cheshire-based
Anderton Concrete Products, suppliers of
precast concrete cable housing systems for
lineside cables. For more information visit
www.andertonconcrete.co.uk.
New Value Improvement
Programme – Refresher Pilots
The New VIP pilots are expected to conclude in
Autumn/Winter 2014, with an industry event
planned early in the New Year to highlight the
findings. Peter Loosley will shortly be e-mailing
ICIG, TCIG and the Consultants Group with further
details of the event but please contact him
([email protected]) in the meantime if you
have any further questions on VIP.
Peter gave a presentation on New VIP and
progress on the pilots to the most recent meeting
of Network Rail’s Commercial Directors’ Forum
(CDF) meeting held on 16 September. This was
the first meeting of the revised CDF format which
will now consist of two national CDF meetings per
year, interspersed with meetings of 4 smaller
regional groups. The intention is that RIA will be
represented at all these meetings. For further
details of the CDF and the revised structure,
please contact Peter also.
Last call for AGM
The RIA Annual General Meeting & Conference will be held on Friday
31 October at the St David’s Hotel in Cardiff. Speakers at the
conference will be: Baroness Kramer, Minister of State for Transport;
Anna Walker, Chairman, Office of Rail Regulation; Mark Carne, Chief
Executive Officer, Network Rail; and Terence Watson, UK President,
Alstom Transport and RSG Co-Chair. The Conference is followed by a
Dinner/Dance, while the annual golf competition will be held on Thursday
30 October at the Marriott St Pierre Hotel in Chepstow.
If you wish to attend any or all of these events and you have not yet
booked you will need to do so without delay. The Dinner and Friday night accommodation in particular
are approaching capacity; please call us to check availability.
If you think that you have booked and you have not received confirmation from us please let us know
immediately. Finally, if your company is unable to be represented at the AGM please also let Barbara
Williams know.
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RIA UPDATE 80
GENERAL NEWS
10 October 2014
URS won the RIA/RSSB Innovation
Funding Award at the RIA
Technology Conference in 2013 for
the Rail Trackbed Stiffness Tester
(RTST) which was launched on
October 1. The tester is a major step
forward for surveying trackbeds and
was developed in just 18 months.
The 2015 competition, which has just
been launched, offers up to £300k
funding to develop innovations for rail;
see RIA mail or contact Rebecca
Kearl for details.
High Speed 2 – Industry Leaders
Group (ILG)
Book for 2015 RIA Technology
and Innovation Conference
Chaired by Jim Steer of Greengauge 21, the ILG is
a coalition of industry experts committed to
supporting the successful delivery of a world-class
high-speed rail network in Britain. RIA was one of
the early subscribers to the Group and continues
to be closely involved in its work. Other members
of ILG include Alstom, Atkins, Bechtel,
Bombardier, Costain, Hitachi, Keolis, Parsons
Brinckerhoff, Siemens and NSARE.
The 2015 RIA Technology and Innovation
Conference is now open for bookings at https://
online.riagb.org.uk. The event will be on 25/26
March 2015, at the Chesford Grange Hotel near
Leamington Spa, where we will be welcoming over
200 RIA members and invited guests to an exciting
mix of presentations, discussions, exhibitions and
networking. The Conference theme is “Technology
Transfer”, and will include:
Amongst other things, ILG seeks to identify and
offer solutions where there is a lack of skills or
resource, showcase Britain’s expertise and provide
leadership and guidance on issues such as cost
management and operational performance.

Speakers from Rolls Royce, McLaren and
3M, as well as from the rail industry

RIA/FutureRailway annual Innovation Award

Maggie Philbin (presenter of BBC TV
technology programmes) as guest speaker

Engagement sessions to discuss a wide
range of technology and innovation topics

Case studies by RIA member companies of
technology demonstrators and technology
transfer

Stands for RIA members to exhibit their
latest innovations

Opportunity to see a LUTZ “pod” for the new
transport system being piloted at Milton
Keynes
ILG activity over the last year includes a jobs
analysis report into the direct and supply-chain
impacts of HS2, a well-received Conference in
Birmingham and the publication of the report
“Great Britain : Connected or not?” which looked at
a scenario of a Britain without HS2. Currently ILG
is running a series of regional events to engage
with local stakeholders in order to strengthen
support for HS2. One of the future ILG
workstreams will focus on industry collaboration
and Peter Loosley will be taking that forward with
Jim Steer.
RIA will therefore continue to play an active part in
ILG’s activities. In the meantime, ILG is looking to
broaden its membership base so any RIA
Members who feel they have something to offer
and would be interested in joining the Group,
should please contact Peter Loosley.
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The event is being sponsored by the Knowledge
Transfer Network and by Altran, and is being
supported by the Transport Systems Catapult,
FutureRailway and others. If you have any queries
about booking places, exhibition stands or the
Innovation Award, contact Rebecca Kearl.
RIA UPDATE 80
EXPORTS
10 October 2014
Upcoming Trade Missions
Saudi Delegation
An inwards mission from Qatar on 15 October
includes a seminar in London. Qatar Rail and
Prime Contractors appointed for new metro lines in
the £25bn Integrated Rail Programme will detail
their involvement in the project and are looking for
MEP Equipment, Architectural Components,
Materials and Finishes for Metro Stations .
September saw RIA arrange and lead a visit
programme for a senior delegation led by Dr
Abdulaziz Al-Ohaly, President of the Public
Transport Authority, Saudi Arabia on a 3 day
technical visit.
Our Rail Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia in
October is fully booked but we still open for the
Rail Trade Mission to Singapore on 12/13
November, with a potential £650 grant for SME’s
joining, paid after the mission. The Government
there has announced a doubling of the metro
network by 2020, in total spending around £30bn
on infrastructure projects. Please contact Neil
Walker for further details.
Highlights of the tour included an industry dinner,
hosted by Lord King, the Prime Minister’s Trade
Envoy to Saudi Arabi; Dr Al-Ohaly presenting
details of Saudi Arabia’s Urban Transport plans to
a packed UK audience; and meetings with
Baroness Kramer, DfT, LUL, TRL and Transport
Systems Catapult. A visit to Nottingham City
Council and their NET team was followed by a
group meeting with UK rail companies and a tour
and cab ride at Bombardier.
RIA are in the early stages of planning for a rail
mission to Taiwan on 26 - 28 January 2015,
which is expected to be led by a government
Minister. A webinar is taking place on 17 October;
for registration details please contact Charlotte
Thomas.
Emerging Europe Seminar
UKTI and RIA are in the process of arranging a
seminar in London on 27 November with rail
representatives from Central & Eastern Europe
making presentations on rail opportunities
including those linked to EU funding. Over €150
billion in EU funding expected between 2014 and
2020 in these markets. Countries expected to be
involved include Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech
Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia
and Slovenia (subject to confirmation).
Dr Al-Ohaly at TRL (above) and with the Sheriff of
Nottingham (below)
The seminar will include networking and 1:1
sessions. Bookings will be opened when details
are confirmed. Watch RIA mail for details or
contact Rebecca Kearl to register your interest.
Taiwan Visitors
RIA was visited by Mr Song-Yi Lin, Senior Engineer, Railways Reconstruction
Bureau in Taiwan and visiting lecturer at University College, accompanied by Mr
Chien-Pang Liu, Engineer, Office of Science & Technology Advisors, Railways
Reconstruction Bureau in Taiwan also of University College London. He was
interested in a number of key issues including skills (the visitors are shown with
Gil Howarth, Chief Executive, NSARE) and property development associated
with railway work, visiting the development at both King’s Cross and Canary
Wharf. They met a number of other industry organisations. Thanks to all who
contributed, at very short notice to the success of the visit.
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RIA UPDATE 80
INNOTRANS
10 October 2014
Views of InnoTrans
RIA organised two Pavilions, in the Technology (above)
and Infrastructure (below) areas
Clare Moriarty, DG Rail at DfT, addressed the wellattended RIA/UKTI Networking Reception.
A ‘Meet the Overseas Trade Adviser’ event saw more
than 20 UKTI officials from key markets around the
world hold pre-arranged meetings with UK exporters
Funding from UKTI helped RIA provide British Business
Lounges (above), well-used by UK exhibitors and
visitors
Secretary of State Patrick MacLoughlin welcomed the
first of the new Thameslink units (above)
VIP visitors supporting UK exporters included Robin
Barnett, HM Ambassador to Warsaw and Clare
Moriarty, DG Rail at DfT (left)
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RIA UPDATE 80
TECHNICAL NEWS
Information Management
10 October 2014
T&RS Group
RIA’s T&RS Group meeting on the afternoon of 16
October will include presentations on Bombardier’s
new trains for Crossrail, NR’s Rail Innovation
Development Centre, the Rail Test Dummy, the
new National Training Academy for Rail and
developments with a software standard for rolling
stock. Registration is still open at https://
online.riagb.org.uk.
SSSG
Over 50 members joined our invited guests for a
meeting of RIA’s Information Management Group
in September, hosted by the Transport Systems
Catapult at their Milton Keynes HQ. Welcoming the
group, TSC Chief Business Development Officer
Neil Ridley explained the function of the Catapult
and support available to suppliers in innovating,
collaborating and exporting. Further presentations
included Amanda Hall of NR with an update on the
activities of the Cross-Industry Remote Condition
Monitoring Steering Group, and Network Rail’s
Director, Asset Information Patrick Bossert with a
presentation on the Digital Railway, an industrywide programme designed to benefit Great
Britain’s economy by accelerating the digital
enablement of the railway.
The next meeting of RIA’s Safety, Standards and
Sustainability Group will be held on 13 November
with a full agenda including Network Rail’s Jamie
Trigg on NR’s Business Critical Rules Programme
and Peter Knight on NR’s approach to
Interoperability. Further details will follow to Group
members shortly – Contact Imogen West if you
wish to be added to the distribution list.
Vehicle-Track Interaction Group
Presentations may be downloaded from the
Members’ Area of the RIA Website.
Light Rail Group
RIA’s Light Rail Interest Group is organising a visit
to Midland Metro on 18 November, to see progress
on current projects and receive a briefing on plans
for future extensions.
If you would like to attend, please register at
https://online.riagb.org.uk or contact Barbara
Williams for further information.
RIA Consultants Group
The next meeting of the RIA Consultants Group
will take place in London on 21 October and will
include sessions from Nigel Ash (NR Consulting),
Jo Dunn and Stephen Blakey (NR), and Peter
Loosley (RIA). If you would like to attend and have
not yet registered please do so online at
https://online.riagb.org.uk.
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Mark Burstow of Network Rail (seen above with
Jim Lupton) was guest speaker at RIA’s Vehicle
Track Interaction Group meeting on 8 October.
The group mirrors the Vehicle/Track System
Interface Committee of which Mark leads NR’s
Permanent Project Group, which includes the
ongoing development of the damage prediction
tool Track-Ex and studying how changes to
vehicles and track can optimise overall system
performance.
The presentations is in the
Members’ Area of the RIA website.
RIA UPDATE 80
INTEREST GROUPS
10 October 2014
Infrastructure Clients Interface
Group (ICIG) & Economics
Group
CH2M Hill kindly hosted the 17 September
meeting at their Brook Green premises in
Hammersmith. This was the first time an ICIG
meeting had been hosted by a Member company
and the day went very smoothly, despite Tube
difficulties. The day began with the ICIG
presentations: An introduction from CH2M Hill’s Director of
Rail, Europe, Sue Kershaw providing some
background on their structure and scope of
operations
Stephen Armstrong briefed ICIG on the NR National
Supply Chain structure
 Stephen Armstrong (Delivery Director, East,
National Supply Chain (NSC)) (pictured right)
provided a very useful overview of the
emerging NSC structure and its senior level
personnel
 Peter Loosley then outlined to the Group the
progress being made on the four New Value
Improvement Programme pilot projects (see
page 2)
 Gil Howarth, Chief Executive of the National
Skills Academy for Railway Engineering
(NSARE) updated the group on NSARE’s
progress on various initiatives, including the
National Training Academy for Rail (NTAR),
skills forecasting, industry promotion and
training accreditation
 Geoff
Gilbert (Head of Commercial,
Infrastructure LUL) outlined LUL’s Access
Transformation Programme which seeks to
improve productivity and maximise work
carried out in possessions
ICIG was followed by a meeting of Tom Worsley’s
Economics Group where Tom gave an overview of
the recent report commissioned by the Rail
Delivery Group and produced by OXERA
addressing the question “What is the contribution
of rail to the UK Economy?”
All the above presentations are available from the
ICIG section of the Members’ area of the RIA
website.
The next meeting of the Group is currently being
planned for November/early December and Peter
Loosley will be circulating further details very
shortly. If any members of the Group are
interesting in hosting a future ICIG, please contact
Imogen West.
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Train Clients Interface Group
Meeting (TCIG)
The next meeting of TCIG will take place on 14
October at RIA. Unfortunately we will have to
defer the planned session on stations policy until
the January 2015 meeting, however, we do have a
full agenda which includes: an update from Robin
Groth and colleague on other DfT issues (e.g. the
Fourth Railway Package, the Franchising
Programme); an update on RDG activity from
Jonathan Pugh; a session from Peter Campbell,
Senior Commercial Manager, Train Systems at
TfL, on their plans for the rolling stock fleet; a
session from ATOC’s Bryan Donnelly entitled
“standardised contractual framework for train
maintenance and overhaul” and a brief update
from Peter Loosley on the rolling-stock related VIP
pilots.
If you would like to register for this event and have
not yet done so please go to the following link:
https://online.riagb.org.uk
RIA UPDATE 80
INTEREST GROUPS
InfraTIG
10 October 2014
SigTIG
We will be pleased to welcome HS2 Head of Track
Engineering Niall Fagan at the RIA Infrastructure
Technical Interest Group meeting on 15 October
for a presentation on High Speed Rail Design. We
will also be welcoming Chris Ford, Principal
Inspector at RAIB who will be speaking on landslip
risk and RSSB Vehicle / Infrastructure Engineer
Anup Chalisey with an update on standards &
research.
All Members are welcome to attend. Register
online at: https://online.riagb.org.uk.
ElecTIG
Network Rail Professional Head of Electric Power
Richard Stainton will join the RIA Electrification
Technical Interest Group meeting on the afternoon
of 20 November to speak about standards and
other technical issues. We will also welcome
Senior Infrastructure Conformance Engineer Matt
Bower from NR’s Network Certification Body for a
presentation on interoperability constituents and
system conformity assessment / authorisation for
OLE.
All RIA members are welcome and can book
online at https://online.riagb.org.uk.
RIA Technical Interest Group meetings are
open to all RIA members and provide ample
networking opportunities alongside the
discussion sessions and presentations from
guest speakers.
A calendar of meetings is available on the RIA
website.
Presentations may be downloaded from the
Group pages in the Members’ Area of the RIA
website, or contact David Wells for assistance.
Produced by:
Railway Industry Association
Three guest speakers from Network Rail covered a
variety of topics and engaged with members at the
RIA Signalling & Telecoms Technical Interest
Group meeting on 30 September. Principal CCS
Engineer Meena Dasigi presented the ON-TIME
project (Optimal Networks for Train Integration
Management across Europe), a FP7 work
programme that has been developing new
methods for traffic management Europe. Acting
Professional Head (Signalling) Jerry Morling and
IP Signalling Design Group Manager Graeme
Christmas spoke on the subject of “Simple
Effective Design”, addressing the need for the
industry to radically simplify signalling principles.
RIA Technical Director Francis How then gave an
update on the work of the IRSE’s Signalling
Project Safety Working Group, following on from
the discussions held at the March meeting (see
Update 76). There was strong agreement on the
need for action to improve safety and to address
resource constraints.
The next SigTIG meeting will be held on 11
November and will include a presentation by
Trevor Foulkes, Head of CCS Engineering at HS2
as well as details of an RSSB study on ETCS
Limited Supervision. Members can book online at
https://online.riagb.org.uk.
Phone: 020 7201 0777
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Email: [email protected]
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