IRSE NEWS

The latest edition of IRSE NEWS is now available – click here to view it (you will need to log-in).  You can also see all the recent editions on the “Recent Issues” page of the IRSE website. This month’s edition contains articles on:

§  What follows GSM-R?

§  SSI long line links over IP networks

§  Adopting a proactive approach to the implementation of speed control systems

§  Developing a standard for the driveability of lineside signalling

§  The IRSE membership process

AGM and Annual Dinner

27 April 2018, London

The IRSE’s Annual General Meeting and Dinner will be held in London on Friday 27 April 2018, when our new President (for 2018-19) will deliver his Presidential Address.  All are invited to the AGM, which takes place in the IET at Savoy Place.

If you or your company/organisation wish to book places at the Dinner (which takes place in The Savoy, next to the IET, please click here for booking details, or contact Hilary Cohen in the IRSE office via hilary.cohen@irse.org.  This ever-popular event sold out in about six weeks last year, so early booking is advisable!

Netherlands Section: 10^th Anniversary celebration and

Presidential Programme Technical Meeting

25 January, Utrecht, Holland

On 25^th January 2018 the Netherlands Section of the IRSE will celebrate the 10^th Anniversary of its formation, with a special Presidential Programme meeting and dinner in Utrecht, Holland.

The event will take place at the Dutch Rail Museum in Utrecht (www.spoorwegmuseum.nl), starting at 15.00 and finishing at 21.30.  The event includes a technical paper by Andrew Simmons (Chief Systems Engineer, Digital Railway, UK) as part of the Presidential Programme series.  There will also be an Address by our President, Peter Symons, as well as a celebration of the success of the Netherlands Section and a tour of the museum.

The technical paper is on the subject of the Potential effects of Brexit on railway signalling and communications. Whilst political discussions are currently addressing many of the complex issues associated with the UK leaving the EU, of equal importance to both the UK and EU are the post Brexit arrangements.  The paper sets out how the legal and standards framework within the EU currently operates, and explores those areas that could be impacted by Brexit and managed in a post Brexit era. The paper also introduces the concept of a Digital Railway Systems Authority within the UK and how this is proposed to operate whilst UK remains in the EU and how it might need to change following Brexit.

All IRSE members are very welcome to attend the Anniversary events. The presentations and tour are free, however there is a charge of 85 euros for the dinner and limit on the numbers of people who can attend it.  For more information, click here.

If you wish to attend the presentations, or the dinner, or both, please email Tom Spronk (Penningmeester@irse.nl) with your request.

Presidential Programme Technical Meeting

8^th February 2018

Join us in York for the fifth paper in our Presidential Programme series for 2017-18, on the subject of Continuous Improvement for Lifelong Learning, to be presented by Judith Ward in York on 8^th February.

Peter Symon’s 2017 presidential address concerned competence in the industry and he commissioned two presidential papers to be written and presented on this theme.  This paper is the second of the two, and discusses how competence can be maintained and developed throughout the life of an engineer, to keep up-to-date with current systems and practices.  As well as the role of the individual, the paper explores the part that employers and the IRSE have in assisting individuals to develop and retain their competence.

Click here for more information about this event.

IRSE Convention 2018

28 May – 1 June, Switzerland

Booking is open for the IRSE’s 2018 Convention, taking place from 28 May to 1 June in Switzerland.  The central theme of Convention 2018 is Safety in Long Railway Tunnels, and we have a full and varied programme to offer IRSE members and their guests/partners. The Convention is based at two locations, starting at Lugano and moving later in the week to Pontresina.

This is a superb opportunity to see the Swiss railways, and in particular to understand how safety is ensured through signalling and other systems in the long tunnels for which the Swiss are renowned. A core highlight of Convention will be a visit to the 57-km Gotthard Base Tunnel, which opened in 2016. It is the longest railway tunnel in the world and one of the great engineering projects of the 21st century. The design, planning and construction of the GBT and the 35-km Lötschberg Base Tunnel, which opened in 2007, have established Switzerland as a world-class centre of competence for building and operating railway tunnels of extreme length.

Booking forms for the event and for hotels are available on the IRSE website. We recommend that you book as soon, as there is a limit on how many people can attend.  As with previous Conventions, we are offering a limited number of bursaries to younger members, to help pay the cost of attending – an application form is available on the website.

For more information, visit the Convention website: www.irsecon18.ch.

Make your nominations for Council members

We would like to ask corporate IRSE members (ie. Associate Members, Members, Fellows) to consider making nominations for the vacancies that will arise on the IRSE Council in April 2018.    

Click here to download the nomination form.  The present members of Council are listed on the IRSE website.

Papers/Presentations from ASPECT and from the CBTC Seminar

The papers from our ASPECT Conference in Singapore and from the CBTC Seminar in Toronto are now available to view and download from the IRSE website.  Click here to view them (you will need to log-in and then click on the relevant event/day to view the list of papers).

IRSE Exam 2018

Are you thinking of taking one or more modules for the IRSE Exam in 2018?  The details of application deadlines, the application process, exam tips, where to find help to prepare, last year’s exam questions … all this and more is on the IRSE website. Click here to find out more.

EN50126: 2017 published

A new version of EN50126 has been published, in two parts.  For more information see:

https://landingpage.bsigroup.com/LandingPage/Series?UPI=BS%20EN%2050126

IRSE Proceedings 2016-2017

The IRSE Proceedings for 2016-2017 are now available on the IRSE website. Click here to view them.

The following items will be of interest principally to members in Europe (including UK):

Making a Success of the Digital Railway

17^th January, London

With assistance from WSP, the IRSE has run a series of workshops over the past year on the “Digital Railway”, exploring the challenges of implementing systems such as ETCS, ATO, Traffic Management etc on Britain’s national rail network.

We have now published a White Paper titled “Making a Success of the Digital Railway”. The paper considers seven key themes relating to the implementation of the latest generation of digital train control and communications technology on Britain’s railways.

The publication of the White Paper will be followed by an event on the evening of 17^th January in London where the paper and the issues it raises will be discussed.  Mark Carne, Chief Executive of Network Rail, and David Waboso, Managing Director of the Digital Railway Programme, will speak at the event.  More details will be available soon on the IRSE website and via social media. You will need to register if you wish to attend, as this event is likely to be very popular and places are limited.

Click here for more information about the White Paper and to download a copy.

Our first London and South East UK event:

“Encouraging Engineering: Reinvigorating the S&T Approach to STEM”

25 January 2018

We are making good progress with setting up a London and South East UK Section.  And before it is formally established, we are holding a first meeting for members in this part of the UK. 

The meeting (on 25^th January in central London) will feature a presentation and demonstration by Alex Patton (Siemens) of his Raspberry Pi railway, designed to help young people understand what railway signalling is all about.  Alex’s project takes a new approach to teaching programming, electronics and computing to young people through solving challenges of the signalling industry. 

Although the model is aimed at young people, this meeting is for everyone, regardless of age! Details of how to register are on the IRSE website – click here.  The meeting will be followed by a social time.

Minor Railways Section: Technical Visit to the Nene Valley Railway

17th March 2018, near Peterborough (UK)

With the kind permission of the Nene Valley Railway (NVR), the IRSE Minor Railways Section have arranged a technical visit to the Nene Valley Railway, starting and finishing from their Peterborough (Nene Valley) station. There is a registration fee of £45.00 per delegate for the visit, with a buffet luncheon included. The visit is limited to 40 places, with priority given to members. Registration closes on the 1st March 2018. Click here for more details and to register.

Requirements Management for Systems Engineering

19 April 2018, Birmingham UK

We are holding a Seminar on 19 April 2018 on the subject of Requirements Management, at the University of Birmingham (UK). Make a note in your diary, and book online using the link below.

The day will include:

ü Workshop on what makes a good requirement

ü Requirements Management on HS2 Mainline North

ü Innovation Using Goal Structuring Notation

ü Requirements of the EULYNX Project

ü Requirements Management of GRIP 5-8 Projects

ü How to Sabotage a Project Using Requirements Management

More information and how to book can be found online – click here.

IRSE – IEEE collaboration

The IRSE and the UK & Ireland Section of the IEEE have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, committing the two organisations to collaborate on events of mutual interest, professional development, and standards development. More specifically, we are aiming for the following:

a)       Where appropriate, invitations to be extended to each other’s members to attend events and meetings organised by one of the two organisations.

b)      Hold one joint event, possibly focussed around the theme of “Ethical considerations when applying technology”, with a specific focus on rail and autonomous vehicles, although not necessarily limited to that.

c)     Possible IRSE involvement in IEEE standards development work.