IRSE Bulletin – March 2023

IRSE News March 2023

The March edition of IRSE News is available online.

As well as the latest news from the Institution and local sections, this edition includes articles on train positioning using satellite based navigation, the 75th anniversary of the Australasian Section and interoperability. read online

IRSE 10///

SIXTH EPISODE NOW LIVE

In this episode, current IRSE President Andy Knight reminds us of the benefits of IRSE membership for those seeking to grow and develop as signalling and telecommunications professionals in the railway industry. watch all episodes now

6th Presidential lecture

2 March 2023 18:00 to 19:30 UTC; Stockport UK and online

Robin Lee MIRSE will present a paper on “Testing and changes for digital signalling systems”. 

This is a hybrid event, kindly hosted by Park Signalling Ltd.  Places at the in-person lecture are now fully booked. However you can join us online for the full lecture and participate in the question and answer session by clicking below. watch online

All previous lectures from this presidential year are here

IRSE Exam

4 March 2023

Good luck to all our Certificate candidates who sit their exam module on Saturday 4 March exam page

E&PD Survey

Your input is appreciated

The IRSE Education & Professional Development (E&PD) Committee exists to fulfil members’ learning and development needs and it is vital that E&PD is fully focused on what members need.

E&PD therefore ask you to spend about 10 minutes filling in the questionnaire linked below for them to plan their 2023/24 priorities.

This survey will close on 20 March.

Thank you for your help. take the survey

7th Presidential lecture

31 March 2023 18:00 to 19:30 UTC; Adelaide AU

Jane Copperthwaite will present on “Progress on the route to developing and retaining diversity in signalling engineering” during the Australasian Section AGM in Adelaide.

The lecture will be recorded for later viewing.  event page

All previous lectures from this presidential year are here

Annual General Meeting

28 April 2023; Melbourne, AU

Please reserve Friday 28 April at 07:00 UTC (08:00 UK and 17:00 Melbourne Australia) for our 2023 annual general meeting.

We will report on the business of the IRSE over the previous year and welcome our new Council members and hear from our incoming President, Steve Boshier.

Annual Dinner

11 May; London, UK

Come and join us at our popular IRSE Annual Dinner, this year being held on Thursday 11 May at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in Holborn.

We invite you to join our incoming President, Steve Boshier and keynote speakers from the industry.

Also available are a range of sponsorship opportunities to suit your business.  Please see the brochure below for full details and contact our events@irse.org to ensure your company’s name is in front of key members of the rail industry.

Please book your individual place or table(s) via our website using the links below.
individual bookings
table bookings
sponsorship details

ASPECT 2023 – take part

Melbourne, Australia; 21-24 November 2023

The ASPECT 2023 organising committee are delighted to announce that there are 15 bursary places for younger members (those aged 35 or under in the first 10 years of their career).  Apply to get a contribution towards your travel and accommodation fees by filling in this form.

The deadline for submissions for innovator ideas has now been extended to 31 March and there will be a AU$1,000 CPD award for the most innovative idea. For further details, see the ASPECT page by clicking below.

Our organising committee are now reviewing the paper abstracts and will be in touch with all those who have submitted their extracts soon. bursary application event page

Your membership preferences

As we approach the annual subscription renewal process please tell us about any changes to your contact details, subscription preferences or circumstances. 

Update your details and preferences online – login to the IRSE website and go to My Account (top right), My Personal Details (left menu) or contact the membership & registration team directly at  membership@irse.org or on +44 (0)20 7808 1186.

Accurate email, postal address and telephone contact details are essential for us to deliver the best service possible to you and all our members.

If you wish to change to (or from) e-membership please change this online in ‘My Personal Details’ or contact us.  (Note: e-members do not receive hard copy IRSE News but are able to read the latest edition online by logging into the IRSE website).

Please also contact us directly if:

• you have retired recently to discuss whether you are eligible for the concessionary subscription rate  
• you hold a UK bank account and wish to set up a direct debit payment.

Amazon Smile

Please note Amazon has ended its Amazon Smile charity donation programme where a proportion of every customer’s purchase was donated to a charity of their choice. We are grateful to members who nominated the IRSE to receive their donations.

Western Section presentation: HPSS Mark 2

08 March 2023 18:00 – 19:30 (UTC); Swindon UK & online

Members of the Network Rail Technology Development Team will be visiting the section to talk about the development of a new version of the High Performance Switch System and its current trial installation. Click below for details on how to register (for in-person and via video conferencing) more info/register

IRSE Nederland Section: Optimising the calculation model for braking curves on trains

09 March 2023 15:00 – 16:00 (UTC+1); online

The IRSE Dutch section are delighted to bring you this webinar by Maarten Bartholomeus and Jelle van Luipen (ProRail) – details have been emailed to all IRSE Dutch section members. more info

Midland & North Western Section: Manchester South Upgrade

15 March 2023 17:15 – 19:15 (UTC); online

Phil Harper Smith and Sean Dennien discuss the challenges faced in applying a novel system into a UK railway (in this case designed for an Italian railway) into a UK railway environment, considering the lessons that can be learned and further challenges now faced with modern application of CSM more info/register

London & SE Section: ETCS braking model in LS Mode with Lineside Signals

23 March 2023 18:00 – 20:00 (UTC); online

Inspired by his involvement with the Radio Based Limited Supervision (RBLS) project, Paul B. Morris will outline his thoughts on two topics:

• A possible approach to drawing a clear division of responsibility between signalling and other engineering disciplines in the derivation of speed profiles.
• If more abstract theoretical approaches (e.g. compared to using the ERA’s Tool) could help with ensuring that the ETCS perturbation distance is compatible with the lineside signal spacing: as this is an important issue when ETCS Limited Supervision mode is used.

This will be an online meeting using MS Teams. Please register before 17:00 on the day via Eventbrite. register

Younger Members section: Back to Basics – ‘points’

28 March 2023 18:00 – 19:00 (UTC); online

In the sixth episode of our series, Francis How HonFIRSE focusses on principles and standard practices for points.

Francis is highly respected for his technical knowledge and is a long standing member of the IRSE. He worked for British Rail, Railtrack, Atkins, then as technical director of the Railway Industry Association and Chief Executive of the IRSE.  Francis was a member of IRSE Council for many years and was President in 2021-13.

This is an online event, free and open to all.  Please register via Eventbrite register