IRSE NEWS

The November 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:

§  The Train Control Dilemma

§  Cyber security on a heavy haul railway

§  Headway as part of the operating plan

§  Application of the European interoperability verification process to infrastructure projects

§  The Risk Maturity Management Model

§  News from the Australasian and Irish Sections

Presidential Programme Technical Meeting: “What follows GSM-R?”

6 December, Birmingham, UK

The third technical meeting in our Presidential Programme series will be held on 6^th December at the IET Conference Centre, Austin Court. BIRMINGHAM (UK), starting at 18.00 (refreshments are available from 17.30). The speakers are Clive Kessell and Paul Darlington.

GSM-R has been in existence since 1992 and is now outdated technology.  In this presentation the authors will describe the process of adopting GSM as a standard, together with a brief outline of the disparate radio systems that existed before. The paper will provide an overview of 4G/5G/Wi-Fi, what a successor to GSM-R could look like, together with the challenges faced by the rail industry in adopting a new communications system.  All are welcome to come for what should be an informative presentation and lively discussion. Click here for more details.

Convention 2018

28 May – 1 June, Switzerland

The southern alps of Switzerland will be the venue for the IRSE’s Convention in 2018. Dates are 28 May to 1 June. The IRSE Swiss Section is organising Convention 2018 in cooperation with IRSE London office.

The central theme of Convention 2018 is Safety in Long Railway Tunnels. Some 300 guests from around the world are expected. We invite you to participate in Convention 2018 and experience both a fascinating technical program and some of the most splendid landscapes in Switzerland.

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

If you are thinking of participating, we recommend that you register your interest now – click here.

Formation of a new IRSE Local Section – JAPAN

At the Council meeting held on 12^th October, approval was given for the formation of a new Section of the IRSE, in Japan.  The inaugural meeting of the Section is taking place in Tokyo on 1^st November, at the Tokyo Branch Office of the East Japan Railway Company.

Our congratulations to all the members of the IRSE in Japan on this important step forward.  There will be more news about the Japan Section in a forthcoming edition of IRSE NEWS.

2017 Convention: presentations

The 2017 IRSE Convention presentations are now available to download from the IRSE website, for members only. Please log-in to www.irse.org, then navigate to the “Convention papers” page, under the “Knowledge” tab. Click on the “Convention 2017” item to display the list of presentations, which you can then view or download individually.

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

Younger Members’ Annual Seminar and Technical Visit:

Homogeneous Transport Systems

16th – 17th November, Newcastle, UK

The IRSE Younger Members’ section are holding their 2017 seminar the Newcastle College Rye Hill Campus on Thursday 16th November. The seminar will be followed by technical visits to the Nexus Tyne & Wear Metro and Newcastle College Rail Academy on Friday 17th November.

Newcastle is not the only city updating their transport network, and so how can regions ensure that their transport system is fit for the future but also ensures connectivity within the region and between regions? A range of speakers from projects and areas across the UK will discuss what is happening, and can be done to meet this challenge.

The seminar will not just feature excellent presentations but will also include a signalling workshop with the aim of understanding signalling as a system, working together in teams to think outside of the box.  A flyer is available here. If you wish to attend, please e-mail younger.members@irse.org, noting whether you will plan to attend the seminar, the technical visit or both.

Driver only operation CCTV

16th November, York

The York Section is holding a meeting on 16th November 2017 at George Stephenson House, York, on the subject of “Driver Only Operation CCTV”. The speaker is Peter Stevens, Telecoms Engineer – Atkins.  The meeting is at 5pm for 5:30pm start.  Click here for more details.

Minor Railways Section: Technical Seminar

18 November 2017, Kidderminster, UK

The sixth technical seminar of the IRSE Minor Railways Section will be held at the Kidderminster Railway Museum, located at the Kidderminster Seven Valley Railway Station, Worcestershire on the above date. This meeting will be a continuation of the successful events held bi-annually since 2009, the theme this year is – “New technology applied to Minor Railways”, the day will concentrate on the management and implementation of new technology and its application on Minor Railways. Also at the Seminar will be the presentation of this year’s award of the Section’s “Minor Railway S&T Technician of the Year” award.  Click here for more details and booking arrangements.

Human Factors in Transport Automation:

5th December, London (IMechE event)

With the rise of automation technology across all aspects of transportation, human factors integration into systems engineering is an increasing priority for engineers.

The IMechE’s “Human Factors in Transport Automation” workshop being held at 1 Birdcage Walk, London on 5^th December will address this and other key engineering challenges involved when considering human factors during the design and operation of automated transportation systems.  A discount is available for IRSE members.  For further details and to book please visit the event website or email eventenquiries@imeche.org

Younger Members’ Technical Visit: North Pole Depot

7th December, London, UK

The IRSE Younger Members are delighted to invite you to a technical visit at Hitachi’s North Pole depot where IEP trains are maintained. The visit, organised by the Younger Members Section and supported by Hitachi Rail Europe, will take place on 7th December 2017.  Attendees will enjoy a tour of the depot and possibly an IEP train, subject to train availability.

To apply for a place on this visit please send an e-mail to younger.members@irse.org including your name and contact details.  A flyer is available here.

London and South East Events:

Hold the date – Social evening and other events

We are looking at the possibility of forming a UK “London and South East” Local Section of the IRSE, and have two events lined up – watch the website for further details.  The first is a social event on Thursday 14th December, and the second is a presentation by Alex Patton of Siemens on his Raspberry Pi railway, early in 2018 – both will be held in central London.  Please come along to listen, ask questions and give your thoughts on a potential London and South East Section.  Confirmation of the dates and more details will be published as soon as they are available.

Systems Engineering Seminar: Call for papers and presenters

19 April 2018

Following our highly successful joint seminar with INCOSE/IRSE last year on Systems Engineering for Signalling, we are holding a successor event on 19 April 2018, at the University of Birmingham (UK).

This time we are planning to concentrate on one aspect of Systems Engineering and explore its impact on the wider railway industry, not just signalling. The subject we have chosen for the seminar is the application of Requirements Management for railway projects and we are seeking papers and presentations on this subject.

If you are interested in presenting a paper at this Seminar or would like more information about the event, please contact Karl King (k.king@fnc.co.uk).