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:

§  UK secession from the European Union

§  Docklands Light Railway radio system

§  Railway accident trends

§  Automated testing of SSI data

§  ERTMS: from verification and validation to operation and maintenance

§  Protecting crossings using ETCS Level 2

• IRSE Professional Examination – hints and tips

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 don’t delay any longer if you are thinking of booking.

Presidential Programme Technical Meeting (York)

8^th February

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.

Presidential Programme Technical Meeting (London)

15^th March

Efforts to improve safety for track-workers have led to many railways adopting a principle that working on or near the track and having lines open to traffic simply do not mix. However, working in a full possession or in a selective possession protected from other lines by a physical barrier has an economic cost. With the pressure on capacity and the trend towards 24/7 operation some have started to question whether a more pragmatic approach should be taken.

With this in mind, and with developments in train control and communications technology, it is timely for the IRSE to review the current situation and future possibilities in respect of track-worker safety. On Thursday 15th March Rod Muttram will be presenting a paper written by himself and Wim Coenraad (past President of this Institution on the subject of “Track Worker Safety: where are we and what lies ahead?”.  The meeting takes place at the IET, Savoy Place, London, starting at 18.00 (refreshments from 17.30).  This is the sixth and last technical paper in the Presidential Programme series for 2017-18.

Click here for more details.

IRSE Convention 2018

28 May – 1 June, Switzerland

You have until 31^st March to book 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.  Note that this is the only event this year for which IRSE bursaries are being offered, so don’t miss the opportunity.

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

IRSE Exam 2018:

Preparation opportunities

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.

The IRSE Younger Members Committee is here to support your preparations for the IRSE Exam, and we have arranged a few events over the next few months.  All are welcome to attend – please note that however, pre-registration will be required for all events (except the webinar).

§  7^th February: Introductory Webinar for people considering taking the Exam. Click here for more details.

§  22nd February: Exam Review – see elsewhere on this e-bulletin for details.

§  21st – 22nd April: Study weekend at Derby for modules 2, 3 and 5. More details to follow.

§  7^th July: Study Day for modules 1 and 7. More details to follow.

Council Elections

During February corporate members of the IRSE (Associate Members, Members, Fellows and Honorary Fellows) will receive ballot papers for voting on the election of members of the IRSE’s governing Council.

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):

IRSE Younger Members Section: AGM and Exam Review

22^nd February 2018

The IRSE Younger Members’ Section AGM and Exam Review will take place at 1 Birdcage Walk, London on 22^nd February. This event is a chance to hear about the Younger Members committee and events over the last year.

Following the AGM, our annual Exam Review will start at 17:30, covering the good and the bad from last year’s papers, providing vital feedback to those looking to sit the exam this year. Younger Member’s veteran and first class study aid, Peter Woodbridge will be sharing some of his wisdom and advice on preparing for the IRSE Exams.

This event is ideal for those looking to sit the IRSE exams in the coming year and those wishing to expand their knowledge and network with like-minded individuals. Both the Younger Members and IRSE Exam Committee would recommend anyone planning to sit the exams in 2018 to attend this event.

As always, the event is open to both Members and Non-Members and is free to attend. Everyone is welcome to attend, although only 40 places are available, so respond quickly to avoid disappointment. Click here for more information.

To register send an email to younger.members@irse.org with your name and email.

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).  Book online now using the link below for what will be an invaluable day for all those involved in systems engineering.

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.

Birmingham Centre for Rail Research & Education International Seminar on Railway Education and Training 2018

The inaugural Birmingham Centre for Rail Research and Education (BCRRE) International Seminar for Railway Education and Training 2018 (ISRET 2018) will take place at the University of Birmingham in April.

ISRET 2018 runs from 16th to 18th April 2018 and comprises 2 days of lecture-based activity at the university (with a Gala Dinner on the first night), followed by a series of options for the third day which includes a visit to Alstom’s training facility in Widnes as well as a range of focused training seminars arranged by the BCRRE at the nearby National College for High Speed Rail (NCHSR).  Delegates will be able to select individual components of the seminar to attend.

The objectives of ISRET 2018 are to:

§  Identify the education and training challenges that must be addressed by the metro and mainline industry;

§  Establish and disseminate best practice in railway education and training;

§  Develop international partnerships between educational institutions, training providers and employers;

§  Learn from the education and training expertise of the University of Birmingham, MTR Academy, SMRT Institute,  the Singapore Rail Academy, NTAR, NSAR, NCHSR and other experts in the field.

For more information on ISRET 2018 including more detail on the seminar, the call for papers, accommodation information and prices, click here.