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:

• Continuous improvement for lifelong learning
• How do we reduce the number of accidents involving human factors?
• Driver advisory systems – opportunities and challenges
• What is ‘Women in Rail’, and how can it help the industry?
• Making a success of Britain’s Digital Railway programme

Events in March

March is a busy month for events. In addition to those events listed in this bulletin, you may be interested in the following:

§  M&NW Section UK: 8 March: The Futro Programme – presentation by Clive Burrows.

§  Swiss Section: 9 March: Visit to Bartholet Seilbahnen AG followed by a meeting with dinner.

§  York Section UK: 15 March: Annual Dinner

§  Minor Railways Section: 17 March: Technical Visit to the Nene Valley Railway

§  China Section: 17 March: Seminar – Big Data for Railway Health Management and Maintenance

§  Singapore Section: 20 March: Presentation – Lessons learned from the Clapham accident

§  York Section UK: 22 March: Presentation – ElectroLogiXS – A PLC based interlocking for the UK

Presidential Programme Technical Meeting

The first Wing Safety Lecture: Track-worker Safety

15 March, London 

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 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 15^th March Rod Muttram (IRSE) and Mark Prescott (Network Rail) will be presenting a paper 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.  It is also our first WING SAFETY LECTURE, in memory of Peter Wing, a former S&T Engineer and member of the IRSE who did so much to transform track-worker safety on Britain’s Railways.

Click here for more details.

Australasian Section AGM and Technical Meeting

16 – 18 March, Melbourne

The Australasian Section is holding its AGM and Technical Meeting in Melbourne on 16-18 March, celebrating 70 years of the IRSE in Australia.  The event is titled ““Skyrail” and Tunnel – Creating the Metro”.  There is also a preceding Younger Members’ networking event on 15^th March. 

For more information about the programme, speaker line-up, technical visits and prices, click here.

IRSE Convention 2018 : last month for booking

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.

Booking forms for the event and for hotels are available on the IRSE website. For more information, visit the Convention website: www.irsecon18.ch.

Switching to or from IRSE e-membership

The next IRSE subscription year begins on 1^st July 2018 and we will be sending you your renewal details at the beginning of June so that you can renew your IRSE membership by 1^st July.

Before then, you have the opportunity to change your membership type to or from “e-membership” for the new subscription year. To do so you must register the change by 30 April 2018.

E-membership means that you receive all communications from the IRSE (including IRSE News) electronically, not by post, at a lower annual membership subscription rate. To switch to or from e-membership, go to the IRSE website (www.irse.org), log in and go to the Home page, then navigate to the “Manage your record” page.  Select “YES” or “NO” for the “E-membership selected” option near the top of the page, and then click the SAVE button near the bottom of the page.

Revised CPD Policy

The new (issue 3) IRSE Continuous Professional Development Policy has been approved by the IRSE’s governing Council and is now published on our website- see IRSE – Membership – Professional Development.  Although there are no fundamental changes, it has been updated to reflect current good practice.

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

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

16-18 April, Birmingham, UK

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.

IRSE Younger Members: IRSE Exam Preparation Workshop: Modules 2,3,5

21 – 22 April, Derby (UK)

With the kind support of Signet Solutions, the IRSE Younger Members are pleased to invite you to an IRSE Exam Preparation Workshop on 21-22 April in Derby.  The event will focus on Modules 2, 3 and 5, but may also be useful to contribute to your Study Plan if you are attempting Modules 1 or 7 as it can help expand your underpinning knowledge. This event is offered free of charge.

There will be work-streams focused on each exam module, as well as more general demonstration sessions. For those focusing on an exam module, you may be invited to prepare notes on a specific exam question or topic to bring to the event – this will help you get the most out of the sessions.

Places at the event are limited, so please complete the registration form and send it by e-mail as soon as possible to younger.members@irse.org.  Please indicate your preference for the module(s) you wish to prepare for on the registration form.

Annual General Meeting

27 April, London

The IRSE’s Annual General Meeting and Dinner will be held in London on Friday 27^th 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, starting at 18.00. Refreshments are available from 17.30.  For bookings for the Dinner, please contact Hilary Cohen in the IRSE office in London (hilary.cohen@irse.org).

Annual Members Lunch

13 June, London

The Annual Members’ Lunch will take place on Wednesday 13^th June in London.  We will be opening for bookings soon, but in the meantime make a note of the date in your diary.

IET Railway Signalling and Control Systems Course (partnered by IRSE)

18 – 21 June, London

The IET Railway Signalling and Control Systems (RSCS) is a four day training course delivered by a host of expert lecturers who have worked on railway systems around the world. 

This course is delivered every two years, and this year for the first time the IRSE is the official course partner with the IET for delivering the course.

The course features a technical peer-reviewed programme, which is developed by a specialist committee, covering the core aspects of signalling and control systems, from the basics to in-depth design. 

The programme aims to provide attendees with the most up-to-date contemporary training on signalling and control systems, and is ideal for people at any stage of their career who need to understand the basics of signalling and also for those wanting to learn about current developments. It contains material relevant to both national rail networks and metros.

This course is highly recommended. For more information and to book your place, click here.