RTIS June news update

Throughout June we have been busy delivering our services to both mainline and LUL infrastructures and have been supporting a variety of key customers such as Alstom, Atkins, Volker Rail, Siemens, Colas Rail, Amey and Bombardier. During this period we have performed with a zero accident/incident rate along with positive feedback on all our S&T teams which has led to repeat and continuous works.

During June we are also pleased to have become approved to work for both Hotchtief and Cleshar which  enables us to support them with any future signalling works they might encounter in the foreseeable future. With CP6 approaching we find ourselves approved to work for 34 companies giving us a firm footing for companies that need support with maintenance, new signalling installation works, SMTH/G110, Test & Commissioning, safety critical, civils, electrical and lump sum project works.  

Moving into July we are supporting Siemens Rail with signalling resource for a major 13 day blockade at Oxford, along with Volker Rail on LUL closures on the 4LM project. We also commence installation works in the Redhill area in conjunction with the Thameslink Resilience Project which runs until March 2019. 

We continue to be pro-active in booking many of our staff on SWL1 conversion courses to enable our staff to work as stand alone teams and additionally we have continued with our  re-fresher programme of manual handling, working at heights, SPWEE and first aid training. What is pleasing is that through training and site experience we now have many assistant installers ready with enough evidence to begin processing for their IRSE installer licences, which enhances our capabilities and continues with the ethos of our business of creating signalling engineers for the future.  

NWR training success and 350 up for RTIS

As we approach the end of May, we are delighted to have achieved another significant milestone for our business. We can now lay claim to have supported our customers (along with delivering signalling projects ourselves) in over 350 railway signalling projects since our company inception back in 2012.  

The 350 projects have been a real mixture; supporting first tier signalling companies with major re-signalling schemes, our own signalling project works, Plain Line and S&C track renewals works, HOBC track renewals, SWTH commissioning works, maintenance works, Signalling Project Management support and the provision of Signalling CRE/TIC expertise.

In order to continue our success, we remain focused on investing, training and producing first class signalling engineers and always place a strong emphasis on delivering works aligned to our company values. Through a combination of signalling projects and significant labour frameworks we aim to reach the 400 project milestone by the end of 2018.

As well reaching the 350 milestone, our sister company RT Training Solutions has also been fantastically successful in winning one of Network Rail’s key Rail Skills Training Frameworks (for multiple signalling lots). The 2 year framework will cover all areas of the UK, with the option of providing technical trainers to all of Network Rail’s super schools, in addition to hosting training at our very own signalling academy in Ipswich. The key areas of the training framework include a host of disciplines covering signalling design, signalling installation, signalling mantenance and signalling works test
ing courses. 

RTTS become key supplier of EBI400 training

In conjuction with our sister company RT Training Solutions Limited (RTTS) we are delighted to have been selected as a collaborative partner by Bombardier Transportation to provide approved quality training for the installation, faulting, maintenance and testing for BOMBARDIER EBI Track 400 track circuits in the UK.

RTTS and Bombardier have reached an agreement for RTTS to become its approved provider of EBI Track 400 training within the UK rail sector and, with the increasing application of this solution being installed on the rail network, this exclusive initial three-year agreement will ensure that Bombardier continue to have available access to correct and affordable training.

EBI Track 400 is a coded audio frequency jointless track circuit for mainline or mass transit applications. The EBI Track 400 track circuit uses multi-bit coded telegrams to guarantee immunity from traction interference and ‘false feed’ hazards, these ‘next generation’ products greatly ease the design of complex applications.

As part of the agreement, product training will be provided by Bombardier experts to RTTS.

Simon Jamieson CEO said “ We are both pleased and proud to have been selected as an approved trainer for Bombardier’s EBI Track 400 product. Over 500 of the track circuits have been installed on the UK network already. It is our intention to support Network Rail and Bombardier with delivering competent training on this product for many years to come. We hope this collaborative arrangement will also lead to many developments in training signalling engineers on future Bombardier signalling products”.

RT Infrastructure Solutions - March News Update

With Easter 2018 fast approaching it is pleasing that we have successfully continued where we left off at the tail end of 2017. We are providing continuous support to our customers on the re-signalling schemes at Bristol, Cross Rail East, LUL/4LM, Oxford, Thameslink, Vic 2 and Crossrail C621. Other signalling support works have included prep works for S&C renewals plus numerous successful commissionings, most notably on the 4LM project where our staff were praised for over-achieving all objectives over a 72 hour closure.

Our support works have ranged across many different customers, all of which continues to provide us with the opportunity to showcase our highly competent signalling teams. A full list of the projects that we have worked on can be found on our recent projects page. Excellent and well earned praise has been earned by all RTIS teams on all of the schemes mentioned.   

In addition to our on track successes, our sister company RT Training Solutions has been highly successful in winning one of Network Rail’s 4 year signalling skills training frameworks. This framework includes elements of all signalling training and covers both on and off site training across the UK, in addition to providing signalling training at our very own 10,000 square feet academy in Ipswich. 

RT Training Solutions has also produced a further 10 trainee signalling engineers who are now competent, ready and available to add to our growing work force. Through our continued partnership with the Career Transition Programme (CTP) the majority of these candidates have come from a military background who are all seeking a long –term engineering career in the railway signalling sector. Our continued partnership with the CTP shows our true commitment to finding & developing newly talented people, often with transferrable skills into the railway signalling environment. 

Throughout 2018 we hope to continue our strong links with our customers and continue to provide a “first class” service in all that we offer. 

RTTS academy to become the "Carl Jamieson Training Academy"

It gives us great pleasure to announce the re-naming of our training academy for a much-loved and respected former colleague Carl Jamieson. We see this as a warming tribute to a colleague who will always be remembered as a thoughtful and respected member of our team and as someone who had a tremendous passion and interest for the railway. Carl worked with many of us here for over 15 years and was active in delivering many signalling projects over that period of time. He sadly passed away in 2016, but will always be remembered with fondness by us all and to rename our academy as “The Carl Jamieson Training Academy” is a testament to his popularity.    

Carl began his railway career as a 16 year old trainee technician where he worked for British Rail and learnt his S&T skills which were key to his love of the railway. He moved up  the signalling ranks before moving onto Balfour Beatty and then Amey for a period of time, before settling his roots with us as a Project Engineer and then a Professional Head of Signalling role.

There will be many people who will pass under Carl’s plaque whilst training with us. They will be probably never have met Carl personally, but hopefully by seeing his plaque they will recognise that he was a much loved colleague by us all.