Industry professionals gathered yesterday (14 March) at Holywell Park, Loughborough for Rail Media’s Rail Safety Summit.
Each year the Rail Safety Summit brings together the great and good of the industry to present the latest information and developments in their field of expertise. The event also provides space for firms to exhibit some of the most exciting products and services within the industry, and a forum for networking and exchanging of ideas.
This year, Rail Media hand-picked some of the industry’s leading figures to give their take on the most critical concerns for safety on the rails. Hosting the event, Colin Wheeler – a Rail Engineer since 1967 and Trustee of the Robert Stephenson Trust – welcomed attendees before introducing presentations from:
- Andrew Hall – Chief Inspector, Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB)
- Ian Prosser – HM Chief Inspector of Railways and Director of Railway Safety, Office of Rail Regulation (ORR)
- John Jebson – OHSE Director, McGinley Support Services
- Marian Kelly – Head of SHE, London Underground
- Rupert Lown – Chief Health, Safety & Wellbeing Officer, Network Rail
- Peter Dearman – Independent Consultant, Dearman Engineering and former Engineering Director, Atkins
- Prof. Sarah Sharples – Chief Scientific Adviser, Department of Transport and Professor of Human Factors, Nottingham University
- James Le Grice – Head of Rail Safety and Standards, Department of Transport
- Ali Chegini – Director, System Safety & Health, RSSB
- Nick Millington MBE, Acting Route Director, Wales and Borders Route, Network Rail
- Leo Scott Smith – CEO, Tended
Topics for discussion included: the dangers of becoming complacent over rail safety; maintenance of a ‘sustainable workforce’ and consideration of mental health; rail safety from a transport systems perspective; and the role of government in rail safety.
Electrical isolation, geofencing, Great British Railways, and Network Rail’s Safety Framework all also came under discussion.
Returning as a live event for the first time since 2019, this year’s Rail Safety Summit was a true return to form, attracting over 120 attendees who left the venue impressed with the high level of discussion and with real food for thought.
Adam O’Connor, managing director of Rail Media said: “The Rail Summit Summit 2023 has been another great event organised by Rail Media. I am proud of the whole team for all their hard work, and immensely grateful to the speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors for contributing to this year’s event. I have already received brilliant feedback from attendees on all the speakers’ presentations, and we are now planning how we can improve the event for next year.”
Official photos from the day are available here – https://www.railsummits.com/photos
The Rail Safety Summit will return in 2024. For further information visit: www.railsummits.com.
