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“Graeme's extensive electrical engineering knowledge and experience applied to improving electrical safety and implementing innovation within the UK rail industry is nothing short of monumental. Graeme was a pioneer in developing signalling power technology, bringing about significant improvement in both safety and infrastructure performance.
Graeme's wealth of knowledge and experience has been applied to his role as Professional Head for Electrical Engineering within the Amey Rail organisation. Graeme is the go to person for resolution of complex technical issues and has played a fundamental role in developing and mentoring a number of generations of Electrical Engineers.“
“With a career spanning around 45 years of electrical design, commissioning, maintenance and project management, Graeme Brindle lives and breathes the railway.
Blessed with an unfathomable knowledge of electrical engineering, a deep-rooted passion for the rail industry and a unique sense of humour, it is impossible not to be charmed by Graeme when you first meet him. His warm, gregarious personality is transcendent and he always brings a smile to everyone’s face when he walks into the room.
Graeme’s thirst for knowledge is tremendous which is reflected in his incredible career. From electrical design and maintenance of 25kV substations and overhead traction equipment in the 1970s to railway building services, lighting, 33kV traction substations, tunnel ventilation and pumping systems in the 1980s and 1990s, there is little that Graeme has not brought his expertise to. If you were to put a map of the UK’s rail network in front of Graeme, he would talk passionately for hours about every part of it and his personal contributions to the network. Even outside of the UK, Graeme has a deep understanding of European rail networks and was both Test Integration Manager and Electrical Commissioning Manager for the Channel Tunnel during the 1990s.
Semi-retired, Graeme is currently the part-time Technical Director of Electric Traction & Systems for Amey, a company he has been loyal to for over 15 years. There is no doubt that he is an industry expert of signalling power distribution systems of which he personally developed the backbone of Amey’s highly successful design tool. He has been instrumental to building electrical design teams over five UK based offices and I am confident that every member of each team has been inspired by him, not just by his immeasurable knowledge, but by his passion for his work.
Over the last 18 months, Graeme has had a leading role in developing the train power system proposals for the KeolisAmey bid for the South Wales Metro capital investment programme within the Wales & Borders franchise. He was instrumental in the development of holistic proposals for using the latest rolling stock “hybrid†technology to significantly reduce electrification infrastructure costs. To support the design work that accompanied the tender submission, he went back to first principles and created a very impressive bespoke design model for the simulation of the overall train and traction power system.
Taking Graeme away from the railway industry would be like removing the engine from a car. He works very closely with Network Rail as his wealth of wisdom and advice is key to the development of company standards. A chartered engineer with the IET, Graeme is also keenly engaged with the on-going advancement of British Standards, and his name can be found among the list of contributors to the principal British electrical standard, BS7671. However, Graeme’s greatest strength lies in his drive and enthusiasm for sharing his knowledge through training and developing others. Rooted in the years he spent as an instructor in the early 1980s teaching students about British electrical standards and electric traction, Graeme is devoted to sharing his knowledge among the design teams within Amey. Speaking on behalf of these teams, I cannot stress how valuable these sessions are to us, as Graeme’s unmatched wealth of knowledge cannot be found in schools, libraries or through Wikipedia searches. After a training session with Graeme, one knows they have been “Brindledâ€!
Although Graeme is approaching the age of retirement, everyone who knows him in the industry is acutely aware that he is indispensable. Nothing can repay Graeme’s magnificent contribution to the British railway over the past 45 years but I hope this nomination will somehow give Graeme the exposure he thoroughly deserves to those that do not yet have the pleasure to know him.“
“I first met Graeme over 12 years ago when he made a presentation to the IRSE Western Section about earthing and bonding for signalling installations. His style, enthusiasm, and truly extensive technical knowledge and understanding were quite inspiring.
A year or so later I joined Amey and I really started to get to know Graeme and see the esteem in which he was (and is) held by colleagues and clients alike.
Graeme has had an involvement in a huge number of major rail schemes over many decades. His passion for passing on his knowledge and experience is genuinely unparalleled and he embodies everything that springs to mind when thinking of a "lifetime of achievement".“
“Graeme has spent decades of his life providing very high quality design works. Graeme's contributions to engineering went beyond Amey Rail. During his career, Graeme was active in asserting and building foundations for professional excellence. His knowledge and reputation in the field of electrical and railways engineering is well established not only within Amey but amongst the wider engineering community. Graeme is a member of the prestigious Joint IET/BSI technical committee JPEL/64. Throughout his career Graeme has helped and mentored a number of engineers who are now taking on leading roles within their departments. Graeme's dedication, achievement, and excellence to which we as a community aspire fully deserves the life time achievement award.“
“I've known Graeme since I joined Amey 6 years ago and he is a living legend in both the company and the industry. He is very good with young engineers and encouraged many who are now Amey senior managers. He was also involved with me on all the recent earthing investigations and standard changes on Network Rail.“
“I first met Graeme about five years ago when I joined the panel of Professional Heads at Amey. His depth of knowledge of electrical engineering and his enthusiasm for the railway shone through immediately.
He is hugely respected throughout Amey and the wider rail industry in Britain, over which he has had significant influence during his career.
The dangers of working with electricity are never far from Graeme's thoughts and he makes a special effort to ensure engineers and operatives from both electrical and non-electrical backgrounds are aware of the risks they may face. Now semi-retired Graeme still has a passion for the subject and has recently re-briefed the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 to the Amey E&P community.
Graeme has made a truly significant contribution to the rail industry and electrical engineering over his career, and is deserving of official recognition of his lifetimes achievements.“
“Trained by British Rail in the 1970's and graduating in Electrical Engineering from Aston University, Graeme Brindle has worked in many electrification and plant fields within the rail and consulting industries across the UK and beneath the English Channel. He has been deeply involved with the usage of BS7671 within the rail. His particular interest is in its application to signalling power supply systems. Since 2001, he had held the post of Professional Head of Electrical Engineering for Amey Rail as part of his role as Chief Electrical Engineer for Amey Infrastructure Services and he has currently taken the role of Traction Systems Technical Director.
As I started in the railway industry, Graeme has been my mentor and I regard him as my Railway Master. Graeme has been "Brindling" me since the first day of the job turning me from an electrical engineer into a railway practical personnel with his guidance, vast knowledge and pragmatic approach in solving complex issues. I regard every advice, a line on a paper and a discussion with Graeme as a lesson in building my career.
Working under his supervision on Gospel Oak to Barking Electrification Project, Graeme provided professional mentoring to me to conduct an Electromagnetic Compatibility Study of the project and to close-out all the relevant risks.
With Graeme approaching the age of retirement, I consider myself fortunate to work with him and with his support; and I believe he will always be the go-to person for complex and convoluted technical and practical issues.“
“I’ve known Graeme for over 15years now and since my first day as a graduate in his team I’ve never stopped learning from him, I’m sure the phrase ‘fountain of knowledge’ was coined for people like Graeme who has been dedicated to transport infrastructure for over 45 years. This combined with Graeme’s yearning to teach and download this wealth of knowledge and experience makes him a huge asset to our business and to anyone who has the pleasure to work alongside him. Now semi-retired he is still one of the most up to date engineers I know, embracing new technologies and constantly trying to push innovative thinking through our design teams. It’s fascinating to see someone of Graeme’s age so up to date with current technology and thinking.
There’s never a time when you can’t ask Graeme a question and he won’t down tools and provide a suitable ‘Brindling’ on a vast array of subject matters. It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with Graeme and I can think of no-one more deserving in the Rail industry for a lifetime achievement award.“
“Graeme helped me immeasurably at the start of my career in providing a solid foundation of technical knowledge. Graeme also supported me attaining Chartered Engineer status.
We always worked in the most collaborative of ways, always doing the best job we could and always in the most cost effective way. Our relationship was one of Client/Supplier but I would be surprised if anyone would have realised. Graeme will share his knowledge with anyone and certainly doesn’t subscribe to the 'knowledge is power' brigade.... you know when you’ve been 'Brindled'.
Graeme is quite unique in the modern world of Engineering and consultancy - he stands behind his knowledge and is prepared to accept calculated risks where others would simply over specify and leave the exaggerated costs as a burden to their client. If there were more like him this industry would be in a far better place!“
“Graeme Brindle has a wealth of knowledge about railway operations and the history of their development yet manages to be very forward looking and up to date with innovative/disruptive technologies.
I had the pleasure of working with Graeme on the Wales and Borders traction power pre-feasibility study. Graeme is a very patient teacher and mentor and was also instrumental in helping me become a Chartered Engineer.“
“I first worked with Graeme in 2011 when I joined Amey. Graeme in the dictionary definition of a career railway Engineer, and his knowledge and expertise in railway electrical systems is as deep as it is wide. He is always ready to help and advise, and is fearless in arguing his views. Since leaving Amey I have continued to work with Graeme at a variety of industry forums, and Graeme can always be relied upon to enliven and illuminate proceedings.“
“I have known Graeme for some thirty years when he first came to the Southern Region to work with the Outdoor machinery organisation. I was aware of his previous experience in implementing the "PAMMS" maintenance system and he proceeded to add much value to our organisation at Croydon. In spotting his potential I appointed him as temporary electrification engineer at my Woking control room where he adapted terrifically.
We have worked together at many points in our careers since then and he has always come across as the total professional with almost limitless expertise. We have also put together IET presentations and planned support for heritage engineering applications.
Graeme is a total professional and is extremely worthy of the award.“
“I’ve known Graeme for over 10 years now since I joined Amey as a graduate engineer and I truly believe I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for the learning, support and opportunities that Graeme provided. Graeme is excellent at planting the seeds in young engineers and letting them grow and flourish into very experienced engineers whilst providing support throughout.
Graeme is never too busy to help out with any technical issue/query at any level and I have yet to ask him a question that he cannot answer. Although now working part time, Graeme’s passion and dedication to the rail industry is always full time. He is always at the end of the phone no matter what time of the day or week it is.
Graeme is one of the most respected engineers throughout Amey and the wider rail industry in the UK. His wealth of knowledge has had a direct impact on the railway industry, especially lineside signalling power with respect to electrical safety.
It’s been an honour and pleasure to work with Graeme. There is no one more deserving in the Rail industry for a lifetime achievement award.“
“Graeme is a true first class professional Railway Engineer.
During the twenty six years I have known him, he has been a constant source of technical support on subjects such as electrification and Testing and Commissioning disciplines.
The 'mine' of detailed information on these disciplines that Graeme possesses is given to all who ask: freely, with a unique, easily understood and humorous manner that sets him above other contemporaries.
It has been a pleasure for me to have worked with Graeme, and indeed an honour to nominate him for this well-deserved award.“
“Graeme Brindle joined British Rail in 1973, graduating in Electrical Engineering from Aston University he later became Electrical Engineer for the Western Region in 1987. In 1990, he went to work on the Channel Tunnel project where he spent 6 years in a variety of senior electrical roles eventually moving onto guided road transport systems with AEG (subsequently Alstom).
In 2001 Graeme joined Amey, ultimately becoming Technical Director of E&P and Professional Head for electrical engineering functions across the business. During this time Graeme has grown the Amey rail electrical teams across the country while also developing and supporting the production of innovative design concepts and tools that have not only benefited Amey, but also shaped the industry as a whole. One such example is the development of innovative analysis techniques for the safe modelling and design of IT (unearthed neutral) signalling power systems. This coupled with Graeme's drive to eradicate unsafe 'legacy' infrastructure across the UK rail network is truly inspiring.
As a Chartered Engineer Graeme has been instrumental in promoting best practice and sharing knowledge, whether speaking at IRSE, IET or Network Rail seminars/conferences, assisting in the development of new Network Rail standards or representing the Rail Industry Association as a BSI JPEL/64 (BS 7671) committee member. A highly respected professional in the rail industry.
Now in semi-retirement Graeme undertakes the role of Technical Director of Electric Traction and Systems for Amey, providing unparalleled project support. Over the 11 years I've known Graeme he has never been too busy to offer technical guidance, assistance or mentorship to myself or others. Not scared to challenge the norm, Graeme is a true pioneer who has contested outdated thinking throughout his career and instigated a wider industry change. A shining example to the industry and truly deserving of this award.“
“The Lifesaver award seeks to recognise those individuals who have intervened to potentially save the life of a vulnerable person on the rail network, and to demonstrate that talking and listening to someone in need can make a huge difference. Samaritans’ aims of breaking down barriers to intervening and the myths about suicide are now imbedded in rail culture with over 10,500 staff trained, while the number of interventions are up by 34% from April 2015. Empowering staff to support vulnerable members of the public, colleagues, friends or family remains a core part of the relationship between the rail industry and Samaritans and The Lifesaver award is an opportunity to highlight this crucial on-going work as well as encouraging rail staff to be champions for our service.”
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