The RailStaff Awards 2024

Nominations for Lifetime Achievement Award

Chloe Doyle

Said the following about Alan Atkins:

“I am nominating Alan Atkins, Alliance Director for the Central Rail Systems Alliance (CRSA) because he brings strategic oversight and understanding of the operational, commercial, and logistical requirements needed to successfully execute major programmes of rail work, gained through 20 years in the sector both in the UK and internationally.

Currently working for Balfour Beatty and the CRSA, he’s worked on many large-scale rail projects including the London Underground, Kings Cross and numerous track renewal projects. Now he's heading up the Northumberland Project for the CRSA which will bring a huge amount of benefits to the North East and rest of the country.

Alan headed up the creation and transition of the CRSA three years ago since taking over the Network Rail contract from Babcock and Amey. Alan was a vital team leader and player during this time while also carrying out several track renewals projects, keeping the railway operational for rail users and customers after a seamless transition

He kept the operations of the CRSA live throughout the whole of the Covid pandemic and even took on additional work to help carry out difficult projects while access was available.

Alan deserves this award for his contribution to the railway over the past 20 years and specifically the part he plays currently leading the CRSA - a hugely complicated Alliance with Network Rail.

Alan never just does just what’s expected of him. Alan is a decisive and visible leader who excels at building and orchestrating high-performing teams and driving them forward in a unified and clear direction to achieve exemplary project delivery.

He’s very personable and always offers his time to any employee, making himself accessible and approachable. He first began with the CRSA as the Alliance Director for the Eastern Region but soon became the Alliance Director for Network Rail’s North West & Central region as well making him Head of the CRSA, due to displaying traits that go over and above his normal duties and what was expected of him and the successful running and leadership of CRSA East.

Alan has been contributing to making the transport sector and railway better for passengers for more than 20 years, working on several high profile as well as hundreds of track renewal projects.

He is continually travelling to different places where he’s needed to be a present leader, covering his Eastern and Western patches enforcing his presence to his different teams. This impacts on his personal life as well as work life, displaying how he goes over and above for his dedication to the railway. He makes personal sacrifices being away from home so much and does it without any complaints.

Over the years working in the rail industry Alan has worked on and contributed to many projects that have had a positive experience and impact on customers. Taking over the Kings Cross Remodelling Project and saving the tax payer a huge amount of money is just one of his success stories. And of course, millions of people have noticed the difference that this project has made at the station and on people’s journeys by increasing passenger capacity and time table restraints.

The Kings Cross Remodelling Project (KXR) was a multidisciplinary once in a lifetime opportunity to replace all major assets on the iconic London terminus. The project enhances the infrastructure capacity by replacing life-expired assets, and reducing congestion, bringing more reliable journeys for passengers.

Alan leading the CRSA team oversaw the enormous logistical challenges including planning and operation of over 200 engineering trains to remove over 50,000 tonnes of spoil and deliver 30,000 tonnes of new material. This project required collaborative planning, innovative engineering, astute interface management, and proactive supply chain engagement.

Alan and his team replaced the 40-year-old track layout on the station approach and re-opened a disused tunnel after nearly 50-years. They worked in excess of 100,000 hours throughout the duration of the record- breaking partial closure, with an exemplary health and safety record resulting in a zero lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) and no RIDDOR incidents.

Alan was also Operations Director for the CRSA East overseeing the Werrington work that the CRSA completed. As part of the £1.2bn East Coast upgrade, the large portal of the Werrington Dive-Under (the box structure) was pushed under the East Coast Mainline at Peterborough to connect the GNGE lines and de-congest this busy junction by separating freight and passenger trains.

The CRSA and Alan’s leadership were an integral part of the project team, showing great collaboration and dedication. The CRSA removed the track before the wider team could push the portal into place using hydraulic jacks and then installed sleeper and rail only part panels, which was loosely laid.

A first for UK engineering, the Werrington Grade Separation portal box which was pushed into its permanent position was 11,000 tonnes, weighing more than the Eiffel Tower. It was jacked through the Cambridge fenlands under the railway. The lines will remove the need for slower freight trains to cross the busy East Coast Main Line, creating extra capacity for passenger services.

Hundreds of hours of passenger disruption were avoided from this industry-leading engineering technique and when the new tunnel comes into use later this year, it will separate slow-moving freight from long-distance passenger trains – speeding up journeys and improving reliability.

Works involved complex train plans and a high level of integration and multi project collaboration. Chris Heaton Harris, Rail Minister, said: "This is an astonishing feat, underlining this country's reputation for pioneering engineering and delivering major upgrades for passengers. By undertaking a project of this magnitude now we are making the most of our railways being quieter, putting in place vital new infrastructure that will improve our railways."

Alan also led the CRSA team for the essential Leeds Station works completing new platforms 0-3 again having a positive effect on passenger journeys and capacity. The CRSA OLE team bought into service two new wire runs, two new switch feeds and decommissioned the remaining contact and catenary wire run that served the former track layout. The commissioning was also supported by our track team that carried out key re-railing works to enable the new track, OLE & signalling system to be commissioned, bringing Platform 0 into use. This work allows people to be better connected in the north and further field, reducing journey times for passengers, and increasing capacity.

The safety and wellbeing of Alan’s team are always put first and he’s extremely passionate about it, putting in a huge amount of time and effort into this steam of work. The health and safety of the people he works with is the most important aspect to him and is always striving to improve it whether it’s the physical safety of people on site or the mental health of his workers.

He’s currently leading a new Health and Safety leadership strategy and recurring meeting to make tangible changes to this aspect within the CRSA. He makes hard decisions and always acts consistently and professionally while carrying out operations onsite - especially relentless weekend works.

Alan always gets stuck in, getting things done while taking on the responsibility of urgent tasks. He is always thinking about the end users and how the works the CRSA does impacts on the quality and performance of the service that so many people rely on.

Alan supported and continues to support the team on site at weekends and is there physically even though he could choose to manage from afar.

Without his support and dedication, the team wouldn’t have had such strong direction and it could have had a negative impact on railways users over such an important period. With Alan present, team members, contractors, and suppliers notice a huge difference because people rely on him and he makes direct and decisive decisions there on the spot – which leads to quick, successful delivery.

Others in the industry could follow his approach in the way he took over and ran the Kings Cross project making it a well-oiled machine and making everyone feel valued. They could also copy his approach to managing large scale and difficult projects always making them a success.

Alan is always pushing to promote his team externally and promote a good impression of all the workers and the rail industry through several channels within the Alliance, including social media, internal communications and numerous events internally or externally.

While liaising with depots and project teams about resources, planning issues, strategic plant and supply chain issues and parent company responsibilities, Alan still manages to make time for his team and attends several events too. When you think about the magnitude of projects he leads across the East and West, this has a huge impact on the operation of the railway overall, and over such a long time in service.

There isn’t one person that works with Alan that wouldn’t say he goes over and above what’s expected of him. He’s a fantastic coach, mentor, leader and is passionate about developing his team and encouraging them to be independent thinkers, leaders themselves and helps them strive for greatness. Not only does he do this for his teams, but without knowing it Alan has had a vital positive impact on the UK's railway for customers all over the country.“