Duncan Claber

Said the following about Engineering Team:

“The SWR Fleet Engineering team consists of over 800 diverse and dedicated individuals across our network. They deserve recognition for their outstanding efforts in ensuring the safe and reliable operation of our fleet of 400 trains.

Their commitment to delivering clean and dependable trains to our customers every day is at the heart of our business, and these often unsung heroes play a critical role in SWR's functioning by managing shunting, maintenance, cleaning, and responding to train failures around the clock. Their meticulous planning and execution, including long-term maintenance strategies and addressing challenges like the Class 458 uplift project, have not only maintained service levels for our customers but also resulted in cost savings, demonstrating their invaluable contributions to our organisation's success.

The SWR Fleet Engineering team have demonstrated exceptional dedication and commitment through their tireless efforts that truly go above and beyond their job descriptions. One of the outstanding achievements of this team was their involvement in the Class 458 uplift project, which helped ensure SWR had sufficient trains to fulfil its diagrams, avoiding service cancellations and delays.

The team at the Wimbledon Depot worked tirelessly to combat this issue, and the challenges they encountered were multifaceted. They had to simultaneously train colleagues on the new Class 701 fleet while ensuring the existing fleet's operational requirements were met. Additionally, there were significant material supply concerns from the supply chain, and maintaining a fleet with reliability challenges demanded substantial time and effort to understand faults, problem-solve, and execute repairs.

In response to these challenges, the team exhibited remarkable work-ethic, planning and passion for what they do. They initiated a rigorous plan to clear long-term defects, carried out enhanced reliability exams, and executed heavy cleans on the Class 458 trains. The results of their efforts were outstanding, as the number of Class 458 trains made available for service increased from 19 to 25, and an additional 2 trains from the Class 455 fleet were uplifted.

The impact of the team’s efforts was twofold:

• Firstly, they delivered sufficient rolling stock to ensure the continuity of service for our customers, preventing service cancellations and delays.

• Secondly, their efforts supported SWR as a good and efficient operator saving taxpayer money translated into cost savings for the company. By maintaining and enabling more of the legacy fleet to return to service, SWR avoided additional expenses related to leasing alternative rolling stock.

In summary, the SWR colleagues nominated for this award exhibited exceptional dedication, teamwork, and innovation in addressing a critical challenge. Their efforts resulted in tangible benefits for the company and customers, including the preservation of our service quality and substantial cost savings. Their unwavering commitment and outstanding performance demonstrate their deserving recognition for this award.“