Craig Evans

Said the following about Freightliner ERTMS Project Team:

“I would like to nominate the Freightliner ERTMS Project Team for the Digital Railway Team Award in recognition of their outstanding achievements over the past year. This dedicated team has consistently demonstrated unwavering commitment, innovation, and collaboration in the field of ERTMS and its planned introduction on the East Coast Mainline.

The team's accomplishments are nothing short of remarkable:

1. State-of-the-Art ERTMS Training Facilities: The Freightliner ERTMS Project Team has made a significant impact by opening two cutting-edge ERTMS operational training facilities in Ipswich and Doncaster. These facilities are poised to provide essential ERTMS training to operational staff and drivers; ensuring the highest standards of safety and efficiency.

2. Revolutionising Training with Simulators: The Freightiliner introduction of ultra-light simulators, along with plans for full cab simulators, is a testament to their commitment to enhancing training methods. These simulators are to be showcased at Corys' prestigious worldwide simulator conference in Grenoble, France later this year - demonstrating their leadership and innovation in this field.

3. State-of-the-Art Maintainer Training Facilities: The Freightliner ERTMS Project Team further solidified their commitment to excellence by establishing maintainer training facilities in Crewe and Leeds. Equipped with state-of-the-art maintainer training rigs, these facilities are essential in preparing personnel to maintain ERTMS onboard equipment efficiently.

4. Leading the Industry in ERTMS Implementation: The team's leadership in implementing ERTMS on the East Coast Mainline has set a benchmark for the entire industry. Multiple team members actively represent the freight industry in various national strategy groups, ensuring that best practices are adopted for the benefit of all.

5. Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: The team's collaboration with various stakeholders within the industry, including the development of train-the-trainer technical courses for both drivers and maintainers, has further demonstrated their dedication to sharing knowledge and expertise.

In conclusion, the Freightliner ERTMS Project Team has not only exceeded expectations but has also paved the way for the future of ERTMS implementation and training in the rail industry. Their accomplishments reflect the highest standards of excellence and innovation, and I wholeheartedly recommend them for this award.“

Mark Rice

Said the following about Freightliner ERTMS Project Team:

“Delivery:

In the past 12 months the team has:

• Helped design the hardware and software for, and delivered 8 ERTMS enabled ultra-light simulators

• Helped design the hardware for 2 ERTMS enabled full cab replica simulators.

Having been the first FOC to go to market and such was the confidence in the Freightliner ERTMS Operations team and the products, subsequent FOC’s ordered similar products and used the Freightliner designed hardware and software.

• Opened 2 brand new, state of the art, ERTMS driver training academies in Ipswich and Doncaster

• Opened 2 new ERTMS maintainer training establishments at our depots in Crew and Leeds

• Delivered ERTMS Foundation driver training to half of our 700 drivers ahead of schedule.

• Designed and delivered a Freightliner ERTMS website to engage with our staff. It is however extensively viewed by the wider industry.

https://ertms.freightliner.co.uk/

• Led the design reviews and is lead FOC for every class of vehicle that FL operates.

Values:

Collaboration and the mantra “Nobody gets left behind” is at the core of all that the Freightliner team do and achieve. Having developed a mature digital programme plan and having executed much of it, Freightliner are further down the digital road than many other FOC’s and have a wealth of skills, knowledge and resources that are put to good use for the benefit of others. This includes:

• In June and July of 2023, FL opened its doors to other FOC’s and Siemens to deliver both Operations and Maintainer Train the Trainer courses.

• The team have hosted other FOC project teams at their training establishments to give them the benefit of their experience in matters such as funding requests, procurement, training approaches etc

• Ipswich and Doncaster training academies have been offered to the programme for other smaller entities to use to train their drivers in ERTMS.

• Freightliner has even offered to train other FOC, OTM and Charter and Heritage drivers which the programme is now actively pursuing in a bid to drive financial efficiencies.

• Has and will continue to offer all other FOC’s its training materials for their use. An example of this is FL’s ‘Virtual Train’ which is a desktop application that will be used to familiarise drivers with the positioning of ETCS equipment on different types of traction post their initial training.

The willingness to help what are essentially fierce competitors, shows that the FL ERTMS team has a mature approach to how it delivers ETCS and how it engages with the wider programme.

Engagement:

Both internally and externally the whole team is very much respected for the way it conducts business and engages with the industry.

In September of 2021, the FL ERTMS was small, consisting of just 5 people (now 22). The team sat on the peripheries of the business with very little engagement with those managing day to day company matters. Although there was a steering board, it was routinely cancelled as senior managers prioritised other activities.

A series of workshops, engagement sessions and one to one meetings would completely change this and there are now several ERTMS forums within the business looking at Engineering, Operations, Planning etc, and a robust steering board with very senior attendees from the business. The ERTMS team have turned the business from ‘Sceptic’s’ to huge advocates of ERTMS and the programme in general, to the point that the MD regularly speaks at ECDP forums and in magazines on the subject.

Rail Technology Magazine : August / September 2023

Union engagement is another area where the FL ERTMS team have excelled. Workshops with FL Union reps are regularly held and our plans for training are tabled. Such is the positive response to FL’s proposals, agreements and general engagement with our reps, Mick Whelan, The Secretary General of ASLEF, has written to us twice to endorse our approach.

The Unions have also been very much involved with the design, testing and commissioning of ERTMS simulators, regularly attending our suppliers factory and providing input into the development.

Contributing to the Industry:

FL’s Engineers and Operations teams represent the whole FOC sector at a number of Industry wide forums hosted by ECDP, RSSB and others. They are trusted to not only represent but act in their best interests. This includes:

• RSSB's TCTSG (Train Control Technical Sub-group).

• ECDP's Managing and Monitoring Onboard Equipment Working Group.

• RSSB's V/TC&C SIC (Vehicle/Train Control & Communications System Interface Committee)

• RSSB’s TOMSC (Train Operation and Management Standards Committee)

• RSSB's DRACAS SG (Defect Recording Analysis and Corrective Action System Steering Group)

Cohesiveness:

The FL ERTMS team is not only very effective, but everyone in the team works wonderfully together with seamless efficiency. The team bond with activities such as the Yorkshire 3 peaks challenge, and regularly dine out together. Everyone knows their role within the team but everyone is willing to take on the work of others to help.

There is a WhatsApp group chat which is a constant source of amusement but also serves as a medium of support when people are having a difficult time, either at work or in their private lives.

The team are now in the process of setting up community engagement and charity activities making use of its resources and human capital to benefit local communities where FL has a significant presence. This will include:

• Inviting schools to the Operations Academies where children will learn about the railway and will be able to test their driving skills on simulators.

• One off charity projects such redecoration community premises, building gardens or other amenities in public spaces

• Arranging food collection points at our training facilities and encouraging our staff to bring donations when attending training courses.“