James Davies

Said the following about Siemens Rail Automation Test team - Manchester:

“I wish to nominate Siemens Rail Automation Manchester Test team. A first class and unsung signalling test team that help keep the railway running safely.

Looking back, as Major Signalling Framework Primary Contractor for the area, Siemens needed to support Network Rail’s delivery of projects across IP Signalling, Northern Hub Alliance and the North West Electrification Programme. It needed a team that could rise to the challenge and a circa +900 SEU portfolio of projects.

In early 2013 Gordon McGadie was brought in as the Manchester office Test Manager and from the outset developed, challenged and built a team… into his team; one of the best and hardest working teams in the country. These included Testers in Charge (Tony Fearnhead, Graham Grogan, Paul Lavin and Rob Meggs), Lead Testers (Ian Hall, John Timmins), Principle Test (Kevin Heath) and a core team including logistics (Clare Fearnhead), each one leading by example.

The team is highly motivated and professional, both in effort and focus; plus they challenge on track / engineering safety and are calm under pressure. In terms of initiatives they have been very much part of lean, including the setting up a material hub and test facility for the portfolio to drive integration and efficiency. They also command respect from stakeholders, being approachable, straight talking, pragmatic and a consistent ‘safe pair of hands’. From the client project team through to RAM, Sponsor, Ops and the Maintainer, the team have built trust and confidence, ensuring a ‘no surprises’ collaborative relationship.

The delivery record to date has been impressive, including numerous successful on time, accident free, major blockades and stageworks for Huyton Roby, Manchester Airport, Gresty Lane, Farnworth Tunnel, six out of seven stages for the Ordsall Chord and the lines to Bolton station, with more to come. The team never expects thanks but there is always a job well done and without hesitation they are onto the next challenge.

In terms of specifics, in central Manchester and as part of the Ordsall Chord, over a 16-day blockade they delivered one of the most complicated resignalling schemes of the last 40 years in the North-West. The commissioning ran to 3 January 2017 and working as part of a multi-supplier Alliance, our 300-strong SP&C team worked in shifts around the clock to re-signal, re-control and re-lock the interlockings to Manchester Rail Operating Centre. The team led by example, with significant pre-planning, preparation and pre-commissioning works to ensure delivery. Plus ‘on the day’ they had to deal with delays, changes by others and weather challenges. The numbers speak for themselves with four TC1’s, each one signed in on time and with full functionality, plus 564 No. test logs and just over 3% deferred!

Looking ahead, the team will only get busier and given the investment in people and process to date, they are more than prepared for the future including, Weaver Wavertree, Lime Street, Stalybridge, Preston to Blackpool plus the last stage of Ordsall Chord. I have every confidence that they will succeed.“