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Said the following about Zoe O'Brien:

“Zoe O’Brien is the Project Manager who oversaw the signalling side of the commissioning of the final phase of the Cardiff Area Re-signalling scheme. The £300 million Cardiff Area Signalling Renewals Project, known as CASR to many, reached its Finale over the 10 day Christmas – New year period and with an on time hand-back at 04:00 on 3rd January saw the successful commissioning of the biggest single phase commissioning undertaken by Network Rail and one of the largest ever undertaken on the railways. This work has led to significant improvements to the capacity and allowed much more flexibility for train operations arriving, departing and passing through the Capital and busiest station in Wales.

However the scheme was not just signalling, hidden away inside the detail was the fact this project was integrated to bring improvements to track layouts, add additional capacity by better track sections and signalling, re-instate long closed platforms and build new replacements along with the use of Automatic Route Setting and modern Frauscher Axle counters.

To give some idea of the project then you need to look at the numbers

192 Route miles re-signalled with full allowance made for electrification within the design. Over 300 Signals installed throughout the route

59 Sets of points installed or replaced. 16 trains per hour capacity on the Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Central corridor (Valley lines) 12 miles of new track installed, 8 fully bi directional platforms at Cardiff Central

6 New platforms:- 2 x Cardiff Queen Street with a new station building, 1 x Cardiff Central with a new station building, 1 x Barry Town, 1 new bay x Caerphilly. 1 x Tirphil along with Step free access.

However Zoe was responsible for ensuring the signalling was brought into use and by working with Atkins in the lead up to commissioning and then being one of the Duty Managers she helped to ensure that the commissioning all ran smoothly, and even managed to get to the Cardiff Central Platform 8 ceremony having been involved in the station works for the new Platforms constructed at Cardiff Central and Queen Street. From the Plug and Play cables to the Frauscher Axle counters and Signallers workstations Zoe worked with those installing the equipment and with the project and maintenance engineers to ensure a seamless introduction of the new equipment into Wales ROC.

Zoe has a cool calm way of working that helps when things don’t go according to plan, her way of working is always by involving others and listening, before making a calculated decision based on the information, because she comes across as un-phased by situations people have a higher level of confidence in her decisions and instruction. Zoe also has a thirst for knowledge and seems to absorb information at a vast rate, this in turn means that her decisions are calculated from this gleaned information from previous works along with the current information, often presented in a way that belies her years. Zoe is like that swan, elegant on the surface, cool under pressure and articulate and thorough with her questions, but no-one gets to see those feet paddling so hard to maintain that position.

Having risen through the IP Signalling ranks from a graduate, Zoe has the passion, drive and commitment to go even higher and achieve great things within our industry. Her thirst and enthusiasm is amazing and is also infectious, which in turn helps to keep the team around her focused. If you have not heard of her before then listen out, because I am sure, with the good work she is doing, you will hear of Zoe soon.“