Network Rail’s inaugural Weather Academy workshop brought together operations staff, asset engineers and meteorology experts to identify ways of delivering a safer, more reliable service during adverse and extreme weather.
To run the pilot Weather Academy workshop, NR teamed up with Newcastle University, the Met Office and MetDesk.
It is the latest proactive following the fatal derailment at Carmont in August 2020, caused by a landslip following heavy rain. More recently, a landslip at Honiton closed the Salisbury-Exeter line, while NR also closed routes in Scotland after heavy deluges.
The workshop entailed NR working with industry experts to empower railway staff with the right knowledge to improve mitigation against the impacts of adverse weather, so that trains can continue to run safely and reliably.
At its first session, NR staff worked through practical case studies and interactive tuition and scenario-based exercises to improve the management of weather risks. Further workshops are being planned for 2023.
To read the full story, see RAIL 972.
You can subscribe for print/digital access via https://bit.ly/3DcPaAv
Login to comment
Comments
Güntürk Üstün - 07/12/2022 21:47
It is an undeniable fact that climate change is causing more frequent and extreme weather conditions, which increasingly affects the railway’s ability to run safely and on time. The effect of improving workers’ knowledge on how to counteract these risks, will allow resilience to be built into the way that in which railway assets are designed, built, operated, and maintained. That in turn will be important in keeping the railway running in adverse conditions. Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Güntürk Üstün - 07/12/2022 21:47
Network Rail has committed to running a safe, affordable and more reliable service for passengers during adverse and extreme weather as a key pillar of its’ wide-reaching Environmental Sustainability strategy. NR's innovative Weather Academy team was set up following recommendations from world-renowned meteorology expert Dame Julia Slingo, Professor Paul Davies from the Meteorological Office, and Professor Hayley Fowler from Newcastle University on ways in which the railway could better manage weather and climate risk. O extreme weather conditions, calm down a little! Dr. Güntürk Üstün