Institution news
He insists the honour is not a reflection of his personal achievements: “Nobody on the railway achieves anything on their own, so this honour is a tribute to the great teams I have been in and the amazing people I have worked with.
And it is this passion for railway engineering, and the people in it, that has made Cliff such a success.
We asked Cliff about the experience he has built up over 50 years in the industry, and why he thinks starting a career in railway engineering is one of the best choices a young engineer can make.
What makes a career in railway engineering so exciting?
The railway system includes all types of engineering and constantly delivers a supply of challenges. I have seen some phenomenal engineers make big technical and business decisions to meet the circumstances, - outstanding professionals with a real commitment towards the railway, and that has been the most notable part of my career.
You mention big decisions – what do you mean?
At the age of 30 I was the engineer responsible for opening a new depot for brand new high-speed trains in Bristol. That was a huge amount of responsibility to have at such a young age. Daily decisions on the safe running of the fleet in the face of emerging technical issues reflect the level of risk involved in the safe and efficient operation of a modern railway. These decisions become routine inside the operation, but demand significant professional judgement. Much later came involvement in the successful transfer our railway into the private sector.
You took on a lot of management responsibility at a young age. Is that still possible in today’s jobs market?
Absolutely, with growth of rail travel and intensity of operation at higher speeds, the engineering challenges have grown, not diminished. The risks have not gone away, but modern engineering solutions open up more routes into positions of responsibility. For example, the rise of software in controls and communication incorporates completely new branches of engineering to meet railway levels of safety and reliability, at a fraction of the costs in some other fields.
What about the rewards?
With a growing sector and a skill shortage, salaries are moving upwards. But the greater reward for me has been in job satisfaction. Seeing the trains you have designed, commissioned, maintained or operated safely take hundreds of thousands of people to work every day brings a special reward. Watching families and friends come together on the platform, knowing that travel makes markets and leisure accessible, all demonstrates the inherently worthwhile impact of railways on society and national economies. The variety of challenge and engineering involved adds interest and makes every day one of learning.
Your career has taken you all over the world. Are there many opportunities for travel in railway engineering?
There are huge opportunities for working abroad for several enduring reasons. Firstly there is the growth of rail applications all over the world as modern cities and economies demand their capacity for sustainable freight and passenger movements. Modern cities just do not work without railways. Secondly there is the emergence of a global supply chain making it quite normal for a train to be composed of parts from a dozen countries. Thirdly, excellent British railway engineering is valued round the world in project and safety management. This creates some great opportunities for working and learning overseas.
Charity work has been an important part of your career on the railways. Can you tell us a bit about the initiatives you have been involved in?
The industry needs skills and people, and when they come into it their needs have to be met. It has been a privilege to volunteer through the Institution and help create a learning base and professional home for railway engineers. One of the best things we provide is the Railway Challenge, a competition where teams build a locomotive that we then test to see which is the best. We are growing the competition, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone considering a career as a railway engineer as the means to demonstrate the points contained in this interview. A great way to try it out!
The Railway Mission provides chaplains into an industry where people are so important and we need to support them through problems at work or home. We are a caring community.
My MBE is the icing on my career cake and reflects the contribution of the Institution and the Railway Mission to a great railway system.