Railway Division releases Annual Report

Read highlights from the Railway Division's Annual Report 2015-16, including information on events, young member activities and political engagement.

In the report, Chris Kinchin-Smith, Chair of the Railway Division, introduces the Division’s key challenges, including using resources to the best advantage. He outlines how doing so will benefit members of the Institution, members of other Professional Engineering Institutions, non-members of railway disciplines and universities.

He also mentions other priorities, such as supporting the development and implementation of the emerging national Railway Skills Strategy, promoting a vision for Britain’s railways, embedding a structure of Key Performance Indicators for the Railway Division and attempting to resolve some of the unintended consequences of the Institution’s reorganisation in January 2014.

The report covers the following areas:

• Chair’s introduction

  Chris Kinchin-Smith introduces himself as chair and summarises the Railway Division’s challenges.

• The Institution’s objectives based on the attributes of a learned society

  For the first time, the report has been structured to reflect the objectives that have been agreed for all of the Institution’s Divisions and Groups.

• Engagement via events

  Events include those organised by the Railway Division’s Regional Centres, Railway Division Young Members’ activities, lectures held at Birdcage Walk, seminars and conferences, the Annual Luncheon and the Railway Challenge.

• Emerging technologies and technical resources

  Includes information on the new ‘Emerging Technologies and Innovation Matrix’, and the Railway Division’s proposal to provide Railway Division lectures in PDF format to the Institution library.

• International activity

  Includes options for additional international Railway Division activities.

• Partnerships and industry links

  The Railway Division is required to establish links with partners to increase impact.

• Campaigns, current affairs and government

  The Railway Division was involved with various political campaigns in 2015 and 2016, which provided a proactive and reactive voice on current affairs.

• Recognising achievement through prizes and awards

  Prizes were awarded to five papers during 2015 and 2016.

• Promoting professional development of members

  The well-established railway-related workshops initiated by the Railway Division have been held up as a model for other Divisions and Groups.

• Being business like

  This section includes financial results and updates on changes since the reorganisation of the Institution.

• The Railway Industry’s skills challenges

  The Railway Industry faces the challenge of a high level of capital investment in new infrastructure and rolling stock at a time when experienced staff in the industry are approaching retirement.

• The Railway Division Board

  Includes information on the composition of the present Railway Division Board.

Read the Railway Division’s Annual Report.