Rail management, performance and engineering specialist joins IPEX
IPEX Consulting is delighted to announce that Gavin Beattie has joined its growing team as a principal consultant. Having started his railway journey on the Interfleet Technology graduate scheme, Gavin has continued to develop his career with experience in the operational railway working for several train operating companies including Wessex Trains and National Express East […]
The internal Tetris: a kernel solution
Introduction In common with any complex system our railways must balance multiple tensions between competing requirements and as the social, economic and political environment alters different tensions will come to the fore. One such tension exists between the requirement for more on-train passenger-carrying capacity – seated and total – and the expectations of passengers upon […]
Putting the spring back in the seat of the passenger
Introduction Following on from IPEX’s industry insight introducing the concept of height adjustable seats to ensure comfort, a journalist contacted IPEX for an article being written for the Sunday Times. The article duly appeared “Passengers left in pain by trains’ ‘concrete’ seats” (subscription required). However, the article did not fully develop the reasons that led […]
Experienced railway engineer and technical advisor joins IPEX
IPEX Consulting is delighted to announce that Luke Foy has joined the company as a managing consultant. Having joined Transport for London’s (TfL) graduate scheme, Luke developed his career in railway vehicle engineering for London Underground successfully becoming a chartered engineer and Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). While at TfL, Luke led […]
Reducing the damage caused by freight train derailments
Introduction Every year there are a number of derailments on our railways; most not getting any media coverage. This is no surprise as a train carrying stone that falls off is not very newsworthy particularly if it occurs, as many do, on a freight only line. However, if a freight train derails on the mainline […]
Are you sitting comfortably?
Introduction In recent years, many trains have been introduced with seats that are generally considered less comfortable than the seats on the trains they replace. Measure of seat comfort has always been a difficult aspect of train specification, and a common solution to the problem has been not to write anything at all. This has […]
Always on call
Introduction As a regular traveller by rail, as I slip off into some daydream, I often wonder what I would do if there was a serious incident on the train. In the circumstances what would I do? I am a railwayman. I used to hold personal track safety (PTS) certification although I no longer do. […]
Power to the people
Introduction In this rapidly changing environment that we live in, the railways are sometimes seen as conservative. This is true and is a result of longevity. A multiple unit will be designed to last for 35 years. A lot can happen in 35 years. 35 years ago, it was 1982. Margaret Thatcher was in power; […]
