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Monday 24 Sep 2012

NETWORK RAIL INNOVATION RECOGNISED AT NATIONAL RAIL AWARDS

Region & Route:

National

Closer working with operators and suppliers brings rewards to Network Rail

Network Rail and its partners were recognised with seven awards and two commendations at the 2012 National Rail Awards last week (September 20).

Held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, the awards are judged by a range of current and former senior figures from within the industry.

David Higgins, Network Rail chief executive, said: “The National Rail Awards were a very successful night for Network Rail and we received a number of awards, particularly those reflecting partnerships with operators and contractors. This is a time of great investment and innovation in the railway industry and the awards have shown how we have successfully risen to this challenge. More and more people are using our network and by investing and applying new technology and working ever closer with operators and suppliers we can continue to improve our service while also reducing the cost to the taxpayer.”

Hosted by BBC news reader Fiona Bruce, the evening saw Network Rail rewarded for a series of different projects from across the country, some of which are familiar to passengers – others less so.

The awards were:

Civil engineering achievement of the year
Winners: Network Rail and Balfour Beatty major civil engineering for Blackfriars station and bridge redevelopment.

This project saw the original Blackfriars station demolished and replaced with a new structure stretching across the Thames on a newly-widened bridge. Tube trains continued to run through the underground station under a shield.

Judges’ special award: Network Rail and Balfour Beatty for the Forth Bridge restoration

The Forth Bridge will no longer need to be constantly repainted thanks to this restoration, using paint that will last for 20 years.

Innovation of the year

Winners: Network Rail and Omnicom Engineering for plain line pattern recognition

Plain Line Pattern Recognition will change the way Network Rail inspects the nation’s railway, using a video of the track and powerful software to detect faults and components.

Safety award

Winners: Network Rail, East Midlands Trains and First Capital Connect for East Midlands route joint safety improvement plan.

All operators have their own safety plans and on the East Midlands route they have joined with Network Rail to create a joint document to encompass all aspects of the railway and what each party can do to help improve standards.

Project of the year

Winner: Network Rail Infrastructure Projects for King’s Cross station redevelopment plan

One of the nation’s most iconic new buildings, the new King’s Cross western concourse, has taken over as the station’s main public space.

Highly commended: Network Rail Thameslink programme

Outstanding teamwork award

Winners: Network Rail and Southeastern for East Kent resignalling project

A two-year project was completed by January 2012, to resignal more than 60 miles of railway in East Kent, while keeping passenger disruption to a minimum. Network Rail installed 188 signals, 80 sets of points and a new level crossing on the routes from Sittingbourne to Minster via Ramsgate and Faversham to Buckland Junction (near Kearsney) via Canterbury East.

Highly commended: Network Rail Western resignalling renewals team

Stations
Judges’ special award: to St Pancras International/High Speed 1

Operated by Network Rail, and owned by HS1, High Speed 1 is the country’s most reliable railway, serving its most famous station, and proved its worth during the Olympics.

A full list of the awards and winners can be found at www.natrailawards.co.uk