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OCTOBER 2015 THE MAGAZINE FOR OUR PEOPLE Also... Borders Railway – the passengers’ view Suicide prevention training is saving lives A light touch at Manchester and Birmingham For all seasons The first Mobile Maintenance Train arrives on the network
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Network October 2015

Jul 23, 2016

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Page 1: Network October 2015

OctOBER 2015thE magazinE fOR OuR pEOplE

Also...Borders Railway – the passengers’ view

Suicide prevention training is saving livesA light touch at Manchester and Birmingham

For all seasons

the first mobile

maintenance

train arrives on

the network

Page 2: Network October 2015

2network / october 2015

nEw ExpEnsEs pOlicyChanges to Network Rail’s business and travel expenses policy came into effect on 5 October.

The policy applies to the majority of Network Rail people, with the exception of maintenance colleagues who are on former IMC contracts.

Included in the policy are changes to meal allowances, rail travel and mileage rates.

Ian Iceton, director of human resources, said: “The revised expenses policy has been strengthened to ensure people are spending taxpayers’ money wisely, being cost conscious and safer when they travel on company business.”Full policy documents are available on Connect.

October 2015

You can read Network in print or online at http://goo.gl/IgeiHa

Designed bybeetroot.co.uk

Get in tOUCHinternal.communications @networkrail.co.uk

will stockton,signaller, london Victoria

100% Network is a carbon neutral publication printed on Cocoon Silk (130gsm) 100% recycled stock. Do your bit and recycle Network.

Contributor’s welcome

What’s making news across the business

network knowledge

On the cover: Corey White, acting Mobile Maintenance Train (MMT) supervisor, stands inside the extendable work area of the new MMT. Read the full story on pages 10 to 13.

caring for our customers and local communities is a vital part of what we do and in this issue we look at how the work our people do really makes a difference.

Using payroll giving, I’m one of many people across the company who donate to a charity and, on page 18, I explain why and just how easy it is to do.

the borders railway has been unveiled and we find out what it means to locals along the route on pages four to five.

with the rugby world cup well under way we speak to travel champions who are giving up their time to help fans get to the games on pages seven to nine, while on pages 10 to 13 you can find out how the first of our new Mobile Maintenance trains will help network maintenance be faster and safer.

Meanwhile on pages 16 and 17 we put Manchester Victoria and birmingham new Street’s transformations in the spotlight and there’s news from around the network on page 19.

Ethics tRaining sEt tO gO liVE From Monday 19 October, every person at Network Rail will be required to undergo new ethics training.

A downloadable operational briefing and an e-learning package have been developed to ensure all staff can access the training. These explore relevant scenarios and have been successfully tested by National Supply Chain and the Anglia route.

Mark Farrow, head of transparency and ethic, said: “As a business we have a moral and ethical responsibility to keep people safe, whether that be passengers, the public or our workforce.”

The training is available on Oracle E-Business suite. Mangers who will be completing the operational briefing should begin to identify the most appropriate forum to share this with their team. For more information see connect/communities/ethics/default.aspx or email [email protected]

Page 3: Network October 2015

3network / october 2015

“The information security team in Group Business Services has run an experiment to see how our people would respond to a phishing email.

“Fraudsters use phishing scams to attempt to get your sensitive information, like bank details. We took a real phishing email claiming to be from HMRC and repurposed it, safely taking control of the links so we could see how people responded.

“We sent nearly 16,000 emails to randomly-selected people and more than 20 per cent clicked on the links. If the emails were actually malicious we could be looking at more than 3,000 computers infected with a virus.

“Three per cent of our random recipients reported the emails to us. A handful of people replied to the email. We will likely send other emails in the future and I’d love to see that click rate fall each time we do it.”October is National Cyber Awareness Month. Read more on Connect.

in the spotlightDan Biggs, operational security manager, has recently run a simulated phishing scam to highlight online threats

Read more from page seven

ElEctRificatiOn wORks tO REsumEWork to electrify TransPennine and Midland Mainline railways is to continue under plans announced as part of Sir Peter Hendy’s work to reset Network Rail’s upgrade programme.

Sir Peter, chair of Network Rail, outlined to Patrick McLoughlin, secretary of state for transport, how the work could continue and was then asked to resume it.

Sir Peter said: “The temporary pause in the programme has given us the space to develop a better plan for passengers.

“People can expect more services and faster journeys. We face some difficult challenges, and there is more work still to do, but the Secretary of State’s decision means we can now move forward with our plans to electrify TransPennine and Midland Mainline.”

Working with the Department for Transport (DfT) and Rail North, Network Rail is to create a new plan for electrification of the TransPennine

line to deliver faster journey times and more capacity between Manchester, Leeds and York.

Work to electrify the Midland Mainline will also recommence, with Sir Peter proposing electrification of the line north of Bedford to Kettering and Corby by 2019 and the line north of Kettering to Leicester, Derby/Nottingham and Sheffield by 2023.

scOREcaRD taRgEts fOR 2015-16Network Rail has agreed new and revised performance targets for 2015-16 – the second year of Control Period 5.

Mark Carne, chief executive, said: “We have now agreed realistic targets with the Department for Transport (DfT) that will deliver a service our passengers deserve. As you know, the scorecard provides clear line of sight on our performance and the associated performance incentives for all staff.

“There are a few changes to the scorecard this year. Where we performed well in 2014/15, the first year of this control period, targets have been increased to reflect our ambition to be better every day. Examples include freight performance, the number of Close Calls raised, the composite reliability index and setting an even lower level of train accident risk.

“Some other targets have had to be reset to more realistic levels given our experience in the first year of CP5.

To demonstrate our determination to deliver to these new targets, we have agreed with the DfT that if our overall scorecard performance falls below 20 per cent, nobody will receive a performance incentive for 2015/16. Given recent performance and the level of scrutiny we are under, I hope you can see why this is appropriate.”You can see more on how Network Rail is performing against its targets on Connect and Connect Mobile.

Page 4: Network October 2015

4network / october 2015

Borders Railway

The opening of the Borders Railway could be cause for celebration just for reuniting

rural communities along the picturesque route between Edinburgh, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.

Dig a little deeper though and the prospects for regeneration and economic growth are substantial, as David Parker, leader of Scottish Borders Council, explained: “The return of the railway to the Scottish Borders offers

significant economic opportunities and opens up the area even further as a fantastic place to live, work and visit.

“The Borders Railway Prospectus is aimed at driving inward investment along the route and hopefully businesses will recognise the new opportunities that the railway offers, and there are numerous development sites available for housing, industrial and leisure use along the railway corridor.”

the Borders Railway route boasts some of Britain’s best scenery

BORDeR FORCe

new line, new stations, new opportunities – scotland’s Borders Railway is set to bring growth and

regeneration to the area

Page 5: Network October 2015

5network / october 2015

A trip along the line…

Eskbank: alison fleming“I work in Edinburgh and travelling to and from Eskbank by car used to be a pain,” explained Alison.

“Parking is so expensive in the city and the bus makes me travel sick. Being able to get the train to work is so much easier for me as a commuter.

“I haven’t used it for the social side of things yet but I plan to work my way along the route towards Tweedbank and explore the Borders.”

newtongrange: gillian Rankin, marketing and events manager, national mining museum scotland“It’s always been difficult getting people here from Edinburgh but now they can travel right to our doorstep in just under 30 minutes.

“We’ve had our first school group from the Borders travelling up by train with 27 children and four teachers. This clearly shows the opportunities being created already – both for education and for leisure and business.

“The new Borders Railway is a fantastic opportunity for us to build on our reputation, grow visitor numbers and promote Midlothian as a tourism destination.”

tweedbank: paula Dolan, conductor, scotRail “There’s been so much enthusiasm for the railway since it opened and the line is proving to be a real benefit. Passengers are saying how they are starting to commute to work, how they are exploring the Borders and that local businesses are starting to pick up with all the new visitors.

“It’s a great indication of just how much the local community is going to benefit from this railway.”

Network hopped on a train to find out what the Borders Railway means to passengers and the local community.

fast factsBorders Railway

Edinburgh to Tweedbank (Borders) in 55 minutes

30 miles long – the longest new domestic railway line to be opened in Britain for over 100 years

More than 100 development opportunities – housing, industrial, and leisure.

Edinburgh: tim Dodd from Eastbourne“I’ve come on holiday to discover more of Scotland. I’ve used the new line twice now – first on the steam train along the route which was fun and the scenery is breath-taking.

“Right now I am going back to Tweedbank to explore further up. If the line wasn’t here I would have to get the bus which would take about two hours. For people wanting a holiday to Scotland, the line is fantastic.”

Edinburgh waverley

tweedbank

galashiels

stow

gorebridge

newtongrange

Eskbank

shawfair

newcraighall

Brunstane

Phil Verster, ScotRail Alliance managing director“From start to finish, the Borders Railway project has been a huge success. I want to say a heartfelt thanks to every single one of you who’s been involved in delivering such a fantastic result. I’m really proud of what has been achieved and the prosperity that lies ahead for Scotland as a result of the Borders Railway.”

Page 6: Network October 2015

6network / october 2015

Borders Railway

it may have been her majesty the Queen’s big day, but that didn’t stop the Borders Railway stealing some of the headlines

It was business as usual for Queen Elizabeth II on the day she became Britain’s longest-

serving monarch. The Queen took the opportunity to open Britain’s newest railway in the Borders.

In the weeks leading up to the official opening of the Borders Railway, the excitement of the event saw the project claiming more and more column inches in the regional and national press.

Here, Network looks at just some of the stories that made it on television, online and in print...

golden ticketThe regional press shone a light on the first passenger services on the Borders Railway. The Southern Reporter hailed the “golden day” that saw 1,600 golden ticket holders get the chance to ride along the new route for the first time.

Golden tickets were given to those who had supported the line’s construction and those from communities set to benefit from the new route.

Royal approvalThe national papers had a field day as the Queen arrived in the royal carriage to officially open the line. The Scottish Sun ran with “Long to train over us”, while the Metro declared it was “full steam ahead” for the queen after 63 years on the throne.

Borders on BreakfastThe BBC and other broadcasters ran video features about the railway, from timelapse videos of the entire route to interviews with local people and the orange army who helped deliver the project.

On the day of the official opening, before the Queen arrived, BBC Breakfast dedicated a special segment to the railway, with live reports from stations along the route. n

media monitor

fast factsBorders Railway

Within 24 hours of the Borders Railway officially opening there were 3,128 articles around the world that referenced the project

Stories ran in Britain in local and national media and in the New York Times, New Zealand Herald, the International Business Times, Newsweek and USA Today.

Page 7: Network October 2015

7network / october 2015

Rugby World Cup

network Rail colleagues have been lending a hand at stations across the network for the Rugby world cup

WORLD CHAMPiOnS

Page 8: Network October 2015

8network / october 2015

“I’m happy to take part and play a role in getting passengers to where they need to be.

“Network Rail does a fine job of helping when there’s something like this happening and it’s very forward-thinking with quite a lot of planning gone into it.”

sid ali, customer manager, south East “I decided to get involved although I’m actually not a

rugby fan. I was keen to help Network Rail to make a good impression.

“I was a travel champion during the Olympics – Network Rail was really at the heart of things and the feedback from the public was superb. It’s great to try and replicate this with the world cup.”

travel champions were dressed in pink tabards and foam fingers to stand out from the crowd and help passengers

fast factsRugby World Cup

48 matches across six weeks

More than 300 Network Rail volunteers

Up to 466,000 international passengers expected.

Rugby World Cup(continued)

Twenty teams, 11 cities, millions of fans – the 2015 Rugby World Cup is in full swing.

With ticket sales of nearly 2.5 million, Network Rail spent months preparing to manage the additional passenger volume the tournament has brought to the network.

The key factor in its plan: people. Behind the scenes, signallers, maintenance teams, planners and office-based staff are all playing their part in keeping people moving. More than 300 Network Rail people from across the business have volunteered to be at stations on match days to point passengers in the right direction.

So why are people so eager to give up their own time to help the fans?

ashton whiteman, shift station manager, cannon street station“I’m not much of a rugby

follower but with all the hype around the world cup, it’s hard to miss it so I was keen to get involved.

“My two boys are excited about it as there’s quite a lot going on at their school about the competition so I thought it was a good idea to do what I could to help.

“Network Rail can be brilliant when it comes to stuff like this. It’s really admirable that it goes to such lengths to provide extra support when there are more passengers.”

angus mcconchie, project sponsor“I’m an ex-player myself and have been actively

involved in coaching at club level and each of my children currently plays at different levels.

Page 9: Network October 2015

9network / october 2015

let the games beginThe opening game between England and Fiji saw thousands of fans pass through Waterloo and Twickenham stations on 18 September. Network stopped by to chat to volunteers and fans making their way to the game.

kyle adams, senior station capacity planner“I wanted to be a part of such a big event; I’ve worked in

this station for two years and know every exit, putting me in a great position to help people. The atmosphere is buzzing and it’s good to be here to see the day-to-day goings on of a station rather than being in the office.

“I’ve had people coming up to me asking when the next train is and whether they can use their oyster card. I’ve got another weekend in October here at Waterloo and I’m looking forward to that.”

Siblings Dora and Charles Coventry, along with Charles’ girlfriend Lydia Kerridge (pictured above), were enjoying every minute. Charles said: “We’re really excited about the game. Our family used to live in Fiji so there are some slight divided loyalties but we’re pretty sure England will get the win.”

Dora added: “There’s a real positive atmosphere here and it’s good to see people helping out at the station.

“We’re also half Kiwi which puts us in an interesting position regarding the rest of the tournament.”

cookie tamani, fiji fan “The trip here was good and we are very excited about tonight and to see Fiji play.

It’s very nice to see people from all over the world here in their countries’ colours and so happy. We spoke to a person in pink and they were friendly and got us to our train.”

Nick McClements from Essex“The people in the ‘here to help’ pink tabards are really helpful and I think it’s really added to the excitement.”

Paul McMahon, acting route managing director – Wales“Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to help fans across the network, the response has been fantastic and your efforts are helping people get to and from games safely. Every one of us has a part to play in the success of this tournament. If you know someone who is going to a game, remind them to plan ahead to beat the rugby crowds and plan a safe journey home.”

Page 10: Network October 2015

10network / october 2015

Safety and performance

Page 11: Network October 2015

11network / october 2015

RevOLUtiOn FROM tHe

tRACk BeDthe first mobile maintenance train is now on the network and promises a maintenance revolution

It’s a scenario many front line staff will be all too familiar with. It’s 03:00, rain is coming down

horizontally, it’s way below freezing and you’re wrestling with a troublesome piece of maintenance work with the clock ticking towards having to hand back possession. There’s not even the prospect of a decent cup of tea anytime soon.

The latest investment in maintenance will help to make all of this a thing of the past, helping to revolutionise the way Network Rail engineers work on track.

The first Mobile Maintenance Train (MMT) recently arrived from the manufacturers Robel in Germany and has been described as a ‘depot on wheels’, with everything staff need to repair and maintain on site.

Instead of teams travelling by road, loading up equipment into vans and then carrying them to the site, the MMT will simply transport the teams and gear to where the work needs to be done.

On board there are two built-in two-tonne hoists to move heavy equipment and stores to carry all the tools and supplies the engineers need. Plus, there’s a welfare area with toilet and kitchen for that all important cup of tea.

But perhaps the most important feature is the extendable work area, which enables track workers to access the track below, effectively making it feel like they are working inside with cover, floodlighting and – most importantly – protection from passing trains.

Page 12: Network October 2015

12network / october 2015

Safety and performance(continued)

fast factsMMT

The train is made up of a traction and supply unit, an intermediate wagon and a work unit

The work unit acts as a protected work area offering shelter from the weather and the dangers of trains operating on the adjacent track

The traction and supply unit (TSU) is a traction vehicle, staff accommodation and electrical supply unit rolled into one – it has a workshop, mess room and a toilet

The intermediate wagon has a materials store where all of the tools and materials will be transported. They are loaded and unloaded through platforms on both sides of the train

Two cranes run along the roof of the intermediate and work units, each able to lift 2.5 tonnes of materials.

andy keens, project engineer “It’s no exaggeration to say this will revolutionise the way

we do maintenance on the railways. In terms of deployment of staff, the speed of set up, the delivery of work, the work environment, all sorts of factors.

“Not only does it offer an excellent barrier from trains but also protection from foul weather through the winter, it’s a much better environment to work in. It’s well illuminated and has fantastic lighting all the way through. It’s like the brightest day on the darkest night.

“You can do a much better job when you’re in a better environment.”

corey white, acting mmt supervisor “This particular MMT will be used purely for

maintenance. On an average shift we might be going out doing padding, changing broken concrete sleepers, hot and cold weather preparation – there’s a whole host of different tasks we carry out which is why the flexibility the MMT offers is so important.

“From a front line point of view, the welfare part of it is absolutely out of this world. We’re now travelling back and forth to sites on the train so that cuts out a lot of the fatigue risks.

using the mmt, engineers have transport to locations, access to tools and equipment and protection from the elements

“It provides a safe working area in all weathers and it means once we’ve finished the job we can have a proper cup of tea and use a proper loo. It’s the basics but that’s what keeps the team going.”

alex canizo, acting section manager for the mmt “I would describe it as a depot on wheels, it’s fantastic

to work with and will be a real step change for the way we do maintenance.

“I’ve worked on the track for most of my career and know that it can be pretty miserable at times.

“It creates a better environment for staff to work in. You have mess facilities, toilets, stores and the work area all in one location, which is great.

“Plus there are obvious improvements in safety and lighting, which is another added benefit.”

craig mathys, programme manager “There are two key benefits to the MMT. The first is

safety and health and welfare for the staff. It provides a safe environment for staff to work, safe from passing trains and reducing the risk of manual handling because of the specialist lifting equipment. And having the mess facilities available is a huge benefit for the welfare of the engineers.

Page 13: Network October 2015

13network / october 2015

“Secondly, from a productivity and efficiency of work perspective, it allows us to get staff to site more quickly, assists them in terms of the mechanisation and we can compress more work into a shorter period of time.”

Richard anderson, colas Rail joiner “I work with the Network Rail team to make sure everything works on the MMT and it’s ready to go out on jobs. We’ve

been out a few times in the first few weeks, primarily testing and making sure everything works as it should.

“The feedback from the engineers has been brilliant. It’s like working inside and I imagine it’ll be a bit easier for some of them to drag themselves from their bed when the weather is awful,

the first mmt is based in Darlington.the second will be stationed at paddock wood in kent

knowing they won’t be standing around in it all night.”

what’s next for the mmts?By the end of 2015 there will be three MMTs on the network, with eight in total.

The first MMT will be based at Darlington with the second, based at Paddock Wood in Kent, arriving in October and the third, based at Derby, in December. The remaining five will be stationed at Woking, Retford, Romford, Peterborough and Horsham.

It is intended that each will have their own specialisms and are being manufactured to a set specification in order to fit the tasks they will do. The Paddock Wood MMT, for example, will be dedicated to identifying rail defects. n

Page 14: Network October 2015

14network / october 2015

Suicide prevention

paul stanford quickly turned from commuter to hero after noticing a man acting out of the ordinary on a train

‘‘�I�got�up�out�of�my�seat�and�strode�through�the�carrIages�–��I�couldn’t�let�thIs�man�kIll�hImself’’

Page 15: Network October 2015

15network / october 2015

It was a day like any other, Paul Stanford, head of programme management, had finished a

meeting and boarded his train home. “I caught the 20:45 from Paddington,”

said Paul. “I sat down and soon became aware of a man sitting across the aisle from me who looked a bit tearful and flustered. He was sat alone but a lady and man were sat just behind him.

“The train manager checked if he was OK and I didn’t think much more of it at the time.

“As we approached a station, the man stood up and walked through the carriage. He left his phone, glasses, wallet and watch on the table. At that point the man in the seat behind leant forward to keep the items safe. His bemusement that somebody would be trusting enough to leave their belongings unattended on a busy train turned to horror when he discovered a suicide note.”

into action“As soon as I heard the words ‘suicide note’ I got up out of my seat and strode through the carriages. I thought ‘I can’t let this man kill himself’.

“I made it right to the back of the train and there he was stood looking out of the window, which he had opened as far as it would go.

“He looked at me and said: ‘leave me alone’. I told him who I was and who I worked for and simply said: ‘you look distressed, can I help you?’”

“‘You wouldn’t understand’, he said, but I encouraged him to open up by explaining that I myself was in a similar place some years ago. I too contemplated suicide but I know there is help out there because I got it.”

help at hand“The train manager had notified the British Transport Police of the incident while I was talking to the man. She then came down to see if she could help at all. By this point, I had my arm around the man and we were talking.

“The police boarded the train and I asked them what would happen next. They reassured me he wouldn’t be left alone.

“I got back on the train and was blown away by what people had to say. You sometimes hear of people saying awful things about people who take

their lives on the railway. Perhaps it’s because people saw this man and it was more real to them, but they were all concerned about his welfare. It was very heart-warming.”

confident to intervene “I know we have an abundance of suicide prevention training tools here at Network Rail, which are excellent, but I hadn’t had a chance to get involved with them when this happened. I felt confident to intervene that night and I’ll forever be glad I did.

“I spoke to the police the next day as the incident had shaken me. I wanted to know the man was OK. The police couldn’t give me any detailed information but told me he received medical attention and was taken home to his family.

“I am no hero. I know there are many people at Network Rail who have done similar things and helped to save lives, and I am sure it will continue.

“Our partnership with Samaritans is helping us do even more to reduce suicides on the railways and we can’t underestimate the power and importance of this work.

“You can’t put a price on equipping people with the tools to step in and save a life.” n

FinD OUt MOReRead more about Network Rail’s partnership with Samaritans and how it is working to save lives at connect/communities/suicide-prevention/default.aspx

in numBERs

In 2014-15 there were 293 suicides or suspected suicides on the railway, which accounts for 4.5 per cent of all suicides in Britain

There were 850 lifesaving interventions made over the same period.

Earlier this year Network Rail launched the Suicide Prevention and Support Learning Tool, designed to quickly increase the number of people able to intervene in suicides on the

Learning tool

railway. The tool included 10 short videos. For people short on time, it is recommended that the ‘Signals’ video – which has been shortlisted for a Royal Television

Society award – and the briefing video are viewed. To date, around 7,000 rail staff have used the tool. The videos can be downloaded at nspsglearningtool.co.uk

last month network Rail and samaritans announced that lifesaving interventions from rail staff had saved 1,000 lives and training for people on the railway had hit 10,000. find out more on connect

Page 16: Network October 2015

16network / october 2015

Station upgrades

Let tHeRe Be LiGHt

Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene – or ETFE for short – might be a mouthful, but it’s also

proving to be an eye-opener for passengers.

This fluorine-based self-cleaning plastic is the base material for the

breathtaking new roofs at Manchester Victoria and Birmingham New Street.

Both stations were once loathed by passengers for their dark, uninviting atmosphere. But how do they stack up now, following their transformations?

Page 17: Network October 2015

17network / october 2015

FinD OUt MOReRead about these and other station projects on Connect

fast factsManchester

The roof is made up of 410 ETFE cushions supported by 15 giant ribs – fabricated near to the site – of which the longest is 96 metres from end to end

garuda farida yasmin, northern Rail dispatcher“I live locally and can remember just how awful

Manchester Victoria used to be. When I came to work here more recently, I couldn’t believe the difference the roof has made.

“It lets natural light in and that seems to make it seem like we’re outside all the time and makes it feel like we’ve a lot more space.”

Russell goodwin, passenger“The new roof has basically transformed the station from

something that was universally hated into this, which is a world away.

“Everyone knows the sun is generally shining in Manchester, so it basically floods into the station and gives it a light, airy feel. Plus, they’ve done a great job restoring the old bits of the station. I’m a big fan.”

Daniel noon, customer service assistant “It’s taken five years to get Birmingham New Street to

this stage and I think everyone agrees it’s been worth it.

“Coming to work in a building site for the last few years hasn’t always been easy, but with the new station with the new roof you feel proud to come to work.

“The roof is what’s really made the difference. It’s literally brought light into what was before a dark, depressing place.”

steve conte, passenger“It’s brilliant – the whole place looks so modern and light. I’m travelling home to London so

this is the first I’ve seen of the station.“It’s fantastic. The roof is the main

attraction for me, it looks so futuristic and it gives it the feeling of being in a modern airport as there’s just so much natural light in here.”

manchester Victoria Birmingham new street

fast factsBirmingham

Following the roof’s construction, a piece of machinery nicknamed the ‘mega muncher’ was used to demolish the former Pallasades shopping centre and concourse ceiling with 6,000 tonnes of concrete removed in total

Page 18: Network October 2015

18network / october 2015

Every pay day, more than £42,000 of Network Rail employees’ hard-earned money

goes to charities across the UK as they donate through payroll giving.

The government-backed scheme enables people to set up tax-free donations direct from their pay to a local or national charity of their choice. The donation amount and charity can be changed at any time.

More than 4,500 people are doing it at Network Rail and Will Stockton, signaller, is one of them. He said: “My chosen charity is Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). It raises awareness of sudden cardiac deaths in people aged 18-30. It’s an important charity to me as my sister died of an undiagnosed heart condition nine years ago.”

Easy donating “I donate £10 from every pay cheque to CRY and have been doing this since April when one of the representatives came round to talk about payroll giving.

“The scheme gives me an easy and consistent way to donate and because the money is taken out straight away, it’s like you don’t miss it because it wasn’t there in the first place.

“I signed up while the representative was with me and it was simple and sorted within a matter of minutes – you just provide your details, nominate your chosen charity and the money comes out of your next pay cheque.

“It’s a great thing to do and I would urge others to find a charity that means a lot to them and donate whatever they can because it does make a difference.” n

Payroll giving

using payroll giving, will stockton is able to donate to a charity that means a great deal to him

fast facts

Payroll giving is a government-backed scheme where donations are taken directly from people’s gross pay, meaning a pound donation will only actually cost 80p, or only 60p for higher-rate taxpayers

At the end of April 2015, 4,730 people are giving money to charities through payroll giving – that’s more than 12 per cent of the workforce.

tAke PARtYou can find out more and sign up for charitable giving at connect/communities/charities/WaysToGive/PayrollGiving.aspx

Heartfelt DOnAtiOn

Page 19: Network October 2015

19network / october 2015

Have your say: Working for You

luke said: “Being part of the campaign is something i am really proud of. anything that raises awareness of what we do is worth it.”

Luke Ifill became the face of Network Rail recently on a fresh Check Before You Travel

campaign with the tagline ‘Working for You’. The approach aims to connect the travelling public to Network Rail people delivering important improvement work on the railway. But what do you think?

“The more we engage the travelling public in what we do, how we do it and why, and as long as it is put in layman’s terms, the more likely they are to understand what is going on and less likely to believe all the tosh put out by the media.”martin Jukes , london

“A simple message that makes a big impact. Great campaign.”lesley cahill, milton keynes

“This proactive engagement with the public is a great start, and putting the team that are doing the work on the front page gives a real tangible link. It’s more personable but could probably do with a follow up... ‘And this is what I did over the Bank Holiday’.”philip attersall, Reading

“Good stuff and good to see our teams getting the recognition for their herculean efforts in improving the network.”Joe hendry, manchester

network news

leeds: passengers at leeds station will benefit from increased space as plans to demolish three retail units to extend the concourse are under way. the work started on 28 september and will last for six weeks.

newport: children from newport primary school got the chance to become engineers for the day as people from network Rail and volunteers from other organisations helped them to construct a bridge.

stafford: tracks are being laid at norton Bridge by a specialist railway construction machine in the latest stage of network Rail’s £250m stafford area improvement works. a new 6.2-mile section of railway line and 11 new bridges are being built to create a flyover at norton Bridge and remove a bottleneck on the existing network.

uckfield: work to extend 12 station platforms between East sussex and kent has begun. the project will allow the stations to accommodate 10-coach trains to reduce crowding.

Page 20: Network October 2015

Your Voice matters

Your Voice 2015. It’s time to have your say.

Better every day

14 September – 16 October 2015

NET_10361713_YourVoice_PosterV2.indd 1 28/07/2015 14:11

Your Voice matters

Your Voice 2015. It’s time to have your say.

Better every day

14 September – 16 October 2015

NET_10361713_YourVoice_PosterV2.indd 1 28/07/2015 14:11

there’s still time to have your say. The Your Voice employee opinion survey is open until 16 October.

Your Voice matters

Your Voice 2015. It’s time to have your say.

Better every day

14 September – 16 October 2015

NET_10361713_YourVoice_PosterV2.indd 1 28/07/2015 14:11

find out more on connect/yourVoice