Transport Associates' Network

Selected Achievements

• Nigel has worked closely with major UK consultancies on assignments in the UK, most recently in 2007-9 as rail operations advisor in the development of proposals to better serve Heathrow airport. This has involved specification of services and rolling stock for option assessment, input of operations data to demand and cost modelling, consideration of the results of analysis and modelling and production of reports. A series of presentations and workshops have been held with BAA and other stakeholders.
• He has provided operations advice to a major UK passenger train operator in the development of the TOC’s HLOS proposals. This includes identification of the opportunity to deploy additional rolling stock to reduce crowding, development of options for rolling stock deployment, briefing diagrammers, reviewing diagram proposals, input to the appraisal of the business case and writing up these elements of the proposal to government.
• Nigel has been very involved in helping UK passenger rail train operators improve their punctuality performance. For one operator he led a service control review, leading to the identification of a comprehensive package of improvements which are now being implemented.
• For another train operating company he led the functional reviews of readiness for a major timetable change and subsequently has advised on performance improvements. These exercises have involved detailed review and identification of improvements to timetable plans, rolling stock diagrams, fleet depot maintenance, stabling and movements plans, and train crew diagrams. The objective of the reviews has been to ensure the efficiency of the service plans, provision of adequate capacity to accommodate passengers, effective communications with staff and customers, readiness of the company’s departments to deliver the new plans and ability of the overall plan to perform at high levels of punctuality and reliability.
• During 2006/7 Nigel was the Operations functional leader for a major TOC-owning group in the development of their bids for the UK Cross Country, East Midlands and East Coast franchises. The work involved leading the development of timetables, capacity plans, creation of rolling stock diagrams and associated information, performance modelling, meetings with Network Rail and DfT, input to revenue and cost modelling.
• During 2006, he was client’s representative in a major study sponsored by a major train operating company and DfT into means to achieve short and medium term capacity improvements on commuter services into a London terminal. The recommendations from this study are now being implemented.
• He acted for the UK Strategic Rail Authority with Cross London Rail Links in the detailed development of the operating plan for London's East – West Crossrail.
• He has provided advice to GMPTE on both day-to-day and network enhancement operational matters on Manchester Metrolink light rail. This included the specification of services and other customer-facing outputs for the operating concession invitation to tender, briefings to bidders during the tendering process and subsequent bid evaluation.
• Nigel supported TfL in the operational evaluation of tenders for the passenger train operating company to run the London Rail Concession.
• Between 1998 and 2003 Nigel led, for OPRAF and then SRA, their studies into means to improve rail surface access to airports. Representing OPRAF and SRA with aviation interests, the rail industry and government, he project managed studies into the competitive position of rail and air and the potential for new rail links to airports. These included the studies for new rail inks at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports. The results were published as the UK Aviation White Paper and projects are moving into implementation.
• During 2002 he was project manager for the development and establishment of the UK Strategic Rail Authority's Capacity Utilisation Policy. The application of the approach now provides a strategic framework for decisions to be made about the best use of the network’s capacity. The policy is now being applied on the national rail network through the series of Route Utilisation Strategies.
• From 1993 to 1998, Nigel was involved in developing and applying the new operational arrangements in the privatised railway, as a senior manager in BR InterCity and then in Operations in a train operating company. In the train operating company he was responsible for developing the plans for services, negotiating the access contracts, gaining regulatory approval, introducing the service and running it punctually.