Institution news
Andrew explained his role and involvement with regards to the seminar, critical engineering challenges and what he is looking forward to at the Innovating Wheelsets 2020 live online event.
Q: Could you tell us a bit more about your role, as it relates to Wheelsets?
Andrew James (AJ): In my current role as Engineering Manager at Avanti West Coast, I am pleased to say that wheelsets are extremely well managed by the two Train Service Providers that we contract with. In my role as Chair of the RSSB V/T-SIC Wheelset Management Group, I aim to support the Group in understanding how members can safely reduce the life cycle costs of these safety critical components in the railway industry.
Q: What are the key technical priorities which the railway industry must consider when making changes to wheelset design, operation, and maintenance?
AJ: Key technical priorities are continued safe operation, allied with the same or ideally a reduced life cycle cost, when considering any changes to wheelset design, operation, and maintenance. Fortunately, in the UK we are extremely well supported with any changes, by the work of the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) with the suite of Railway Group and Industry Standards that they produce and the Research Projects that they manage. There’s also considerable expertise within the wheelset supply industry and academia, to support these changes.
Q: Why do you think it is important for industry experts to come together to discuss these challenges?
AJ: It’s extremely important for industry experts to come together, to share ‘best practice’ and learn about new methods and techniques for managing the continued safe operation of railway wheelsets, whilst reducing the life cycle cost and thus improving the sustainability of this critical component. The Innovating Wheelsets seminar provides just the opportunity for delegates to do that.
Q: Have you been involved in any particularly relevant projects recently?
AJ: Yes, I am very pleased to support the RSSB Research Project into improving wheelset coating systems, which is just getting underway. This project is being led by the Wheelset Management Group and follows a number of ‘National Incident Reports’ where the existing coating systems have not performed, as expected.
Q: What are you hoping to address with your presentation at the Innovating Wheelsets seminar?
AJ: I’m hoping to further increase the industries awareness of the Wheelset Management Group, in terms of the wheelset components that it covers, who its members are, what sorts of research projects it manages and how anyone interested can join the Group.
Q: Are there any other speakers or topics which you are looking forward to?
AJ: I think that the event contains some great speakers and topics, but I am particularly looking forward to the Tuesday sessions on ‘GOTCHA’ and ‘Caring for the Contact Patch’. These support the aim of reducing the wheelset’s life cycle cost and therefore will be of benefit to all wheelset users.
The Innovating Wheelsets seminar will be taking place live online on 19-20 October 2020.
Join this seminar to:
- Recognise effective methods of performance management for a modern wheelset
- Learn how to better manage wheelset maintenance from practical examples
- Understand the lifecycle challenges of wheelsets and identify controls and technologies that can provide benefit
To book your place, please visit www.imeche.org/wheelsets.