Rail Electrification: Rebuilding Confidence...60 seconds with Martin Elliott, Chief Technical Officer at Ricardo Rail

Ahead of the forthcoming seminar on rail electrification, we caught up with Martin Elliott, Chief Technical Officer at Ricardo Rail. Martin explained his role and involvement with regards to the seminar, critical engineering challenges, what he is looking forward to at the event and why it is important for industry professionals to attend.

Q: Briefly explain your role and involvement in the rail industry and electrification projects?

Martin Elliott (ME): As a senior engineering professional in the rail industry, I strongly believe that electrification is the only way to de-carbonise the railway. However, this will not happen overnight, so Ricardo Rail are supporting clients with a number of hybrid options to reduce emissions in city/station areas as well as improve overall fuel economy.

ME: Ultimately it has to be the cost of electrification, but developing a long term commitment and plan for electrification should positively impact on cost as will avoiding the current feast and famine approach to electrification that we seem to have currently.

Q: What is the most exciting development in this field at the moment, either within your company or in the industry in general?

ME: Hybridisation offers a short-term opportunity to resource emissions and save fuel, until the longer term electrification can be completed. Hybridisation isn’t just for diesels, hybridisation of existing EMUs supports capacity increases as it will allow EMUs to operate in key areas where there are electrical capacity constraints.

Q: Where do you see the future of rail electrification heading over the next 5 to 10 years?

ME: It would be great to see a long term commitment and plan for electrification that actually starts to put more wires up in the next 5 to 10 years.

Q: What presentations or topics are you looking forward to hearing more about and discussing at the seminar?

ME: David Clarke’s/Railway Industry Association’s view about making electrification economically viable and learning what we can from Bill Reeve about how it has been made to happen in Scotland.

Q: Why do you feel it is important for industry professionals to join this seminar?

ME: To gain an understanding of the different views and challenges from the wide range of speakers, which will cover the whole industry perspective.

Rail Electrification: Rebuilding Confidence takes place on 5 June 2019 at One Birdcage Walk, London. Join this seminar to:

• Receive exclusive updates on the status of projects going ahead and future electrification plans from Great Western Railway and Network Rail
• Hear insights from key opinion leaders on the changing landscape of rail electrification and the move towards a policy reset, including Arriva and Transport Scotland
• Learn about the latest innovations during the RIA-led “Unlocking Innovation” sessions relating to reducing costs and improving delivery
• Take part in an interactive discussion with other industry experts to express your views on the future of electrification policy
• Ask key questions specific to your project needs during the Q&A sessions following each presentation

To book your place, please visit www.imeche.org/railelectrification.