To coincide with National Engineering Day on 2nd November, the Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) hosted the rail industry’s fifth Trackwork Training event on 2nd and 3rd November.

The event is called the Practical Trackwork Challenge, and is organised by the Permanent Way Institution (PWI): the Institution for Rail Infrastructure Engineering, which leads the way in the discipline’s knowledge leadership and continuing professional development.

Thirty-two delegates, about a third of whom were women, from across the UK rail industry and from 18 companies and organisations including Network Rail, Transport for London and London Underground attended the event, which was the first time it had been held in the South East, and the largest yet.

First held in 2017, the Challenge provides current rail staff, engineering students, and apprentices, with little or no practical track experience, the chance to work on a live engineering project in a safe and controlled railway environment. The track project was designed by a young female Transport for London track design engineer.

The Challenge provided delegates with the opportunity to meet experienced rail professionals, and to take part in track replacement and improvement projects. As well as providing skills training, the programme benefits the host railway through infrastructure improvements at no cost. Equipment, materials, and training were provided free by PWI member organisations, including some of the UK’s largest construction groups and plant companies.

During the Challenge, delegates worked in four teams of eight, attending theoretical presentations and working on two sites around Northiam. At one site just outside Northiam station, they replaced track and ballast, whilst at the 120-year-old Rother Bridge they installed new expansion switches and concrete sleepers.

K&ESR General Manager Robin Coombes said: “It is a great privilege to be hosting this important training collaboration and to be the Challenge’s first South East venue. There is a long-lasting and permanent connection between the modern and heritage railways and the engineering skills being passed on through this initiative are vital to keep both systems on the rails, serving the community.”

“As a charitable operation which, now more than ever, has to keep a firm hand on our costs, we are incredibly grateful for the lasting infrastructure improvements that this has provided.”

Stephen Barber, PWI CEO, said: “The PWI Challenge has proved hugely valuable to both our corporate members and our host railways. Uniquely, the Challenges offer experience in the practicalities of Railway Infrastructure Engineering to corporate members’ staff in a low-risk environment, specifically designed to facilitate vital hands-on learning.

“It’s also encouraging to see a higher representation of women and ethnic groups amongst our delegates, reflecting greater awareness that a career in rail engineering is open and relevant to everyone.”

“The PWI is, as ever, hugely grateful to those corporate members who contribute plant, equipment, and personnel to the Challenge, and to the Heritage Railways who host our events. Without their generosity the Challenges couldn’t take place – and our industry would be poorer without them.”