Victa Railfreight’s Managing Director, Neil Sime, and Projects & Support Services Specialist, Matt Green, are proud to be playing a pivotal role as part of the team shaping the future of heritage rail safety and standards. The pair are volunteering their expertise in collaboration with the Heritage Railway Association (HRA), to help create essential guidance to uphold the safety and sustainability of heritage railways across the UK.
This will see the development and publication of some of the first-ever standards for the Heritage Rail Safety and Standards Board (HRSSB), a historic initiative as it marks the first such board to be created proactively rather than in response to an accident.
Neil and Matt’s work to date includes providing strategic direction on which areas of risk to address and leading the team responsible for drafting the board’s first standard for the ‘Inspection and Risk Assessment of Level Crossings’ and preparing the next standard which will address ‘Platform Train Interface’ risks - both key safety areas to protect passengers and staff at heritage railways.
Neil and Matt bring a wealth of combined Heritage railway operational experience to this initiative. Neil, Managing Director of Victa Railfreight since its inception, has 50 years’ experience in operations and safety roles within the Heritage Rail Sector.
Since joining Victa in 2019, Matt has supported various heritage railways and freight end users. Matt’s heritage railway journey is as impressive as it is diverse, and over the years, he has worked with more than 30 rail organisations, including serving as a Director of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. His deep knowledge of heritage rail operations ensures the standards he helps to create are practical and adaptable, reflecting the unique needs of heritage railways.
Matt was able to express his appreciation for the work undertaken by the HRSSB while addressing the audience as a guest speaker at the HRA’s Spring Conference in Nottingham on Tuesday 4th March. His presentation outlined the joint efforts he and Neil had made to support the HRA, in collaboration with colleagues from various parts of the heritage rail sector.
This work includes the development of new standards designed to be practical and applicable for all heritage railways, regardless of gauge or length. From the mile-long Lavender Line in Sussex to the near 40-mile-long Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway, these standards aimed to enhance safety and operational excellence across the sector.
The HRA Spring Conference once again spotlighted the pressing issues facing the heritage rail sector, with Matt’s presentation highlighting Victa Railfreight’s continued commitment to safety, innovation, and the preservation of the UK’s rich rail heritage.
Comments