west somerset railway · new post of head of operating ... • ‘buses of somerset’ resume...

West Somerset Railway plc West Somerset Railway plc

West Somerset Railway

Stakeholders’ Review - 28 Oct 2017


Admin


Agenda & Introduction

1. Welcome, Intro & update Alan Nicholson 2.00-2.05

2. 2017 Operational update Paul Conibeare 2.05-2.35

3. Infrastructure update Ric Auger 2.35-3.05

4. Business Planning Frank Courtney 3.05-3.15

5. My first 3 months in Chair Alan Nicholson 3.15-3.30

6. Q&A session All 3.30-3.55

7. Close Alan Nicholson 3.55-4.00

1. Welcome, Introduction & Update

Alan Nicholson

Chairman WSR Plc


Introduction

. July 29th 2017 became Chairman of WSR Plc

. July 20th 2017 as Chairman designate held workshop with

fellow Directors on our initial thoughts for our way

ahead. Notice issued on outcome.

. My first priority -BL Coordinator for Flying Scotsman

. My thanks to everyone involved in the FS Event


Chairman’s update – Board changes

since 25th Feb 2017 • Commercial and Marketing Director appointed

• Volunteer Development Director appointed

• Operations Director appointed

• Finance Director stepped down at AGM

• Chairman resigned

• Strategy and Planning Director resigned

• Chairman appointed

• Business Planning Director appointed

• Head of Finance became Associate Director

• Safety Audit Director resigned


2. 2017 Operational update

Paul Conibeare General Manager


March • Special Events Planning

Team (SEPT) received an

HRA award for planning S&D

Gala

• Engineers from Bombardier

enjoy a working weekend on

the WSR

• New website goes live

• Large Prairie no 5199 arrives

in West Somerset

• The 'Southern Gateway'

consultation process

launched

8


April

• Baroness Sal Brinton, President of

the Liberal Democrats,

congratulated the railway on its

newly outshopped wheelchair-

accessible carriage no W4875

• Richard Jones, appointed to the

new post of Head of Operating

• Spring Steam Gala with BR

Standard Class 4MT 2-6-0 no

76017, BR Class 2MT 2-6-0 no

78018 & LMS 4F 0-6-0 no 44422

• WSR & Owners Group agree long

term hire of 0-6-2T 6695.

9


May

• BBC One's Antiques Roadshow

visits at Minehead Railway 17

May 2017.

• Flying Scotsman locomotive

visits with a charter train.

• ‘Somerset Explorer’ High

Speed Train to Bishops

Lydeard.

• The Friends of Minehead

Station complete Minehead

Promenade fence.

10


June

• Diesel Gala & Rail Ale Trail – 3

bars at Minehead, Stogumber

& Bishops Lydeard

• ‘Buses of Somerset’ resume

services at Bishops Lydeard

• WSR Wagon Restoration

Group is formed.

• LMS 4-6-2 no 46233 Duchess

of Sutherland visited with the

Whistling Ghost V Tour

11


July

• Watchet Afternoon Explorer

services commence.

• BBC’s John Craven visits the

WSR

• Colin Howard departs WSR for

retirement in France

• LMS 4-6-0 46100 ‘Royal Scot’

stables at bishops Lydeard

12


August

• USA 2-8-0 no 6046 to return

to West Somerset in 2018

• A new poster commissioned

for the Railway.

• Volunteer Signal & Telegraph

team make rapid repair to

damaged point rodding at

Blue Anchor

• Major rail replacement

programme instigated.

13


September

• Flying Scotsman visit - by far the

largest event ever organised by

the West Somerset Railway,

carrying in excess of 10,000

people.

• GWR High Speed Train formed

the 'Cotswold Line Promotion

Group' charter from Worcester

to Minehead & return

14


October

• Friends of Minehead Station

procure original Minehead

Signalbox nameplate.

• Richard Maw, the new PLC

Head of Finance will be the

new Share Registrar supported

by Anna Forster.

• IE department vacancies –

• Fishplate and flange gang

• Bridge maintenance team

• Crossings gang

15


EVENTS - 2018

• Spring Steam Gala – 22nd to 25th March 2018

• Diesel Gala – 8th to 10th June 2018

• Late Summer Weekend 1st & 2nd September 2018

• Autumn Gala – 27th to 30th September 2018

• Winter Gala – 29th & 30th December 2018

16


3. Infrastructure Update

Holding the Line

Ric Auger

Bishops Lydeard-Southern Gateway Project

• External consultant-inward investment

• Master site development plan phase 1

• Children's play area and additional car parking capacity

• Toilets and existing car park

• Emerging plans and drawings for phase 1 including Brunel House

Williton Site Development Group re-established

• PLC core planning brief agreed

• Revised brief received from WSRA

Taunton to Bishops Lydeard link

• Department for Transport Community Rail Innovation bid

• Proposals for pilot project

Business Plan refresh

Functional strategy development

• commercial

• infrastructure


WHAT IS WSR INFRASTRUCTURE?

• Buildings

• Roads, Level Crossings, Drainage, Fences,

Paths & Parking Areas

• Signals & Telegraph

• Bridges, Culverts, Cuttings & Embankments

• Permanent Way


Andrew Young – Head of Infrastructure

Permanent Way Team

S&T Team

Land Management Team

Volunteer Permanent Way Team

Volunteer S&T Team

Volunteer Refurbishment & Maintenance Team (RAMS)

Volunteer Track Patrol Team

Volunteer Civil Engineers and Surveyors

Permanent Way Consultant

Bridge Assessment Consultants

Ric Auger – Infrastructure Director

WHO ARE WSR INFRASTRUCTURE?


• tree clearance

• wet bed repair

• building maintenance

• Tamping

• track drainage repairs

• fishplate oiling

• MD track renewal

• Seaward Way crossing renewal

• Leigh Wood crossing improvements

• check rail to Watchet curve

• masonry bridge maintenance

• Avill River bridge Replacement/repair

• weed spraying

WSR INFRASTRUCTURE

Work Programme Winter 2017 – 2018


WSR INFRASTRUCTURE

Work Programme End of 2017 & 2018

• CH drainage

• Stogumber Station embankment

• Black Monkey Bridge strengthening

• MD – DR relay & steel sleeper replacement

• building surveys

• rail replacement

Principal Items


WSR INFRASTRUCTURE

Issues

• Funding

• large locomotives

• fire fighting not systematic upgrading

• Cant reduction

• additional permanent way gang

• rail type – bull head v flat Bottom


4. Business Planning

Frank Courtney















• commercial

• infrastructure


• Fill trains!

o Relentless emphasis on publicity and sales

o Flexible charging structures

o Continue to push block bookings

• Remember the critical importance of quality in every aspect – including

catering, parking and toilets

• Understand our market better

• Always recognise that our staff and volunteers make it happen

Short Term:


• Keep the timetable under review

o Consider and trial timetable innovations

• Remember the importance of new things to see

• Plan infrastructure and rolling stock development

• Regular “big events”

Medium Term:


• Significant large scale developments:

o Southern gateway???

o A new attraction (Williton?)

• Plan station maintenance and improvement

• Take advantage of developments quickly

• Develop new partnerships

Long Term:


5. My first 3 months in the Chair

Alan Nicholson















• commercial

• infrastructure


My First 3 months in Chair

To become different from what we are, we must

have some awareness of what we are.

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983)

American philosopher and author.



So what are we that is important to recognise:

- We are a people based organisation

Recognition is key.

- We are a small business (around 50

employees and under £10million turnover )

Not a multinational or in the FTSE 100.



- We operate in the heritage, preservation and

tourism market in a highly competitive market.

- The days of running a large railway set on

enthusiasm alone have gone.

- Need to run as a business with appropriate

skills and facilities in all that we do.

- Ensure safety is regarded as our highest priority



To work together more closely as a one

railway organisation.

Appreciated.

Eliminate the ‘them and us’

Consultation and faster decision making



So what are the key areas that need to change



The Board and Management must work closer

together.

We need a structure that is better

suited to our purpose and challenges we face.

Greater cohesion across the railway



To recognise the dedication of our staff and volunteers

-through thanking them for their efforts

-through the need for improved communications

-through consultation and involvement

-through ensuring a safe and enjoyable

environment to work in



We need a revised Business Development Plan

- vision and mission based on the strategic direction

we decide to go.

- greater commercial focus on future business

objectives to provide a product and brand to

meet future market needs.



- ensuring we develop the infrastructure,

engineering, operations and support functions in

a planned manner to

enable that product to be supported.

- an inward investment plan



- We need a clear view of our values that makes

our railway fit for purpose.

- We need to fully understand, implement and

monitor our statutory duties.



We need to work more closely and develop our

partnerships within the WSR family together

- WSRA

- WSSRT

- DEPG

- Friends of Stations



We need to continue to develop our relations with outside

bodies

- S&DRT

- Parish, Local and County Councils

- GWR

- Railway Charter Companies



Conclusion

Enormous challenge lies ahead for us all.

The status quo is no longer an option.

Look forward to advising you where we are in 6 months

time.

Thank you.


6. Question & Answer Session Any questions ?


West Somerset Railway

Stakeholders’ Review - 28 Oct 2017

Close

west somerset railway · new post of head of operating ... • ‘buses of somerset’ resume...

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