NRA Outstanding Personal Contribution (Management) award winner 2024

Jack Roberts and Wayne Norbury, Project Managers for Network Rail, won the Outstanding Personal Contribution (Management) award in the National rail Awards 2024.

Highly Commended went to Suresh Gorasia (MTR Elizabeth line).

After Network Rail Track Maintenance Delivery Unit Project Managers Jack Roberts and Wayne Norbury gathered feedback from colleagues on where new access points would be most beneficial to prevent staff having to walk a mile or more along the trackside to reach their worksites while carrying heavy equipment, the duo created an action plan to deliver the new access.

Not only does this reduce the safety risk of being trackside, particularly in the Wessex Route where some lines powered by the third rail, it has cut the amount of time a line block is needed to protect workers.

Another focus of Jack and Wayne’s action plan was to increase the width of access gates to 1.8 metres to enable access and egress for large equipment that previously was loaded on track at level crossings and transported to worksites by trolley, using valuable time and resources.

Collaboration has been key to delivering on the action plan with Jack and Wayne securing the input of Mobile Operations Managers to ensure their access needs were properly considered.

The duo also formed an alliance with Works Delivery, Capital Delivery and Track Worker Safety colleagues through design and implementation of a work scheme that has now been brought to the attention of NR CEO Andrew Haines.

Although the improvements are still confined to the Wessex Route, a total of £500,000 per year has been allocated to deliver further progress across the next five years.

The judges concluded: “We were impressed by their energy, approachability and ambition to make change happen. They showed tenacity, persistence and resilience in spades in the face of significant ‘corporate’ obstacles.”

Go to our results story for a list of all the winners at the 2024 National Rail Awards, together with more pictures from the event at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel, Park Lane, London on 12th September.