Declan John Email & Phone Number

Balfour Beatty Signalling was a small section in the industry which only had a one man team covering the works on the CVL. I was a key part of the new team that developed and turned it into a multi-million pound team with a great reputation. I would cover a wide range of roles and duties to progress the division to where it is today. I Started of as a Planner communicated with the construction team to build up and plan the growing workload that was being generated. I would create programs and trackers to keep the planned works to gain and book in the relevant access onto the infostructure, following the safety and planning industry standers. This would allow our workload to be easily maintained and completed for the client in a timely and high quality manner. The majority of our work was to assist the Project with Signalling, E&P and Telecoms cover whilst they worked. Carry out major cable diversions with the multiple new tracks being installed across the Core Valley Lines (CVL). Installing and disconnecting various signaling assets depending on the required work and testing them back into service. We install over thirty new points on the infrastructure to allow for more frequent passenger trains. With the increase of works I was then put in charge of my very own planning team and assisting the Construction Manager to help develop and improve the efficiency of the department. The planning team and I would cover all the planning for Balfour Beatty Signalling in Wales. From creating our own Safe System of Work packs, Safety critical documents booking in the required access on PPS and integrating with the client and local authorities.

Balfour Beatty Signalling was a small section in the industry which only had a one man team covering the works on the CVL. I was a key part of the new team that developed and turned it into a multi-million pound team with a great reputation. I would cover a wide range of roles and duties to progress the division to where it is today. I Started of as a Planner communicated with the construction team to build up and plan the growing workload that was being generated. I would create programs and trackers to keep the plan on the track, attend planning and safety critical meetings with other IDP’s and the Principle contactor to integrate all the planned works to gain and book in the relevant access onto the infostructure, following the safety and planning industry standers. This would allow our workload to be easily maintained and completed for the client in a timely and high quality manner. The majority of our work was to assist the Project with Signalling, E&P and Telecoms cover whilst they worked. Carry out major cable diversions with the multiple new tracks being installed across the Core Valley Lines (CVL). Installing and disconnecting various signaling assets depending on the required work and testing them back into service. We install over thirty new points on the infrastructure to allow for more frequent passenger trains. With the increase of works I was then put in charge of my very own planning team and assisting the Construction Manager to help develop and improve the efficiency of the department. The planning team and I would cover all the planning for Balfour Beatty Signalling in Wales. From creating our own Safe System of Work packs, Safety critical documents booking in the required access on PPS and integrating with the client and local authorities.

Due to change in the industry and the push from the UK Government to start introducing AC Electrified trains in the south of Britain. I changed my career path and went into the isolation of the Overhead line system across the GWEP project. I started of as and Earthing Assistant collecting knowledge and understanding of the producers and duties required to isolate the overheads. After eight months I then became an Authorised Person. My principal duties as an AP would be Switching, Testing and Earthing of the OLE. We would also assist Keltbray and NWR in the commissioning and electrification of the system in various areas between Twyford and Cardiff. I was also part of the team to train up the NWR isolation teams in South Wales giving the staff the knowledge and experience of implementing their course training onto the infostructure.

Over the next three years I had progressed myself and went down the safety route of the railway requiring tickets as controller of site safety,points operator and protection controller, Each ticket giving me different tasks in my role I would be appointed as a COSS if two or more track men(group) where required to go on or near the line I would then set up the safe system of work and make sure they were safe on the infrastructure.I would be used as a protection controller if two or more coss's would require to take a line blockage in a section, points operate when movements where required to move on track plant to other lines. Doing the courses and experience doing these roles I have great knowledge of the rules and safety aspect. Over the years and with the qualifications I have acquired I have done a wide range of works. I have done every stage of the overhead lines from trial holes all the way to the wire runs may it be done conventionally with the Road Rail Vehicles (RRV) or the Hobbs trains always show key interest in how it worked and about design and layout assisted engineers with their setting out and asbuilts of various locations. Taken over head line permits and conductor rail permits in electrified areas, Track renewals, boxing in level bedding working and cossing the tampers, bridge inspections, de veging, level crossing attendant, The list goes on I have a wide range of knowledge in various rail jobs from how they are done to how to set up the correct safe system for the process.

I became a white hat and did two years working down Exeter in a civils gang for Network Rail. We would meet up in the yard get all the tools and equipment for the various jobs, ballest boarding, troughing,cable pulling, cable recovering,loc bases, We were part of the team that was sent down to repair and rebuild Dawlish after the sea destroyed and washed away a section of the track. This gave me key insight to the civils side of the railway infrastructure. If need be I would be the lookout or sitewarden depending on the work, Safe system or what the client wanted.

This was my first stage of my railway career.I started as a blue hat. I worked on a 6 month project in London with Network Rail being the principle Contractor. I was part of a track maintenance gang doing works ranging from sleeper changes, kango packing/ shovel packing,clearing out contaminated sleeper beds (wetbeds),fishplate lubrication, rail replacements. This gave me basic knowledge of track principles and designs.