We are approaching what seems to be another difficult time in rail.
It will be hard to keep up, to pick facts from opinion and keep emotions at bay as we see workers worried about jobs and pay come into industrial conflict with organisations concerned rail still needs time to build up pace and recover after the worst of COVID.
That’s why I’m grateful to be part of an amazing team. At the helm you will of course know Nigel Wordsworth, who is now managing editor across Rail Business Daily and is well known as an engineer, journalist and commentator for the industry. Then there’s Danny Longhorn, who keeps in touch with many at the face of rail and the guiding hands behind the networks as part of his editorship of Rail Director – it is a privilege that both of these people have entrusted Both the Rail Business Daily and Rail Insider.
But one very evident support is Richard Clinnick, who has written two articles for Rail Insider this week, helping make sense of some difficult issues. In one, he details the funding issues TfL has faced, and in another what passenger figures from ORR really mean at the moment. Those who have followed his work in the industry over the years will appreciate his careful consideration of the topics involved and how not a single sentence is wasted.
And now we have our new managing director, Chris Leech. Chris has more than 26 years’ experience, and many will know him for his tireless work at the RSSB. Chris is an inspiring presence at Rail Business Daily, and his knowledge, contacts and leadership means Rail Business Daily can serve more people than ever before.
All of this is a reminder to me that teamwork is everything.
Through whatever trouble you may see ahead, or whatever side of rail’s disputes you may be on, we must remember rail is made of top-tier teams of professionals. They are skilled and highly informed people who love the railways as much as you – because nobody can deliver on such an ambitious mode of transport and service without those qualities.
So stick together, help one another, and remember: when the dust settles after what lies ahead, rail is the ultimate team of teams. And together we will make rail bigger and better than ever before.
