United Kingdom

GHD has been assisting Network Rail with the development of Enhancement Projects for over three years and has now completed close to 100 individual projects. This work has required the development of new streamlined approaches to deliver option identification reports in as short a period as two weeks.

This programme of work has required a close working relationship with GHD staff located for much of their time alongside their Network Rail colleagues in Network Rail offices. We have undertaken a very wide range of work including station enhancements, route capacity studies, line speed improvements, gauging studies, depot works, siding development, refuelling points, platform extensions, signaling studies and infrastructure improvements to aid engineering access.

The work has required senior experienced resources and flexibility in resourcing to ensure the right multi-disciplinary mix of staff is available for each piece of work in a timely way. By working on processes to reduce the timescales of the studies we have also been able to reduce the individual cost of the work packages required. We charge only for the hours spent and by using skilled staff we are also able to reduce the total hours spent considerably. We work closely with our clients to ensure we fully understand the requirements of the study before work commences. We produce a cost and time estimate at the start of the work and pride ourselves on the fact that we have never exceeded this. Our work has been praised many times for its quality and we continue to supply these services to an increasing breadth of client areas within Network Rail.

In partnership with the Stockholm Environment Institute, GHD completed a carbon footprint baseline study for NHS Wales on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG).  The study findings will inform the development of an emissions reduction strategy for NHS Wales, which will contribute to the Assembly Government’s commitment to reduce Wales’ emissions in areas of devolved competence by 3% year-on-year, starting in 2011.

The footprint was calculated on a consumption basis, i.e. it includes both direct and embodied emissions, for the following sources:

• Building Energy Use:  Electricity used by NHS Wales equipment and fuel consumed for heating and hot water;
• Travel:  Emissions from NHS vehicles as well as patient, visitor, and business travel in vehicles belonging to third parties;
• Procurement:  Emissions made by suppliers and the extended supply chains associated with NHS procurement.

As a result of our work, the Welsh Assembly Government is able to develop a carbon reduction strategy for NHS Wales, targeting the priority areas identified in our report.  The study provides a baseline against which to measure progress and establishes the measurement criteria and methodology.

GHD undertook an audit of Irish Rail and Veolia (the operator of Dublin trams) Safety Management systems and their application. Our approach did not only look to identify non conformance, but also searched for best practice to share this throughout both organisations.

 Working closely with the RSC to ensure the full scope of audit was covered, an initial programme of audit was developed. Experienced Rail Engineers and Operators, as well as safety systems professionals, were deployed on the work to ensure that both the scope of the management system was reviewed and that its deployment throughout the various rail disciplines was effective and understood. This approach also helped build a good rapport between the audit team, Irish Rail and Veolia staff delivering a better outcome.