Ben H.

Experience

• 

  Southern Railway

  Jul 2001 - Mar 2003

  Fleet Controller

  As part of the Service Delivery Centre team for South Central [TOC] (now Southern Railway Ltd), my responsibility was for that of managing the depot delivery teams effectively to provide the optimum level of service to the passenger. This included close supervision of their daily activities during normal service operation, and managing the fleets to acceptable compromises during degraded service operation.My duties meant that I was directly accountable for the real-time management of the fleet in the delivery of the service from the Control to the operational railway, managing incidents involving fleet failures (directly or indirectly) and assuming Silver command as part of the TOC Command Structure.This role also included the entry of the correct data, maintained to the highest standards, into the GENIUS Rolling Stock Allocation system, and knowledge of the RAVERS system. Show less

• 

  Network Rail

  Mar 2003 - Apr 2025

  My responsibilities include the delivery and execution of the applicable timetable, the management of the train service to a swift and safe conclusion, providing the optimum service levels possible during degraded or perturbed working, and the ability to analyse and implement contingency plans.My extensive knowledge of the Brighton Main Line (rail network) train service through knowledge retention and applying similar thought processes to problem solving on a daily basis were the main strengths utilised during the recruitment process.I have quickly built a sound reputation for being a good analyst of data and train plans, being able to identify areas for development in timetables, and providing robust emergency timetables with sound timing and plans to back this up.As part of my role, I have been appointed deputy to the Route Control Manager, which has greater responsibility for service delivery, team building and planning and execution of prioritised plans to expedite incidents on the Sussex Route (within Network Rail), with passenger focus at their heart, so that correct information can be distributed to all parties, including the public. This also is a strategic role, negotiating with other industry leaders in the Control and elsewhere, to bring incidents to acceptable conclusions for all parties.I have had the opportunity during this time to lead my team, and lead some projects and development work. I generally take on trainees to my role to develop them into good Train Running Controllers. I have also learned and gained competency in the Incident Controller role, which includes the actual front-line management and direction of fault and response teams. Show less Leading the transition for frontline staff and managers into the largest timetable and service changes in the South East heavy rail operation since 1987. Thameslink Programme is a £7bn civil engineering, signalling upgrade and rolling stock overhaul and represents the culmination of 20 years of aspiration for a better connected commuter railway for the Home Counties and South East of England. As part of the Operational Readiness team, we will be ensuring that the customer experience of the new service will be as positive as possible. Show less This role involved the strategic provision for service management during disruption, leading the team within the Control to outcomes favourable to the industry, customers and the travelling public.Managing disruption to a conclusion, the ability to arbitrarily review incidents to ensure transferable lessons are captured for the future – both in good practice and in areas for further development, and ensuring the welfare of my team were my primary responsibilities.During this time, I spent two weeks with strategic access planning [SAP] at Paddington, working with and contributing to the Brighton Line Route Utilisation Strategy Working Party. Show less This included direct incident management by means of co-operation with TOC, IMC and Operations staff, and responsibility for delivering the train service with minimum disruptive impact to our passengers and customers, under the leadership of a small Controller team headed by the Control Duty Manager.This was the start of the Co-Located Control Centres, partnered with AMEC Rail (latterly taken ‘in house’ as part of the Network Rail Maintenance function) and Southern Railway [TOC]. Co-operation with all parties was sought and delivered.During this time, I produced the ‘Sandite’ working for Sussex in Autumn 2006, in a very short timeframe, including the timing of the MPV diagrams, the bidding of complete schedules to Informed Traveller for input to TrainPlan, assessing need to run against the planned possessions in Sussex, and working with the Possessions Planning Manager to achieve that aim.The outcome of this was a success and I received positive feedback for my input. There were very few schedule clashes this MPV season, and little need for Control to input VSTP alterations to my plans. Show less My duties included the direct assistance with incident management by the Area Controller. I was passed competent in covering the Kent, Sussex and Wessex routes, and learned quickly to adapt my working skills depending on which of the three areas I was working.My duties included delivering high quality, validated, VSTP [Very Short Term Planning] Train Schedules, additional to the planned [applicable] timetable, sometimes under challenging time constraints, and across multiple Network Rail routes and areas. I was stepped up into the Area Controller role on several occasions during this time. Show less

  • Train Running Controller (deputy Route Control Manager)

    Oct 2007 - Apr 2025

  • Programme Manager

    Jan 2018 - Sept 2018

  • Performance Improvement Project Manager

    Feb 2016 - May 2016

  • Capacity Planning Project Manager (Secondment)

    Feb 2015 - Feb 2016

  • Duty Control Manager

    Jan 2007 - Oct 2007

  • Area Operations Controller

    Jul 2005 - Jan 2007

  • Assistant Zone Controller (Southern Region)

    Mar 2003 - Jul 2005
• 

  Retired

  Apr 2025 - now

  Retired