CPA Bulletin

44 CPA Bulletin > May 2024 www.cpa.uk.net rail plant association RAIL PLANT ASSOCIATION: 1 The RPA Leadership meeting was held on 28th February 2024 (on the same day as the RPA AGM), at the Nuthurst Grange Hotel, Hockley Heath. The meeting was well supported by the RPA members with approximately 50 delegates in attendance. The meeting agenda covered the following subject areas: • Eastern Region Update - Ben Brookes - NWR Capital Delivery Director Eastern Region • 23rd RPA Annual General Meeting - Paul Helks - RPA MC Chair • What’s on My Mind - Steve Featherstone • Safety and Standards Update - Jordan Skey - NWR Technical Head of Plant • Rail Plant Performance Scheme Update - Matt Skelton - NWR Plant Reliability Team • Network Rail Commercial and Procurement Update - Phil Bennett - NWR Commercial Director • The National Pipeline and Key Workload Peaks for the year ahead - Tom Male - NWR Programme Manager The next RPA Leadership meeting will be held on Tuesday 9th July 2024 at the Severn Valley Heritage Railway in Kidderminster . An invitation to the meeting has been circulated to all RPA Members, but please email rpa@cpa.uk . net if you haven’t received it and would like to attend. RPA Leadership Meeting Update From RPA Consultant Steve Featherstone Control Period 7 has started and it is going to be tough. The efficiency challenges faced by Network Rail are the most onerous that I can remember. The railway plant suppliers will have a key role to play in achieving these efficiency challenges. Between them, the railway plant suppliers own over £1billion of plant and directly and indirectly employ around 5,000 people. The plant and machines which they supply are the workhorses of our railway. In order to increase efficiency and improve passenger satisfaction during CP7, the Rail Plant Association will be running a campaign with other trade associations to “Bring Back Blockades”. Just before Christmas we met with the Director General for railways at the Department for Transport to explain the challenges and opportunities which are seen through the lenses of the plant suppliers.