Leading the visit was VolkerRail’s operations manager, Terry Ricketts and workforce development specialist, Neil Litchfield, who took the students through a whistle stop tour of the key aspects of OLE, which included live demonstrations on the installation of Section insulators, Tensorex, feeding arrangements (Double drapes) and general rigging skills.

The students, who are the first enrolled into the new College, require a basic understanding of OLE in their Cert HE infrastructure qualifications. This visit provided this, along with a more in-depth understanding of railway health and safety, key techniques for OLE installation, and its terminology, as well as an opportunity to ask questions and gain a greater insight from some of the companies most experienced personnel.

Andrew Faulkner, senior engineer curriculum leader at the National College for High Speed Rail, said: “VolkerRail has provided us with a wide ranging wealth of information to help the students understand OLE and we are grateful to those involved, who have given up their time to support them.’’

Garry Sellers, part of the curriculum development team at the National College for High Speed Rail, said: “It has been a very interesting day, spent on equipment not normally accessible to the students. The initial presentation delivered a very informative guide to the later display of the OLE equipment. Showing us exactly how it should be done.’’

Commenting on the visit, Terry said: “Thank you to the college for allowing us to demonstrate and share our knowledge and expertise with these aspiring students. Providing a safe and controlled environment to learn helps with understanding and engagement, something not always possible in live railway environments.”

VolkerRail will continue to share its knowledge, on OLE installation, to the college and has planned a second day with students from the National College for High Speed Rail in Birmingham, in the New Year.