It seems a bit late to say Happy New Year, but as this is the first edition of 2025 I feel no shame in doing so. The start of a new year is an opportunity for change and here at RailStaff we’re starting to do things in a new way. This issue will be our first all-digital offering as we trial a new means of bringing you the latest news and insights.
We’re going to take our time and see how it all works out. If you’re all on board with jumping into the digital age, we’ll stick with this 21st century model of publication. If we find you prefer the more tactile and nostalgic experience of print, we’ll accommodate your needs. Let’s all take some time to mull over the benefits of each, and we’ll make a decision by the end of the year.
Keeping to the theme of new beginnings, the start of the year is a time that many consider their career ambitions and seek out new opportunities. This issue’s focus on Careers, Recruitment & Training includes insights from recruiter Advance TRS, a preview of new venture CETO Talent, and an overview of the challenges facing employers and candidates in 2025. We also report on the exciting new initiative Rebuilding Futures Alliance, which aims to change lives and tackle the recruitment pressures affecting the entire transport industry.
2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway, specifically the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway on 27 September 1825. Railway 200 is year-long nationwide partnership-led campaign to honour the event and a wide variety of activities and events will celebrate rail’s remarkable past, present, and future.
Along with bringing you an update on the latest reports from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Colin Wheeler uses this opportunity to consider how technological change can make the future of rail much safer and how age-old concerns still blight the safety landscape. We also catch up with Richard Hines, HM chief inspector of railways and director of railway safety at the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), to discuss his historic role and how the ORR helps make the network safer for those who work and travel on it.
In other features, the Confidential Incident Reporting & Analysis Service (CIRAS) explains how identifying hidden concerns can help reduce risk and how building a culture of listening and learning is imperative. Bonnie Price, chair of the Young Rail Professionals (YRP) also looks back at Railweek 2025 and encourages organisations to get involved next year.
Finally, we once again begin the countdown to the RailStaff Awards 2025. It’s hard to believe it’s been three months since the last celebration, but we’re already hard at work making the next event another spectacular occasion.
All at RailStaff wish you the very best for the year ahead and welcome you to this new digital experience.
