Engineers provide the insight and expertise that power the projects and systems our rail network depends on. That’s why the Rail Engineer of the Year Award remains one of the most sought-after honours at the RailStaff Awards.
This category celebrates outstanding engineers whose innovation, technical ability, and problem-solving skills have made a significant impact on the rail industry. Whether in design, maintenance, safety, or project delivery, nominees have all demonstrated exceptional professionalism and a commitment to enhancing the nation’s rail infrastructure and services.
Balfour Beatty Vinci’s David Millar was named Rail Engineer of the Year in 2023. He oversaw the rail interface management and construction of the West Coast Main Line Bridge and the South Staffordshire Line Bridge – both highly complex projects with demanding deadlines that were completed on time and to exemplary health and safety standards.
David brings us up to date with how his role has changed since picking up the prize.
Could you tell us about your current role and your responsibilities?
At the time I won the Award, I was working for Balfour Beatty Vinci on HS2 looking after the Northern structures and Railway interfaces. However, in February 2024, I was fortunate to take up a post with Amco Giffen as technical engineering manager, covering mainly the North and Midlands Regions. I had previously worked for Amco Giffen as a senior project manager and the move was a good fit for me.
Have you worked on any exciting projects recently?
In the past year I have been leading the Amco Giffen team, challenged with waterproofing the Grade 2 Listed, 220-metre-long Chapel Milton Viaduct in the Derbyshire High peaks. At the end of August we had a nine-day closure of the CNB1 line which takes in the viaduct, having already undertaken multiple 26-hour possessions to fill voids in the structure and install precast units in readiness for the blockade. It has been a complex project with many moving parts.
What opportunities do you think your RailStaff Award has opened up?
I am finally getting around to applying for fellowship of the Institution of Civil Engineers (FICE) and I think winning the award has helped with that. Sometimes, when dealing with clients, site and construction teams can be seen as lacking engineering knowledge. An award like this, along with professional qualifications, helps to dispel this myth.
As well as applying for FICE, I have signed up to become a STEM ambassador. I have also been developing my own engineering website to help engineers, especially designers, get the feedback they often don’t get from construction projects.
What do you think makes the RailStaff Awards so special?
The RailStaff Awards are an integral part of the social calendar – they not only champion the engineering community but also the broader spectrum of the railway family. It is so important to reward these hard-working teams, and I have always been proud to be part of the ‘orange army’ as are my daughter (an ecologist) and son (a labourer/trackman) who have both worked on the railway at various times over the past few years. It turns out Dad does know a bit about the railway after all!
