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New head of research appointed at RSSB

The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has announced the appointment of James Hardy to the position of Head of Research and Development (R&D). James Hardy moves to RSSB from the Highways Agency, where he held a similar position in charge of its research and development programme. James is also a chartered civil engineer who has experience of safety critical environments gained in the nuclear and offshore fields.

The role involves responsibility for managing the industry R&D programme of around £12 million per annum. The programme is a key component of RSSB’s activity and informs, and draws on, other aspects of the organisation's work. The programme is funded by the Department for Transport and delivers industry-wide research that no individual company or sector can address on its own. In recent years it has shifted from a focus solely on safety, towards a broadly based business agenda.

James Hardy reports to Anson Jack, RSSB’s Director of Policy, Research and Risk.

Commenting on his appointment, James Hardy said: ‘I am very pleased to be given the responsibility to drive the railways’ R&D programme forward and to help RSSB meet the future needs of the industry.’

Anson Jack said: "I am delighted to welcome James on board. His experience both as a civil engineer, and more specifically in leading the research programme for the Highways Agency, will prove invaluable. I’m looking forward to working with James in facing the many challenges going forward."

James Hardy’s other experience includes design and implementation of an asset management system, network management – maintenance and renewals, and performance optimisation as well as change management and facilitation.

James started work at RSSB on 25 June 2007.

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For further information please contact the Rail Safety and Standards Board press office, on 020 7904 7524/5/ or 020 7904 7593 or visit the website on www.rssb.co.uk

Notes to editors:

1. The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) was established in April 2003 as an independent, not-for-profit organisation tasked with improving safety performance across the national rail network. The company is owned by the railway industry, is limited by guarantee and has a Board and an advisory committee. It is independent of any single railway company and their commercial interests.
2. RSSB manages a programme of research and development (R&D) on behalf of government and the railway industry. The programme is funded by the Department for Transport and aims to assist the industry and its stakeholders in achieving key objectives:
   • Improving performance in terms of health and safety, reliability, and punctuality
   • Increasing capacity and availability
   • Reducing cost
3. Integrating all of these to compete effectively with other transport modes (or complement them as appropriate) and deliver a sustainable future for the railway.
4. The RSSB R&D programme focuses on industry-wide and strategic research that no individual company or sector of the industry can address on its own. It therefore includes research covering ‘systems’ issues across the whole railway, and the engineering interfaces within the railway, as well as the interfaces with other parts of the community. The programme is also instrumental in supporting the development of a future vision for the railways and assessing how that vision can best be delivered.
5. A photograph of James Hardy is available by contacting the RSSB press office on 020 7904 7524/5.