Golden Spanner Awards

Modern Railways Industry and Technology Editor Roger Ford (‘Captain Deltic’ to generations of the magazine’s readers) has for many years assessed the reliability of the nation’s train fleets. In 2005 the 4th Friday Club asked the Cap’n to hand out that archetypal depot tool, a spanner, to the builders, owners and maintainers of the most reliable fleets.

The Golden Spanners is now an annual event at which all those interested in railway rolling stock meet to discuss best practice and celebrate excellence in train maintenance. After lunch and a speech from a key industry figure Roger Ford announces the winners of the awards.

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SPEAKERS

HOST: Roger Ford

Industry and Technology Editor of Modern Railways

Roger is probably best known for his authoritative column ‘Informed Sources’ in the monthly trade and technical magazine Modern Railways. ‘Informed Sources’ is noted for its in-depth analysis of railway technical, commercial and policy issues.

THE AWARDS

The Golden Spanners awards – in which the trophies feature that archetypal element of train maintenance, a spanner – celebrate the best of rolling stock maintenance and are handed out to those companies making the greatest strides in train reliability, as measured by Mp701D (Miles per 701D). ‘701D’ refers to the official  list of reasons when recording the cause of a Technical Incident  which delays a train for three minutes or more. The awards are based on moving annual averages at Period 6 (four weeks ending mid-September).

The source of the statistics on which the Golden Spanners awards are based is the ReFocus programme run by the Rail Delivery Group. This is part of Fleet Challenge, which is responsible for rolling stock performance within the cross-industry National Task Force. This was set up by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in the late 1990s following concerns about punctuality.

Initially called the National Fleet Reliability Improvement Programme (NFRIP), the aim of ReFocus is to encourage the spread of best practice in train maintenance: the Golden Spanners awards are acknowledged as having made a valuable contribution to this aim.

AWARD CATEGORIES

• Ex-BR EMU
• Ex-BR DMU
• First generation new inter-city
• Second generation new inter-city
• First generation new DMU
• First generation new EMU
• Second generation new DMU
• Second generation new EMU
• Wild card – a different category every year, decided by Cap’n Deltic

In each category, the Golden Spanner is awarded for the most reliable train based on Mp701D and the Silver Spanner for most improved (percentage improvement in Mp701D).

As Delay Per Incident (DPI) is no longer recorded, a Bronze Spanner is awarded to the best company in each of the long-distance, regional and London & South East sectors for minimising the delay impact of any train failures.

Each year the Cap’n normally specifies a wild card category as well – such as the best performing HST or repurposed fleet.

HOW DO I ENTER

The Golden Spanner awards are made on the basis of statistical information compiled by the industry and do not require companies to enter.

TABLES AND SPONSORSHIP

Tables of 10 at this event cost £1,800+VAT, sponsorship details available on request. Contact Chris Shilling via email chris@shillingmedia.co.uk or call on 07736 635916.

SCHEDULE

MORNING CONFERENCE

Details of the schedule for the morning conference will be confirmed nearer the event.

GOLDEN SPANNER AWARDS

12 noon Real ale bar, sponsored by Houghton International

12.45 Guests enter the dining room for lunch

14.30 After-lunch speech

14.50 Roger Ford presents the Golden Spanner awards

16.00 Close