Start of main content

Programme

The RSCS course is split into two parts.

  • Part A is live virtual and will cover the theory of fundamentals of signal and control systems as well as, signal system design.
  • Part B will be delivered in person at IET Stevenage: Futures Place, and focuses on the elements of systems implementation and includes the technical visit.

Delegates have the option to attend the whole course (Parts A: Theory and B: Practical) or part of it (Part A: Theory or Part B: Practical).

Part A
TBC 2026, live virtual
Day one

Signal and control systems in context

09:45 Teams opens
09:50 Welcome and introductions

Harvinder Bhatia, Head of Central Engineering, TfL
10:00 Session 1: Keynote - My 30 years of signalling

Jane Power, President, IRSE
10:20 Break
10:35 Session 2: A Brief History of Railway Signalling – from the Bobby to the Balise.
  • Understand the key historical developments in railway signalling and train control.
  • Understand how learning from some key accidents has influenced the design of train control systems going forward.
Colin Porter, Independent
11:30 Break
11:45 Session 3: The Role of the Regulator
  • Understanding what these duties are and how organisations engage with the regulator will be beneficial to all who enter the rail industry.
Ian Maxwell, Head of Train Control Systems, Office of Rail and Road
12:40 Lunch
13:40 Session 4: How does Signalling Contribute to the Railway Enterprise?
  • recognise the range of potential purposes of a railway enterprise
  • recognise the contribution of signalling systems to the operational and business performance of a railway system
  • recognise how signalling affects capacity, reliability and customer experience on a railway system
Andrew Love, Director, Headway Innovation
14:35 Break
14:50 Session 5: Engineering Safety Management and the Signalling Engineer: A Beginners Guide to Engineering Safety Management
  • Understand foundational safety principles and concepts of safety management in engineering contexts (including hazard identification, risk assessment, and safety culture).
Panagiotis Takis Kantartzis, Associate Consultant, WSP
15:45 Break
16:00 Session 6: Human Factors for Railway Signalling and Control Systems
  • Be able to give an overview of Human Factors/ Ergonomics and the role in rail
  • Describe user-centred design principles, covering
    • Human/ user
    • User interfaces
    • Workstation
    • Organisation
    • Environment
Dr Amanda Elliott, Human Factors Rail Specialist, Innovace Designs
16:55 Day one finish
Day two

Fundamentals of signal and control systems

09:30 Teams opens
09:35 Welcome

Thulasi Karunakaran, Technical Director - Head of Systems Engineering, Arcadis
09:40 Session 7: The Need for Train Detection
  • The purpose of train detection in signalling and control systems
  • The main types of train detection
  • The way in which the main types of train detection work, and their pro's and con’s
  • The future of train location
Sam Daw, Technical and Assurance Director, Hitachi Rail
10:35 Break
10:50 Session 8: Interlocking Principles
  • An introduction to the building blocks of train path route design
  • It will provide a spring board into the vast subject of British route signalling practice
  • The session will introduce some of the changes made by NR with due cognisance that lineside signals still have a lifetime prior to ETCS
Graeme Christmas, Principal Engineer, Network Rail
11:45 Break
12:00 Group workshop

Run by Martin Fenner, Director, Tilt Consulting
12:55 Lunch
13:55 Session 9: Intermittent and Continuous ATP

Paul Booth, Associate, The Nichols Group
14:50 Break
15:05 Session 10: Systems Engineering and Requirements Management
  • Understand how to take a whole systems approach to the delivery of projects and how to ensure that requirements are managed throughout the lifecycle of the project
Thulasi Karunakaran, Technical Director - Head of Systems Engineering, Arcadis
16:00 Group workshop

Run by Thulasi Karunakaran, Technical Director - Head of Systems Engineering, Arcadis
17:00 Day two finish
Day three

Signal system design

09:30 Teams opens
09:35 Welcome

Martin Fenner, Director, Tilt Consulting
09:40 Session 11: Rail Traffic Management Systems (RTMS) and Driver Advisory Systems (DAS)
  • Develop a high level understanding of Traffic Management and Driver Advisory Systems.
Lee Allen, Technical Director, Head of Cyber Resilience, Arcadis
10:35 Break
10:50 Session 12: Telecommunications Supporting Signalling and Railway Operations
  • Why the railway needs Operational Telecommunications
  • What Operational Telecommunications within the railways are​
  • What the significant Operational Telecommunications Applications are in today’s Railway​
  • Have an idea of the future direction for Operational Telecommunications
Neil Wilkinson, Principal Engineering Leader (Telecoms), TfL
11:45 Break
11:50 Session 13: Signalling for Capacity

Claire Porter, Chief Technical Officer, TfL Engineering and Asset Strategy, TfL
12:20 Lunch
13:20 Session 14: Metro moving block principles
  • Gain an awareness of the principles of moving block and understand how it compares with conventional fixed-block signalling systems
  • Understand the generic system architecture of a moving block system, including the rationale for each system element, and will be introduced to a sample of available supporting technologies
Martin Cooper, Principal Consultant, Tilt Consulting
13:50 Break
14:05 Session 15: Signalling Train Equipment and Interfaces
  • Explain how the train on-board signalling systems works within the rail environment
  • Understand the common constituents that provides train protection and associated automation
  • Understand the key interfaces between train and signalling systems
  • Common challenges associated with delivering such systems
  • Some of the practices adopted by the presenter that may aid the attendees in their future roles
Ken Chan, Technical Services Director, Tilt Consulting
15:00 Break
15:15 Group workshop

Run by Martin Fenner, Director, Tilt Consulting
16:15 Day three finish

Part B
TBC 2026, IET Stevenage: Futures Place
Day four

System implementation

09:15 Registration
09:30 Chair welcome

Harvinder Bhatia, Head of Central Engineering, TfL
09:40 Session 1: Electrical Interfaces (Integration, Safety and Management)
  • Identify Electrical Interfaces
  • Improve interface design
  • Understand the importance / safety risks of electrical interfaces
  • Gain knowledge on what standards to apply and tools/processes to manage the interface
Sarah Dale, Technical Principal - Traction Power, Mott MacDonald
10:35 Break
10:55 Session 2: Simulation and Performance

Steven Brown, Associate, Tilt Consulting
11:50 Lunch
13:00 Session 3: Intelligent Infrastructure

Barny Daley, Global Technical Director, Network Rail Consulting
13:55 Session 4: European Rail Implementation: Beyond the shores of the UK

Craig Tuck, Principle Engineer, Network Rail
14:50 Break
15:15 Session 5: Case study - Elizabeth Line
  • Understand the background and reasons for the three signalling systems used on the Elizabeth Line
  • Understand programme management approaches to software maturity and risk management through the Crossrail Programme experience delivering and opening the Elizabeth Line
Chris Binns, Director, Binns Rail Consulting Limited
16:10 Project workshop 1 - Charting the course

  • Delegates dive into the intricate world of railway signalling, forming teams and tackling a real-world scenario. They brainstorm innovative solutions, laying the groundwork for a safer and more efficient signalling system.

Run by Harvinder Bhatia, Head of Central Engineering, TfL
17:05 Day four finish
Day five

08:45 Registration
09:00 Welcome

Martin Fenner, Director, Tilt Consulting
09:10 Session 6: Pursuing high reliability

Phil Dubery, Director, CPC Systems Limited
10:05 Session 7: CBTC technology on London Underground - Four Lines Modernisation programme
  • Understand the technology involved in a CBTC deployment
  • Understand how the signalling principles and technology interact to deliver a safe solution
  • Understand the practical challenges to deploying CBTC technology
  • Understand how CBTC technology combined with business change deliver benefits realisation on a major programme
Sam Etchell, Head of Engineering, Major Projects, TfL
11:00 Break
11:20 Session 8: Asset Management of Modern Systems
  • Attendees will gain an appreciation of the problems associated with newer signalling systems, learn some asset management concepts & terminology, and benefit from the experience gained with TfL's systems including its newest additions on the Elizabeth line.
Andy Heath, Principal Engineer (Rail Signalling) - TfL Engineering
Rushan Pun, Rail Signalling Engineer, TFL
12:15 Lunch
13:15 Session 9: Cyber Security

Richard Thomas, Principle Consultant, AtkinsRéalis
14:10 Break
14:20 Project workshop 2 - Drilling Down to Details

  • Teams refine their chosen signalling approach, delving deeper into technical specifics and optimising infrastructure plans. They prepare to face expert scrutiny and emerge with a robust strategy.

Run by Martin Fenner, Director, Tilt Consulting
16:20 Day five finish
Day six

09:00 Registration
09:10 Welcome

Harvinder Bhatia, Head of Central Engineering, TfL
09:15 Project workshop 3 - Red Light, Green Light, Go For It! Presenting and Polishing Signalling Designs

  • Teams confidently present their detailed signalling proposals and receive feedback. Through this collaborative review, they gain valuable insights to refine their designs and ensure optimal safety and performance

Run by Harvinder Bhatia, Head of Central Engineering, TfL
12:00 Lunch
12:30 Travel
14:00 Technical Visit to Stratford Market Depot

 

We’re upgrading our systems, and this includes changes to our customer and member account log in, MyIET. It’s part of our big picture plan to deliver a great experience for you and our wider engineering community.

Whilst most of our websites remain available for browsing, it will not be possible to log in to purchase products or access services from Thursday, 17 April to Wednesday, 30 April 2025. Our Member Relations team is here to help and for many of our services, including processing payments or orders, we’ll be able to support you over the phone on +44 (0)1438 765678 or email via membership@theiet.org.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding.

For further information related to specific products and services, please visit our FAQs webpage.

Close this message