1. 2 EXPERTVIEW SUMMER 2015 EXPERTVIEW SUMMER 2015 3expertviewmagazine.com expertviewmagazine.com
R
ail can often be a cheap and easy form
of travel, transporting both people and
goods domestically and internationally.
Emerging economies around the
world often see evolving rail systems as key to
their development. The UK has a long railway
history and is still considered a centre of
knowledge and expertise, despite its own rail
services falling somewhat behind those in the
European, Asian and Middle Eastern markets.
Vector Consultants has been heavily involved
in improving the performance of UK rail systems
and is keen to rejuvenate the industry. Alan
Stevens, Director at Vector Consultants, wants
to unlock the sector’s potential by improving
efficiency and drawing more custom across the
rail industry. He says, “We have worked with
a number of groups trying to improve their
performance, such as South West Trains who
work on some very difficult networks through
Clapham Junction. We were able to offer them
wide ranging recommendations from operations
through to leadership and customer experience,
and now the company is one of the most successful
TOC’s (Train Operating Companies) in the UK.”
COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES
As well as improving the general operations of the
rail network, Alan Stevens sees great possibilities
For further information go to
www.vector-consultants.com
JUST LIKE
AVIATION, THE
RAIL INDUSTRY
BENEFITS
HUGELY FROM
INTERNATIONAL
COLLABORATION.’
GETTING
THE RAIL
INDUSTRY
BACK ON
TRACK
AS THE AVIATION SECTOR
PROFITS FROM HUGE
INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT,
IT IS RAILWAYS THAT REMAIN A
CRUCIAL PART OF ANY NATION’S
INFRASTRUCTURE. IMPROVED
EFFICIENCY AND GREATER
REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES
ARE KEY TO UNLOCKING THE
SECTOR’S POTENTIAL SAYS
ALAN STEVENS, DIRECTOR
AT VECTOR CONSULTANTS
for rail companies to make more revenue by
improving customer services. This is one area
where the rail industry has dramatically fallen
behind the aviation sector. “The inability to
recognise revenue opportunities is chronic, he
explains. “We can really help with this problem.
There are huge opportunities to extract extra
revenue from customers, but the services on offer
are very poor.” Vector blames this on a ‘race-to-
the-bottom’ approach where the rail companies
try to save money by putting less emphasis on
ancillary revenue. However Alan argues that if there
were more high quality food and drink on offer
then more people would buy it, thus expanding
commercial opportunities. With any train journey
longer than two hours the opportunities increase
further, with potential to mimic the aviation
sector with services that generate in excess
of five pounds per passenger per journey. .
Just like aviation, the rail industry benefits
hugely from international collaboration. Vector
has been working alongside the Japanese rail
manufacturing company Hitachi to build a state of
the art factory in the UK, and Alan is enthusiastic
about the lessons that can be learnt from these
Asian specialists. “Their product is second to none.
A few winters ago when we had heavy snow in
the UK and there were no other trains running
in the country apart from the Hitachi trains, just
has stopped, and what is going to happen next.”
The passenger experience is key to a successful
transport system, and the new technology being
introduced across the UK network will enable far
improved communication during the journey.
Vector is keen to use its expertise not just to
improve the services in the UK, but around the
world. Dubai’s huge development in the last few
years has been partly based on its state-of-the-art
metro system. There are similar plans in Saudi
Arabia, and Alan is keen to explore the region
further. “The pace at which these regions are
growing demands a greater transport infrastructure,
and we have the expertise to help deal with that.
The demand for our design and consultancy
products in the Middle East is phenomenal.”
The South-Eastern line through Ashford to
London is offering a glimpse into the future of
UK rail. “Those trains are as good as any train in
the world, they are fantastic,” claims Alan. Vector
is extremely confident in the potential for the rail
industry, both in terms of improving infrastructure
and creating revenue for the rail companies
themselves. “The last ten years have centred on the
development of aviation as a mode of transport,”
says Alan. “I believe the next ten will be about rail.”
because of their high standard of engineering.”
Vector is confident that this can make a major
difference to an industry which has not quite had
the innovation of other sectors in recent years. Alan
says, “There is a real opportunity now for Hitachi
to bring a new culture of modern thinking and
high quality design to the UK rail industry.
A similar phenomenon occurred within
the motor industry a few years ago.”
PASSENGER EXPERIENCE
This international collaboration
works both ways, and so while
the UK can learn from the
Japanese on an engineering
level, Vector is keen to replicate
its own consultancy worldwide
in the areas of operations
and communication. “We are
particularly good at helping our
client’s communicate effectively
with the customer,” says Alan.
“We worked alongside London
Underground for a number of
years and now they are very
good at interacting with the
public. If a train ever stops
the driver will immediately
inform the passengers why it
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THE CONSULTANT’S VIEW: VECTOR CONSULTANTS