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Director for digital railway joins WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff

WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff has announced the appointment of Paul Bates as director for digital railway as part of its strategic growth in the technology sector of the rail market.

This follows the company being awarded a place on Network Rail’s Digital Railway’s Multi-Functional Design Framework (MFD) earlier this year.

Paul Bates was previously project director on Network Rail’s Thameslink programme, responsible for implementing a European Train Control System (ETCS) level 2 signalling system, which allows trains to move safely at a closer spacing. Before joining Network Rail in 2008, Bates held a number of senior leadership roles, including as director of engineering for Thales Rail Signalling Solutions, where he led the implementation of new control systems for the Jubilee Line upgrade. Paul previously worked at WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff from 2000-2001.

He is a fellow of both the Institute Railway Signal Engineers and the Institute of Engineering & Technology.

“Digital rail marks the next chapter for our industry in the UK and abroad and having brought ETCS to Thameslink, I am keen to expand WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff’s reputation in this growing field. I particularly look forward to developing the capability of our talented engineers to extend our digital offer to our clients," Bates said.

WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff UK head of rail, Darren Reed, said: “Digital rail and the safety, efficiency and environmental benefits it promises are undoubtedly an expanding area of interest in the UK and abroad, hence our investment in talent in this area. Having Paul on board will strengthen our technical expertise for the benefit of our clients. I am delighted to welcome him to our rail team.”

WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff has been rapidly building its digital rail, train control and communications business. In July, Jon Guaschi previously ETCS project manager at Govia Thameslink Railway, joined the company as  principal operations planning consultant. In August, Karl King joined from Mott MacDonald as principal systems development engineer.