On 11 June, the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators (CIRO) held a special Jubilee Lunch for over 200 guests from across the rail industry to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Speaking at this event Lord Peter Hendy commented on the valuable work that CIRO was doing to promote this highest of standards amongst its membership. Its chair, Jim Meade commented that CIRO has given railway operators the tools, recognition, and professional community they deserve, while CEO Phil Sherratt spoke of the Institution’s evolving role in supporting a modern skilled workforce.
Other events during this anniversary year included the naming of a GB Railfreight Class 66 locomotive after the Institution and various events aligned with the national Railway 200 campaign.
Railway operators
The profession of railway operator is as old as the railway itself. Two hundred years ago, this new guided transport system could not move around obstacles on the track and had trains travelling at unprecedented high speeds. Operating this novel system safely and efficiently needed a disciplined approach to the management of trains and the development of rules. This required staff to learn and follow the rule book and understand how the railway worked. Historically, railway management was promoted from the ranks of these individuals and so had the benefit of years of practical experience that provided managers with an understanding of what would work and what would not.
However, with the fragmentation of the rail industry it was no longer possible for prospective railway operators to gain the required cross-industry skills to become a competent railway operator. At a Rail Summit in 1998 it was recognised that an Institution of Railway Operators (IRO) was required to address the shortage of operational skills which threatened the ambition of a first-class railway. Founding members from all parts of the industry defined how IRO would operate. Membership of the institution was to be open to all operating staff including train crew, signallers, and train planners.
IRO was officially launched in 2000 with an inaugural lecture by Chris Green who, at the time, was CEO of Virgin Trains. Green considered that, as a successful railway required both professional engineers and operators, IRO was the “missing institution”. IRO aimed to raise the standard of railway operators through education in the same way that the professional engineering institutions promote the development and education of their members. Thus, IRO had an ambition for operators to be accredited up to degree level.
Education and development
In 2005, IRO started its first course with Glasgow Caledonian University which offered students the chance to study for a BSc degree in railway operations management. The Professional Operations Development (POD) framework was developed by the IRO and has been the foundation of professional learning in railway operations ever since.
Today, POD continues to underpin all of the CIRO’s learning and development offerings – from online short courses and apprenticeships to degree-level study and the MBA in Railway Operations. It also promotes whole system thinking to advance understanding of the main relationships in the rail system and the consequences and trade-offs involved in decision making. In 2012, it was decided that the POD elements should be composed of the following 12 elements:
- Performance management.
- Delivering passenger and freight services.
- Managing safety.
- Delivering customer service.
- Operational planning and timetabling.
- Train movement control systems.
- Rolling stock and fleet management.
- Railway engineering, maintenance, and renewal management.
- People and change.
- Railway organisations business context.
- Financial and investment planning.
- Emergency and incident management.
2013 saw the launch of IRO Learn which was a platform to increase accessibility of learning to more operators with new e-learning aligned to the POD framework. This was revamped with new materials in 2020 to become the Rail Academy.
The Rail Academy used technology that allowed IRO corporate members to adapt their employees’ learning to their business while still meeting the POD standard. Corporate members were given a free ‘room’ setup in which they could allocate IRO e-learning resources and undertake assessments.
In 2023, CIRO received Ofqual recognition as an awarding organisation which allows it to develop qualifications under its royal charter.
From the start, some companies, such as South West Trains recognised the importance of the training and development offered by the IRO. When a company becomes a corporate member, its employees can join free of charge at Affiliate or Associate level so that they have access to the Institution’s learning resources.
10,000th member
In 2021, IRO welcomed its 10,000th member and also became ‘CIRO’ as it achieved chartered status. This was granted by Queen Ellizabeth II on the advice of the Privy Council, in recognition of its work to enhance the professionalism in railway operations through its training and development programmes.
CIRO is based in Stafford. Its first office opened there in 2012. Prior to that, its volunteers and staff worked from home. From the start, IRO set up Area Councils throughout the UK to arrange presentations, visits, and social gatherings. There are currently six UK Area Councils plus those for Ireland, Australia / New Zealand, and South Africa.
The current organisation and training provided by CIRO is the result of the vision of its founder members who feared that their experience and knowledge might be lost with the segregation of the industry following its privatisation.
The Institution’s current vision is specified in its 2024-2026 strategic plan. This aligns with the priorities outlined in Labour’s Plan to Fix Britain’s Railways, as it supports key themes such as workforce development, operational excellence, and creating a railway that works for everyone and focuses on:
- Building a high-profile reputation.
- Enhancing the professional standing of rail operations professionals.
- Expanding global reach and influence.
- Becoming the learning provider of choice in rail education.
- Creating an inclusive and sustainable organisation.
CIRO CEO Phil Sherratt, who joined the Institution in October 2024, commented that these values reflect CIRO’s “ambition to be at the forefront of rail operations, supporting workforce development and industry growth. As the UK rail industry embarks on a new era with GBR reform, CIRO stands ready to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.”
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