A Digital Future for Railway Careers
The core essence of what we do is not changing: we safely move people from A to B in carriages running on two parallel lines of steel. When this is disrupted, we do all we can do to restore it so we can continue moving people safely. We have done this so well that for our customers, our service is just part of their day, a given expectation, a reliability promise.
What is changing is the underlying components that keep our trains moving. These new systems don’ t need cyber security experts; they need railway experts. Understanding how the railway works and being willing to learn a bit about how systems work behind the scenes, then railway professionals of all grades will be one step ahead of any other cyber professional. This new digital railway is not asking to change who you are. It asks you to stay curious, observant and open to learning, and that’ s something railway professionals have always been great at.
Cybersecurity may sound unfamiliar, but at its heart it’ s about protecting the same values railways staff cared about: safety, reliability and service. With the right mindset, railway professionals can lead the way in building a digital railway fit for the future.
The invitation is open: bring the operational instinct and with a few new tools you could write the next chapter in keeping passengers safe, connected and on the move.
About the Author
Originally from Argentina, Joe discovered an early passion for computers and wrote his first programming code at the age of 10.
After moving to the UK in 2002, he began his railway career as a customer service assistant and progressed through multiple operational roles. In 2018 he joined The Elizabeth Line and in 2022 he took the role of Cybersecurity Engineer.
Joe is passionate about helping nontechnical people see the relevance of cyber in their everyday railway work. By bringing people into this conversation, Joe hopes to give operators and engineers more confidence in dealing with the future of railways.
1 https:// www. telegraph. co. uk / news / 2017 / 05 / 13 / cyber-attack-hits-german-train-stations-hackers-target-deutsche /
2 https:// www. reuters. com / technology / danish-train-standstill-saturday-caused-by-cyber-attack-2022-11-03 /
3 https:// www. railjournal. com / infrastructure / italian-railway-it-system-suffers-major-cyber-attack /
4 https:// www. theguardian. com / uk-news / 2014 / mar / 10 / rush-repair-hole-dawlish-train-line-network-rail
5 https:// www. networkrailmediacentre. co. uk / news / feltham-line-to-reopen-on-monday
Meet CIRO’ s New Subject Matter Experts: Industry Leaders Shaping the Next Generation
CIRO is proud to welcome six new Subject Matter Experts( SMEs) into its academic team.
These experienced professionals will join the rail-specific elements of CIRO’ s Certificate, Diploma, and Degree programmes, ensuring that management theory is always rooted in real-world practice.
By drawing on their knowledge and lived experience, learners benefit from authentic insights that reflect the evolving challenges of today’ s railway.
SMEs are central to CIRO’ s mission of keeping qualifications both rigorous and relevant. While course content is regularly reviewed and approved, the delivery of that content is equally important. By bringing in tutors from across the industry, CIRO ensures students gain fresh perspectives, grounded in practical application, enriching their learning journey.
This year’ s new tutors represent a breadth of expertise across the sector. Here, three of them share what joining CIRO means to them.
Customer Experience in Focus: Lynsey Flack- Head of Customer Service, Contact Centre and Compliance, Greater Anglia
With nearly 25 years in the industry, Lynsey began her railway career during a tumultuous period following the Hatfield Rail Disaster, facing daunting volumes of passenger complaints. She has since witnessed dramatic changes in how customers travel, buy tickets, and interact with operators.
“ I have always worked in the world of complaint handling and customer service, and being able to clearly communicate and be understood is extremely important. Operationally, the railway has always been complex and that will never change, but complaint handling and managing customer experience is equally important and never static. I am excited to support students in considering how we communicate with customers during disruption, in normal operations, and when projects affect how they access the railway. We are still in challenging times, and passengers are more aware than ever of their rights and operator responsibilities.”
From Student to Mentor: Martin Ward- Principal Consultant, TXM Consult
Martin has been closely involved with CIRO as a student on both the BSc and MBA programmes and now joins as a tutor with nearly 25 years’ experience across freight, passenger, and consultancy.
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