NEWSLETTER

Q4 | 2024

So, after a well-deserved Christmas break for some of our team, it’s a good time to reflect on 2024.

Every year, the OTT team amazes me with your commitment and attitude. I am incredibly proud to have you represent this company. Honestly, I’ve run out of ways to express my gratitude.

We’ve shared laughs and losses this past year, as well as successes and challenges. Through it all, your resilience and teamwork have been inspiring.

As we enter 2025, let’s move forward with the same drive and dedication as last year. Together, we will continue to grow as a business and as individuals.

Here’s to another successful year ahead. Let’s make it a great one! Thank you all.

Message from Daryl Irwin

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A large industrial generator with a blue and yellow exterior is loaded on a flatbed truck inside a warehouse. The generator has vents and a small window, and the background includes a yellow overhead crane and metal shelving units.

FLASH BUTT WELDER
UPDATE!
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We are thrilled to announce the arrival of a brand-new Flash Butt Welder from GEISMAR, set to revolutionise how we operate at On Track Technicians.

This state-of-the-art machine is designed to enhance precision, efficiency, and safety across our railway projects, enabling us to deliver even higher standards of excellence for our clients.

This innovative addition to our fleet showcases our commitment to staying at the forefront of railway technology and continually improving the services we offer. The Flash Butt Welder represents a significant investment in both our future and the ongoing development of the railway industry.

Stay tuned as we put this incredible piece of equipment into action—demonstrating how cutting-edge technology and a dedicated team can transform railway operations. Exciting times ahead!

TRANSLINK FRAMEWORK 111
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On Track Technicians are proud to share photos from our first site as one of Translink's appointed contractors to secure over 300 miles of track boundary.

Safety is Translink’s top priority, and our work together will ensure the continued protection of the NI Railways network.

The project aims to:

  • Strengthen and maintain the NI Railways boundary

  • Deter trespassing on railway property

  • Minimize animal incursions for rail safety

Our team has completed the first site, installing Translink’s high-specification stockproof fence with durable Moore Concrete precast strainer posts, reinforcing our shared commitment to network safety.

Snow-covered dirt road in a rural landscape during sunset, with a fence along the right side and open fields on both sides.
Construction workers installing a fence along a dirt road in an open field on a sunny day.
A muddy construction site on a rural road with a partially built fence on the left and a red excavator arm on the right, with fields and a sunset sky in the background.

SUPPORTING IRISH RAIL
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Proud to Support Irish Rail Over the Holidays

This Christmas season, the On Track Technicians team has been hard at work supporting Irish Rail to ensure smooth and efficient operations during this busy time of year. From maintenance to critical upgrades, our team has been dedicated to keeping the network safe and reliable for all passengers.

A huge thank you to our incredible staff for their commitment and expertise throughout the festive period. Together, we’re making a real difference on the tracks! 

A group of 17 construction workers on railway tracks, dressed in orange safety suits and helmets, some holding tools, on a construction site with buildings in the background.

2024 NEW CAPABILITY DOCUMENT
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We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our updated 2024 Capability Document!

Discover our complete range of services, cutting-edge expertise, and the skilled team that makes it all happen. Whether you’re planning a major project or need tailored railway solutions, we’ve got you covered.

Let’s make 2024 a year of innovation, collaboration, and success on the tracks!

Cover and inside pages of a capability statement brochure for On Track Technicians, featuring an image of construction workers inside a building and a cityscape at sunset on the cover.
Icon of a ladder inside a circle of dots.

THIRD PARTY WORKS

Working within 50 meters of the railway boundary?

Working within 200 meters of a level crossing?

Working with the potential to cause ‘blocking back’?

Need advice? Contact our team

Graphic showing that RAILPEOPLE equals RAILCHAT, with photos of James Shanley, Matthew Murnane, and Bonnie Price, labeled as Young Rail Professionals.

Young Rail Professionals

Graphic with an illustration of a train symbol and the text 'Railpeople equals Railchat' on the left side; on the right side, a photo of a smiling man wearing a cap and sunglasses making a peace sign, with the text 'Gerard McLeran equals GME Coaching'

Gerard McErlean - GME Coaching

Graphic comparing legislative and fitness branding, with the left side showing a circular logo resembling a train symbol and the words "Railpeople" and "Railchat," and the right side featuring a smiling man wearing a blue cap and shirt, with the text "Jamie Wilkinson" and "ONE2ONE Fitness."

Jamie Wilkinson - One2One Fitness

RAIL PEOPLE, RAIL CHAT
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As we wrapped up the year, the Rail People, Rail Chat podcast welcomed an incredible lineup of guests who brought fresh perspectives and inspiring stories.

We were thrilled to chat with Jamie Wilkinson from One2One Fitness, Gerard McErlean from GME Coaching, and Bonnie, Matthew, and James from Young Rail Professionals. Their insights covered everything from fitness and coaching to inspiring the next generation of railway talent.

A huge thank you to all our guests for sharing their journeys and expertise. If you’d like to join us on the podcast and share your own story, get in touch—we’d love to hear from you!

Let’s keep the conversations going in 2025! 🎙️

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Amazon Music logo with white text on a blue circular background.
Apple Podcasts icon with a purple background and white podcast symbol.

Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Sectoral Partnership
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On Track Technicians were delighted to host the Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Sectoral Partnership.

It’s always inspiring to see industry leaders and partners driving forward apprenticeship opportunities and innovation in manufacturing.

Again, a huge thank you to all involved, including SP employers, NI universities and FE sectors, Department for the Economy, CCEA Regulation, and Development Partners.

Great to be part of such a progressive group!

A group of people sitting around a U-shaped conference table in a meeting room, with a large screen displaying 'CURVE Training & Consultancy' at the front.
A gym with various fitness equipment, including weights and squat racks. There are three men working out and a young girl standing on a green turf area.

NOVEMBER MENTAL HEALTH MONTH

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In November for Mental Health Month, our team embraced activities to boost both physical and mental well-being

We kicked things off with an energising group training session at One2One Fitness NI, led by the brilliant Jamie Wilkinson and David. 💪 The session left us buzzing (and maybe a bit sore), but the mood boost and camaraderie were well worth it! A huge thanks to the One2One team for putting us through our paces—it’s always great to come together and focus on fitness. 🙌

Later in the month, some of our team swapped the gym for the outdoors, enjoying a coffee and a refreshing run with GME Coaching at Wallace Park, Lisburn. It was fantastic to see some of the OTT kids join in, making it a true family affair! 🏃‍♀️☕

These moments of connection, movement, and fresh air remind us of the simple yet powerful ways we can support our mental well-being. Let’s keep building on this momentum—small steps lead to big changes!

Here’s to prioritising health and happiness, both on and off the tracks.

Group of nine people posing in front of a black wall with a white kettlebell logo, some holding water bottles, one child in front, on a wet outdoor surface.
A group of people jogging and walking in a park on a sunny day. Trees are bare, and the grass is green.
A group of children and adults gathered on and around a park bench, some sitting and some standing, outdoors in a park with leafless trees and a grassy hill. Several strollers are present, and everyone is dressed warmly, suggesting cool weather.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM RECENT EVENTS
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Young Rail Professionals (YRP) Launch Ireland

Our Strategic Director, Andrew Irwin, and Training & Development Manager, Kathleen Faloon, attended the YRP Launch Ireland, an event that brought together industry leaders to discuss the future of rail. Highlights included:

• Piers Wood, Managing Director at Alstom Ireland, sharing insights on the DART+ Battery-Electric Rolling Stock project.

• Peter Adams, Rail Business Lead at Arup Ireland, discussing the All-Island Strategic Rail Review with a focus on sustainable connectivity and regional development.

Thank you to the YRP team for organising such a fantastic event. Discover more about YRP and their mission here: Learn more about YRP

Horizon Europe Roadshow

Andrew Irwin also represented OTT at the Horizon Europe Roadshow in Lisburn. This event provided valuable insights into growth opportunities through innovation, with key speakers sharing expertise on collaboration and support initiatives.

Special thanks to the speakers from Invest Northern Ireland, Ulster University, Queen’s University Belfast, and other organisations who made this event a rich learning experience. The networking opportunities were invaluable for fostering future partnerships and growth.

PWI Belfast Meeting at the Clayton Hotel

OTT was delighted to attend one of the largest PWI meetings in Belfast, which featured in-depth discussions on the Belfast Grand Central Station.

Key highlights included:

• Cathal Mangan, Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail, introducing the session.

• Mervyn McCollam, Translink, sharing the 10-year journey to deliver the project.

• Lisa McFadden, Translink, providing insights into the project’s management and the challenges overcome for its successful completion.

This meeting offered a fantastic platform to connect with professionals and gain deeper insights into Belfast’s evolving rail infrastructure. A big thank you to all the organisers for their hospitality and effort in hosting such an informative event.

OTT PHOTOGRAPHY

It's no secret that On Track Technicians are skilled at maintaining and repairing railways, but what many people don't know is that they also have some amazing photographers among their ranks, capturing stunning images that showcase the true artistry of this mode of transportation.

You might say that these technicians have a knack for capturing the rail-y great moments!

A railway worker in orange safety gear stands on train tracks with a rainbow in the cloudy sky overhead.

Photo by Barry McGuigan

Nighttime rescue scene with firefighters and rescue technicians wearing red uniforms and helmets working below a stone wall, illuminated by a bright light, with dense greenery in the foreground.

Photo by Penny McGeown

Nighttime view of train tracks with a colored sky, a bridge in the distance, and hills on either side.

Photo by Gaz Tweats

Northern lights (aurora borealis) lighting up the night sky above a train track, with trees on both sides.

Photo by Gaz Tweats

Say “Hello” to our team

A man with glasses, a beard, and a mustache wearing a tuxedo with a gold-patterned jacket and a black bow tie at a formal event.

John Teggart

Commercial Manager

About John:

I am married with 2 children and live near the office.  I have been in the company for over 3 years and am involved in procurement, insurance, tendering and contract terms and conditions. Trained as a Quantity Surveyor over 50 years ago in the Ulster Polytechnic, I have worked mostly overseas with construction contractors and consultants on railways, airports, dams, hospitals, etc.  I aim to increasingly share my extensive construction project knowledge with the company to assist in building and sustaining relationships with our railway clients.

Hobbies:

I’m a keen stills photographer. I regularly go to the gym and swim.  I constantly enjoy rugby (watching only now), and I have a certain set of golf skills that do not scare anyone!

A young woman with blonde hair, glasses, red lipstick, and earrings smiling at a social gathering.

Shannon O’Rawe

Finance Assistant

About Shannon:

This month marks one year at OTT as Finance Assistant for me. I graduated from UUM with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Studies with Accounting and found this helped me fit into OTT finance team perfectly. Although I have no prior knowledge or experience working in the railway industry, I was welcomed warmly - the team are continuously offering their knowledge and experiences that I can gain from.

I mainly run the Purchase Ledger within my department and find it rewarding meeting deadlines, liaising with suppliers & balancing accounts. I am met with new tasks weekly which enables me to enhance my skillset.

Hobbies:

I am a mum of a 2-year-old which keeps me busy! I’m a 3rd Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo that I started when I was a child. While I don’t actively compete anymore, I now take my daughter to classes which she loves and enables me to train & coach with a different perspective. I have recently started running and have been enjoying the journey so far.