George Ramshaw Curry Prestige Lecture

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Even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the passenger rolling stock market was changing. With the eagerly-awaited Williams review promising structural change to the management of passenger rail services, the decarbonisation agenda requiring significant changes to rolling stock, and increasing competition in the market, we were already living in challenging times.

The pandemic has been a further catalyst for change, adding to the that challenges that the supply chain now faces:

The reduction in passenger numbers and uncertainty about when (or if) they will return
Franchises changing to Emergency Measures Agreements, Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements, Direct Awards and ultimately New Rail Contracts
Reassuring the travelling public that travelling by train is as safe as it can be.

Whatever the future shape of the passenger railway, the financial pressure that that the industry is now under means that it will be imperative that we are able to utilise the assets that we have, and to seek ways of improving efficiency to continue to deliver value to passengers and taxpayers.

About George Ramshaw Curry

George Ramshaw Curry was the fourth and longest serving Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association. After obtaining a First Class Honours degree at Trinity College, Cambridge and a brief spell in industry, in 1951 he joined what was then the Locomotive Manufacturers’ Association (which had been founded in 1875) as Assistant Director. He was appointed Director in 1954.

Over the next 31 years, Curry was responsible for the progressive expansion of both the scope and membership of the Association. This was reflected in the changes of title, first to the ‘Locomotive & Allied Manufacturers’ Association’, and then in 1971 to the all-embracing ‘Railway Industry Association’ - RIA. By the time George Curry retired in October 1985, RIA was stronger in terms of membership, influence and activities than ever before. Yet, in a technology-based industry, he was always conscious that it is people who make things happen. Many engineers and managers throughout the industry benefited from his personal interest in their careers.

In recognition of his immense contribution to the railway industry, George Curry was made a Companion of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in October 1985, a rare distinction awarded to those non-engineers who have rendered important services to mechanical engineering. In June 1986 he died after a brief illness.

Felix Schmid
Programme Director - MSc Railway Systems Engineering and Integration
University of Birmingham

Euan Smith
Head of Product Management, Angel Trains Limited
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