The University of Huddersfield’s renowned Institute of Railway Research (IRR) has appointed two key Visiting Professors from the railway industry.
The move aims to further translate its research activity into real-world technology solutions and to develop new modelling tools to support a predict and prevent railway asset management strategy.
Andy Doherty, Chief Technology Officer at the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE), begins his new role at the University in February this year. He will work alongside the IRR leadership team to define a long-term research plan that will seek to align the work of the Institute with the £200m investment plans for the GCRE railway system proving ground. The partnership will focus on supporting the implementation of next-generation railway technology solutions for both UK and international railway administrations.
Professor Doherty has been one of the driving forces behind the creation of GCRE in South Wales, where he currently oversees the technology strategy. GCRE will be a facility for world-class rail and mobility research, testing and showcasing of rolling stock, infrastructure and innovative new technologies. The site will be built around a state-of-the-art 6.9km high-speed test track and 4.5km lower speed high-tonnage line.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineers, with more than four decades of experience in the industry. Until the autumn of 2020, Professor Doherty was Chief Rail Technology Officer for Network Rail and has held visiting Chairs at the University of Southampton and Cranfield University.
With an aim to advance the state of the art in wheel-rail damage prediction modelling, Professor Doherty is joined by Professor Mark Burstow, Senior Technical Fellow and Principal Vehicle Track Dynamics Engineer at Network Rail (NR), who was appointed a Visiting Professor at the IRR in November 2024.
Professor Burstow is a specialist in vehicle-track interaction, with extensive knowledge in wheel-rail damage prediction. His fundamental research work underpinned the learning from the tragic rail accident at Hatfield in 2000, where the underlying cause was found to be rolling contact fatigue (RCF) of the rail head, ultimately leading to a complete fracture of the rail section and consequential fatal train derailment. Professor Burstow developed internationally recognised models for RCF and wear, which have resulted in RCF crack detection and mitigation strategies that have dramatically reduced the risk of rail breaks.
Professor Paul Allen, Director of the Institute of Railway Research (IRR) at the University of Huddersfield commented: “We are delighted to be in the position to attract the support of two extremely capable and respected railway engineers. As an ex-NR Board member, Andy brings a wealth of experience in strategic management, together with a passion and proven track record in driving a research and innovation culture in the rail industry. His appointment comes at a formative stage in the development of GCRE and we are very much looking forward to beginning the journey in strategically aligning and applying the world-leading specialist capabilities at the IRR with the global vision for rail system innovation and proving at GCRE.
“As a senior practising engineer at NR, holding a Doctorate and extensive research track record in the numerical modelling of fracture in metals, Mark will be an invaluable asset in assisting the IRR team to further extend its modelling tools and capabilities in wheel-rail damage prediction. Initial work will seek to increase understanding of the influence of high temperatures generated between the wheel and rail on wear and surface damage. As an industrial research partner for over 20 years, we very much welcome the opportunity for Mark to contribute directly to our research and support both staff and doctoral research students in their work.”
Professor Doherty commented: “I’m genuinely delighted to be joining the Institute of Railway Research at the University of Huddersfield. Cutting-edge research, technology development and working collaboratively with innovation teams and students are things I have always loved doing in my career and I’m looking forward to contributing to the vital work the institute does.
“It’s great to be joining at such a pivotal time for the rail industry. Across the UK and internationally, rail has a significant role to play in supporting our path to net zero and stimulating economic growth, but that requires new ideas, faster deployment of innovations and more cost-effective ways of developing infrastructure. These are areas where the institute plays a vital role and so I’m looking forward to getting started.”
Professor Mark Burstow commented: “Having worked alongside academia in developing knowledge and modelling tools for the prediction of wheel-rail surface damage throughout my career, I was delighted the University of Huddersfield and colleagues at the Institute of Railway Research were able to offer me the position of Visiting Professor. With several research ideas already on the table, I am excited to get started in working more closely with the IRR team.”
