Pennant International strengthens longstanding partnership with Translink
Pennant International has enjoyed a longstanding partnership with Translink for over 15 years. On Wednesday,
17th July, Pennant team members Lee White, Will Bruce, and Tom Blacker travelled to Belfast to meet with Translink’s Rail Services Change Manager, Gary Cooley, and Change Control Supervisor for Rail Operations, Stephen Faulkner. The purpose of their visit was to conduct a project and sales review, engaging with key personnel from Northern Ireland’s sole rail operator.
In the final quarter of 2023, Pennant and Translink solidified a 5-year framework agreement to deliver driver training projects, in response to substantial government investment in public transport. The first project under this framework began in December 2023, focusing on a comprehensive Driver Training package designed to reflect the newly commissioned rail infrastructure surrounding the Belfast Transport Hub. The project’s scope included filming, modelling, and mapping new routes into and out of the hub, alongside implementing mandated speed and signal adjustments.
During their visit, the Pennant team conducted a successful face-to-face project review, which included a valuable lessons learned session. This meeting also allowed Pennant to showcase its extensive range of products and services to Translink. Translink expressed great satisfaction with the project’s execution, acknowledging the high-quality training package delivered to end users, despite initial challenges in providing baselined data. The review also provided both companies with the opportunity to identify areas for improvement in future collaborations.
The discussions also touched on Pennant’s completion of driver briefing videos and 3D models for the new routes leading to Belfast’s Grand Central Station. Following this, the team held a presentation for technical and operational leads in Signalling and Telegraph (S&T), Training, and Programme Management, highlighting Pennant’s broader capabilities. These included electrical and signalling simulators, virtual reality training products, e-learning, and technical documentation, which all garnered significant interest.
Translink confirmed that Pennant’s timely delivery of driver briefing training services contributed to advancing the opening of Grand Central Station by four weeks.
The visit to Belfast underscored the strength of the relationship between Pennant International and Translink, as well as their shared commitment to advancing Northern Ireland’s rail infrastructure. The successful project review and the interest shown in Pennant’s wider offerings bode well for future collaborations.
Pennant International Group plc (LON:PEN) was established over 60 years ago and is a leading global provider of technology-based maintainer training and integrated product support solutions. The Group operates worldwide, with offices in Europe, North America and Australasia.
