Stephen Proffitt is Operations and Production Director at Rail Operations Group (ROG). A former train driver, he’s passionate about operational discipline – and explains how ROG’s ‘every move matters’ mentality is enabling it to deliver work across the national rail network, even as a smaller operator.
ROG is a specialist freight operator that provides flexible services across the national rail network. Much of our work involves supporting the wider rail industry, whether that’s moving rolling stock, assisting with new fleet introductions, or delivering specialist freight flows.
As Operations and Production Director, my role is to oversee the safe and effective delivery of those services. I’m responsible for operational standards, traincrew competence, service delivery and the planning and production of our train operations.
Although we are a relatively small operator compared to some of the established freight companies, we operate nationally and regularly undertake work across a large part of the UK network. That demands a strong focus on operational discipline, competence management and risk control.
A smaller operator with a big reach
Indeed, we’re often asked how ROG manages to operate across such a wide geographic area as a smaller organisation.
It comes down to competence management, operational planning and the systems we use to support our drivers and controllers.
Because our work is varied, our drivers often hold extensive route knowledge and traction competence. Maintaining that capability requires a structured approach. At ROG, we make extensive use of management systems such as AARK, which allows us to track route and traction experience and ensure drivers maintain currency.
And we also employ a team of established, full-time drivers and shunters, who only work for ROG.
This gives us confidence that when we roster a driver for a job, they are fully competent and current to undertake the movement.
And our customers can rest assured that any work will be carried out by competent professionals who are familiar with the route in question.
Managing operational risk and service delivery
Safety is another key concern. Although ROG is a specialist operator, we maintain the same operational discipline and safety management standards you would expect from any national freight operator.
When operating on the national railway network, organisations must take a very disciplined approach. While some movements may appear straightforward, operating safely calls for robust competence management, strong operational oversight and clear standards.
At ROG, we have developed structured internal processes, including a formal traffic acceptance process that assesses the operational risks associated with each movement before it is undertaken. This allows us to consider factors such as route knowledge, traction competence, infrastructure constraints and operational complexity before undertaking work.
Alongside this, we use systems such as AARK to track driver route and traction competence, ensuring the right drivers are allocated to the right work.
Internally, we often talk about the principle that ‘every move matters’. Whether we are supporting a freight service, moving rolling stock, or assisting another operator, the same operational discipline applies. This gives our customers piece of mind; they know work will be managed competently and safely.
ROG: A different kind of operator
Our strength is flexibility combined with operational discipline.
As discussed, much of our work involves specialist movements or supporting the wider industry. That could mean assisting with the introduction of new rolling stock fleets, moving vehicles between depots, or supporting engineering work across the network.
The varied nature of the work we undertake means our teams need to be adaptable while maintaining a strong focus on safety, competence and planning. Being a smaller organisation allows us to respond quickly to customer needs, but we still maintain the same operational standards expected of any national operator. And we have developed a strong working relationship with Network Rail, whose support in areas like performance management and train pathing has proved invaluable.
This means customers get agile, responsive service, without compromising on quality or safety.
Experiencing operations from the front line
And I understand the importance of operational discipline better than most. I began my railway career as a train driver, so I’ve experienced operations first-hand, from the front line.
My background has given me a practical understanding of how decisions made in planning, control or management ultimately affect what happens in the cab.
As I’ve progressed through operational and management roles, I’ve tried to retain that perspective. Railway operations are complex, highly disciplined environments and maintaining a strong link between operational leadership and front-line experience is important.
At ROG, many of our managers have operational backgrounds, which helps ensure that decisions around service delivery, competence management and safety are grounded in real operational experience. And this, in turn, means safer, more efficient service for our customers.
Maintaining a safety focus
I began work as a driver in the mid-2000s, when safety standards were arguably at their highest. A series of rail disasters in the 1990s had brought safety to the fore. But today, as these incidents recede from memory and cost pressures mount, the industry must ensure it doesn’t let standards slip.
We believe it’s crucial that organisations focus, not just on price, but on safety management. When competence and standards are overlooked, accidents happen.
It’s something we feel strongly about at ROG. And that’s why customers choose to work with us: they know our team will complete the job competently and safely.
The future of rail freight
But what does the future hold for this dynamic sector? Rail freight continues to play an important role in supporting the UK economy while helping to reduce emissions by shifting traffic from road to rail.
Innovation in traction is also creating new opportunities. Hybrid locomotives such as the Class 93 demonstrate how new technology can support more efficient and sustainable freight operations, as well as helping to maintain flexibility across the network.
For specialist operators like ROG, the opportunity is to continue supporting the wider industry by providing flexible and reliable operational capability, while maintaining the strong safety culture the railway depends on.
And we’ll continue to innovate. We recently introduced an innovative new Class 93 locomotive into service. The locomotive was built by Stadler, which supported successful trials alongside our partners Network Rail and Freightliner.
Capable of operating in diesel, battery, diesel hybrid and A/C modes, this locomotive represents a step change in traction. It supports our decarbonisation goals without compromising performance: during trials, the Class 93 hauled increasing loads up to a maximum of 2,100 tonnes and reached speeds of almost 60mph over Shap.
It’s a fantastic achievement, and we’re hugely grateful to our partners – including Network Rail, which helped us obtain national RA7 route clearance.
Ultimately, railway operations still come down to operational detail. Whether it is a major freight service or a single vehicle movement, the same principles apply. At ROG, we often say that every move matters, and that mindset underpins everything we do.
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5th Floor, 2 Bond Court, Leeds LS1 2JZ
