Jim is a Mechanical and Electrical Engineer with thirty seven years experience in the rail industry. Within British Rail, he held a number of traction and rolling stock fleet management and technical positions before moving into M. & E. Plant with Network SouthEast. He also ran an internal consultancy group supporting the non-engineering disciplines on Southern Region, plus a major productivity programme for fleet maintenance depots. After privatisation, Jim was the Engineering Director for Freightliner, helping it to become a successful company from its acknowledged, difficult start. For the last seven years, Jim has operated as an independent consultant to over twenty eight clients, including government agencies, train operating companies and major rail consultancies. Recent assignments include technical support to Glasgow Airport Rail Link project team, sponsorship of all infrastructure and rolling stock projects for Southern Region plus two new stations on the West London Line, technical and operating advice to franchise development teams, franchise bid teams and major consultancies. Other recent projects included depot and fleet maintenance strategy advice, development and implementation of maintenance plans in the UK and for the Central Asian railway, development of new locomotive and fleet procurement specifications, negotiating onward lease of surplus electric locomotives, running trials of alternative brake block materials, review and critique of major bid documents, development of European Interoperability Standards, interpretation of UK standards and development for company use and project management of fixed equipment schemes.

Jim Hailstone has experience of working overseas in countries including France, Uzbekistan as well as many years working with British Rail in the United Kingdom. Jim is also a member if the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and Institute of Electrical Engineers as well as the Independent Rail Consultancy Group (IRCG).

Jim's signature projects include the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvements Programme - systems integration, rolling stock and depot issues; Glasgow Airport Rail Link - technical advisor, design interface and rolling stock issues; Southern New Trains Programme - sponsor - power supply and other infrastructure upgrades; West London Line - new stations at Shepherds Bush and Imperial Wharf - sponsor and rail interface issues; MTR/Laing - rolling stock and other technical advice - member of winning bid team for London Overground rail.

You can contact David by email using the secure contact form below. Please make sure to include a valid email address otherwise he won't be able to respond. All messages will be answered as soon as possible.