SYSTRA celebrates success on Strathclyde bus strategy 

SYSTRA celebrates success on Strathclyde bus strategy 

Specialists at the multi-disciplinary engineering and consultancy company have supported Strathclyde Partnership for Transport to deliver the Strathclyde Regional Bus Strategy (SRBS) since 2023. 

And the project won the Best Practice in Transport Planning award at a ceremony in Glasgow earlier this month. 

SYSTRA, which has offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh , began by developing the Case for Change for the strategy before further work on an Options Appraisal in 2024. 

Teams then collaborated to support a formal public consultation on the options for bus reform which led onto the development of the final SRBS. 

Laurence Venables, Associate at SYSTRA, worked on the project and attended the awards alongside the client, partners and stakeholders. 

“It was a brilliant night with some worthy recognition for a wide variety of transport projects and teams across Scotland,” he said. 

“Working on the SRBS was both a privilege and a learning experience for our teams. We were able to develop a robust set of policies and measures, alongside an action plan, to deliver a transformed bus network for the region. 

“SYSTRA supported at all stages of the strategy development process, speaking to councils and operators, developing a comprehensive and ambitious network plan, and formulating a framework of bus reform options.” 

The draft SRBS was taken to formal consultation in 2025 and received more than 5,000 responses. The SPT Partnership Board approved the strategy in 2025 and the SPT has since moved forward with developing a franchising process for the region.

And Laurence says the award recognition signals the importance of securing resilient bus provision and services to regions across the country. 

“This feels like a great time for bus in the UK,” he said. 

“There’s a growing recognition of its crucial role for communities and economies, supported by investment and policy moves to place it front and centre. 

“The awards handed out were testament to the progress being made, with bus initiatives notable by their prominence across all the nominations.” 

More here on how SYSTRA is helping local authorities and bus operators design and deliver innovative, financially viable and sustainable bus services.

Putting journey planning back on the map

The app, called Ride, allows users to plan, book and pay before riding buses, trains, trams, rental e-scooters and e-bikes.

Future mobility specialists at SYSTRA lead the options appraisal for the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform, which was tailored to the transport networks in Nottingham and Derby. 

The project involved extensive stakeholder engagement and co-design; using interviews and workshops to identify and prioritise key platform features based on local needs.

Alastair Kitson, Associate at SYSTRA, said: “We’re delighted to have supported in the development, management, and delivery of the procurement process for Ride – which enabled the selection of preferred MaaS supplier Trafi.

“Our role also included programme management, defining key activities, and supporting an engagement programme to develop a high-level technical blueprint. This important work informed provider specifications and supplemented ITT documentation.”

Ride has been described by Councillor Linda Woodings, Executive Member for Regional Development, Growth and Transport at Nottingham City Council, as “one of the first of its kind in the country” and “transformative” in how people track public transport options. 

SYSTRA is committed to helping shape the sustainable, user-focused transport solutions of the future across the UK and Ireland. 

Our teams help clients forge better links between stakeholders across the mobility sector. As with the Ride app, SYSTRA ensures partners and suppliers work collaboratively to develop practical, useful travel services, supported by accessible passenger planning and booking tools.

SYSTRA celebrates five decades in Ireland and Cork office expansion 

SYSTRA, the French-headquartered engineering consultancy with two offices in Ireland, has marked 50 years of supporting connectivity and growth in the country and the expansion of its Cork office. 

To celebrate its new base at Penrose One, Penrose Dock, SYSTRA hosted a special event which was attended by distinguished guests Her Excellency the French Ambassador to Ireland Céline Place; Maxime Augé – Head of Economic Department at the Embassy of France in Ireland;  Christine Deniel-Spicer, Senior Trade Advisor at Business France Ireland, and Sarah Madjedi, VP Sales and Bids at SYSTRA.  

Colleagues from SYSTRA’s Cork and Dublin offices were also joined by key stakeholders from across Ireland’s business, transport and infrastructure communities to mark the opening of the larger premises, which reflect SYSTRA’s growth in Cork since opening its first office there in 2023. 

Her Excellency the French Ambassador to Ireland Céline Place, said: “Ireland is investing heavily in its transport, rail, energy and water infrastructure to support sustainable growth and the transition to a low‑carbon economy. 

“With their expertise of complex projects across the full project lifecycle — from strategic planning to design and delivery — French companies like SYSTRA are well positioned to support these national priorities. I warmly congratulate the SYSTRA teams in Cork and across Ireland for their commitment and achievements and wish them every success.” 

Sarah Madjedi, VP Sales & Bids at SYSTRA, said: “Over the decades, Ireland has offered us far more than business opportunities. It has provided talent, trust, and an environment where long-term partnerships can truly flourish. 

“As we move into this new office this expansion is not only about additional square metres. It is about vision; about investing in people; and about embedding an innovative and sustainable approach to support the next decades of growth.” 

Ian Byrne, Business Director for Ireland at SYSTRA, said: “We are proud to have been part of Ireland’s infrastructure story for over half a century, from our first work in 1975 on the Dublin Rapid Rail Transit Study, to more recent projects such as Dublin and Cork BusConnects, Cork Luas, City Edge, Liffey Valley Bus Interchange Scheme, Greater Dublin Area and Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategies and so many more. 

“With the strength of our Ireland team and the backing of our global SYSTRA colleagues, we are ready to continue playing our part in helping Ireland deliver a sustainable future that supports growth.” 

SYSTRA has played a central role in Ireland’s development for more than 50 years, supporting major infrastructure programmes that enhance connectivity and enable economic growth. Its multidisciplinary teams continue to deliver innovative sustainable solutions across the full project lifecycle from early planning and modelling through design, delivery and operation.

SYSTRA’s Cork office is now located on the 5^th floor, Penrose One, Penrose Dock, Cork T23 YY09. 

Mental Health Awareness Week – Embracing wellness to prevent burnout 

Taking care of your wellbeing both in and out of the workplace is vital in promoting good mental health – something our colleagues at SYSTRA are deeply invested in.

As a core value of our business, working as connected teams is at the heart of how we operate. Through our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme, Everyone Onboard, and via our dedicated Wellness Champions, we embrace togetherness and understanding whilst continually supporting health and wellbeing across our teams.  

Fostering a supportive, wellbeing-focused work environment plays a big role in preventing burnout. By avoiding unnecessary stress through proactive, sustainable lifestyle changes, our colleagues are keen advocates for a healthy work-life balance and embracing mental wellbeing.  

Our wellness-focused podcasts showcase colleagues who are passionate about topics such as mental health, work-life balance and stress management. In each episode, they share insights around managing health and wellbeing with work. Catch up on recent episodes here: 

To mark this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, which takes place from 11th to 17th May, we asked some of our colleagues about what they do to look after their own wellbeing: 

Emma Pym, Associate, said: “I really enjoy a good book, time with my friends and family, cuddles with my cat Stella, exploring new places, good food, good coffee and a visit to my local brewery.” 

Michael Westwood, Team Leader, said staying active is important to him. 

“I like to run and I find that coaching my son’s rugby team helps to take my mind off work,” he said. 

“As a Level Crossings team, we were recently lucky enough to attend a wellbeing afternoon at a local yoga retreat where we experienced the extensive benefits of yoga and a healthy lunch.” 

Sarah White, Marketing & Communications Manager, said she loves cycling and initially bought a bike to get her to the station for her commute. 

“But during lockdown when we had an hour a day to go out and exercise, I went out on my bike and discovered all the local country parks and common land,” she added. 

“This is something I’ve continued exploring and I’ve even completed the London to Brighton bike ride twice.” 

Find out more about our values: https://www.systra.com/uk/who-we-are/ambition-values/ 

SYSTRA supports start of major road scheme to boost connectivity in Scotland 

Our transport planning specialists played an important role in supporting North Ayrshire Council’s bid to upgrade the B714. 

The £34.7 million project includes significant improvements on a key artery between the Three Towns and the Garnock Valley, connecting North Ayrshire with Glasgow. 

SYSTRA’s role involved developing the business case for the scheme following our support in developing the original funding bid. 

The full business case has been approved by the UK Government with £23.69 million funding provided towards the scheme through the Levelling Up Fund. 

A groundbreaking event on 12^th March  officially marked the start of construction along the first phase of work. 

Project Manager Ian Bruce, Associate Director at SYSTRA, said: “We were delighted to see the upgrade scheme receive final approval from the UK Government. 

“We have worked closely with North Ayrshire Council over several years to ensure a robust business case provided clarity on the positive outcomes the multimillion-pound project will deliver. 

“At SYSTRA, we’re committed to supporting sustainable infrastructure projects with an evidence-based approach that captures the long-term benefits to communities. 

“We were able to work collaboratively to highlight how the B714 upgrade will reduce congestion and provide enhanced connectivity across the locality. The business case identified how the improved route will open up opportunities to people living in the surrounding areas and we look forward to seeing the construction move forward in the coming months.” 

 Creating a neuroinclusive workplace at SYSTRA – Neurodiversity Celebration Week

Our employee resource groups (ERGs) play an important role in achieving this goal – giving colleagues the opportunity to network with like-minded people, support each other through challenges and drive positive change throughout the business. 

Our disability ERG is a shining example of the impact employee-driven groups can have in the workplace. This Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we’re celebrating their neurodiversity-focused achievements from 2025.

Community building 

Over 2025 the ERG has blossomed into a thriving community where colleagues regularly collaborate and support each other with a range of day-to-day tasks. By providing a place for neurodiverse and other disabled colleagues to talk through any problems they may be facing, the ERG has become an integral part of helping colleagues thrive.

The group have found success using different tools and ways of working, including art wellness sessions over lunch times to decompress midday and regular body-doubling sessions to create an environment for increased focus and deep thinking. 

Raising awareness and sharing information 

The group celebrated many successes over 2025 in raising awareness around neurodivergent conditions both within SYSTRA and to the wider industry. They published three podcast episodes: two focusing on navigating the workplace with ADHD and seeking diagnosis, and one insight into life as a parent and carer of a neurodivergent child.

During Neurodiversity Celebration Week in 2025, the group displayed posters throughout our offices highlighting a range of neurodivergent conditions to share colleague’s experiences on how these conditions can show up in the workplace.  

In-person collaboration day 

During Disability Pride Month, our disability ERG met in-person for a day of education, collaboration and community building. Members of the group, alongside HR and health and safety colleagues, held workshops to refine their objectives and develop a plan on how to achieve these. As a result of the collaboration day, they defined their three objectives as: 

• Objective 1: Access – The development of a disability focused support for the employee journey, to ensure all persons with disabilities are supported and considered throughout their time at SYSTRA.   

• Objective 2: Knowledge – Increasing awareness and highlighting the impacts of living with disabilities.   

• Objective 3: Psychological safety - Enhancing the culture that exists within SYSTRA to allow colleagues to feel safe in bringing their authentic self to work. 

Lou Garrick, Disability ERG Co-Lead and Geologist, said: 

“I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved as an Employee Resource Group. The commitment from everyone involved has been inspiring as we work towards creating an even more inclusive environment for those with disabilities, hidden or visible. 

“It’s important to remember that even the smallest changes can make a big difference to everyone.”  

Learn more about equality, inclusion and diversity at SYSTRA. 

International Women’s Day 2026 – Give to Gain

This year, the IWD message is Give to Gain – to work together to forge gender equality through abundant giving. 

Knowledge sharing, advocacy and training are just some of the ways we can all contribute to women’s advancement. The collective approach creates a more supportive and interconnected world. 

Our ‘Connected Teams’ value at SYSTRA aligns with the IWD position – that collaboration and generosity are key to advance gender equality. 

This value speaks to our aspiration here at SYSTRA UK & Ireland  – to create high performing, inclusive teams. 

It means we work hard to share ideas, experiences and lessons with each other, embracing our different perspectives and celebrating our unifying goals.

So what actions do our teams take to actively embrace and enhance equality and inclusion in their day-to-day work? 

Michelle Flint, Discipline Lead (Systems), oversees project performance and is clear in what she is able to give back to her teams: “I bring a female perspective and dynamic to what is usually a very male dominated workplace.” 

A key benefit of SYSTRA for Holly Wallace, Sales Support Team Lead, is the chance to give back through STEM engagement, volunteering and ED&I groups. 

Social and Market Research Director, Sally McNamara, says at SYSTRA, we have a broad understanding of diversity being about everyone being able to be who they are. 

And this is reflected, she says, in how she has been treated at work: “I felt welcomed and valued from the moment I joined, and feel very comfortable being able to work in the way that suits me, making my own contribution as part of a supportive team.” 

And for our early careers, it’s even more important to give that support so all colleagues gain valuable insights. 

Technician Degree Apprentice, Sahina Sameerah, said: “I would definitely say I have become a lot more confident through my apprenticeship due to collaborating and working with people from various disciplines and studying at university. 

“I have been given opportunities where I have been able to step out of my comfort zone which has helped my confidence massively.” 

Kristy Fok, Assistant Engineer for track, said the guidance given during the graduate programme has helped her grow personally. 

“I’ve became more confident in myself and more willing to express my opinions since embarking on a graduate programme,” she said. 

“I believe this is a result of knowing that people I work with are willing to listen to what I have to say and take my thoughts into consideration.” 

Transport Planner Level 3 Apprentice, Gracie Belwood, says she feels empowered by the workplace culture to offer her own perspectives. She added: “As I am someone in the very early stages of my career, I believe I bring different views and opinions that others may not have thought of.” 

Find out more about our values.

TRU East Alliance completes major upgrades that will transform train travel in the north of England

Following more than a year of planning, collaboration and preparation, the Entry into Service (EiS) U blockade has been successfully completed, after a successful 32 day blockade.

This programme represents one of the largest and most complex pieces of work delivered by the TRU East Alliance, comprised of VolkerRail, Network Rail, Murphy, Siemens Mobility, and SYSTRA.

The majority of the infrastructure re-modelling took place in and around Church Fenton, with the blockade delivering two key EiS milestones:

Stage 1: The culmination of two years of rail systems improvements. Within the first 100 hours, teams installed 17 kilometres of lineside containment and bases, creating a new route for low voltage power distribution, new signalling systems and new telecoms cables. These systems were commissioned into use between Leeds and Church Fenton, including new data and screen changes at York’s Regional Operations Centre, where the new signalling system will be controlled.

Stage 2: The remainder of the blockade focused on re-modelling the infrastructure including 3km of track, eleven switches and crossings, 70 new signals, major earthworks and platform modifications to enable future line speed increases.

Ahead of the blockade, the installation of Rose Lane Bridge and Barrowby Bridleway Bridge marked significant enabling milestones. These structures allowed eight level crossings/user works crossings in the surrounding area to be closed, delivering significant safety improvements and providing safer routes for pedestrians and vehicles to cross the railway.

Stuart Birch, VolkerRail managing director said: “On behalf of the entire TRUe Alliance leadership team, we would like to express our deepest thanks and admiration for the dedication, professionalism, and unwavering commitment of the TRU East Alliance.

“This was an extraordinary undertaking. Delivering a blockade of this duration and complexity is a remarkable feat. The scale, complexity, and intensity of the works demanded not only technical excellence but also professionalism, composure, and teamwork. Your efforts have made a lasting difference that will be felt long into the future.”

Jamie Rothwell, transportation managing director at Murphy, said: “This latest project milestone demonstrates the truly collaborative nature of the TRU East Alliance. At Murphy we are proud to have played our part in successfully completing this blockade and look forward to continuing to work together on upgrades in order to deliver faster, greener, more reliable train services between York, Leeds and Manchester.

Matt Kent, director of operations and manufacturing – rail infrastructure, Siemens Mobility UK&I, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be a partner in this project, providing signalling, power and telecommunications backed by 18,000 engineering hours. This vital upgrade enhances safety, bolsters resilience, and improves punctuality, creating a more reliable route for passengers and freight users. Achievements of this scale are only possible through the expertise, dedication and collaboration of our teams and partners, marking a crucial step in our commitment to transform rail travel and transport for the North.”

James Richardson, TRU managing director, said: “It’s great to have completed these critical railway upgrades, between Leeds and York. Facing all weathers, our teams worked around the clock during the Christmas period and through January, delivering a host of improvements for passengers, safely and on time.

“Our work highlights the impact we are making in transforming the railway in the North of England, helping to enable economic growth, while building future capability for major projects.”

This successful delivery reflects the collective effort of everyone involved, from on-site teams and support functions to those who played a critical role in planning, assurance and coordination.

SYSTRA Limited achieves carbon management and reporting certification

As part of the enhancements made across the business to achieve the status, a new Carbon Management Process was created, which is now mandatory for all applicable projects regardless of size or sector.  

This reflects best practice in governance and ambition for reducing whole life cycle carbon emissions, with core elements including: 

• Setting realistic and effective carbon reduction targets for every project. 

• Establishing clear baselines to assess performance and identify improvement opportunities. 

• Utilising robust metrics for accurate carbon quantification and transparent reporting. 

• Applying standardised methodologies to define project boundaries and cut-off rules for emissions calculation. 

• Systematic reporting at all infrastructure delivery stages, providing full visibility of progress and outcomes. 

• Commitment to continual improvement and innovation in carbon management and reduction. 

This process acts as the backbone for embedding a low-carbon culture across all levels of the organisation. It supports colleagues in identifying low-carbon solutions, setting clear and measurable targets, conducting baseline assessments, and systematically comparing design options for carbon impact. Additionally, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement have been enhanced, and targeted, role-specific training is now offered. 

The benefits are already being seen, such as in a culvert project where the team used learning from a previous project and the resources and methodologies established through PAS2080 to identify and maximise significant carbon reduction opportunities from the outset. 

David White, Director of Health, Safety and Security & Sustainability for SYSTRA Limited, said: “This holistic approach ensures that carbon savings are realised not only in our business operations but throughout every stage of project delivery. 

“The PAS2080 verification underpins our ability to deliver sustainable, low-carbon infrastructure for our clients and enhances the international recognition of our proactive approach and leadership in embedding carbon management across all that we do.” 

Riona Ainge, Sustainability Lead, added: “The aims of PAS2080 are now fully embedded in our practices and outputs, demonstrating how we live our sustainability values every day. 

“Above all, this has unified our approach to carbon management, strengthening our governance, enhancing project outcomes, and reinforcing our reputation as a proactive, responsible, and forward-thinking business.” 

Find out more about sustainability at SYSTRA.

HS2 Water Orton viaduct spans installed over existing railway

These spans are a relatively small, but critical, component of the Delta Junction – an expansive triangular intersection being built to the east of Birmingham for the new high-speed railway. 

The junction is formed of a complex series of interconnected viaducts, and other structures, taking the high-speed line over motorways, local roads, existing railways, rivers and floodplains, carrying HS2 services to and from Birmingham, as well as connecting to the mainline heading north and south. To maintain speeds of 360km/h on the mainline and around 200km/h on the approaches to Birmingham, the junction is spread out over a far larger area than a motorway junction – over 4km from south to north and over 2km from east to west. 

Designed by the Mott MacDonald SYSTRA Design Joint Venture, supported by WW+P Architects, the Water Orton viaducts will connect the mainline tracks at the north end of the junction to the spur leading to the new Birmingham Curzon Street Station, which also serves the HS2 rolling stock depot at Washwood Heath. Once complete, these two viaducts will stretch for around 1.4km each, crossing two railways, a river, local roads and the M42. 

The design of the viaducts was conditioned by contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI’s choice of construction method, which employs a mobile cable stay mast to temporarily support the partially completed span in a cantilever configuration (supported only at one end) until the installation of successive precast box girder segments reaches next pier. At this point the permanent post-tensioning cables are installed through the completed span allowing for the temporary cables stays to be moved forward to support the assembly of the next span. 

Balfour Beatty VINCI crews were able to safely complete the two parallel spans crossing above the existing railway line over the course of a six-day suspension of passenger and freight rail traffic, which had been meticulously planned years in advance and programmed to take place during the quieter Christmas period. Mott MacDonald SYSTRA Design Joint Venture’s deep implication in design and site support has been crucial in supporting the pace of construction activities, setting the contractor up for success in the completion of this strategic crossing within the allotted window. 

Hani Benkhellat, Delta Junction Sublot Manager at SYSTRA, said: “The installation of these spans is yet another crucial milestone on the project, which is taking form along the entire route. The Water Orton viaducts are not only an impressive feat of engineering but as elevated structures they also serve to maintain the continuity of the landscape. The construction of the viaducts is accompanied by related works to improve the landscape and community access through the creation of green spaces and a walking and cycling route. Flood management is also a crucial part of the design, along with the realignment of the River Cole, all supporting the projects’ sustainability mission.” 

Find out more about our work on HS2.