WorldWide Drilling Resource

An Academy of Excellence for the Tunneling and Construction Industry Adapted from a Press Release by Prospects College of Advanced Technology Transport for London (TfL) signed a contract wi th Prospects Col lege of Advanced Technology (PROCAT) to run the Tunnel ing and Underground Construction Academy (TUCA). Crossrail Limited was set up to support the training needs of the Crossrail project and to a wider extent, the other underground con- struction and tunneling industries. Sir Terry Morgan, Crossrail chairman said, “The Tunneling and Underground Construction Academy has been a huge success story. The Academy established by Crossrail in 2011 has not only given over 15,000 people the skills needed to deliver the new railway, but has also revitalized the UK's tunneling and underground construction skills base. As the Crossrail program passes the 80% complete mark, I'm delighted that TUCA will continue to play a key role in supporting the Elizabeth Line as an operating railway, as well as the next generation of UK infrastructure projects.” Future rail and tunneling projects will build upon the tunneling and un- derground construction skills taught by the Crossrail, allowing further benefits to grow out of the training academy as it supports a new generation of spe- cialists. The apprentices will learn the technical skills required to build infra- structure projects, and provide the highest level of skills needed to run the transport networks in the future. The Academy will be part of a planned network, Centers of Excellence, which is being developed by the Department for Transport to provide training in the transport sector. These centers will collaborate to improve quality of training and efficiency in the industry. By the end of the year, the Academy will become the home to the Elizabeth Line maintenance and station staff training center. A model of a new station will also be placed on-site to train station staff in customer service. TfL already has plans for 20 new rail maintenance apprentices to start their training at the Academy in 2017. Over 130 railway engineering apprentices from the industry will start training at TUCA as well, making the Academy a di- verse training option for transport, under- ground construction, and tunneling. The innovative facilities include spaces to practice sprayed concrete lining in spe- cially designed tunnel openings, a labo- ratory to study tunneling material, and a tunnel where evacuation simulations take place. 46 JULY 2017 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Looking for events? View them online at: worldwidedrillingresource.info/ Planning7-17.pdf Open the Doorway to all the Event Photos during TWWA 2017. To see all the photos from this event, go to: www.worldwidedrillingresource.info/gallery/2017/TWWA2017, or click here. Feel free to download at will and print the photo(s) of your choice. Compliments of WorldWide Drilling Resource ® . Photos are copyrighted and released for personal use only - no commercial use permitted.