University of Leeds appoints new Chair in High Speed Rail Engineering
Posted: 20 February 2017 | | No comments yet
The University of Leeds has announced the appointment of Professor Peter Woodward as a new Chair in High Speed Rail Engineering.
The University of Leeds has announced the appointment of Professor Peter Woodward as a new Chair in High Speed Rail Engineering.
Professor Woodward is currently an industry sponsored Professor of High Speed Rail at Heriot-Watt University. His appointment comes at a time when the city of Leeds prepares for the arrival of HS2 and the development of the Leeds Station complex.
Development of a new Institute for High Speed Rail Engineering
Professor Woodward will be responsible for developing a new Institute for High Speed Rail Engineering at the University, using his expertise in geotechnical engineering to create a world leading research and innovation hub with an emphasis on train-track interaction and infrastructure systems.
Professor Woodward has played a key role in developing the polymer based track stabilisation system known as XiTRACK, which has increased track speed and reduced maintenance costs in a number of rail networks. For example, this technology was used to stabilise the track bed at Clapham Junction, one of the busiest railway junctions in Europe with more than 2,500 trains passing through every day.
Announcing the appointment, Sir Alan Langlands, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Peter Woodward to the University of Leeds.
“Together with world leading experts in our Institute for Transport Studies, whose strengths include railway economics, policy and planning, and in Civil, Mechanical and Electronic and Electrical Engineering, he will work with industry partners and colleagues in other universities to provide unrivalled support for a modern rail network in the UK.”
“I’m absolutely delighted to be appointed to the position of Professor of High Speed Rail Engineering at the University of Leeds”
Commenting on his appointment, Professor Woodward said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be appointed to the position of Professor of High Speed Rail Engineering at the University of Leeds.
“The University is one of the world’s top research-led universities and will play a major role in the development of the Northern Powerhouse.
“High Speed 2 will be of major economic benefit to the City of Leeds and the formation of this new Institute will enable new national and international collaborations, placing Leeds as a global go-to place for high speed rail research in a market that is expanding rapidly across the world.”
Professor Woodward will take up his post in the Faculty of Engineering at Leeds in June 2017.