Heathrow Rail wanted an LMS with the versatility to not only deliver courses but also support a blended learning approach, combining in-class training with e-learning.

Following distinctive high-level organisational changes in 2018, which saw the Heathrow Express operating company split its train services delivery from its infrastructure management, Heathrow Rail was entrusted with the entire railway infrastructure (tunnels, tracks and stations) for the four Heathrow Airport-linked rail stations.

This change led to a surge in hiring and general activity as a variety of specialist roles were required to meet different infrastructural needs. Industrial & safety training at this point was critical, especially as employees onboarded and exited (from the parent organisation) at a rapid rate.

Adapting to rapidly evolving training requirements, Heathrow Rail used Totara Learn LMS, part of the AssessTech product suite, to digitise mandatory training more efficiently, improve compliance reporting across the organisation, enable blended learning, and refine the onboarding process.

AssessTech became a Totara Premium Alliance Partner earlier this year. It opens many opportunities for AssessTech’s customers, as it provides a wide range of powerful features, including the ability to manage repeat courses and link training to competence criteria.

The Heathrow Rail learning platform currently hosts 1,600 users and provides training for both contractors and internal staff. It offers over 100 courses across two systems for Heathrow Rail and Heathrow Express, with almost 6000 records of course completion to date. Most courses are safety-critical and include:

• Platform and train interface training (safety on platforms and trains)
• General railway safety
• Fire safety awareness
• Radio communications