Network Rail enployee Zoe Sookun has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the railway through her work in project managing the delivery of the Rail Aid for Ukraine project.

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Network Rail employee Zoe Sookun has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the railway through her work in project managing the delivery of the Rail Aid for Ukraine project.

Zoe project managed the £10m Network Rail aid package to Ukrainian Railways this year, including the delivery of:

  • Eight bridge spans to replace damaged bridge decks
  • Bridge supports to replace damaged abutments
  • Four heavy JCB construction machines to assist with grain export
  • Containers for grain export
  • Automated railway inspection equipment to enable accurate inspection of bomb damage
  • Rapid tunnel repair system for fixing damaged railway tunnels

Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) made a passionate speech at the annual general meeting of the International Union of Railways, praising Network Rail and the DfT as the only organisations providing practical help. The railways are vitally important in Ukraine, with 60% of freight transported by rail.