Akona & Railway Engineering Training
Akona is an approved provider of the National Skills Academy Rail (NSAR), specialising in Overhead Lines Systems and safety-critical training and railway construction and maintenance programmes.
Since 2012, the company has delivered industry-recognised and bespoke Overhead Line System courses, covering construction and maintenance disciplines, for national and international training standards. In many cases these programmes have been delivered to a range of clients and ‘Principal Contractors’ including ATC Crossrail (CRL), Transport for London (TfL), Rail for London Infrastructure (RFLI), Balfour Beatty (UK and USA), Amey, Volker Rail and SPL (Germany).
Akona is unique in the rail industry for its ability to deliver innovative, bespoke training programmes through integrated media such as location video, UAV drones, live streaming and remote or blended learning. Working with partner company CD&P MEDIA enables Akona to deliver highly cost-effective, fully inclusive training modules to trainees located remotely example WFH, in real time where required, or where the trainees’ first language may not be English.
Working with Military Veterans and Service leavers
The company works closely with service military personnel and veterans from the Armed services. Akona is contracted by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to train and qualify serving and retired personnel with skills required to seek second career opportunities on leaving the Armed forces.
From the beginning
Our History
Milestone and Achievements
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2019 to 2021
Railway Engineering Crossrail & RFLI
This most recent project saw the successful delivery of maintenance training programmes to Crossrail. Awarded to Akona in September 2019, the project required the development and delivery of bespoke, video training resources for overhead line equipment and tunnel ventilation systems at all 18 of the Elizabeth Line underground stations.
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2019 - Present Day
RFLI OLE Technicians Assessment programme
Akona has been awarded with the Rail for London Infrastructure (RFLI) contract for the design and development of bespoke OLE maintenance programmes for future RFLI assessment & training courses of maintenance technicians.
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April 2018
Balfour Beatty USA
In April 2019 Akona hosted and provided OLE training for American engineers from Balfour Beatty. These engineers are currently working on an electrification project outside of San Francisco, California. Their attendance was to gain a better understanding of OLE construction.
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February 2017
ESFA Apprenticeship training programmes Akins International
Akona provided and delivered successful OLE Site Design Engineer apprenticeships programmes for Akins Global. The apprentices were required to attend site visits at the Akona training centre over an 18 month period in order to gain their apprenticeship. Operationally, apprentices worked directly to Atkins on the Great Western (GWEP) carrying out office and site design tasks on the project.
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May 2014
Network Rail
In 2014 Akona was commissioned by Network Rail to provide consultancy and course design services for the development of an OLE bespoke course to meet to NR industry standards. This piece work was aimed towards re-construction of OLE following a de-wirement situation.