Introducing Sonia Morgan

At SilverRail, we’re not just about trains and tech- we’re all about our people. We’re a key player in the rail industry, not only leading the way in transforming the way people move but also placing a strong emphasis on the happiness and the growth of our employees. In a field where innovation is paramount, we stand out not just for our advancements but also for our commitments to building a vibrant and inclusive company culture. We are dedicated to empowering and championing our workforce, employees are not merely contributors but integral members of a tight-knit community.

We're delighted to introduce the outstanding individuals that make up the SilverRail team. Each team member contributes unique skills, dedication, and perspectives, playing a crucial role in the overall success of our organisation. This blog is an introduction to Sonia, a Technical Team Lead at SilverRail.

What do you do at SilverRail?

I am a Technical Team Lead at SilverRail working with a small team of developers, testers, platform engineers and our product owner to plan, build, test and deliver quality software to our clients. Our team works on several products with a focus in the UK market. Our products can provide rail customers with additional information on their journeys including service bulletins, timetable changes and upcoming track work.

What are you most excited about in your role?

​​I love the way my role as a team lead provides a balance of the different things I enjoy. I enjoy getting into the nitty gritty of the technical details, learning new technologies and fixing bugs as well as working with my team and supporting their training and learning needs and seeing the awesome work they get done. I also enjoy solving customer problems and seeing our software live in the real world and being used to solve real world problems.

What’s the biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge is always setting priorities- there will always be more on our engineering wish list, potential research and opportunities and customer requests than we have time to do. It’s important that we prioritise the work that is most urgent and will deliver the most value.

What is your rail background?

I’ve worked in rail journey planning and related products for over a decade now with a large focus in the UK rail industry. I’ve also worked with our multi-modal and multi-national products over that time. My grandfather actually worked as a maintenance engineer for Queensland rail before he retired and maintained a large set of model trains which we used to play with as children so perhaps I’m following in his footsteps just a little.

Where do you see the future of rail?

Rail is a convenient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to travel both for leisure and commuting purposes. I think the future will see the expansion of the rail networks themselves and improvements to the facilities and features available as standard on long distance trains. It will also bring a better rail booking and usage experience in terms of cost, ease of booking and the ability to get useful and relevant real time notifications.

What is the most unusual job you have ever had?

Some of the most interesting work I’ve done in the past was when our team was working on various optimisations and algorithms- everything from routes and loading and driver scheduling for delivering soft drinks to customers in Australia to planning public transport journeys across the world.

Describe what you were like at age 10.

At 10 I was quiet but adventurous. I enjoyed a lot of sports including netball, tennis and waterskiing but could also polish off a science fiction novel quickly. I guess I also must’ve been a bit mischievous because my brother and I would climb up high in our favourite tree and then jump from the branches straight down onto the trampoline when our folks weren’t looking.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I spend a lot of time outdoors with my family. We go camping, hiking, gardening and head off to the beach when we can. One of my favourite holiday activities is roasting marshmallows over a campfire with the kids.

Do you have any interesting facts about yourself?

I like to try novel experiences. I’ve climbed the Sydney Harbour bridge, sky-dived, paraglided, done a cycling tour of Vietnam and tried fire twirling at a circus class.