Planning teams are usually asked to explain not just what work they want to do, but how it will reshape the network over the next few years. Yet most tools still only show a static picture. Asset registers sit in one place, planned interventions in another and maps show today’s railway rather than the network we are building towards. That makes it hard for planners, operators and decision makers to share a clear view of what the future network will look like.
The problem with static maps and scattered data
In many organisations, there is still a gap between what is held in spreadsheets and databases and what appears on the map. GIS tools may show the current asset base, but they often do not reflect the workbanks, scenarios and business cases that are being developed elsewhere. Planners spend time reconciling tables of interventions with drawings and map layers, trying to work out which schemes line up with which assets and whether anything has been missed.
Because that view is static, it quickly goes out of date. As programmes are adjusted, new schemes are added or access windows change, there is no simple way to see those changes on a single map. Different teams can end up working from different versions of the truth. That raises the risk of gaps in coverage, duplicated activity or late surprises when someone realises two projects have been planned side by side on the same stretch of line.
A dynamic mapped view of assets and interventions
We built Rail BI to close that gap. Asset data, workbanks and scenarios are stored in one central place, then surfaced on clear, interactive maps. Instead of trying to match up separate lists and drawings, planners can see where assets sit on the network and where each planned intervention will land. As scenarios are updated and schemes move through the planning process, the mapped view updates with them.
Because the map is driven by the same structured data that underpins the rest of the platform, it is not just a picture. It reflects the full context of each intervention – which assets are involved, what type of work is being proposed and when it is expected to happen. That makes it much easier to spot conflicts and understand how changes in one part of the portfolio ripple through the wider network.
Answering real planning questions visually
Once planned works are visible on the rail network planning maps, day to day planning questions become easier to answer. Planners can see which routes are due to see the most investment in a given control period, where there are stretches of line with little or no planned activity and how different types of work are distributed across the network. They can zoom in to understand exactly which assets are affected in a particular area, or step back to see patterns at route or region level.
The same mapped view helps test different planning options. When scenarios are built and compared in Rail BI, the differences are not only captured in tables and charts. They are also reflected on the map, so teams can see how activity shifts between locations when they switch from one option to another. That visual feedback supports more informed conversations about which scenario really delivers the best balance of cost, risk and benefit.
From map insight to better portfolio decisions
Maps give everyone involved in portfolio decisions a shared view of what is happening on the network. Showing planned interventions on the map makes it easier to see where money is being spent and how it links back to asset condition, performance issues or long term strategy. Because the mapped view is fed from the same central data store that underpins business cases and reports, decision makers can challenge, refine and approve plans knowing they are all looking at the same picture.
Building a more reliable view of the future network
When maps are driven directly from structured asset data, workbanks and scenarios, they stop being static background material and become an active planning tool. Teams can see how the network will change over time, check that activity is aligned with strategic priorities and adjust programmes before those plans reach site. That gives rail organisations a more reliable way to understand the future network they are building, not just the one they operate today.
Using business intelligence tools such as our rail planning software platform gives you the confidence to make better, data driven decisions and to improve the productivity and efficiency of your rail planning projects. We can help you get the best results and the right information every time. For more detail about our product, and to see how business intelligence can significantly improve planning for rail maintenance, renewals and upgrades, contact one of our team today for a demo of our rail planning platform.