Most rail planning teams know the feeling. A new system or data feed arrives with the promise of faster decisions and better insight. Six months later it has become another place to log in, another set of extracts to reconcile and another version of the truth to explain. The problem is not that these data […]

Rail schemes can drift over budget for many reasons. Sometimes the core rates are simply too optimistic. Just as often, the gap opens up once you start planning how to get on site and work safely. Vegetation clearance, extra cable security, temporary access structures and unproductive time in awkward locations can all turn a scheme […]

Site assessments sit at the heart of so many signalling decisions. Teams walk the network, capture what they see and record asset condition, access constraints and local risks. Yet too often, that insight stalls on the desktop in PDFs, photos and scattered folders. By the time workbanks are pulled together, planners are still relying on […]

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 […]

Rail infrastructure teams are being promised a lot from IoT sensors and big data. Condition scores, failure predictions and richer asset information should make it easier to decide where to spend limited budgets. Yet when you talk to planners, they are still building portfolios in spreadsheets and hunting through disconnected reports to justify each option. […]

Across the rail industry there is growing focus on using data to make better decisions about maintenance, renewals and upgrades. The most reliable picture of the network still comes from structured site assessments, inspections and surveys. Those visits to trackside, stations and depots are where engineers record what is really happening on the ground, and […]

The introduction of the European Train Control System (ETCS) represents a significant step towards a safer, more efficient and digital railway. But the true challenge lies not in the technology itse. It lies in ensuring that routes, renewals, and rolling stock are ready when they need to be. Rolling out ETCS is not simply about […]

The railway industry is the backbone of transportation, facilitating the movement of not only people, but also goods. Making sure the operations run as seamlessly as possible is paramount. Disruption can lead to costly delays (and possible financial losses for goods providers).  Traditional maintenance schedules often rely on fixed timetables but predictive maintenance isn’t always […]

In the world of data-driven decision making, two different technologies have emerged at the top spot. We have taken a closer look at the differences between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Business Intelligence (BI). Both of these tools empower businesses to harness the power of data, gain valuable insights and optimise processes. These terms can mistakenly […]

In the dynamic landscape of railway operations, maintaining assets at their peak efficiency is integral for ensuring reliability and cost-effectiveness. With the advent of business intelligence (BI) technologies, railway companies now have powerful tools at their disposal to optimise asset maintenance strategies like never before. We’ve taken a look at the transformative impact of adopting […]