Network Rail is pioneering market engagement to explore an automated system for simulating intervention impacts on train services.
- The initiative aims to replace a predominantly manual process, which requires significant time and depends on a stable infrastructure baseline.
- Network Rail aspires to a tool that can quickly iterate potential infrastructure and train service options, assessing their contributions to project outcomes.
- A prior information notice has been issued to identify existing tools or the potential to develop such a system, focusing on feasibility and possible challenges.
- Organisations have until 5 August to submit relevant insights or express intentions to participate in this endeavour.
Network Rail has initiated a market engagement strategy to assess the viability of creating an automated system to simulate how various interventions could impact train services. This move represents a significant shift from the current largely manual process, which is time-consuming and hinges on having a stable infrastructure baseline and a conceptual timetable.
The ultimate goal for Network Rail is to develop a tool that allows for rapid iteration of possible infrastructure interventions and corresponding train service options. By doing so, it aims to evaluate the relative contributions of each option towards achieving the desired project outcomes. Such a system would enable quicker and more strategic decision-making within the project lifecycle, providing crucial insights into potential interventions.
Part of this initiative involves the issuance of a prior information notice (Pin), inviting input from market participants. Network Rail is seeking to identify whether a similar tool already exists or if there is scope to create one, including understanding the feasibility and challenges associated with its development. Key questions posed to potential partners include awareness of existing tools, their operational sectors, and the challenges that might hinder the development or efficacy of a new system.
The feedback from this market engagement will not initiate a competitive process but will inform the business case for the necessary requirements. Network Rail is open to receiving any data that supports the responses, including past examples of relevant system development or usage experiences.
Organisations interested in contributing to this exploratory exercise have until 5 August to respond to the prior information notice. This deadline is set to ensure that all insights are collated in a timely manner, facilitating the formulation of a robust business case for the proposed tool.
This strategic move by Network Rail underscores its commitment to enhancing efficiency and project outcomes through technological innovation.
