Report warns on rail technology

Electronic signalling equipment on the West Coast Main Line could become obsolete before its planned renewal because of flaws in Network Rail’s technology systems.

A National Audit Office (NAO) report into the modernisation of the line says data systems are insufficient to ensure good information about replacement parts, and increasing reliance on off-the-shelf technology has raised the risk of obsolescence.

The report identifies components that are obsolete, or will be in three to five years, and says others are only available from a single supplier.

‘Increasingly, Network Rail is using more off-the-shelf systems with short production lives, and systems containing proprietary software-driven devices,’ said the report. ‘There are risks in not being able to obtain components for the repair of systems.’

Network Rail spokesman Kevin Grove says the organisation’s data systems must be improved and a strategy for renewing signalling equipment developed, but he adds there is no risk of failure.

‘If we do not put a strategy in place for the long-term replacement of equipment, spare parts will not be available when equipment becomes obsolete,’ he said.

‘Our data systems give visibility at a local level of what spare equipment we have, but not across the group. It is essential to have systems to allocate and track these spares.’

Grove says the obsolescence of some components does not mean the equipment is not fully functioning or that upgrades cannot be performed.

The report also highlights problems with the implementation of new technologies, such as axle counters and computer-based interlocking signals, that have resulted in £35m of overspending. But it does praise the company for improving capacity and punctuality.

A Virgin Trains spokesman says the organisation has confidence that Network Rail will provide the necessary IT infrastructure to run services efficiently.

‘Network Rail’s infrastructure work has been a total success and allowed us to grow capacity beyond expectations,’ he said.

‘It has paved the way for increased frequency of trains and an extra 10 million seats in 2008.’

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