Rail asset project is on track

View of maintenance priorities system set for September completion

Network Rail to complete its asset management register

Network Rail will complete development of an asset management system later this year, providing a single view of equipment and maintenance priorities.

Creation of the register was imposed as a condition of Network’s Rail licence when it took over from Railtrack in 2002 (Computing, 6 August 2002).

The organisation, which owns, operates and maintains the UK rail network, said in its annual business plan published last week that a register containing information to support the maintenance and renewal of the network will be completed this September.

A Network Rail spokesman says development of a single asset management system has been difficult because the rail network is so vast.

‘When we inherited the network we also inherited the Railtrack Asset Register, which was incomplete and in poor condition,’ he said.

‘Our first priority was also to stop the rot and stabilise the network, but we are now in a position to complete the development of an asset management system that is fit for purpose.’

Network Rail has previously used several asset management systems, including Ellipse for signalling and electronic assets, and Atrium for property assets. All information will now be migrated to an Oracle database.

The demand for better asset management systems goes back as far as the creation of Railtrack in 1994, says independent rail expert Christian Wolmar.

‘It is extraordinary that when the rail network was privatised, it had no idea of its assets and liabilities,’ he said. ‘It should have been done more than 10 years ago, as knowledge of assets is essential for good management and maintenance.’

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) says development of an asset management system was imposed as a condition of Network Rail’s licence because Railtrack had failed to develop a clear view of the state of tracks and other vital equipment.

‘Network Rail has progressively moved a number of disparate systems onto one system and in September we will look at the system to decide if it is suitable,’ said an ORR spokesman.

The register forms part of Network Rail’s plans to deliver more than £2.4bn worth of improvements to the rail network over the next two years.