Thales partners with Network Rail on ‘Project of the Year’

Network Rail’s Intelligent Infrastructure programme, which incorporates an Intelligent Infrastructure Management (IIM) system for remote conditioning monitoring from Thales UK, has been recognised as Project of the Year in the Real IT Awards. The project was also selected as winner in the Innovation in Technology category.

The IIM system allows Network Rail to reduce delays caused by asset failure, improving the efficiency and reliability of the infrastructure. The system constantly monitors the performance of key rail assets such as points, track circuits and signalling power; it then raises alerts and alarms when those assets are trending towards failure, enabling corrective action to be taken to avoid disruption. The cost-effective solution utilises commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products.

Network Rail selected Thales UK in 2009 to pilot an IIM system between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Following a successful pilot, the system has now been rolled out nationally, and today monitors over 22,000 assets. Remote monitoring has removed the need for 15,000 site visits.

Summarising the award, the judges said, “This was a great project full of innovations in the use of technology and management processes, leading to significant savings for both Network Rail and their passengers.”

David Taylor, Business Development Director for Ground Transportation Systems, who led the IIM programme for Thales UK, said: “The continued success of the IIM programme and the innovative approach it provides to condition monitoring is delivering a real benefit to our customer Network Rail. We believe it is the largest remote condition monitoring solution in the rail sector globally. The IIM solution is now being recognised not just in the rail sector but in the wider IT services sector.”

The Real IT Awards, now in its ninth year, celebrate the ingenious approaches and extraordinary achievements of corporate IT in stimulating organisational success. The awards are designed and judged by senior IT professionals in leading global, European and UK organisations.

“Intelligent Infrastructure management programmes can transform railway operations: increasing network availability, reducing delays and making the customer experience smoother and more reliable,” said Alistair McPhee, Vice President of Ground Transportation Systems at Thales UK. “I must congratulate everyone in Thales UK involved in the IIM programme, particularly those who have worked closely with our customer Network Rail on a daily basis, reinforcing our role in the provision of efficient and sustainable solutions for the railways of the future.”