A new standards challenge process will be developed by RIA and TfL

The Railway Industry Association (RIA) and Transport for London (TfL) have decided to together design and implement a new process by which rail suppliers can provide feedback on standards.

Developing the challenge process was initiated by Nigel Holness, Managing Director of London Underground, who attended a workshop at RIA’s HQ on 24 January 2019, with approximately 20 organisations from supplier businesses in attendance.

The new standards challenge builds on the successful introduction of Network Rail’s Standard Challenge Process in 2018, which has already seen over 30 changes to standards within a year of the process being launched. These challenges will help to spur innovation in the industry, without compromising safety.

David Clarke, Technical Director of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said: “It is fantastic to be working with TfL to develop a process by which unnecessarily onerous standards can be challenged. Our previous work with Network Rail shows the benefit to clients and suppliers of coming together to collaboratively assess how we can deliver innovatively and cost-effectively – ultimately to the benefit of those who use our rail system.”

It is hoped that a similar collaborative approach will provide benefits for TfL.

Nigel Holness, TfL’s Managing Director of London Underground, said: “We believe our supply chain should be supported to develop new solutions and not held back in terms of innovation by historical norms. So we are delighted to be working with RIA to see how we can best deliver future rail improvements by changing those standards that have previously hampered new ideas and innovations. Our intention is to create a portal to ensure transparency, which will be developed over 2019.”