I am an enthusiastic and highly motivated individual, with a long track record of project delivery. The West Coast Main Line (WCML) is one of the UKs core rail lines, running between London and Glasgow via Crewe and Lancaster, with branches to Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool. endobj One success story already realised using PACE is the restoration of the Dartmoor Railway Line, putting regular passenger services back on the line after more than 50 years. The contracts must be settled, warranties agreed and benefit assessments begin. 16 0 obj This Network Rail standard specifies: a) Project Complexity Assessment; b) the PACE lifecycle and phases; c) PACE milestones; d) PACE products; and. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. . endobj Witham Fourth District Internal Drainage Board, We use cookies to personalize and improve your experience on our site. You have accepted additional cookies. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. PACE (Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment) was approved by the Network Rail board in November 2020 after several months of testing. Rail Project SPEED: Introduction and PACE - 20 May 2021 689 views May 24, 2021 3 Dislike Share Save Railway Industry Association 142 subscribers Introduction and Overview of Rail Project SPEED. This reduces the issues associated with timetabling fast and slow trains on the same tracks, which become particularly prominent when the speeds differential of such services is greater, or when a greater frequency of trains operates. This provides increased focus on client/funder requirements by getting the right balance of time, cost and scope of work. Emma Osborn, Commercial Director, Network Rail Wales & Western, made the point that her company does not have all the answers and needs the humility to accept that suppliers can offer solutions if they are engaged early enough in a project. Stuart emphasised that the centre is there to support and work with the regions. Enter your email and we'll let you know when a new long read is published. Information about Rail SPEED for suppliers, SPEED (Swift, Pragmatic and Efficient Enhancement Delivery) has two core principles at its heart to halve the time and slash the cost of project delivery, helping us provide a better service for passengers and freight users.. Their Regional Rail Director, Simon Middleton, described how the project had been involved with Project SPEED since summer last year and had since reduced capital costs by 25% and accelerated completion by ten months to the end of 2023. These improvements, together with the identification of additional benefits, enable the DfT to accelerate the project through the RNEP process, with the time to get to decision to deliver brought forward by 12 months. Foreigners Pull Out From Turkey ETF at Fastest Pace Since 2021. Led by Network Rails Industry Programme Director Christian Irwin, the project moved quickly from feasibility to detailed design, enabling implementation of the works in April 202; a move from concept to construction in just 8 weeks. Mitsubishi Signs $1.9b Commuter Rail Deal With Manila: Nikkei. He felt that rail is well placed to be a key part of the recovery from the Covid crisis and to decarbonise transport, but stressed that the required investment cannot be taken for granted. The asks by the programmes were grouped into eleven cross-cutting themes, where we are developing longer term transformation, to support teams in halving the time and slashing the cost of delivering improvements to the railway. <> It's been claimed that PACE will have an even greater impact than GRIP in delivering efficiency gains. A non-departmental public body, wholly funded by the Secretary of State for Transport and sponsored by the Department for Transport, tasked with delivering HS2. (RailDiary). GRIP, the tool currently used to manage delivering railway investment projects in Network Rail, is seen as too rigid and can often lead to unnecessary delays. endobj A slower train being run on a route with a high line speed may occupy several train paths as it travels along the line. Wright says that a complex, major project may still run through these stages sequentially but the stages can be overlapped and combined for smaller schemes. This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/integrated-rail-plan-for-the-north-and-the-midlands/integrated-rail-plan-for-the-north-and-midlands-glossary. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. His roles in British Rail included Maintenance Assistant at Slade Green, Depot Engineer at Haymarket, Scottish DM&EE Training Engineer and ScotRail Safety Systems Manager. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Governance reviewing the process for seeking government funding, with a simplified process for projects under 10 million. In this Integrated Rail Plan, proposals for electrification in the North and Midlands refers to the installation of OLE along stated routes. The overall approach is product rather than process driven and within each of they key stages of GRIP an agreed set of products are delivered. endobj During Week 48 our track team completed 570 yards of Cat11/Cat16 track renewals during a 29-hour possession of the Leeds lines. We are a small to medium sized company that has built a strong reputation delivering multi-disciplinary projects and programmes for private and public sector clients. I am also quick in forming relationship in a collaborative way. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 26 0 obj 22 0 obj This standard is part of the Capital Delivery Core Process and relates to the Capital Investment and Delivery Policy. Management and consulting . I think that our project delivery will be in a very different place in 12 months time, he concludes. endobj PACE is a new approach that will make it easier for Network Rail to integrate and respond to operational challenges. This is split into two parts. PACE is a new approach that will make it easier for Network Rail to integrate and respond to operational challenges. <> However, he cautioned against trying to speed up everything. It replaces GRIP, which was considered by some as overly complex and inefficient in its approach, resulting in additional costs being incurred. The report follows an industry roundtable held with Network Rail which explored the practical steps that need to be taken to unlock delivery. But, this week rail minister Chris Heaton-Harris said that the budget would now. A spur from the Western Leg of HS2 connecting to the West Coast Main Line south of Wigan, enabling HS2 services to Scotland (Glasgow and Edinburgh) to avoid congested sections of the West Coast Main Line between Crewe and Wigan. The time slot required to operate one train on any given line based on the characteristics of that line (such as top speed). endobj GRIP stands for Governance for Railway Investment Projects. GRIP (Governance for Railway Investment Projects) had been used as a framework for managing projects since 2000. The higher the capacity of a line, the more train paths can be provided. This requires some double-tracking, level crossing enhancements, linespeed improvements and signalling upgrades. The problem is that Grip has become a paint by numbers process. 1 0 obj Required fields are marked *. When this standard is implemented, it is permissible for all projects that have formally completed GRIP Stage 3 (Option Selection) to continue to comply with the issue of any relevant Network Rail . Following the highly successful Rail SPEED Conference on 26 February, introduced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Network Rail and the Railway Industry Association (RIA) are holding a FREE follow-up event to explore some of the work that underpins SPEED in more detail. According to Wright, Grip was much more than a project lifecycle and there are hundreds of other processes, policies and governance controls across Network Rail that were affected by the Grip process. 5. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The process of switching the power source for trains from diesel to electric. Midlands Engine Rail (MER) is the flagship rail programme of Midlands Connect. Putting the engineering decision-making into the hands of the delivery team can only help the project delivery, the costs and time scales. In addition, the new PACE process will give individual projects a better trade-off between time, cost and scope of work. 17 0 obj As described previously in Rail Engineer (see Issue 188, Jan-Feb 2021), these platforms were completed just three months after funding was approved. Watch Stuart Calvert, capital delivery director, Wales & Western speaking at Rail Live 2021 about how applying SPEED principles will save billions of pounds and cut years off project delivery times. A simpler project management structure, which can be followed by all departments working on projects at any one time; Improved delegation of authority up the chain of command; A greater focus on risk management across all levels of the organisation; More effective use of key performance indicators (KPIs); A more coherent approach to procurement and contracting processes across different disciplines (including civil engineering works). It forms part of the project, programme and portfolio (P3M) framework and outlines the six Level 3 standards for projects. When RMT union members closed the London Underground last March, Transport for London assumed a similar role to health chiefs during the coronavirus pandemic. Description used where a station consists of multiple layers of tracks the low-level line runs below the high-level line. Linked to the Gatwick Airport project was the introduction of longer eight-car trains that required platform extensions at three stations. [19 0 R] We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. Office: 1 Silk Street, Manchester M4 6LZ. With the country now facing an unprecedented economic challenge, more than ever before, we need to get the most we can out of every pound we put in the ground, become a more attractive and efficient investment opportunity, and a more dependable partner that is easy to engage. At a time of scarce funding, the industry has to reduce both the time and cost of project delivery. The changes to the law proposed by a hybrid bill would affect the general public but would also have a significant impact for specific individuals or groups. I have working knowledge in the application of GRIP and PACE applications to projects. At the end of April a whole host of new documents that also reflect the shift from Grip to Pace will be published. Phase 2b WL will open between 2035 and the early 2040s. <> This was hosted by the Railway Industry Association and had 2,400 participants, half of whom were suppliers. Play all audios: Loading. 3 0 obj The Phase 2b WL also includes sections of track that will be used for Northern Powerhouse Rail and will deliver a station at Manchester Piccadilly designed to integrate future NPR requirements. LOVE, POVERTY, WAR AND Also by Christopher Hitchens BLOOD, CLASS AND EMPIRE: The Enduring Anglo-American Relationship A LONG SHORT WAR: The Postponed Liberation of Iraq WHY ORWELL MATTERS LEFT HOOKS, RIGHT CROSSES: A Decade of Political Writing (edited with Christopher Caldwell) LETTERS TO A YOUNG CONTRARIAN THE TRIAL OF HENRY KISSINGER BLAMING THE VICTIMS: Spurious Scholarship and the . endobj It is costing money and time.. 29 0 obj This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. All Rights Reserved, Rail Diary Limited is a limited company registered in England & Wales. Wright says that there was a choice between updating the existing Grip system or doing something new and drastically different to realise the opportunity. He felt that, in many cases, train operators were best placed to deliver them in an agile manner. Grip 3. A cross-government programme of work led by HM Treasury, looking across the whole project lifecycle with the aim to deliver major infrastructure projects better, greener, faster. Pace offers a more flexible framework that can be more tailored . >> To receive New Civil Engineer's daily and weekly newsletters click here. The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) is the governments centre of expertise for infrastructure and major projects, supporting the successful delivery of all types of major projects. Gate reviews were held to consider relevant documentation to confirm completion of the required activities. Planning Consents and Environment Permissions speeding up the Transport and Works Act process, publishing guides on planning and environmental consents. This approach can lead to an irregular service pattern, with services timetabled together leaving longer waits for passengers in between these groups. Excellent written and oral communication skills. AECOMs Global Transit Director, Russell Jackson, explained how lessons from the Northumberland project were applicable to others. /Outlines 971 0 R 14 0 obj GRIP focuses on projects which enhance or renew the national rail network as opposed to those involved with routine maintenance of the railway and was developed in order to minimise and mitigate the risks associated with delivering such projects . I bring . Where our earlier organisational change has given us the right structure, SPEED will give us the right mindset, and tools, to put passengers first and drive value. His experience of investment panels was that they had the required flexibility, although commercial panels sometimes delayed contracts. This identified a number of things around governance processes, assurance processes, timetable planning, access planning and Grip. Involving the whole project life cycle, in a complex and demanding operational environment. To do so, the centre is providing a knowledge hub, assessing best practice with the supply chain, providing professional development, supporting project assurance and acting as a point of contact with the DfT for the Railway Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP) process. We now have a chance to ensure rail plays a pivotal role in the economic recovery of our country, delivers a better service to the communities we serve, better value for taxpayers and becomes a that dependable partner. This can be done as an order under existing legislation, such as Transport and Works Act Orders (TWAO) or Development Consent Orders (DCO), or via new legislation that must pass through Parliament (hybrid bills). But it is rarely used properly so it is not fit for purpose, he said. endobj Network Rails GRIP process was developed to minimise delivery risk by dividing a project into eight distinct stages for which there was a defined set of activities which had to be completed before starting the next stage. It will help the railway better cope with disruptions and ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget. The challenge now is to spread and scale that best practice across other programmes and the wider network. . <> These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. As such, it fits absolutely into the plan for devolution. This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. Speaking about Grip, Haines has previously said that if it is used properly, it works. He retired from Network Rail in 2009 after a 37-year railway career. Typically, a minimum of 5 years' experience working in the rail sector. According to Network rail, the aims of project SPEED are: PACE is divided up into five main stages for efficient enhancement delivery of rail infrastructure: These stages are similar to GRIP process but effort has been made to reduce the control on projects so as not to add excessively to the time estimates whilst still maintaining the rigour of the design and implementation process. Sign in or Register a new account to join the discussion. <> In addition, a new delivery model was developed for the three packages of work: rail corridor works led by Network Rail, stations and highways led by Northumberland County Council and introduction of the new passenger service led by Northern Rail. Please contact SPEED@networkrail.co.uk to gain access to more information on the SPEED Hub. . United Kingdom It is costing money and time.. He is also an active member of the IMechEs Railway Division, having been Chair and Secretary of its Scottish Centre. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. 7 0 obj It represents the local transport and local highways authorities of the West and East Midlands. endobj The project to reintroduce passenger services to Ashington and Blythe (see Issue 185, July/Aug 2020) was one of the pilot projects used to develop the principles of Project SPEED. PACE stands for Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment (PACE), an approach that Network Rail have developed to manage projects in order to minimise the risks associated with project development and delivery. PACE was applied to the Okehampton project which we were a part of. Hence, despite many successful recent projects, the legacy of others so high-profile and over-budget has been deeply harmful to the industry, creating doubt about its ability to deliver projects, whilst GWEP caused the Westminster government to lose faith in electrification. Success will deliver an industry that trusts knowledge and expertise, does not follow rules at the expense of common sense or better outcomes and is filled with people proud and excited to work in rail. One success story already realised using PACE is the restoration of the Dartmoor Railway Line, putting regular passenger services back on the line after more than 50 years. Capability and Culture culture change and training programmes within Network Rail, plus the appointment of SPEED champions. The Restoring Your Railway (RYR) policy aims to reinstate axed local rail services and restore closed stations. <> Trains that handle goods instead of passengers. Another example is the planning of blockades which must have as much work as possible thrown into them and so might delay some schemes. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Project SPEED therefore potentially offers GTR significant benefits as the companys Infrastructure Director, Keith Jipps, explained. This needs a quantum change in the way projects are delivered if the industry is to win back the trust of decision makers. Flighting typically would see trains operating at similar end-to-end speeds, when accounting for station stops, grouped together (such as running several fast trains in sequence, followed by slower trains) to minimise congestion. He advised that the review challenged both the scope and original nine-year timescale of the project by considering radical blockade strategies. The construction of the new railway is split into phases: Phase One (linking London to the West Midlands), which received royal assent in 2017; Phase 2a (West Midlands and the North via Crewe) in 2021 and Phase 2b. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. Every day we empower our people to always be safe, care about the railways, its users and each other and put teamwork at the heart of all we do. The benefits of PACE are said to include: The changes are designed to create a simpler and more consistent approach to project management, which is needed given the current demands on the railway, according to Chris Rowley, Network Rails director of NR2N (Network Rail 2nd Generation). Local stakeholders have been invited to propose RYR projects. This created unnecessary bureaucracy and distraction. Hear from Tim Walden, Transformation Director and Mike Wright, Programme Management Director of Network Rail. He was assured that if he felt a panel was not adding any value, he should feel empowered to challenge its necessity. Network Rails standard NR/L2/P3M/201, Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment (PACE), started to be applied to new projects on 4th January and will progressively be applied to live projects unless there is a reason not to do so. <> The statutory approval process for schemes. About Us Egis is a leading global consulting, construction engineering and operating firm. As a result, he felt that CARS had a fighting chance of getting an approved business case. <> He also felt that station and network change need to be fast-tracked as soon as there was collective agreement. >> With the more effective use of resources, and greater collaboration between teams across different rail projects, it is thought that PACE will have an even greater benefit on delivering efficiency gains than its predecessor GRIP. This can be measured in trains per hour, or by seats. x]_s6|*i+IjM*>pFTs_e28XHvh4n\wS}.>l.~]^FW_GU'_iD*qFL|D_]}x>l^b$bJTFHbe~7"/+zutq` pFYH8&"5"2cf8UnJfE$"VH+f8KtpV8g. It provides a flexible delivery framework which sponsors must use to ensure that the arrangements for their projects are fit for purpose. delivery of Infrastructure Investment projects onto the rail network. Amanda felt one problem was that, over time, processes that were intended to make things work have increasingly been used dogmatically rather than pragmatically. About Network Rail We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. endobj It is about being bold, curious and challenging. It is a series of proposed rail interventions to improve rail connectivity on a West-East basis through Birmingham Moor Street station. PACE and Optioneering avoiding a drawn-out option selection process by providing a more flexible approach whilst maintaining rigour. All those blockers have fed into the second part of Project Speed, which is focused on business change projects to remove those obstacles. Overspecification is the process of building infrastructure to standards that are unnecessarily specific or risk-averse, potentially resulting in higher costs. Making the Grade (Separation): The Bermondsey Diveunder, Holy Grails and Thameslink Fails (part 2): The plan that went wrong, A Study In Sussex Part 11: Diverted to the Oxted Lines, London Bridge: The First Sign of Things to Come, A Study in Sussex Part 6: The Approaches to London Bridge, Schrodingers Cab Firm: Ubers Existential Crisis, Slavery and the Railways, Part 2: Building a Better Future, Mind the Gender Gap: The Hidden Data Gap in Transport, Deutsche Bahn, Lufthansa see major increase in air-rail demand (RailTech). Network Rail has developed this approach to managing projects in order to minimise and mitigate the risks associated with project development and delivery. <> Over 1,000 people within Network Rail and its supply chain had so far been briefed on PACE. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.