When RMT union members closed the London Underground last March, Transport for London assumed a similar role to health chiefs during the coronavirus pandemic. Minister of State for Transport, Chris Heaton-Harris, emphasised the Prime Ministers view that the UK government expected rail will play a vital part in boosting Britains Covid recovery. The feasibility stage assesses whether the outputs can be delivered economically and in line with current network proposals/strategy. He was encouraged by the recent response to the standards challenge process which, after a slow start, was now offering savings of tens of million pounds. Wider Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) services are to be considered, including to Newcastle, Hull and Sheffield. He was assured that if he felt a panel was not adding any value, he should feel empowered to challenge its necessity. endobj Driven by safety, performance and cost efficiency. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. SRC Infrastructure has been providing project management and engineering-based advisory, consultancy and managed services solutions to UK infrastructure clients for almost 20 years. The fact is that from Monday, the track operator moves from being nominally in the private sector to a public sector organisation . These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 21/29 PACE programme (the transition from GRIP) Stuart Calvert joined the meeting. Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. As described later, this required the development of a new project management process, PACE (Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment), addressing ten key themes and the provision of a Rail Investment Centre of Excellence to provide support and share lessons learnt. Caveat in AIP defered to Grip 4. 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. /ProcSet [/PDF /Text /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI] We now need to work with our industry partners to drive the required changes to ensure we work as one team to deliver value for money outcomes for our customers and benefits for our passengers. Able to undertake the NR/L2/INI/02009 roles of Contractors. Keith was sure that Project SPEED was absolutely the right approach and that effective partnerships between Network Rail, suppliers and operators were essential. Its aim is to secure rail investment by demonstrating that the industry can become more competitive by significantly reducing costs and halving the time it takes to complete projects. 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). Experience of working in the UK rail industry - knowledge of Network Rail GRIP / PACE process / standards and approval processes. It replaces GRIP, which was considered by some as overly complex and inefficient in its approach, resulting in additional costs being incurred. 19 0 obj /Resources <> The DfT 's new unit brings together transport experts, ministers, businesses, local government and other specialists to inspire fresh ideas, getting to grips with opportunities to improve. <> We are also part of the supply chain working to improve efficiency throughout key rail infrastructure projects. However, the key requirement is a change in culture. Putting the engineering decision-making into the hands of the delivery team can only help the project delivery, the costs and time scales. This identified a number of things around governance processes, assurance processes, timetable planning, access planning and Grip. SRC Infrastructure has been providing project management and engineering-based advisory, consultancy and managed services solutions to UK infrastructure clients for 20 years. HS2 Phase One is the first phase of HS2 connecting London to the West Midlands, where it will rejoin the existing West Coast Main Line. 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PACE is designed to maximise value and minimise bureaucracy when applied appropriately. Three broad options for completing the EL to Leeds under a Second Phase remain open and will be considered under further work, including the original HS2 plan, a route via the Erewash Line or a mix of upgrades and new lines via Newark and the East Coast Main Line. Part of the PACE ethos is empowering and delegating authority to those best placed for decision making within the project team. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Jakartas Transport & Urban Planning Progress? Typically, a minimum of 5 years' experience working in the rail sector. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Cable Routing Strategy; Detailing the means of running all cables for he scheme and to demonstrate the methods of achieving full diversity. PACE/GRIP Timetabling One-team culture Railway Interoperability Regulation (RIR) Standards Challenge Procurement strategy Access and possession Capability and Culture Contact us Please contact SPEED@networkrail.co.uk to gain access to more information on the SPEED Hub. Project SPEED (Swift, Pragmatic and Efficient Enhancement Delivery) is a joint initiative between the Department for Transport and Network Rail. Part of the PACE ethos is empowering and delegating authority to those best placed for decision making within the project team. All six programmes developed proposals to reduce timescales and cost, and then defended their proposals through peer reviews and challenge panels. 30 0 obj Your email address will not be published. Getting different parts of the railway to work much more closely together will also be an essential aspect of the Williams Review, bringing significant changes to the industrys structure. Phase 2a will open by 2033. At the end of April a whole host of new documents that also reflect the shift from Grip to Pace will be published. 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). PACE has. endobj Real time data is key to supporting this decision making Raildiary a potential best practice tool to help realise the benefits of Project SPEED and PACE. 15 0 obj >> Assurance has to remain a really important part of project delivery to avoid throwing the baby out with bath water. It requires the provision of six new stations and has to accommodate two passenger trains per hour in addition to the existing freight service. >> Providing a new platform at Stevenage a year earlier than planned, in part due to GTR doing the station fit-out, saved 1 million in rail replacement bus costs. His experience of investment panels was that they had the required flexibility, although commercial panels sometimes delayed contracts. At the end of stage 3 the most appropriate and economically viable option that delivers all the requirements is selected. Grip 3. I have working knowledge in the application of GRIP and PACE applications to projects. You have rejected additional cookies. (RailDiary). <> Interoperability and Standards developing a different approach to interoperability and encouraging challenges to standards. A non-statutory sub-national transport body that researches, develops, progresses and makes the case for transport projects that may benefit the Midlands. endobj What is the SPEED approach? The timing and specification, funding and any risks, procurement methodology, clashes with existing railway operations/projects and route strategies and other stakeholder involvement are assessed to establish the scope of investment and identify any constraints. Rail SPEED is one of the contributions that the Department for Transport is making to the cross-government work on Project Speed. HS2 Phase 2a will extend the high-speed rail line north from the West Midlands at Birmingham to Crewe, helping towns and cities across North West England, North Wales and Scotland benefit from it sooner. SKU:SP1607629 The governments plan to transform rail links between key cities across the north of England through new lines and upgrades. It will help the railway better cope with disruptions and ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget. Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines has previously said that if it is used properly, Grip works. The first looked at a number of live projects and gave them a very real challenge to go away and look at cost plans, schedules and the plan of work to identify opportunities to do things better, faster, cheaper and safer; as well as identify our internal processes, regulatory framework or legislation that act as blockers to those things. <> 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 Rail's director of NR2N (Network Rail 2nd Generation). endobj Tel: +44 (0)161 694 8684, © 2023 Rail Diary Limited. Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment (PACE) describes how Network Rail manages and controls investment projects on the rail network. The time slot required to operate one train on any given line based on the characteristics of that line (such as top speed). endobj At Gatwick Airport, the station improvement project had been delayed by two months due to the Covid lockdown. 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 gets a robust outcome but the challenge were creating with Pace is asking at the start if theres a better way of achieving the same outcome.. The ten identified themes are: Helping to make SPEED business-as-usual is the role of the Rail Investment Centre of Excellence led by Network Rail Wales & Westerns Capital Delivery Director, Stuart Calvert, who emphasised that its role was to support the regions who are accountable for project delivery. Description used where a station consists of multiple layers of tracks the low-level line runs below the high-level line. This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. <> A proposed connection north of Crewe station, enabling HS2 services to rejoin the HS2 mainline. This allows a line to handle more traffic than a standard 2-track alignment as fast services can be separated from slower and semi-fast services. 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. In this Integrated Rail Plan, Manchester Piccadilly station would operate as a turnback station. He felt that it was important not to spend too much time optioneering and quickly discard options that are not viable. Toby Elliott, Network Rail Head of Communications, said "PACE is designed to deliver projects more quickly, at lower cost and higher quality. Image taken from: New Civil Engineer 'Interview | Mike Wright of Network Rail on setting a new tone for project delivery', 1 Silk Street Award-winning coverage of transport infrastructure and politics alongside stories about the history of the Capital's transport networks. Finally, he noted that there are occasions when a slower and more coordinated approach is appropriate, especially when there is a risk to the timetable. For Grip we looked at where it wasnt working and the opportunities to improve.. The Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP) is the governments rolling process of determining rail enhancements, by structuring the process of development through various assurance gateways as project plans mature. A line or station operating below High Speed, similar to the existing national rail network. In 1975, he took a three-year break as a volunteer to manage an irrigation project in Bangladesh. Certain things such as land purchase, consents, timetable modelling and preparing signalling control tables take time which has to be built into the project programme. High Speed 2 (HS2) is a new high-speed railway linking London, the Midlands and the North, with services continuing to Scotland via the West Coast Main Line. Midlands Engine Rail (MER) is the flagship rail programme of Midlands Connect. Taking advantage of current reduced traffic levels to deliver the recent Kings Cross blockade nine months earlier than its originally planned December date was a major planning exercise that was only possible with effective collaboration. 14 0 obj It is an outcome of the Governments Covid-19 recovery plan, helping to deliver public investment projects more quickly and at a reduced cost. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. The Midland Main Line (MML) is one of the UKs core rail lines, running between London, Sheffield and Nottingham, via Leicester. He felt that, whilst Network Rails organisational changes provided the right structure, Project SPEED will give us the right mindset. 26 0 obj . Our expertise extends to depots, operations, maintenance analytics and asset management across all aspects of rail, including transport, technical and sustainability assessments and systems infrastructure. Enter your email and we'll let you know when a new long read is published. The Crewe Northern Connection (CNC) is part of the HS2 Western Leg. . The aim of Pace is to keep the rigour of Grip but not control projects so excessively that we are adding extra time and cost to the delivery.. Its been claimed that PACE will have an even greater impact than GRIP in delivering efficiency gains. 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.