Optimisation of assets and operations for metro and urban rail
So much can now be learned about an asset’s performance, enabling predictions about lifespan, maintenance needs and improvements to operation.
The right data can enable better decision making now, including which maintenance interventions to make and when. Getting the right data – whether there is too much or not enough – is always a major hurdle. We help our clients to develop and implement predictive and preventative digital asset management programmes. Our optimisation expertise helps rail clients approaching a critical asset renewal cycle, or looking for ways to achieve operational excellence and reliability in daily services and maintenance programmes.
Digital plays a key role in predicting future passenger demand and maximisation of your assets’ lifespans. We also use digital tools to find ways to increase rail resilience, reduce carbon emissions and embed circular economy principles to minimise waste, and improve or extend whole life value.
Beyond asset management, we also support operators, devise strategies to increase capacity and improve reliability across their services and improve efficiencies across their operations. From timetable change and impact assessments to optimisation strategies across services and business, we work with clients to produce better performing railways.
How can you be assured that a new rail system will operate seamlessly from day one? Crossrail and Transport for London commissioned Arup to support launch of London’s new Elizabeth Line.
The goal was to not only avoid the associated reputational and financial damages that unexpected failures in operations could present, but to ensure the delivery and maintenance of a safe, efficient and reliable service for passengers from day one.
Arup began preparing the Elizabeth line for operations in 2015, supporting Crossrail and Transport for London (TfL) with training, assurance, trials and supplier engagement. Using our comprehensive operational readiness activation and transition (ORAT) methodology, we helped plan and prepare the mobilisation of the new line, building confidence for a successful first day and for operations beyond.
The Elizabeth line was a huge success from launch. With more than one million passenger journeys made during its first week of opening, the new service increased central London’s rail capacity by 10%. Our ORAT service brought together a myriad of new processes, technologies and teams.
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Explore
Learn more about our work and how our services can support your project:
Projects
Explore more rail projects:
Supporting Network Rail’s transformation to meet the challenges of climate change
Weather resilience and drainage asset management transformation, UK
Designing Sydney’s first integrated station development
Sydney Metro Martin Place integrated station development, Australia
Rolling stock procurement for vital new east-west rail line
East West Rail Engineering Partner, UK
Developing a low carbon train specification for ScotRail
ScotRail new train procurement, UK
Commuter and mainline rail
Across the world, Arup has been at the forefront of urban transit for more than 40 years, working with clients to unlock the transformative potential rail systems offer. Our international team helps clients to take projects from initial vision to operational reality, whether a completely new urban rail project or a major extension of an existing network.