network rail grip pace

Witham Fourth District Internal Drainage Board, We use cookies to personalize and improve your experience on our site. Amanda felt one problem was that, over time, processes that were intended to make things work have increasingly been used dogmatically rather than pragmatically. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. . <> endobj At a time of scarce funding, the industry has to reduce both the time and cost of project delivery. An approach to train timetabling to maximise the use of a mixed-traffic railway. Working with DfT, Network Rail identified six infrastructure projects of differing scale and stages of development, and asked them to consider past and current constraints, and what was needed to unblock them. Well send you a link to a feedback form. This approach involves early engagement with all concerned, particularly suppliers. Timetabling developing a meaningful plan linked to the investment lifecycle and joint funding decisions. The challenge now is to spread and scale that best practice across other programmes and the wider network. He advised that the review challenged both the scope and original nine-year timescale of the project by considering radical blockade strategies. It is often referenced by project or policy benefit cost ratio (BCR), which for transport schemes is based on the method set out by the Transport appraisal process. endobj 3 0 obj This identified a number of things around governance processes, assurance processes, timetable planning, access planning and Grip. The one-team approach dovetails into the Williams Review which will require the different parts of the railway to work much more closely together. Phase 2b WL will open between 2035 and the early 2040s. 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. Our readers include transport experts, politicians and enthusiasts both in the UK and globally. Andrew acknowledged that this is not always a fair picture but that there are too many examples we can all think of which have defined us in the eyes of those we serve and those who fund us. The Great Western Electrification Programme (GWEP) was 2 billion overspent; a decade before that, the final 12 billion cost at todays prices of the West Coast Main Line upgrade in 2006 compares unfavourably with its original 1.4 billion estimate from 1994. He was assured that if he felt a panel was not adding any value, he should feel empowered to challenge its necessity. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". To receive New Civil Engineer's daily and weekly newsletters click here. Sign in or Register a new account to join the discussion. Similarly, rail commuters have been told not to travel this week unless . From cyber secure to cyber smart: why a broader understanding of cybersecurity is vital to our railways resilience. SPEED is all about the mindset shift needed in the industry to radically transform our cost base and programmes for infrastructure, and embracing the PACE frameworks is one of the ways in which this can be enabled. He advised that GTR had received good passenger feedback from recent blockades which had significantly disrupted their journeys, but only once. Value for Money is one of the key considerations of any decision involving the use of public funds as referenced in The Green Book guidance issued by HM Treasury on how to appraise policies, programmes and projects across government. PACE has been created from Project SPEED (Swift, Pragmatic and Efficient Enhancement Delivery), itself part of the governments Covid-19 recovery plan to deliver public investment projects faster and for less money. So what is PACE, and how does it differ from its predecessor? After being approved in November 2020, PACE has been applied to projects since January 2021. Hear from Tim Walden, Transformation Director and Mike Wright, Programme Management Director of Network Rail. Segregating fast and slow rail services onto separate tracks. Wright adds: I have one project that under Pace will save up to 75% on the time needed on running through the Grip 1 to Grip 3 process.. Dis Boxes | Trackside Connection Boxes (TCB), Plug Couplers | Wired Plugs & Receptacles, Principal Supply Points & Auxiliary Supply Points, Level Crossing Lighting Control Unit (LCU). Management and consulting . He is also an active member of the IMechEs Railway Division, having been Chair and Secretary of its Scottish Centre. [19 0 R] endobj Excellent written and oral communication skills. Rail lineside civils works including UTX/URX design & lineside structures. It was set up to significantly reduce the time and costs of delivering rail infrastructure projects. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment (PACE) describes how Network Rail manages and controls investment projects on the rail network. For the past 12 months, this has been considering new ways of delivering projects and trying these out on pilot schemes. Interoperability and Standards developing a different approach to interoperability and encouraging challenges to standards. / Network Rail Responsible for owning, maintaining and enhancing the UK rail network. AECOM produced the Strategic Outline Business Case and are providing project management services. 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. <> Play all audios: Loading. Office: 1 Silk Street, Manchester M4 6LZ. David Shirres joined British Rail in 1968 as a scholarship student and graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Sussex University. We have cultivated a whole generation of people who apply it mechanically. 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. Stuart considered that the knowledge hub is one of most important things the centre is doing as it is not possible to know if costs and timescales are being reduced unless there are good baselines. 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. By Claire Smith. 5. The problem is that Grip has become a paint by numbers process. It requires the provision of six new stations and has to accommodate two passenger trains per hour in addition to the existing freight service. <> We also delivered all the DNO cubicles. There are eight distinct stages of the GRIP process: We will look at each of these distinct stages in more detail below. The Eastern Leg (EL) of HS2, originally part of HS2 Phase 2b. Built with love in Manchester , New Civil Engineer 'Interview | Mike Wright of Network Rail on setting a new tone for project delivery'. 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 . endobj This is where the needs and requirements of a project are defined. GRIP, a project by Network Rail to help deliver efficiency improvements on the rail network, has been replaced by a new programme called PACE. 29 0 obj . Keith gave examples of how effective partnership working had accelerated programmes on Network Rails Southern and Eastern regions and the East Coast Digital Programme. & Laying RIAs Parliamentary reception strikes a positive note, Newcastle exhibition marks bicentenary of Robert Stephensons company. 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 . 23 0 obj However, given rising inflation and other costs, even a flat budget is likely to equate to a real-terms cut of at least 10% in available expenditure. <> . >> The most-liked question at the event was from a project manager who wanted to reduce bureaucracy but found himself going to more and more panels to jump through more hoops. Amounts of time and cost required to move projects from concept to reality are often criticised in the UK construction industry, but Network Rail is tackling the issue head on with a fresh look at its project delivery framework. 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. 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. 11 0 obj The Integrated Rail Plan plans for Warrington include the reopening of the disused low-level platforms underneath Warrington Bank Quay and the West Coast Main Line, which runs broadly perpendicular to the proposed Northern Powerhouse Rail service. 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. Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines told last autumns Rail Industry Alliance annual conference that the eight-stage governance in rail investment projects (Grip) framework process, which was first adopted in 2010, was to be replaced because its not effective. It represents the local transport and local highways authorities of the North of England. Part of the PACE ethos is empowering and delegating authority to those best placed for decision making within the project team. This created unnecessary bureaucracy and distraction. Access and Possessions developing new, better-coordinated access strategies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 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. Governance reviewing the process for seeking government funding, with a simplified process for projects under 10 million. 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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. Pop Art tunnel Michelangelo Dragados & the Art of Tunnel Scanning. It is understood that DfT's budget for the passenger railway for 2023-24 remains the same as for 2022-23, while for 2024-25 a further 1bn is removed from the funding available. She emphasised that SPEED was not about rushing or cutting corners; instead it was about being more thoughtful about what we do.. Network Rail has developed this approach to managing projects in order to minimise and mitigate the risks associated with project development and delivery. At the end of April a whole host of new documents that also reflect the shift from Grip to Pace will be published. I bring . We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. <> 7 0 obj 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. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They were split across three formal project management phases. Tel: +44 (0)161 694 8684, © 2023 Rail Diary Limited. 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. The Crewe Northern Connection (CNC) is part of the HS2 Western Leg. 27 0 obj 31 Mar, 2021 <> 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. 25 0 obj (RailDiary). Another example is the planning of blockades which must have as much work as possible thrown into them and so might delay some schemes. So what is PACE, and how does it differ from its predecessor? Prodigal Bond Buyers Return to Gilts as 250 Billion Wall Looms. 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. He felt that, in many cases, train operators were best placed to deliver them in an agile manner. He stressed the benefits of the one-team approach that required funders, users and suppliers to be involved as early as possible, for which suitable procurement arrangements were required. This standard is part of the Capital Delivery Core Process and relates to the Capital Investment and Delivery Policy. A proposed connection north of Crewe station, enabling HS2 services to rejoin the HS2 mainline. to a status equivalent to RIBA 2 and Network Rail PACE ES3 (formerly GRIP 3), moving the project on to the next stage and seeking to maintain partner support and commitment; 3.3 The RIBA stage 2 report and OBC was shared with the industry working group regarding the acceptability of the work to date with a recommendation that we 26 0 obj PACE is a new approach that will make it easier for Network Rail to integrate and respond to operational challenges. endobj 16 0 obj It is then tested to ensure that everything is working as it should be and then commissioned into use. 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. For example, when a client requirement comes in, a project team will follow the prescriptive process and might develop three options through to engineering design which can often cost a significant amount of time and money. 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. Wright says that the regions know their project portfolio and contract frameworks better than anyone else, so they are best placed to make the right decision on when to move over. In 1975, he took a three-year break as a volunteer to manage an irrigation project in Bangladesh. Grip is being retired during this year with each of the five Network Rail regions given the power to make decisions about how and when projects migrate to Pace. SRC Infrastructure has been providing project management and engineering-based advisory, consultancy and managed services solutions to UK infrastructure clients for 20 years. 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). Your email address will not be published. Project SPEED (Swift, Pragmatic and Efficient Enhancement Delivery) is a joint initiative between the Department for Transport and Network Rail. Keith advised that CARS was the first project to be subject to a SPEED review. %PDF-1.7 % Replanned access arrangements and the provision of a temporary platform actually brought the project end-date forward by two months a four-month betterment, taking account of Covid. 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. It represents the local transport and local highways authorities of the West and East Midlands. 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.