Rail Operations and Maintenance

We work with clients to help guide and implement governance and management systems, in particular their Asset Management, Safety Management and Digital Resilient Management practices (ISO55000, ISO18001, NIS-D or supporting Codes of Practice and standards). 

Our work typically involves undertaking gap analysis against recognised industry best practice, appraisals of existing capabilities and resources to deliver strategic or safety objectives, and guidance on implementing measures that can underpin long-term business improvement. We can also cover areas such as emergency preparedness, safety culture and working environment assessments (Human Factors).

A Shadow Operator is appointed early in the construction of a new rail route to inform planning and delivery decisions during the period before the eventual operator is selected.

Our experts closely track the project throughout the 'civils' engineering stage, providing technical input and representing the viewpoint of a rail operator during key decision points of the build. Once the actual operator is in place our teams facilitate a handover process that ensures there are no delays heading into the early testing stages.

Ricardo's teams will devise optimum service schedules for a client's operational circumstances, including performance analysis, corrective measures, and impact assessments of potential changes imposed on day-to-day procedures, whether due to internal restructures or external factors. 

We help rail clients manage and process the large volumes of data now generated within the increasingly computerised rail industry. Services we provide include helping to define an organisation's information needs, utilising our warehousing environment to enrich data sources, and developing scripts and/or algorithms to produce real-time dashboards that support operational decisions.

Whether a rolling stock owner, infrastructure manager or vertically integrated operator, the condition and performance of rail assets are of crucial importance given their potential impact on safety, costs and performance of the rail system as a whole.

Our support extends across a wide range of activities, including real-time  condition monitoring technologies; modelling of interfaces between rolling stock and infrastructure; vehicle dynamics; multi-body simulation and testing; optimisation of wheel/rail interaction; and track geometry.

Our specialists will work alongside your teams to improve the reliability of your rail systems and reduce routine maintenance costs. Using tools developed by, and exclusive to, Ricardo, our support includes reliability analysis, lifecycle costing, and optimising of maintenance schedules.

Our IT consultancy service for rail clients provides support across a wide range of issues related to rolling stock information systems.

Capabilities include support in defining requirements and specifying IT systems (including TCMS) and architecture, Software Process Management (SW updates and roll-out), IT quality assurance on all train subsystems (including TCMS), and services such as cyber-security support. 

Our support can range from a comprehensive review of organisation's operations and energy consumption activities, through to site-specific interventions to deliver immediate benefits, such as route modelling and driver training to reduce traction energy consumption.

Much of our support is backed by Ricardo's international team of sustainability experts who bring experience of developing decarbonisation programmes, initiating circular economy approaches, and helping clients report against ESG targets.

We provide feasibility and technical/operational analysis to support clients through the introduction of new technologies, processes or products. Our analysis tools -  such as whole-life cost modelling and cost benefit analysis - extend across the entire asset lifecycle to help clients  optimise functionality and reduce costs.