Rail service shadow operator
Ensuring the day-to-day priorities of rail operators are accounted for throughout the planning and development of a new railway.
As Shadow Operator, our rail experts work alongside the construction and design of a new build project to provide observations and recommendations that reflect the needs of the eventual operations and maintenance contractor.
This can include advising on the design and footprint of infrastructure, the specifications for rolling stock and other assets, lifecycle cost, environmental safeguards, and the development of operational principles and rules.
By joining at an early point in the route’s design and planning, our teams ensure the needs of a railway operator are accounted for at every key decision point, helping to reduce the risk of costly design changes or remediation works during the later stages of a project.
When the time comes to appoint the eventual operator - which tends to be towards the end of civil construction works and the main procurement exercises - our teams will support a smooth handover process as the project heads towards the early testing phases.
Projects
Sydney Metro Shadow Operator
Read project
Manila Line 4 Shadow Operations Consultant
Read project
Taipei Metro Wanda-Shulin Line
Read projectHow we can help you
In the course of our work as Shadow Operator our teams can support:
- Safety integrity
- Whole-life cost management
- Operational concept definition
- Environmental safeguards
- Maintenance planning
- Requirement capture and procurement exercises
- Development of operational principles and rules
- Test programme support
- Passenger flow modelling
- Energy use reduction
- Circular economy strategies
- Technology and design recommendations (e.g. to influence future staffing requirements)
“We’re excited to have Ricardo, supported by Seoul Metro, come on board and share their international expertise with us. Their insight will give Sydney Metro the perfect combination of ‘real metro operations’ and consultancy service expertise to drive a customer focused, operable and maintainable design at the lowest whole of life cost.
”
Rebecca McPhee
Sydney Metro deputy chief executive – operations, customer and placemaking
Choosing Ricardo as your technical partner
Global perspectives
Our international network of offices and technical centres supports the transfer of skills and experience from one region of the world to the next.
Whole-system mindset
We will help your teams apply systematic processes so that your engineering projects deliver a positive contribution to the wider rail system.
Collaborative approach
We add value by working alongside your teams in an open and constructive partnership, offering balanced and insightful perspectives on the bigger picture.
An industry voice
Our experts are leading contributors to the international committees, working groups and professional forums that define the rail industry’s technical standards.
Rail service shadow operator Resources