Rail strategy and planning
Whether you are looking to develop an integrated transport strategy, introduce low-emission technologies, or develop an organisation-wide cyber security plan, our rail strategy team bridge the divide between core engineering disciplines and the economic and environmental challenges of rail transport.
We support a client list that includes national and regional governments, regulators, operators and manufacturers, guiding them through every stage of the project life cycle, from initial scoping to implementation and evaluation, all whilst communicating to technical and non-technical audiences with a transparency that builds trust.
Projects
Sydney Metro Shadow Operator
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Aventra Vehicle Digital Risk Assessment
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Riding Sunbeams - the solar powered railway
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- Governments and industry bodies: Policy, project and programme prioritisation; preparation of statutory (and non-statutory) plans.
- Local authorities: Integrated transport plans; stakeholder engagement and public consultation support; economic and environmental impact assessments.
- Rail operators: Supplier qualification; procurement and tender support; data analysis; organisational restructuring.
- Industry regulators: Horizon-scanning; risk identification; scenario analysis.
- Product manufacturers: Production and logistics efficiency; change management; technology market reviews; regulation and standards research.
Expertise beyond the rail domain
Within our rail teams are specialists who understand the industry’s structures and idiosyncrasies, as well as the global standards and local practices that underpin operations. However, what makes us unique is our ability to draw on colleagues experienced in other infrastructure sectors who can offer techniques and applications from outside traditional rail thinking.
Ricardo's Sustainable Transport team, for example, works across all transport modes to develop emissions reduction strategies, or introduce low-carbon technologies such as biofuels and hydrogen.
Our Policy, Strategy and Economics teams, meanwhile, can bring experience of policy areas such as infrastructure pricing and financing rules, and use horizon scanning tools and macroeconomic models to forecast the impact of future policy interventions.
Feasibility and business case production
Our support can begin during the earliest planning stages of a project.
From the outset, our teams can help articulate the primary strategic goals and objectives of the proposed railway, and then define clear performance and operational requirements, in full transparency with key stakeholders.
With a clear definition in place, our analysts can help lead the production of relevant feasibility studies, project estimates, economic and environmental impact assessments, as well as ready the project business case for submission.
Costing and asset valuation
We can provide asset valuations that play a crucial role in supporting informed investment decision making.
Our valuations assist with financial reporting, tax and accounting, and the generation of appropriate pricing to encourage efficient usage and investment in infrastructure. We leverage our expert cost knowledge, extensive valuation experience, and deep railway domain knowledge to undertake robust valuation.
Our commercial and engineering expertise allows us to not only review fixed asset registers, but also build them from the ground up utilising as-built drawings. We then provide the tools to manage their assets in the most commercially efficient way and ensure a cost-effective revaluation in the future.
Rail strategy and planning Resources