Rail Systems Integration
Ensuring safe and seamless integration of physical, functional and technical systems with a backbone of robust governance processes and legislation.
The railway environment is a ‘system of systems’, with every single component merely part of a larger and more complex whole.
To ensure success, project delivery must look beyond the industry’s usual siloes of ‘train’ and ‘track’ to an ecosystem that is also comprised of safety-critical software, digital communications and technologies, energy supply, maintenance processes and passenger environments.
Systems Engineering and Integration puts the emphasis on taking a holistic view towards a project. That is, to not only focus on the task in hand, but to understand the broader system capabilities, including performance, availability, operations and safety implications. Delivery activities include interrogation of interfaces and inter-dependencies with other technologies, subsystems, human and organisational interactions.
Drawing on a wealth of international expertise across Ricardo – including specialists in fields such as Functional Safety, RAM, Human Factors, Cyber Security, and Fire Engineering - we will work with your teams to establish the full scope of your requirements, implement governance frameworks, and ensure proven systems engineering techniques, such as those set out in ISO 15288, are in place to help you achieve your intended outcomes.
Projects
Ottawa’s O-Train Systems Integration Support
Read project
Hitachi Intercity Express - Systems Engineering
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Amsterdam Metro
Read projectBenefits:
- Embeds a 'system thinking' approach across the all project teams
- Ensures clear requirements definition to minimise scope creep and project risk.
- Supports governance frameworks and clear organisational accountability.
- Enables early identification of risks and escalation of issues for resolution
- Aligns delivery across engineering, technical, programme and commercial teams
- Demonstrates a system is secure, safe and compatible with the wider rail network.
Capabilities/related services
- Systems Engineering which includes Requirements and Interface management
- Cyber and physical security
- Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)
- Functional safety and Assurance
- Reliability, Availability and Maintainability (RAM)
- Human factors (HF)
- Operability and Maintainability
- Systems Integration governance
How we can support you
When appointed as the Systems Integration Authority (SIA), we will act as an impartial body and independent guiding mind to ensure a project is able to demonstrate, with evidence, the application of recognised Systems Integration best practices across all phases of a project lifecycle.
The SIA also provides a mechanism to engage with delivery partners, stakeholders, delivery teams and project leaders to advise on best practice and oversee the escalation of issues for resolution.
Upon completion of all deliverables, the SIA can issue a closing independent statement of endorsement.
A Systems Integration Triage offers an independent and impartial review of a project that extends across Systems engineering, Safety, Cyber Security, RAM, Operations and Maintenance aspects.
The findings present clients with a clear understanding a project’s current status with regards to systems integration compliance. The process also provides recommendations on next steps based on assessments of efficiencies and benefits yet to be realised.
We offer a wide range of services to enable the integration of individual components through to the development of entire railways. These include:
- Requirements management
- System architecture development reviews
- Hazard identification and Log
- Operational Safety Hazard analysis
- RAM reviews
- Verification and validation
- Installation and integration testing
Our experts will prepare a detailed argument ahead for submission to the appropriate approvals body, including evidence such as the detailed Safety Case, RAM report and System Testing Report, demonstrating a project has been developed in accordance with recognised systems engineering standards and is deemed ready for acceptance into service.
Why choose Ricardo
International scope
Our international network of offices and rail 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.
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.
Collaboration
We add value by working alongside your teams in an open and constructive partnership, offering balanced and insightful perspectives on the bigger picture.
Rail Systems Integration Resources
