Network Rail needed a fault management system to centrally manage safety and infrastructure data across private rail networks. Logica developed a customized two-part fault management system (FMS) with a central Oracle database and local Visual Basic applications. The transition was complex due to the large scale and many private networks involved. The FMS improved fault reporting, data quality, and maintenance scheduling to enhance rail safety.

1. TRaNSpORT & LOgISTICS
Moving forward, intelligently
Network rAil’s FAult MANAgeMeNt systeM (FMs)
MAde sAFe ANd siMple
About Network rAil the chAlleNge
Network Rail is responsible for running, Network Rail required a single solution. That
maintaining and developing Britain’s tracks, could be used by Fault Controls to manage day-
“FMS was a signalling system, rail bridges, tunnels, level to-day issues and by Network Rail to manage
crossings, viaducts and 18 key stations. They safety related failures and fault equipment and
difficult technical handle around 28,000 freight and passenger reference data. For this they needed a system to
implementation train movements daily on the country’s rail transmit sensitive, safety-related data between
network. private networks that exist between Network Rail
and had to support and private infrastructure companies.
a number of major
Network Rail whAt Network rAil Needed Our challenge was to develop and implement
Fault Management System (FMS) to provide a
organisational Safety is critical to Network Rail. They need central repository of reference data managed by
and cultural periodic monitoring of all failures connected Network Rail. This data would then be used by
to transport infrastructure assets, as well as the private infrastructure companies to log faults
changes during the detailed investigation of all failures which have a against. This would ensure consistent reporting
project lifecycle. safety impact. of failures, and improve fault and trend analysis.
The solution and This investigation helps prevent accidents This transition was not easy. It involved many
delivery model by improving asset technology or reviewing disparate networks owned by the private
maintenance schedules. Failure data also helps infrastructure companies and Network Rail.
provided by Logica you monitor the wear and tear of infrastructure
was flexible enough so that you can review and improve
to enable us to maintenance cycles. our ANswer
achieve a number Initially, Fault Controls was in charge of day-to- For Network Rail, we developed a completely
of late business day fault management. Fault Controls is a single bespoke system. The FMS had a central system,
system used by multiple private infrastructure that we developed based on Oracle forms and
requirements companies. These companies were also reports. Its second component was a local
and transition the responsible for investigating basic safety-related system using Visual Basic .NET, Crystal Reports
failures. This was in turn reviewed by Network
solution to support Rail. However, serious safety-related failures were and Microsoft SQL Server, developedTheRailTech
Solutions, who were managed by us.
by
local
within our budgets.” investigated by Network Rail. system talked with the central system every day
Steve anderson by sending and receiving encrypted Extensible
FMS project Manager Markup Language (XML). The central system
Network Rail in turn released encrypted XML containing
reference and equipment data received from
Ellipse, which was managed centrally.

2. The transition was complex and on a massive why work with logicA?
scale, so we used a staged-deployment
approach. This included the training of 100 across the transport sector, we are known for
to 150 fault control users split across 12 fault our technology know-how and delivery record.
controls and a train-the-trainer programme to Companies upgrading legacy systems and
train an additional 60 safety investigation users. those adding new functionality make it their
first-choice systems integrator. In a sector where
Somewhere along the line, all private innovation and first mover advantage is key, we
infrastructure companies managing Fault stand out as the partner of choice. We have a
Controls were nationalised and became world class intelligent transport systems (ITS)
part of Network Rail. This led to additional practice with a pool of specialist staff with a
implementation challenges. But it also simplified deep understanding of travel information, traffic
local-to-central communication. management, transport safety, security and the
environment.
They also needed to alter the source for asset
data to utilise the Ellipse asset maintenance We have a flexible, collaborative culture. Our
system. For that, we introduced a new interface innovative, practical solutions are tailored to
to the system and restructured a number of core client needs across the transport sector. and we
components of the solution. can help you lower your costs, beat the language
barrier and avoid cultural misunderstandings.
A success story
Network Rail now has a common source for
safety and non-safety related asset data for fault
reporting and asset maintenance. Needless
to say, they have benefited from improved
reporting and data quality. all of this in turn
improves the speed of fault diagnosis and
resolution.
By introducing a new interface to the Ellipse
asset maintenance system, there is improved
association between fault reporting and asset
maintenance history. Further, it is agile and
supports any major re-organisational change
of Network Rail, if any. For example, no system/
functional changes were required to the FMS
application to ensure its compatibility with the
phase 2a programme (major Network Rail
organisational change) and other Network Rail
boundary changes.
T: +44 (0)207 637 9111
E: transport.uk@logica.com
Logica is a business and technology service company, employing 39,000 people. It provides business consulting, systems integration and
outsourcing to clients around the world, including many of Europe’s largest businesses. Logica creates value for clients by successfully
integrating people, business and technology. It is committed to long term collaboration, applying insight to create innovative answers to
clients’ business needs. Logica is listed on both the London Stock Exchange and Euronext (amsterdam) (LSE: LOg; Euronext: LOg).
www.logica.co.uk/transport More information is available at www.logica.com
CODE 0411 2487