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Markets
Transportation
Simon D'Cruz
AVP, Senior Project Director, Rail & Transit, Los Angeles, CA, USA contact form+1 213 557 9691
Worldwide, rail projects are struggling to deliver new, complex technology solutions on time and on budget. Reducing costs and timelines while keeping pace with new and emerging technology, increasing passenger and stakeholder expectations and sustainability mandates is proving difficult to accomplish. Increasingly, directors of major projects are reporting system integration as one of the root causes.
For many years, the rail industry has thought of system integration as the process of bringing together component subsystems into one system to deliver an overarching function. However, there is more to it. Designing and building the rail systems of tomorrow requires embracing cutting-edge technology that not only is safe and reliable, but can also be interconnected in a physical, functional and data-driven way that enables complex functionality and optimization. We must also consider those who will use the railway— passengers, stakeholders, operators and maintenance teams, as well as clients, consultants and contractors—and the processes required to deliver, operate and maintain it and its technology.
System integration has traditionally occurred during the testing phase when different subsystems from different entities need to be brought together to form a single, unified system. To deliver a high-performance railway, its systems and subsystems must be deeply intertwined, capable of passing vast amounts of information back and forth in real time. Identifying the reason for a malfunction requires laser-like focus from everyone involved on a project. When several subsystems are supplied by different contractors, ensuring a collaborative and cooperative approach is challenging.
The term “system integration” doesn’t really tell the whole story and limits systems thinking. “Railway integration” is more accurate, as it implies bringing together people, processes and technology to form a single system—the railway.
What is Railway Integration
To better define railway integration, it is important to explain rail systems and systems engineering. Rail systems are the technology or products that make up a railway, including the civil assets, track, traction power, communications, rolling stock and signaling. Systems engineering are the tools and techniques applied to the products to demonstrate compliance, integration and assurance.
There is a common misconception that railway integration risk can be transferred to the contractors to manage, disconnecting the client from the technical complexity and leaving it in the hands of the technology suppliers. However, the goal of railway integration is bringing people, processes and technology together, and by connecting passengers, operators, stakeholders and contractors, the client plays an essential role.
In addition, railway integration issues usually occur at the end of the project lifecycle when systems and subsystems are brought together. This inevitably causes delays and pushes back the grand opening of the railway. This is also when clients feel the most pressure with the public eager to use the new railway and politicians keen to see a return on their investment. To solve this challenge, it is critical to map out a railway integration plan at the beginning of the project and create an organizational culture that embraces it. This places railway integration risks in the hands of those that can best manage them.
From the procurement of civil works, vehicles and rail systems, to the design and construction of the railway and the start of passenger services, ensuring railway integration is essential to the success of all rail projects.
The railways of tomorrow depend on it.
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