I’m very pleased to co-sponsor this refreshed priority alongside Clive Burrows. As the rail industry reforms to deliver closer integration between infrastructure and rolling stock this presents a new opportunity to deploy innovative ways of working that optimise whole system performance, delivering greater value for passengers, freight customers and taxpayers.

Technology will help us achieve the dual aims of enhancing our understanding of infrastructure performance and risk and improving the working conditions of everyone building, inspecting and maintaining our fixed assets. Those people are critical to achieving the Rail Technical Strategy stepping stones. This needs to be a truly collaborative effort, with people from across our industry at the centre of creation, development and testing of new ideas.

We’ll deliver more reliable railway infrastructure by enhancing our understanding of asset condition, the rate of change of condition and the root causes of degradation. The RTS embeds this principle by identifying clear milestones for the introduction of more effective monitoring and measurement technology, and for converting raw condition data into knowledge and insight to help us fine tune asset management processes towards the objective of ‘right asset, right intervention, right time’.

Network Rail has championed the RTS since it was first published in 2007. As Chief Engineer I’m very pleased to be able to continue this support and commitment as the RTS is updated for 2024. It’s one of the key foundations for cross-industry engagement and improvement, setting a common direction for our dynamic rail sector and providing a consistent reference point as we make critical investment decisions. I look forward to working with Clive, colleagues from our industry partners, and Network Rail’s regions and routes to deliver the more efficient and reliable railway our customers expect.

October 2024