With Chris Grayling announcing the programme to move rail signalling into the modern digital world last week, the future of rail is now set to be very different. With the need for trackside signals no longer required and drivers being provided with real-time information on the location of other trains on the track, we are a step away from self-driving trains.
Once in place, self-driving trains will allow operators to have more trains on the track at the same time, which will not only improve the customer experience with the increased capacity and ability to get a seat on a train, but also the safety element, as the potential for human error is removed from the system. Increased capacity is ultimately achieved because a self-driving system can allow you to reduce the gap between trains to just the braking distance, so you can maximise the number of trains on the track at all times.
However, self-driving trains are nothing new: the Victoria line is already using Automatic Train Operation systems on passenger services and has done since 1968. As with most self-driving trains, the “driver” is only there to provide comfort to passengers and react to an emergency.
With the decision to digitise the railway, we have already started to see both public and private sector investment in new technology. Network Rail estimates there will be a further c.£2bn of investment between 2019 and 2024, which is on top of the £450m already committed in 2016. From a private sector perspective, we have seen train leasing and Train Operating Companies also begin to invest, with Govia Thameslink ordering 115 digital trains from Siemens. Amongst many of the benefits these new digital trains bring is the ability to provide real-time maintenance data to the operator, which will enable them to predict when a train is likely to fail, and put preventative measures in place to ensure this doesn’t happen. On top of this, the technology will also be able to recalculate timetables and re-direct trains should something go wrong, thus minimising the effect on passengers.
So, with a move into the digital era for rail, the use of these new technologies will enable the rail sector as a whole to provide a more efficient, frequent and safer rail network. The knock on effect will be focussing more on customer experience, which will inevitably improve through the consistency and certainty these systems provide.
So the future of rail, whilst being very different to what we perhaps imagined, is certainly bright.
On the back of this, we are being asked by more and more of our clients to support them in their search for talent and experience that will allow them to take full advantage these new technologies offer, in particular, those that improve customer experience.
If you would like to confidentially discuss how Norman Broadbent Group could help you overcome your business or people challenges, please contact Nick Behan on +44 (0) 0207 484 0106 or via nick.behan@normanbroadbent.com