Digital Solutions for Freight Operating Companies (FOCs): Keeping Freight Moving under Great British Railways

Rail freight is the backbone of UK logistics. You deliver goods efficiently and sustainably, but the industry is evolving. With Great British Railways (GBR) reshaping how the network operates, new challenges ‒ and opportunities ‒ are on the horizon.  We’re here to help you stay agile and competitive with digital solutions that simplify processes, improve visibility and strengthen collaboration.

If you are facing challenges or just want to bounce around some ideas, we’d love to hear from you. Fill out the form and we’ll schedule a call.

David Oliver, Director of Transport at Netcall

Book a call with David Oliver, Director of Transport

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Trusted by the rail industry

We are already working with key players in the sector – our solutions are proven, ready to deploy and built to support TOCs through the transition to Great British Railways and beyond.

Transport for London

“The solution has improved efficiency, collaboration and compliance while creating opportunities for future enhancements and information sharing across the industry. It’s inspiring to see how technology can solve complex regulatory and operational challenges in large infrastructure organisations.” 

Andy Gordon

Principal Engineering Leader, Engineering Delivery Transformation, Transport for London

“We’re committed to growing our application delivery during CP7 and beyond. We extended our partnership with Netcall until 2029 to ensure we offer our customers a comprehensive range of solutions.” 

Steve Bell

Head of Digital Factory, Network Rail

“The agent dashboard is a game changer for our team – everyone knows what’s happening and it’s improved their work lives. It’s now easy for us to make changes ourselves, which was impossible before. Our agents can now deliver their best service and they are also empowered to suggest new additions to enhance our delivery to customers even more.”  

Nara Burne

Business Change Manager – CX, East Midlands Railway

What’s changing for rail freight operators under Great British Railways?

Network access and charges

GBR will now manage access to the rail network and set track access charges (TACs). These decisions will directly impact your costs and planning.

Prioritisation concerns

Passenger services could take priority over freight when it comes to network access and timetabling. That makes it harder to grow without safeguards.

Icon of people network

Regulatory oversight

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) will continue to ensure GBR’s decisions are fair and non-discriminatory. It will also act as an appeals body if you need to challenge a ruling.

Collaboration and incentives

GBR want operators to work together. Freight companies could benefit from scorecard-linked incentives for collaboration and innovation, creating opportunities to improve performance and strengthen relationships.

Netcall helps FOCs overcome these challenges with scalable, intelligent automation tailored to the rail transport sector.

3 reasons why rail freight operating companies must act now

Delaying digital transformation could leave your FOC behind. The transition to GBR will bring:

Number 1 in a circle

Increased regulatory
oversight

GBR will control network access and track access charges, with ORR monitoring fairness. You’ll need systems that keep you compliant and competitive.

Number 2 in a circle

Rising performance
pressures

Scorecard-linked incentives and collaboration targets mean you’ll be measured more closely. Digital tools can help you track and improve performance.

Number 3 in a circle

The need for seamless
collaboration

Working with GBR, other operators and local authorities will be essential. Secure, efficient data sharing will make the difference.

Your challenges, our solutions

GBR brings big changes for freight operators. It’s a chance to modernise how the rail network works and how you run your business. Our low-code, AI, contact centre and robotic process automation (RPA) solutions help freight operators to:

  1. Connect systems that don’t talk to each other
  2. Automate time-consuming processes
  3. Deliver consistent digital experiences for customers and partners
  4. Accelerate transformation across operations, planning and collaboration.

We make complex tasks simple and speed up delivery ‒ helping you stay agile and resilient as the rail industry evolves.

Ready-to-use ideas for immediate impact

Streamline access requests

Automate workflows to reduce admin and speed up approvals

Manage
costs

Gain clear insight into TACs and other charges to make informed decisions

Collaborate with confidence

Share data securely with partners and local authorities

Track
performance

Use real-time dashboards to monitor KPIs and meet scorecard targets

Delivering smarter digital services across the UK’s rail network

2,000+ hours

Manual works saved across skilled engineering staff

Transport for London’s story

5 weeks

To deploy webchat and voice calls, improving customer experience

East Midland Railway’s story

48%

Net Promoter Score increase for NCB with automated report generation and management

NCB’s story

600+

Different requests per month handled through the digital RAMS approval system

Network Rail’s story

Seamless integration, smarter operations, stronger freight performance

Low-code integration

Quickly build scalable apps for operational planning, customer service and data management – without heavy coding.

AI-powered automation

Automate processes like route planning, capacity allocation and customer updates. Improve service reliability and optimise operational decisions.

Robotic process automation

Streamline repetitive tasks such as data entry, invoicing and works processing. Free up your team to focus on growth and customer relationships.

Unified digital practices

Create consistent standards and platforms across freight operations for real-time tracking, secure data sharing and integrated backend systems.

Stay on track as Great British Railways reshapes the rail network

Digital readiness today means operational success tomorrow

Let Netcall help your freight operating company unify operations, streamline processes and deliver a consistent, efficient service for your customers.

Customer video | Network Rail

Discover how Network Rail uses low-code to build a seamless end-to-end works approval system

Resource | Rail and transportation use case library

Discover what you can build with Liberty. Explore real-world examples of how organisations solve challenges and deliver smarter services.

yellow hard hat on yellow background

Infographic | How low-code is transforming field services and site operations

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eBook | Accelerating Digital Initiatives

eBook | Accelerating Digital Initiatives

In a sector where change is constant, staying ahead of the curve is key. Our automation and engagement solutions enable you to innovate fast and deliver better customer experience.

Book a call with our expert, David Oliver

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Thanks for getting in touch. We'll check David's diary and come back to you to arrange a good time to talk.