Powering efficiency
and savings

Network Rail develops a bespoke application using low-code.

The challenge

Network Rail owns, operates and develops Britain’s railway infrastructure. That’s 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts, thousands of signals, level crossings and 20 of the UK’s largest train stations.

To maintain the nation’s rail infrastructure, projects frequently work on and around the tracks, often needing to gain access via neighbouring properties, change heritage buildings or operate within an urban environment. There are hundreds of infrastructure projects each year.

There wasn’t a central resource for project managers to seek advice from relevant areas of expertise, or to validate if access had previously been sought or granted. This critical advice can make all the difference to an effective property strategy. The current ways of working relied on spreadsheets and correspondence by email and telephone.

One solutions to meet all aspirations

They needed a central place to record information, to bring consistency and enable audit trails. It was crucial to prevent delays caused where projects require access to the track via another property, but this was not clear until arriving on site, meaning that all the necessary permissions, fees and closures were not in place. They worked with two developers from Netcall to develop a new bespoke application using Liberty Create, our low-code platform.

“Using Liberty Create to develop the tool enables us to prove the benefits of the tool without large up-front expenditure. This rapid development also allows the tool to be enhanced and improved rapidly based on user feedback. The ability to secure land and consents advice in a consistent way during the early stages of railway projects enables the formulation of cost-effective property strategies, immediately preventing costly oversights and delays, plus retaining this information helps to inform future works and identify opportunities to reduce the costs of land access.”

Mark McMonagle

Business Systems Development Manager, Network Rail

Impact

efficiency & accuracy

Visibility

of ongoing projects
& audit trail

Lower

cost and less
time wasted

The solution

“Working with Netcall has been extremely easy, we have developed a Land & Consents tool in a very short space of time. It’s easy to use for Project teams and the specialists they require information from, allowing decisions to be made that will allow projects to be delivered with reduced cost and risk and will drive efficiencies in the future. The system brings together all of the information required in one place, with agreed SLAs, giving Projects the confidence to make the right decisions at the right time.”

Steve Mellor

Principal Surveyor, Network Rail

The result

  • Improved efficiency
  • New, bespoke system with detailed and systematic proforma
  • Easy way to request information or answers from experts
  • Streamlined process
  • Safeguards against costly oversights and delays
  • Early consultation helps build harmonious relationships with neighbouring landowners

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