14.12.12
Rail Technical Strategy 2012 published
The new edition of the Rail Technical Strategy has been launched, outlining the industry’s 30-year vision for the railway.
The RTS 2012 has been developed through the Technical Strategy Leadership Group (TSLG), which includes representatives from Network Rail, TOCs, FOCs, rolling stock leasing companies, suppliers, Transport Scotland, Crossrail, HS2, the RSSB, ATOC, RIA, the DfT and ORR.
The strategy is endorsed by Government and by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) and aims to inform policy makers and funders about the potential benefits of new techniques and technology. It can also provide suppliers with guidance on future technical direction.
The chair of TSLG, Network Rail’s Steve Yianni, said: “The opportunities for the rail industry to capitalise on the application of new technology are huge. In developing the long-term industry technical strategy, the only way to generate an authoritative reference was for us all to work together collaboratively, through TSLG, and agree to share the vision of the future opportunities and challenges that we face.
“We want to move technology ideas from world class universities through the testing and development stages to the point at which they can be commercialised, by collaborating and innovating with the whole supply chain. RTS 2012 helps focus the minds on where we all agree we want to go.”
RDG chair Tim O'Toole commented: “This is an industry-led strategy that we can all embrace and treat as our technical compass. It shows everyone, including investors and stakeholders, that rail has an exciting and vibrant future. Our ambition is to meet the public's expectations on delivery, performance and economy, which we can do only if our approach is grounded in the best research and innovation available to us. Our approach to the next control period must be set in the context of the long term technical strategy for the industry.”
Transport minister, Simon Burns MP said: “I welcome the industry picking up the baton to develop this Rail Technical Strategy. Technology has a vital role to play in improving the railway’s performance, cutting its costs along with carbon emissions and delivering a better travelling experience for passengers. By setting in place a 30 year vision, the railway is demonstrating that it has a bright and exciting future, and the potential to support our economy and society for the long term.”
RIA technical director, Francis How, added: “This is another good example of the whole industry working together to address issues that are critical for the future, and RIA and its Members are pleased to have been actively involved.
“The publication of the RTS might be described as the end of the beginning, in the sense that the real work starts now, to put in place the mechanisms to deliver the Strategy. We now need to review in depth what is already being done and what needs to be initiated, and make the RTS fully part of the industry planning process.”
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