Research and experimental development services

Tender description

Please note: this update refers to the periodic indicative notice reference 598754-2019. The submission deadline date is updated. Network Rail would like to engage with the supply base and request information relating to ‘in-service vehicle’ measurement systems that could be used to measure vehicle response to track condition. Further information can be found by following the below instructions: 1) Follow the link — https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html 2) From the welcome screen, access the ‘View Current Opportunities’ link and select ‘#12438 – In-Service Monitoring of Vehicle Response to Track Condition’; 3) Click on the attachment– ‘Request for Information — Unattended Measurement – In-Service Monitoring of Vehicle Response to Track Condition’. Despite a rigorous track geometry measurement regime, carried out by Network Rail’s fleet of dedicated infrastructure measurement trains and fixed asset monitoring, Service Affecting Failures (SAF) still occur due to ‘unforeseen’ events, such as Driver Reported Rough Rides (DRRR). Drivers are responsible for reporting issues where they deem the safe passage of a vehicle is compromised. This is one of the last means of control in Network Rail’s ‘Derailment due to loss of geometry’ risk bow tie and is required because it mitigates the risk of a sudden track failure such as a rail break, embankment slip or track buckle. These types of events are very unlikely to be detected by measurement trains that measure every four weeks but are very likely to be detected by the driver of the first train that passes. Although the DRRR process does mitigate potential safety risks it can also introduce a significant performance impact on the network. Network Rail is aiming to reduce the number of Service Affecting Failures (SAF) occurring on Network Rail infrastructure as a result of Driver Reported Rough Rides (DRRR). This project supports the move to a safer, higher performing railway by: — reducing the number of Driver Reported Rough Ride events (plan intervention before they occur), — reducing unexpected and urgent access to the infrastructure by maintenance teams in order to fault find. The intention is to trial with, the potential to implement, a number of train-borne monitoring solutions that can measure vehicle response to track conditions and evaluate their effectiveness in providing early warning of potential rough ride locations. The objective is for the solution to be able to: — develop a means of distinguishing between locations where vehicle response is likely to result in a DRRR and those that aren’t, — demonstrate that where any corrective maintenance has been carried out, that the maintenance work has improved vehicle response sufficiently to remove the risk of a DRRR being reported, — provide a long-term cost reduction against the current reactive process. Network Rail is engaging with the supply chain to understand the current solutions available on the market which can meet our requirements, or solutions which may require further development. Should you wish to respond to this RFI please follow the below instructions: 1) Follow the link — https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html 2) From the welcome screen, access the ‘View Current Opportunities’ link and select ‘#12438 – Unattended Measurement – In-Service Monitoring of Vehicle Response to Track Condition’; 3) Click on the attachment – ‘Unattended Measurement – In-Service Monitoring of Vehicle Response to Track Condition Submission Template’; 4) Once completed please send your submission document via email as attachment to briony.toogood@networkrail.co.uk with the email subject ‘Unattended Measurement – In-Service Monitoring of Vehicle Response to Track Condition RFI’.