Thales’s traffic management system selected by Network Rail to deliver next phase in UK rail revolution
Key points
- Thales selected to provide its Traffic Management System for Network Rail
- TMS to be deployed for two new Regional Operating Centres at Romford and Cardiff
- Thales’s ARAMIS solution currently controls 60,000 trains per day in 11 countries.
Thales today announced that it has been selected by Network Rail to provide its ARAMIS Traffic Management System (TMS) at two new Regional Operating Centres (ROCs) in Romford and Cardiff, with a contract value of £28.4m.
This will be the first time that the internationally proven TMS technology has been deployed in the UK, and is part of Network Rail’s significant investment targeted at improving rail network performance and capacity. When rolled out nationally, TMS technology will help Network Rail safely integrate, operate and manage the UK rail network through 12 state-of-the-art ROCs.
This new contract follows Thales’s partnership with Network Rail on its innovative Intelligent Infrastructure programme, which is already significantly reducing train delays caused by asset failure. The award-winning programme is believed to be the largest real-time condition monitoring system for the rail sector globally – now monitoring over 30,000 assets in real time.
Thales’s ARAMIS TMS solution is already used to control more than 60,000 trains per day in 11 countries – including Germany, Austria and Portugal, where its adoption has significantly improved performance, managing trains in complex mixed traffic networks similar to the UK’s. The solution has continually evolved since its launch, building on feedback from the large user community. Network Rail and its stakeholders are now part of this user community and will be able to share best practice with other users globally.
In the UK Thales employs around 1,300 people in its transportation business, across eight main sites that include Glasgow, York, Manchester, Birmingham and London. Thales UK has recently gained BS11000* registration for its collaborative relationship with Siemens on TMS, and intends to extend this registration to include the Network Rail TMS delivery team.
“We share Network Rail’s vision of a world-class railway for the UK; one that is the envy of train operators across the globe. Our selection for this first phase of the TMS programme is a huge step in our relationship with Network Rail, and we are hugely excited to bring our global TMS expertise to the UK. This is a great example of how we can leverage our significant domestic and global resources to help Network Rail achieve their goals and fulfil their future technology strategy requirements”
Victor Chavez, CEO, Thales UK
*BS11000 certification provides industry recognition that recipients have demonstrated successful collaboration and have established a mutually-beneficial partnership with improved decision-making processes. The programme focuses on cost and risk sharing and a joint approach to resources and responsibilities – building better relationships that result in quicker business results.
Thales is a global technology leader in the Aerospace, Transportation and Defence & Security markets. In 2013, the company generated revenues of €14.2 billion with 65,000 employees in 56 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers and local partners.