×

Network Rail

Network Rail owns and operates Britain’s rail infrastructure network – one of the world's most intensively used rail networks. Our network is the fifth busiest rail network in the world and the second busiest in Europe. We:

  • Provide a safe and efficient national railway network that carries over 1.7 billion passenger journeys, 15.8 billion tonne kilometres of freight;
  • Own, maintain and operate 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and embankments and thousands of signals;
  • Operate 20 major stations and own 2,500 other stations, which are leased to train operators;
  • Employ 40,000 people in asset management, operations, maintenance, renewals, and enhancement projects; and
  • Have an annual turnover of over £11.6bn, with capital expenditure of over £6bn per annum.

Network Rail Consulting

Network Rail shares its expertise with the world's rail owners and operators through Network Rail Consulting (NRC). We understand the institutional, regulatory, technical, policy and strategic issues of running a railway in the 21st century. We know how to operate a network, manage its assets, and deliver renewal and enhancement programs whilst minimising the disruption to passenger and freight services.

What makes us different from other consultants is that our people have genuine hands-on experience in solving the challenges you face in the real world of rail operations. We are rail professionals operating and maintaining one of the world’s leading railway systems who want to share their expertise, experience, and passion for the job.

We have been active in the Australian, the Middle East and North American markets since 2013 and have successfully delivered over 200 consultancy contracts for government, public and privately owned organisations, and for passenger and freight owners and operators, achieving consistently excellent levels of client satisfaction.

Our advice covers the full range of the project life cycle, from concept, project development and delivery through to operations and maintenance.

Australia

We have been active in the Australian market since 2013 and have successfully delivered more than 100 consultancy contracts across Australia, from the East Coast to Western Australia, for public and privately owned companies and for passenger and freight owners and operators.

In Australia, we are leaders in the roll-out of the latest digital train control systems and at helping clients navigate the complexities of integrating new systems with legacy infrastructure. We also have a strong track record of providing advisory, project and program management, rail operations, maintenance and asset management advice to passenger and freight operators.

Whilst our unique selling point is our access to Network Rail's expertise in the UK, we are committed to developing our local Australian workforce through a structured training and development program using Network Rail's award-winning training capability. We are committed to improving the diversity in our workforce, both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other culturally and linguistically diverse people, to enhance our delivery. This will ensure that we continue to provide our clients with leading edge technical and management advice delivered by a blend of Australian and British experts.

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians and embrace them as part of the Australian identity. We respect their elders and leaders and take pride in living with the world’s oldest continuous living cultures. We value and celebrate their spiritual, cultural and physical connection to Country.

Middle East

We have been active in the Middle East market since 2015 and have successfully delivered consultancy contracts in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for passenger and freight owners and operators.

In Saudi Arabia, we have been supporting Saudi Arabian Railways (SAR) since 2015 and as a result we have an excellent understanding of operating a mixed-use railway in the Kingdom with its harsh operating environment, from very high temperatures to sandstorms. NRC's staff have worked side by side with SAR's own staff and have forged excellent working relationships while utilising the extensive expertise of our teams from the UK to develop practises, processes, and procedures specific to the Saudi Arabian environment, that are adopted, learnt, and developed by SAR's Saudi workforce. NRC has supported and been privileged to be part of several key achievements for the North-South Railway, including the successful launch of the first commercial passenger service between Riyadh and Al-Qassim, in February 2017 and commencement of Molten Sulphur services from Um’Wal (Wa’ad Shamal) in 2017. More recently we have supported SAR in managing the outsourced operations and maintenance Contract for the Haramain High-Speed Railway.

USA

We have been active in the USA market since 2015 and have successfully delivered more than 60 consultancy contracts on the east and west coast for clients such as Amtrak, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), California High-Speed Rail Authority, New York MTA, New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA), Long Island Railroad, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

In the USA we have built a strong reputation in providing world class advice on asset management, maintenance, rail operations and station planning. Alongside partners we have brought UK experience to bear on major capital projects such as the BART’s Second Transbay Crossing and the California High-Speed Rail Project.

While our unique selling point is our access to Network Rail's expertise in the UK, we are committed to developing our local workforce through a structured training and development program using Network Rail's award-winning training capability. This will ensure that we continue to provide our clients with leading edge technical and management advice delivered by a blend of North American and British railroad professionals.

Great Britain was the first nation to use steam locomotives, and Britain’s railway is the oldest in the world.

heritage train track 1160

 

 

Working collaboratively with our clients and business partners is fundamental to our approach to consultancy. Our project teams are tailored to each commission and comprise of experts in their respective fields.

Bespoke Recommendations Based On Your Needs

We will provide you with advice that is commercially implementable and appropriate to your network, finances and culture. You will always receive recommendations for the solutions, systems and suppliers that best meet your needs – irrespective of national pedigree.

Rigorous, Client-Focused Services

Network Rail Consulting is a dynamic partner that delivers a responsive service. We aim to deliver quality and value through: 

  • Robust and Objective Analysis;
  • Integrated Cross-Discipline Thinking;
  • Using Innovative Approaches and Techniques Where Risk and Reward Are Appropriate;
  • Developing Solutions That Incorporate Reliability and Whole Life Cost Factors; and
  • Providing Clearly Articulated Views and Advice That Clients Need As Opposed To What They Want To Hear.

 

 

 

 

 

"At Network Rail Consulting we are proud of our rail-engineering heritage and our success in improving Britain’s infrastructure over the last ten years, but also of the way we do our business - which is always with a focus on safety, integrity and honesty.

Our reputation is built by all of us doing the right thing every day - and making sure we take all the right steps to prevent bribery is a part of that. Implementing the ISO 37001 anti-bribery management system is a clear statement about the way we work, our expectations from our people and all of our business partners, as well as our promise to them. The bottom line is that will never compromise the safety of our people or our integrity for financial or competitive gain, or any other reason".

Nigel Ash, Global Managing Director

Our Code of Business Ethics

At Network Rail we are committed to doing business in an ethical and sustainable way, and we expect the same high standards of behaviour from all of our employees and business partners. Our Code of Business Ethics is the collection of principles that guides everybody doing business on our behalf, in every area of their work. It’s underpinned by a range of policies – such as Anti-BriberyGifts and HospitalityConflicts of Interest & Outside ActivitiesWorking with Relatives and Personal Relationships at Work, and others.

Our Approach

Everybody in our organisation is responsible for creating an ethical culture. All of Network Rail Consulting’s staff receive annual training on ethics, and have access to Speak Out, our confidential reporting service where they can raise concerns about breaches of our Code of Business Ethics or the law. Our Speak Out policy guarantees that there will be no reprisals, and all investigations will be conducted in a fair and impartial manner.

ISO 37001:2011 Anti-Bribery Management System

In 2014 we implemented an anti-bribery management system (‘ABMS’) in line with the requirements of the British Standard ISO 37001:2011, a recognised global benchmark. The ABMS applies to our operations in all the countries where we do business, which puts us at the forefront of our industry in terms of commitment to ethical business practice. NRC achieved certification to ISO 37001:2011 in February 2015.

Our Modern Slavery Statement

Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. Network Rail Consulting has a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery. You can read our Modern Slavery Statement here.

Privacy Notice

We take your right to privacy seriously and want you to feel comfortable when using our services. To learn more about our privacy notice click here.

If you’re looking for more information about our ethics programme, please contact us at [email protected]