We established an office in Sydney in 2013 to provide our Australian clients with the full breadth of our multidisciplinary services. In April 2016 this was complemented by the opening of an office in Melbourne to support the delivery of major infrastructure projects in Victoria.
Network Rail Consulting’s objective is to demonstrate that the expertise and experience we have developed in the UK is valued around the world, to benchmark ourselves against other international railway businesses and to provide valuable learning experiences for our people.
Australia and the UK both face significant rail infrastructure challenges in terms of developing and modernising their networks and improving system safety, capacity, efficiency and reliability. Network Rail Consulting uses its presence in Australia and its status in the UK to generate information and best practice exchange between the two countries and to showcase British railway expertise within the region, thereby raising the profile of the whole industry.
Since the opening of the Sydney office, Australasian business has grown significantly and we have a core team of specialists permanently based in New South Wales and Victoria. We currently practice in areas including strategic planning, asset management, systems engineering, program management, change management and safety and assurance.
Britain has one of the highest customer satisfaction ratings of any rail system in the world and is the safest railway in Europe.
Since 2002, we’ve been part of the latest chapter in the nearly 200-year history of Britain’s railway
- 1825 saw the first passenger service using steam locomotives on the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
- In 1830 George Stephenson opened the first regular passenger service in the world, linking Canterbury to the seaside town of Whitstable.
- The 1840s were the biggest decade of railway growth. A complete network was laid down with many towns and villages having a railway connection.
- In 1883, the first electrified railway service was opened in Brighton.
- During World War Two, Britain’s railways played a key role in the transportation of troops and evacuees around the country. The then ‘Big Four’ individual railway companies joined together to effectively become one organisation.
- In 1948, Britain’s railways were nationalised to become British Railways.
- From 1965 until 1994 the railway was run under the trading name of British Rail who operated and maintained all aspects of Britain’s railways – including the trains.
- On 1 April 1994 Railtrack took control of Britain’s railway infrastructure as part of government legislation to privatise Britain’s railways. Railtrack was listed on the London Stock Exchange and the FTSE 100 list. Railtrack owned the infrastructure in the same way Network Rail does now, but maintenance and services were provided by local contractors.
- On 3 October 2002 Network Rail replaced Railtrack making it the owners of Britain’s railway infrastructure.
Rail was invented in Britain and that’s why we’re so proud to be playing our part in its modern story, honouring this legacy while delivering a better railway for Britain’s future.
We’re committed to continuing the great success story of rail in Britain, following in the spirit of engineering inspiration, innovation and determination that underpins two centuries of history.
Key Facts
Modernisation using smarter ways of working has delivered more frequent, more reliable, safer services and brighter and better stations
- We carry 1.8 billion passenger journeys, 60 million tonnes of freight and 7 million train movements every year;
- Employ 43,500 people;
- Own, maintain and operate 20,000 miles of track, 48,000 signals, 40,000 bridges, 700 tunnels and 20 major stations which handle 750 million passenger journeys;
- Have one of the largest property portfolios in the UK; and
- Operate in the world’s most liberalized rail market with 28 train-operating companies and 7 freight-operating companies.
Network Rail Consulting is a member of ARA, the Australian Railway Association. ARA are the peak body for the rail industry throughout Australia and New Zealand. They represent an array of rail organisations: private and public, passenger and freight operators, track owners and managers, manufacturers of rolling stock, construction companies and all other organisations supplying and contributing to the Australasian rail sector. For more information on ARA go to http://www.ara.net.au/
Network Rail Consulting is a member of APTA, the American Public Transportation Association. APTA is the leading force in advancing public transportation in the United States of America. APTA members are public organizations that are engaged in the areas of bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, subways, waterborne passenger services and high-speed rail. For more information on APTA go to www.apta.com
UITP
Network Rail Consulting is a member of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP). UITP works to promote and support sustainable public transport & mobility in urban areas worldwide with a long history of more than 125 years to its name. It is the only worldwide network to bring together all public transport stakeholders and all sustainable transport modes. UITP has 1,400 member companies giving access to over 16,000 contacts from 96 countries. Members are public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, research institutes and the public transport supply and service industry.
Quality Management System
Network Rail Consulting is committed to delivering high quality services to all of our clients. Accordingly, we have implemented a Quality Management System which has been independently certified as meeting the requirements of ISO 9001:20008.
Anti-Bribery Management System
Network Rail Consulting is proud of our rail-engineering heritage and our success in improving Britain’s infrastructure over the last ten years, and also of the way we do our business. Consequently, we have implemented an Anti-Bribery Management System which ensures we conduct business ethically. This has been independently certified as meeting the requirements of BS 10500:2011.