199108 – Moore – Risk Management – Introduction of New Technology

The Railways face a number of challenges in the 90s. These are:
– Government rationalisation of support for Transport industries
– Need for more efficient operation and lower staffing levels
– Need for higher system performance and greater service to our freight and passenger customers
– Demand for lower running costs, maintenance costs and higher availability of the system
– New Capital Investment to have lower cost, shorter time schedules and ease of bringing into use

Our management and politicians see the use of New Technology as the way to meet these challenges. We are under the same pressures as our colleagues in the Mechanical Branch faced with dieselisation in the 50s and 60s. Fortunately today there is a more mature environment in the Political and Executive Management arena. If not formalised steps, there is at least structure in the process for the introduction of new technology.