202503 – Villegas – The Importance of Operation and Maintenance Concepts in the Delivery and Operation of Rail Networks

This paper details the many benefits of developing Operations and Maintenance (O&M) concepts for the efficient delivery and operation of a rail network. Amongst the many moving parts of a complex rail network are different, and often conflicting, sets of standards, rules and practices which can be burdensome to navigate by rail operators and future project delivery entities.

O&M concepts are a tool that provides a common and generalised understanding of how a rail network is operated and maintained from an end-to-end process perspective. These concepts are designed to highlight not only the systems or technology involved, but also the people and processes that are necessary to use and upkeep them, which are usually considered at the later stage of the project. These considerations found an integrated view of the ins and out of the rail network early on the project reduces potential delivery and operational.

By leveraging user knowledge and experiences gained by working in the network, O&M concepts create a way to collect the accrued knowledge of operating a rail network and passing it on to future generations. Moreover, these concepts are also a tool to identify elements within a rail network that may not be working well, which can lead to a more informed and targeted rail improvement projects in the future.