Business profile
Software and technology solution provider DeltaRail, considers the challenges facing the rail sector in the digital age
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s a new Control Period approaches, it will be illuminating to look back. Five years ago the global credit
crunch had just begun, there was no such thing as an iPad, phones were too slow to be smart and Google was still largely a search engine. How things have changed. We now exist in a world where the
pace of change is fast and accelerating. The expectation of government, businesses and consumers is rising commensurately. The rail industry is about to embark
on a most important journey with a physical capacity investment not seen for generations. Nearly £40 billion is set to be ploughed into building the UK a railway fit for the 2020's and 2030's. Transporting people and goods to the right places on time, every time will be an essential driver of the UK’s economic recovery, and the railway will be required to deliver its share of the demand – a demand that is set to change constantly. With customers now contributing
£2 for every taxpayer £1 spent on service delivery, this will transform them from ‘accepting passengers’ into informed and powerful service consumers. Anna Matthews, DeltaRail’s CEO,
said: ‘Expectations that have already been boosted by the routine delivery of services that were impossible five years ago, will be driven upwards dramatically in the next five years. Consumers will also find they have an increasing choice and a louder voice as social media and internet democracy gain traction. It is valuable to explore some of the consumer and technology trends in understanding how rail can adapt through this period of accelerating change.'
Techno-convergence
There is also an ever-increasing convergence in technology and consumer choice for communications and transport. The future of these sectors will be to serve the need, and aspirations, for moving people, goods, services and information – a process which will become increasingly inter-related.
Page 178 September 2013 Matthews said: ‘The most obvious
current example is 3D printing, with the capability to move designs to any part of the connected world and create physical objects locally. Since NASA is already creating components using this technology, the day when rail depots have a 3D printer to create replacement faulty components, cannot be too far away. ‘It’s a fantastic opportunity to support
the reliability and cost base of the industry, but it also poses challenges to demand. With fewer goods to move and less need to collocate people with the point of production, the need to move physical objects shifts to a requirement to share information. We need also to look at the automotive sector to understand the impact on demand for rail. While road vehicles may continue to be recognisable to Messrs Ford and Benz, consumer experience will not. ‘New business models and incentive
schemes like shared ownership, personalised use-based insurance, peer- funded insurance and interest-free loans are creating volatility around demand.’ Continued Matthews, ‘As in-car
connectivity and entertainment improves almost daily, and with the road testing
Capital-centric UK It is recognised that the London-based economy is vital to the success of this country. Its global, creative and financial industries will continue to attract a highly-skilled workforce. According to the ORR, 61 per cent of all UK rail journeys originate or terminate in London and the movement of people into and out of London is likely to remain a key rail market. Matthews asked: ‘Will individuals
demand greater flexibility and better value for money by, for example, mixing home and office work to a greater extent. In this scenario, will the service providers need to respond? ‘By linking technologies and people
together now we can build a smarter future. This future will revolutionise rail services and require companies to collaborate and integrate cross-sector world class ideas and solutions in order to deliver the service and speed of implementation demanded by the rail consumer.’
Digital data mining The rail business has a huge digital footprint, operating within an environment that is monitored both by its own assets – from train borne cameras, staff with iPads, advanced control solutions like IECC Scalable – and by environmental surveillance - from CCTV, satellites and weather reporters – as well
of autonomous vehicles due in the UK this year, will the car start to offer many of the traditional benefits associated with rail travel from the consumer's’ perspective? Outside of London and the major cities, car use may well take an increasing share of the market. In the cities, road congestion will give rail an advantage, but for how long and at what price to the consumer?’
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