As part of the East Anglia franchise, Abellio Greater Anglia Ltd (GA) are committed to deliver a complete renewal of the passenger rail stock. Two new fleets totaling 1,043 carriages are targeted to be introduced to the franchise.
GA asked Network Rail to design and cost the implementation of the new trains (up to GRIP 3) which would require infrastructure changes such as platform extensions, signal changes and provision of secondary means of escapes.
Network Rail are well versed with hazard identification and risk management but felt it would be more prudent to allow their staff to concentrate on the ‘day job’ and commission an external company to manage the CSM liabilities, providing a comprehensive and independent service. This project was originally anticipated to be CSM significant and Interoperable, however through stringent analysis of the scope of works and discussions with NRAP it was agreed that this project was not Interoperable and as a result saved the project a significant portion of their budget. Railway Assurance have been commissioned to manage the CSM liabilities on behalf of Network Rail (up until GRIP 3) where GA will choose a design and build contractor to take over the management of the project from GRIP 4 to 8.
The initial agreement included:
Providing training for project teams when required
Producing and agreeing the deliverables with the project teams prior to works commencing
Producing the Project Authorisation Strategy and System Definitions documentation as required
Arranging applications for the agreement of CSM-REA Significance categorisation in accordance with Network Rail standards and the CSM-REA Regulations.
Preparing remits for the appointment of Assessment Bodies, Notified Bodies and Designated Bodies for the project
Preparing a Hazard Management plan aligned with the requirements of CSM-REA
Facilitating HAZID and HAZOP workshops
Output reports for the HAZID and HAZOP workshops
Ensuring all reasonably foreseeable hazards are collated and recorded by the project team
Supporting Hazard Identification sessions for the project
At the time of this article being posted the contractor for GRIP 4-8 has not yet been established.