Network Rail is finally on track to complete a virtual register of its equipment and maintenance priorities after almost five years of development.

But the organisation, which owns, operates and maintains the UK rail network, admits it could be another five years before it has a single view of all its assets.

Creation of the register was imposed as a condition of Network Rail’s licence when it took over from Railtrack in 2002 because a clear picture of maintenance priorities improves safety (Computing, 6 August 2002).

The Railtrack asset register was incomplete and in poor condition. Its replacement will fill in information gaps, said Network Rail development manager Andy Kirwan.

‘The register will lead to a big improvement in data coverage and quality, although information will still be held on a number of different databases,’ he said.

Network Rail has multiple asset management systems including one for signalling infrastructure and one for property.

‘The next stage is to develop a system that links the different databases and gives staff a single entry point to asset information,’ said Kirwan.

The need for a single view of assets goes back as far as the privatisation of UK railways, said independent expert Christian Wolmar.

‘Good asset management systems will allow Network Rail to plan maintenance more effectively and improve safety,’ he said. ‘It is something that should have been done when it formed, but it was progressively downgraded as other priorities emerged.’

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) imposed development of an asset management system as part of Network Rail’s licence because its predecessor had failed to establish a clear view of the state of the infrastructure.

Network Rail has made progress, but development of a single source of information remains a key requirement, according to the ORR.

‘One of the primary drivers for better asset data is the need to hold a single version of the truth,’ said a spokesman.

The regulator will report later this month on the new system’s regulatory compliance.

The UK rail network has more than 13,000 miles of tracks and thousands of signaling systems.