Ep 17. Becoming a data-driven railway, Kelley Quirk and Martin Mason

This week host Ailsa Cowen is joined by two guests from Network Rail. Martin Mason, Programme Manager, at Network Rail’s Digital Railway and Kelley Quirk, Programme Manager, at Network Rail’s Intelligent Infrastructure programme. 

They discuss Network Rail’s Intelligent Infrastructure Programme and the rollout of the Track Decision Support Tool.

Kelley and Martin work closely together and sit across two teams within the Intelligent Infrastructure programme. 

Martin described their partnership as, “It’s like ying and yang. Without the two we can’t create the product.”

Kelley stated that, “Intelligent Infrastructure is a crucial programme for Network Rail” and described their work as, “turning the wealth of data into intelligent information.”

The Track Decision Support Tool is also the height of discussion. With both guests illustrating how the tool aids the network. 

Kelley describes the Track Decision Support Tool as providing, “maintenance teams with predications on what fault will occur and how, and allow them enough time to plan an effective intervention earlier.”

Martin said, “it’s a cultural shift from the way we work at the moment. The technology, aspiration and vision, it comes hand and hand with being able to manage the business change side. And to be able to support our frontline staff.”

They also discuss how we’ve got a really old railway and everything that they’re doing supports maintaining that in the best possible way.