CASE STUDY

Crossrail – The Elizabeth Line

Overview of Deliverables

Crossrail is one of the most significant infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the UK From improving journey times across London, to easing congestion and offering better connections, Crossrail-The Elizabeth Line has changed the way people travel around the capital. 

The Elizabeth Line has delivered a high frequency, high-capacity service to 37 stations linking Reading and Heathrow in the west, to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east via 21 km of new twin-bore tunnels under central London. It has brought an additional 1.5 million people within 45 minutes commuting distance of London’s key business districts. 

Picture courtesy of Matthew Parker

Vertex over several years have successfully completed a number of substantial works in support of the Crossrail project through to the Elizabeth line opening stages, including:

  1. Crossrail East Engineering Support
  2. Independent Assurance as part of Project and Programme Assurance

About Crossrail East Engineering Support

Through the Transcend JV, Vertex SE were appointed as Technical Support to the Crossrail Ltd Programme and subsequently the Elizabeth Line. This is to provide to the client the Rail Assurance leadership role in the Project and Programme Assurance (PPA) function. 

PPA were charged to provide independent second line assurance of the delivery of the Crossrail programme. Reporting to the Executive team in Crossrail, TfL and at Forums for The London Mayor. The Rail Assurance Lead provided confidence and corrective recommendations, addressing the safe, timely delivery and economic value of the Elizabeth line.

Through the aggregated findings based on continuous assessment and evaluation we determined an ongoing system view of the Railway. This formed the basis for PPA to provide progressive/continuous Project Delivery Milestone Assurance and Intervention Actions at Strategic and Tactical Level. 

Following the entry to ROGS and Trial Running the PPA transferred from the Crossrail Integrated Assurance Framework to the TfL Integrated Assurance Framework.

About Independent Assurance Role, Project and Programme Assurance

Through the Transcend JV, Vertex SE were appointed to the Rail Assurance Technical Lead role in the Project and Programme Assurance (PPA) function. This appointment was to the Crossrail Ltd Programme and subsequent TfL organisation, spanning the programme duration including the various opening stages.  

PPA were charged to provide independent second-line assurance of the delivery of the Crossrail programme. Reporting to the Executive team in Crossrail, TfL and at Forums for The London Mayor. The Rail Assurance Lead provided confidence and corrective recommendations, addressing the safe, timely delivery and economic value of the Elizabeth Line.

Through the aggregated findings, based on continuous assessment and evaluation, we determined an ongoing system view of the Railway. This formed the basis for PPA to provide progressive/continuous Project Delivery Milestone Assurance and Intervention Recommendation Actions at Strategic and Tactical Level. 

Following the entry to ROGS and Trial Running the PPA transferred from the Crossrail Integrated Assurance Framework to the TfL Integrated Assurance Framework.

Deliverables Included

Crossrail East Engineering Support

Vertex Systems Engineering, acting on behalf of the LDO; was engaged in ensuring the Crossrail East Anglia project was compliant with the Common Safety Method (CSM), our core deliverables included but was not exhaustive of the following:

  • Liaison with multiple sub-contractors under the umbrella of the LDO to align assurance activities
  • Management of CSM submissions to Network Rail; Scheme Verification and Validation (V&V)
  • Comprehensive understanding and management of the project scope based on the System Definition provided by Network Rail
  • Providing an extensive array of Hazard Management tools and solutions including a Hazard Log
  • Provided focus on key areas of concern by chairing meetings and constructing briefing notes and summary reports
  • Managed group quoracy to identify hazards – undertaking many Hazard Workshops which consisted of specialists (a number from Vertex SE) across various disciplines
  • Competently identified and captured key aspects concerning Hazard Identification and Operation (HAZID/HAZOP)
  •  

Independent Assurance as part of Project and Programme Assurance

Our work focused on the readiness of infrastructure, the future Infrastructure Managers and Operations organisations for major programme milestones. This included for Entry into Trial Running, Trial Operations and Revenue Service milestones.

The Rail Assurance Lead planned and undertook the following assessment types; Real Time and Targeted Assurance; Periodic, Ad-hoc and Line of Enquiry reviews.

The reviews addressed but was not exhaustive of the following areas: 

  • Safety, Assurance and Approvals, and Technical  
  • Systems Integration, Quality, Risk, Schedule
  • RAMS, Operations Readiness and Reliability Growth

The reviews incorporated the following structure:

  • Defining and Agreeing Scope and Remit including engagement strategy
  • Evaluation of processes, strategies and associated evidence
  • Identification of findings and recommendations, test and checkback with contributors
  • Report and monitor closeout 

Technical competencies applied in the delivery of the contract

Vertex Engineers employed the following competencies during these works:

  • Technical knowledge and expertise of the proposed system in question, experience in project development, project and asset management, Operations, Reliability & Maintenance Engineering
  • Systems Engineering – appreciated the impact of the proposed solution in terms of its whole-life implementation. This included Project Management, Stakeholder liaison and influence, in order to drive the project forward on the agreed timescales whilst maintaining stakeholder confidence
  • Safety Engineering and Expertise in imbedding current legislations and regulation practices such as CSM into infrastructure projects
  • Knowledge of the Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs) and Notified National Technical Rules (NNTRs)
  • Experienced in Risk Assessment and Risk Management such as the (As Low As Reasonably Practicable) ALARP principle

Value added initiatives

Crossrail East Engineering Support

  • Provided Strategic Advice protecting the LDO from safety, commercial and legal liability risk
  • Anticipated and supported the management of wider Programme systems risks based on late notice change, including; change in track forms, specialist resource constraints due to rescheduled interface works and scope selection at operational interface boundaries
  • Developed audit systems for deliverables handover and tracking of subcontractor works, including for Vertex SE final records to the end client

Independent Assurance as part of Project and Programme Assurance

  • Developing, embedding and maintaining project and programme assurance as a function that integrates seamlessly with the First and Third Lines of Assurance Defence
  • Including up to and post-Trial Running briefing, in real time, the ‘state of the railway’ at principal formal monthly assurance meeting. Leading onto and facilitating independent expert recommendations to the Executive and Transport Commissioner
  • Contributing to and facilitating independent programme reviews on the DCS, Cost to Go, as well those conducted by external parties including the National Audit Office (NAO)
  • Recognition at Internal and External Forums by Exec Team for, i) Quality of Challenge, ii) Acting with independence and authority among industry leaders while undertaking assurance activities at pace in intense delivery environments
  • Establishing strong assurance relationships with senior and specialist staff across departments whilst maintaining confidence. Leading to interventions including a) escalation & prioritisation of assurance and approvals evidence, b) empowering panels
  • Assessing construction railway to ROGS railway to Revenue Service organisational structure, competence, and delivery quality. Providing assurance and recommendations on ‘Guiding Mind’ decision role and organisation leads, reasonableness tests for risk-based decisions on Milestone entry, completer finisher capacity across the programme
  • Through conducted assessment i) Design and test issues were identified including signalling software issues. ii) a non-compliance for moving into Trial Running was identified with the external regulator
  • Through conducted assessment provided independent recommendation subsequently implemented Safety Approval Metric structured discussion, exit/entry criteria as well as reliability reviews as part of the Route Control Centre (RCC) delivery review sessions
  • Bringing the Railway into Use for the first stage of Revenue Service incorporating the Central Operating Section. Leading and facilitating focused reviews with Senior Independent Advisers and Specialists

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