Transport for London (TfL) and Network Rail have announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together on London transport issues.
The two organisations have committed to collaborating on shared issues which relate to management of assets, maintenance, and environmental sustainability.
Both TfL and Network Rail have developed plans which set out improvements and innovations to change and modernise assets and services.
The new agreement will help them to fulfil these plans and, in doing so, to make progress towards enhancing the London transport network’s efficiency, resilience and sustainability of London’s transport infrastructure.
The objectives of the MoU are not binding. They encompass various subjects, such as joint research and innovation to enhance companies’ resources, promote new technology, and become better at digitalising data.
The aims also include strengthening resilience to climate change, boosting biodiversity and speeding up decarbonisation.
The agreement will see TfL and Network Rail sharing confidential information with each other.
The MoU also commits both oganisations to improving and prioritising passenger safety. New technology experts from TfL and Network Rail will work together on projects. They will test new technologies, and will share and communicate the results.
The MoU creates various forums in which TfL and Network Rail can discuss issues. They hope that this will facilitate innovation supporting improvements for passengers on issues such as reliabiility and maintenance.
TfL, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary, is working on several plans which it hopes will make it more efficient.
The Network and Asset Plan sets out activities and investment across TfL’s road and rail network for the next five years.
The Asset Plan outlines priority areas for improving the management of assets over the next five to ten years.
The Technical Plan is a framework for the next 25–30 years, which sets out potential changes and modernisation of assets and services.
Network Rail has a Strategic Business Plan. This includes its programme for research development and innovation on the national rail network.
The two organisations believe that these plans highlight the similarities between their assets and operations, which provides an opportunity to work together to find further efficiencies and innovations.
A recent report, produced by Hatch, shows that over the last two years, TfL has spent over twelve billion pounds with over three thousand UK suppliers. It has spent the money on new trains, signallingand network extensions. TfL believes that by doing so, it is supporting growth and opportunities around the country, which in turn benefits the economy of the suppliers’ local areas, in line with the government’s programme of growth.
The Mayor of London and the government are holding discussions about securing further investment in London’s transport system.
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