Innovative Engineering for the Rail Industry, and Beyond......

About Smart Rail Services

Smart Rail Services is an independent supplier of Engineering Consultancy to the UK Rail sector and associated industries, providing a unique blend of professional support services including:

Rail Vehicle Engineering
Engineering Design and Innovation
Professional Engineering Support
Business Services and Marketing
Project and Programme Management

Smart Rail Services supports an extensive range of clients, including:

Passenger and Freight Operating Companies
Open Access Train Operators
Rolling Stock Owning Companies and Independent Vehicle Owners
Rail Vehicle Manufacturers and Overhaulers
Technical and Engineering Consultancies
Equipment and Component Suppliers

Support provided by Smart Rail Services is tailored to meet the individual requirements of each client and is based upon extensive experience underpinned by a fundamental understanding of the rail industry. For more information on how Smart Rail Services can support your organisation to achieve its goals, please follow the links above or if you have a specific enquiry, please Contact Us.

News Update - May 2012

Client: Wabtec Rail Limited

Smart Rail Services has recently signed a 12 month contract with Wabtec Rail to provide a range of Professional Technical and Engineering support. Work undertaken as part of this contract has included carrying out detailed investigations into component failures, assisting in the response to customer queries and reviewing internal engineering processes and procedures to ensure the application of best practise.

Client: Angel Trains Limited

Smart Rail Services, in association with Lloyds Register Rail, is carrying out a number of workstreams for Angel Trains Limited. These include:

• Detailed review of Class 180 Cooler Group maintenance, reliability and in service failures
• Preliminary review of Class 180 Power Unit maintenance, reliability and in service failures
• Preliminary review of Class 180 transmission maintenance and reliability
• Extensive package of technical support to the Fleet Engineering team, including undertaking documented reviews of Engineering Changes, review of modifications and assessment of vehicle fleets as part of the Continued Service Operation process

Client: Network Rail Limited

Smart Rail Services, again in association with Lloyds Register Rail, is carrying out a detailed review of the requirements for rail vehicle data within the various Network Rail business units. This work is being carried out for the Asset Information team and covers:

• Identification of all internal business units using rail vehicle data to produce their business outputs
• Identification of the specific data requirements for each business unit, the current sources of this information and the format in which it is required/received
• Identification of the current requirements for the provision, retention and maintenance of mandatory vehicle data
• Two-way gap analysis to identify where current business unit requirements are satisfied by the current arrangements but also to identify deficiencies in the format and provision of data

The output from this study will be a comprehensive specification for all rail vehicle data to be maintained on the National Vehicle Database, which can be included in industry standards for ratification and implementation across the UK Rail Industry.

2011 Summary

During the past year, Smart Rail Services had provided a wide range of support to a number of organisations, including:

Angel Trains Limited - carrying out the detailed review and documentation of engineering changes in accordance with internal Management of Engineering Change procedures and also in undertaking a higly detailed study into the design and operation of the Class 180 retractable coupler and coupler cover, including a full review of design intent and ongoing fitness for purpose

Garrandale Limited - in undertaking the development of concept designs and detailled arrangement drawings for two modules for use on the Network Rail snow and ice trains

Grand Central Railway - acting as Fleet Technical Engineer, undertaking the review and management of third party engineering changes/modifications being made to the GC fleets, providing engineering lead for the trial of Becorit brake pads and a number of ALSTOM trials/modifications on the Class 180 fleet, developing and designing a range of in-house modifications and liaising with Angel Trains Limited to ensure the correct documentation of engineering changes.

In addition, Smart Rail Services continued to be accredited as a Competent Person by Chiltern Railways in accordance with the requirements of that organisations Safety Management System.

2010 Summary

During 2010, Smart Rail Services provided a wide range of support to a number of organisations, including:

WG Specialist Coatings Limited - in their programme of extensive refurbishment and repainting of NACCO UK Limited JGA hopper wagons

Chiltern Railways Limited - in supporting the Class 168 Heavy Maintenance Enhancement programme, design and development of a new Class 168 fuel system arrangement and inspection/assessment of rolling stock to inform acquisition strategy.
In addition Smart Rail Services' procedures for the assessment and management of engineering changes were audited and approved as meeting the requirements of the Chiltern Railways Safety Management System, allowing Smart Rail to act as a 'Competent Person' in accordance with the requirements of the Railways and Other Guided Transport Syatems (Safety) Regulations (ROGs).

Grand Central Railway - in developing the new livery for their fleet of High Speed Trains (HSTs)

Angel Trains Limited - in carrying out a detailed review of failure modes and structural integrity of Class 180 coupler cover doors

In addition, Smart Rail Services undertook the technical and engineering development of a Controlled Emission Toilet (CET) system for installation on MkIII coaching stock in collaboration with Porterbrook Leasing and the now defunct Flowonics Limited.

For more informaion on these and other recent work carried out by Smart Rail Services, please follow the link to a summary of Recent Projects.

Rail Alliance

Smart Rail Services is a member of Rail Alliance, the fastest growing rail networking organisation which provides members with unique opportunities to network, innovate and collaborate. More information regarding the work carried out by the Rail Alliance and on becoming a member can be found on their website, which can be found by following the link above.