Technology from eviFile transforming Transpennine Route Upgrade

Leeds-based eviFile has been selected to work on the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) programme.

The contract was awarded following a successful pilot that improved project efficiency by more than 20% and reduced hours spent in possessions reporting by over 50%.

The SaaS (software as a service) company has been chosen Network Rail and the TRU Alliance to power its digital project management and progressive assurance approach for the TRU programme.

The programme aims to improve connectivity on the 122km line between York and Manchester – via Leeds and Huddersfield – which served up to 29 million passengers between 2019-2020 and stops at 23 stations.

The upgrade will include full electrification between Manchester and York, upgraded signalling to increase tracks from two to four in places, as well as other upgrades which will improve line speed – resulting in shorter and more comfortable journeys for passengers. 

To complete the works successfully within the scheduled time and budget, eviFile has been working in close collaboration with Network Rail and the TRU Alliance partners to align its real-time Field-to-Control Room insight solution to overhaul railway possession activities.  

This includes how it tracks completions management, quantities and volumes as well as progress on site.

This new contract award is designed to provide a rolling programme of digitalisation, with the aim of providing the East, West and Central delivery teams a real-time view on programme progress.  

Alongside completions management for every discipline, eviFile will be deployed to provide real-time possessions and blockade reporting, daily shift reporting and time management, Close Calls data capture as well as a single solution for Quality Check Sheets and Inspection and Test Plan (ITP) management for all the contractors working across the TRU footprint.

In the first 18 months of eviFile’s deployment workforce productivity has increased by up to 20% through better data capture, reporting, quality and performance tracking.   

Saving an average of 2.5 hours in each 24 hours of the possession – coming from quicker and better-informed decisions, faster management of defects and real-time visibility of the impact on the programme. 

The eviFile technology has delivered more than 100 possessions to date, with this number set to increase dramatically as the new contract enables more than1,200 users to manage all work digitally.

Luke Allen, managing director of eviFile, added: “Our vision of better project control to improve construction performance through increased transparency has come to fruition with the TRU programme. 

“For the first time, clients, alliances and primary contractors can track all works and activities in real-time, hour-by-hour, from anywhere.

“We are extremely glad to see that engagement with the solution is high, resulting in significant reductions in time, which provides a clear return on investment (ROI)."