The Optimization of Global Railways

“TOPS directly helps our customers, since they can get instantaneous information on their shipments. And that’s vital to them because railroads have become their warehouses on wheels.”

“IBM has helped us keep our IT management costs down, while supporting rapid growth of our Railway system. With the RAP system running on IBM software, Konkan Railway has significantly improved its ability to analyze, maintain and present data, helping to reduce the likelihood of passenger delays and cultivating better decision-making. Additionally, by automating the light-switching at stations with train arrival-departures, the system has helped cut such energy costs by approximately 20 percent.”

“Trying to manage 3000 kilometers of track is a particularly daunting task. But, by leveraging our new IBM solution, we’re able to see our entire infrastructure clearly and respond to problems before they can affect our operations.”

“Our rail network needs to be updated with 21st Century technology to create a more economically vibrant transport system for New Zealand. Advanced business analytics will provide proactive, accurate analysis and reporting of network assets in real-time to help us manage our resources efficiently.”

“The rise of data systems within the industry has been gathering pace over the last decade. These days, IT is about as essential as coal was to the Victorians—if your data environment isn’t robust enough, then you just can’t run your railway.”

“You can’t just build many more roads in an urban center, somehow you have to be able to get more capacity out of that existing transportation infrastructure. And this is where IT and computer technology comes to play. What they can do is better utilize the existing infrastructure by spacing the trains better, by doing more optimal scheduling, planning better based on the demand so that they would have a shorter train when they need less and use those spare cars elsewhere. We gather the sensor data on the different transport modes—what is the situation across the road network?—integrate the information and then apply sophisticated analytics to do traffic prediction.”

“We are seeing a renaissance in rail with the advent of new smarter techniques and technologies. Analytics and sensors are transforming rail systems around the world to be faster, greener and safer. Rail passengers are benefiting from more reliable and seamless travel as well as real-time data on train schedules, while freight operators can deliver goods with even greater economic efficiencies.”

“Nowhere is the minute of greater importance than it is in the operation of a railroad and the International Time Recording Company Division of the International Business Machines Corporation from the very beginning of its existence nearly forty years ago has been instrumental in furnishing to railroads accurate attendance and job time records in shop and office that have undoubtably [sic] had a vital effect upon the profitable operation of the railroads, and hence upon their development.”