The Challenge: Short-Notice Railway Access Planning
We were commissioned at short notice by Emeg, a provider of specialist services to owners and operators of rail facilities and sidings, to deliver access planning and safety-critical support for a shore power supply installation at Bristol Temple Meads.
The works were to be delivered within a busy, operational station environment, involving multiple operators and limited access opportunities. This required a clear understanding of station operations, planning constraints, and stakeholder interfaces from the outset.
The late engagement meant that access arrangements and resources had to be mobilised quickly. Our organisation is set up to respond effectively in these situations, allowing us to establish a compliant access strategy, align with railway planning standards, and put the necessary safety and assurance controls in place without delay.
Rapid Mobilisation and Organisational Capability
The short-notice engagement required us to mobilise quickly while maintaining our normal high standards of safety, planning, and assurance. We did this by applying our established access planning processes, which are designed to work effectively even when timescales are tight.
Our team produced clear, well-structured Safe Work Packs (SWPs) that reflected the specific site risks, operational interfaces, and access constraints. These were developed using our normal document control and review arrangements, ensuring the information provided to site teams was accurate, practical, and fully compliant.
At the same time, we mobilised competent safety-critical staff with the appropriate route knowledge and authorities, demonstrating our ability to resource complex railway works at short notice. This mobilisation was coordinated through our internal governance arrangements, with clear roles and responsibilities in place from the outset.
Strategic Access Planning and Stakeholder Coordination
The project required careful coordination across a number of operational and stakeholder interfaces. From the outset, we took an active role in shaping and managing the access arrangements to ensure the works could be delivered safely and efficiently alongside other activities in the area.
We worked closely with other delivery partners operating within the same geographical footprint, aligning access strategies to avoid conflict, duplication, or unnecessary disruption. In parallel, we managed interfaces with Train Operating Companies (TOCs), Freight Operating Companies (FOCs), and station operations, ensuring all parties were clear on the proposed access arrangements and any operational impacts.
As the planning developed, we identified that the existing possession arrangements did not fully cover the intended worksite. Drawing on our access planning and operational experience, we challenged the baseline plan and progressed a late change request through the formal Network Rail planning process. This ensured the revised access limits were clearly defined, fully compliant, and visible to all stakeholders.
Problem Solving and Assurance-Led Decision Making
Once the access constraints were understood, we worked closely with all affected stakeholders to agree practical and workable solutions. This included redefining the possession limits so that they properly reflected the full extent of the worksite, rather than relying on partial coverage or informal controls.
Amended access arrangements were secured through the formal planning process, ensuring the revised approach did not introduce additional operational risk and remained acceptable to both operators and infrastructure stakeholders. Throughout this process, we maintained a clear focus on supporting the programme while ensuring railway operations remained safe and well controlled.
This demonstrated our ability to make balanced, well-judged decisions under time pressure, bringing together programme requirements, operational considerations, and safety needs to achieve an outcome that worked for all parties.
Results: Safe, On-Time Delivery
Through early engagement, clear planning, and well-controlled delivery, the works were completed safely, on time, and within the agreed budget. Access was delivered as planned, with no unplanned access issues or safety incidents arising during the works.
The client provided positive feedback on our responsiveness, professionalism, and technical approach, reflecting confidence in our ability to manage access planning effectively within a complex station environment and under challenging timescales.
If you’re looking for an experienced, knowledgeable and reactive team of access planning experts to help you with your project, please reach out to us today.
