Partners
Network Rail
Profile
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited has responsibility for the management of the UK national rail infrastructure. Network Rail manages 35,000 km of rail track and carries 2.8 million passengers every day. In Europe, only Deutsche Bahn carries more passengers than Network Rail, which in 2007 carried 90 million more passengers than SNCF. The annual turnover for the company exceeded 8 billion Euros last year.
Its main activities are to provide train operators with railway track access, manage train timetabling, train planning and signalling, maintain and renew the infrastructure and undertake major capital programmes including the construction of new railroad lines. As a company limited by guarantee, the company has no share capital and does not have shareholders, but instead has Members. The role of the Members is similar to that of shareholders in a public limited company. In particular, Members of Network Rail have an important role in ensuring that Network Rail is managed in line with high standards of corporate governance. Network Rail has a detailed strategy to deliver a safe and efficient railway that the public can depend on.
Optel's innovative developments have resulted in the granting of several US and World patents for applications in the field of biometrics, non-destructive testing, and medical diagnostics. Through its early years, Optel's efforts were focused almost exclusively on their biometric finger-scanning project. However, over the last five years, Optel started working on a number of other innovative products, many of which are being produced now.
Participation
As an Industry partner Network Rail will supervise the field trials in the UK and help for the dissemination of the technology developed through the project. Network Rail maintains the UK railway infrastructure and is responsible for the infrastructure condition and safety. Improved monitoring techniques allow for financial savings and improvement of safety, performance and passenger comfort. Network Rail are able to provide welding and NDE expertise into the project as well as access to our rail vehicle test facility where we have previously carried out welding trials, this will allow for testing in a railway environment
Website: www.networkrail.co.uk
