ProRail puts PION into operation

Old: Visio

The ProRail department responsible for planning infrastructure withdrawals is AM-IBP: Asset Management -​​Infrastructure Availability Planning. Rolf Post heads this department: “Until the beginning of this year, we used the Visio system. We manually plotted each withdrawal on a separate map. Whenever changes arose due to current developments, we would draw up a new map. We stored all these maps electronically in Visio. Although they were all available in one place, each map stood alone. There was no link to a central database, no option for digital editing, and maps could not be combined. You can imagine that creating an up-to-date overview and communicating with parties both inside and outside ProRail was a major challenge. Moreover, withdrawals involve multiple timeframes. On the one hand, there are major maintenance projects that can be planned well in advance; on the other, there are unforeseen faults that require immediate resolution. Working with disconnected data and drawings makes this particularly cumbersome. We felt there had to be a better, more efficient way, which is why we brought in CQM.”

New: PION

The new PION application makes life much easier for the planners. “First and foremost, because the system works with Infra Atlas, the digital map of the Netherlands’ rail infrastructure,” says IBP planning coordinator Geert Titulaer. “Our planners can filter and select a track possession and then indicate on the digital map exactly which section of the infrastructure is being taken out of service. This means they no longer have to manage the base drawings themselves; instead, they simply enter the specific possession for the relevant track section at the scheduled time. Because every possession is stored digitally in a single database, they can easily be combined and visualized on the map. This allows us to create cross-sections to view all possessions at any given moment. Additionally, PION automatically flags potential conflicts for instance, if two possessions overlap or if possessions scheduled for cyclical maintenance fall outside the established parameters. PION not only facilitates easier and more efficient planning but also ensures safe possessions within a streamlined process.”

Enthusiasm

Before its launch, PION was extensively developed and tested by a project team comprising ProRail and CQM. Titulaer notes: “We involved regional planners from the very beginning. After all, working with PION is an essential part of their daily routine. Sixty planners are currently using the application, and their enthusiasm is a testament to the success of the approach we took.” ProRail and CQM will continue developing the application in the near future. While PION currently relies on regional maps, the plan is to introduce a national overview map that makes it even easier to visualize and plan the interrelationships between all possessions. Furthermore, PION is intended to serve as a reference tool for various practical issues such as quickly identifying the next scheduled maintenance window to resolve a switch failure. IBP Manager Rolf Post is extremely pleased with the result: “With PION, we now have an application that ensures synchronization. In doing so, the system meets a major need. We can work more efficiently and coordinate better with other departments and parties. Working with CQM was a very pleasant experience; not only did they demonstrate extensive professional expertise, but they were also highly committed and collaborative,” says Post.