scope:

This Network Rail standard specifies:

a) Project Complexity Assessment;

b) the PACE lifecycle and phases;

c) PACE milestones;

d) PACE products; and

e) Phase Readiness and Engineering Milestone Reviews.

This standard is part of the Capital Delivery Core Process and relates to the Capital Investment and Delivery Policy.

It applies to projects (including programmes and portfolios) that require Investment Authority as defined within IR01 Investment Regulations and enhance or renew the operational railway.

Throughout this document 'project' is used interchangeably with 'programmes' and 'portfolios'. 

Purpose

Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment (PACE) describes how Network Rail manages and controls investment projects on the rail network.

Network Rail has developed this approach to managing projects in order to minimise and mitigate the risks associated with project development and delivery.

The approach is based on best practice within comparable industries that undertake major investment projects.

Implementation of this standard will reduce the reputational and financial risk related to the delivery of complex projects.

PACE provides a flexible control framework enabling sponsors, project managers and Designated Project Engineers (DPEs) to tailor the controls herein to better meet the requirements of their project.

The engineering lifecycle is integrated within the PACE framework.