scope:

This Network Rail standard specifies the GRIP Lifecycle, its stages, its Stage Gate Reviews and its Peer Reviews.

This standard is applicable to all projects that enhance or renew the operational railway, and to projects that are carried out in a High Street environment (for example, car park developments) where Investment Approval is required, as defined within IR01, Investment Regulations.

NOTE 1 IR01, Investment Regulations, is available on Connect (IR01 is an internal document available to staff within Network Rail only):

http://connectdocs/NetworkRail/Documents/CorporateServices/Finance/FinancialControl/Investm ent%20Regulations.pdf

It is the responsibility of the Project Sponsor and Project Manager to demonstrate that GRIP has been adhered to on a project.

There are a number of Pre- and Post-GRIP activities on a project. Pre- and Post- GRIP activities are not within the scope of this standard.

Compliance to individual activities within the standard depends on the risk analysis of each project as expressed in the project Level of Control (LOC).

NOTE 2 Level of Control is defined in accordance with NR/L3/INI/PG115/PS001 - Management Level of Control.

Purpose

In today's rail industry, investments can be funded, procured and delivered in a number of ways. These range from schemes funded, managed and delivered wholly by Network Rail to those schemes where such activities are wholly or partly undertaken by third parties.

Network Rail has an important role to play, regardless of approach. As the operator and maintainer of the national rail network, Network Rail has an obligation to make sure that all schemes are compatible and integrated with existing railway operations. Network Rail's licence obligations require it to be confident that, when schemes are completed, they can be operated and maintained safely, reliably, efficiently and cost-effectively.

"Governance for Railway Investment Projects" (GRIP) describes how Network Rail manages and controls projects that enhance or renew the national rail network.

Network Rail has developed this approach to managing projects in order to minimise and mitigate the risks associated with delivering projects that enhance or renew the operational railway and projects in a High Street environment.

The approach is based on best practice within industries that undertake major infrastructure projects and practice recommended by the major professional bodies. These include the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), the Association of Project Management (APM) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).