scope:

The Engineering Verification process applies to all infrastructure assets which Network Rail manages, irrespective of which team within Network Rail is responsible for them.

It applies to assets at all stages of their life, so includes those under construction, renewal and recently completed.

Purpose

Engineering Verification is a part of Network Rail's assurance process for confirming that infrastructure assets are fit for purpose.

Its aim is to check how well our control processes work by physically inspecting infrastructure assets, at all stages of their life, to check that they:

a) comply with standards;

b) are free from defects or problems which may affect the safety of the line, even if the assets comply with standards;

c) are in a condition consistent with asset records;

d) are in the condition that would be expected from the inspections carried out and the work recorded as being needed in work databases.

It is additional to other assurance processes such as audit or regular process checks, complementing them by:

a) being focussed on the physical state of the asset, such as the reliability and integrity of the asset, as well as whether it complies with standards;

b) being carried out independently of the team responsible for constructing or maintaining the asset;

c) looking at the wider safety picture;

d) assessing whether standards are appropriate.

Although mainly focussed on the safety of the assets it also considers wider business performance issues. It also provides opportunities for:

a) transferring lessons across Network Rail, including good practice;

b) examining the local root cause of any issues found with the asset;

c) identifying developing trends;

d) coaching and mentoring people on the management of assets, checking for their training needs and any skills gaps;

e) identifying public interface issues e.g. trespass and vandalism, vehicle incursion, level crossing misuse.