Rail
Utility advisory and management support for rail projects
Effective utilities management plays a crucial role in delivering upgrades to the UK’s rail network – whether it’s supporting high-speed rail projects, station refurbishments, or improved regional lines. Coordinated planning and delivery of utilities help avoid costly delays, reduce disruption, and ensure infrastructure is built efficiently and to last.
As rail travel becomes an increasingly vital part of a low-carbon transport future, reliable utilities – from power to digital connectivity – underpin the modernisation of the network. By integrating utilities seamlessly into rail upgrades, we’re not just improving journeys – we’re enabling a smarter, more sustainable and more connected UK.
Assisting Success provides utility advisory, management and commercial support for rail programmes across the UK – helping clients define buildable utility strategies, secure third-party rights, forecast time and cost, and evidence compliance with relevant legislation and standards. We focus on the utility workstream and provide the information and assurance your rail team needs to integrate with wider project delivery.
What we do
- Utility scoping & diversion planning: records reviews, feasibility and high-level options to inform design and programme.
- Statutory Undertaker engagement: agreements, estimates (C2 / C3 / C4), budget forecasts and connection timelines.
- Land rights: define requirements for diversions and secure wayleaves / easements on third-party land.
- Commercial assurance: cost baselines, value opportunities (apportionment, adoption / asset value), forecasting and final-account support.
- Programme & controls: logic-linked P6 utility schedules, critical path, phased milestones, and risk / change control with board-ready reporting.
- Due diligence / strategic audits: objective reviews of scope, entitlement and compliance to identify savings and improvements.
Assisting success was commissioned to undertake an independent strategic review of the utility works at Old Oak Common Lane. Our insights created £15million of savings for HS2 while strengthening the approach to utility management, helping to safeguard project timelines and minimise potential disruptions on this nationally significant project.
Our Rail capabilities include:
1. Utility Coordination for Rail Projects
• Managing interfaces with statutory undertakers (gas, electric, water, fibre)
• Diversion planning and clash analysis for rail corridors
• Utility easements and wayleave negotiation
• Coordination of asset protection agreements
2. Permitting and Statutory Consents
• Managing Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) consent processes
• Compliance with rail-specific legislation (e.g. Railways Act, Land Powers)
• Negotiating temporary and permanent access agreements
3. Rail-Specific Project & Programme Management
• Managing multi-disciplinary rail programmes, from civils and M&E to station refurbishments
• Delivering under live operational conditions, ensuring minimal service disruption
• Rail RAMS (Risk Assessment and Method Statements) and interface management
4. Commercial Management & P6 Planning
• Rail-specific cost control and budget tracking
• P6 planning and scheduling, integrating utilities and civils works
• Risk and contingency management for rail projects
5. Health & Safety (Rail Focused)
• CDM (Construction Design and Management) services for rail environments
• Possession planning and safe worksite management
• Temporary works coordination under rail regulations
Why choose us for your rail project?
• Safety first: robust CDM, RAMS, and risk management frameworks tailored for rail environments.
• Network Rail interface knowledge: proven track record in navigating rail-specific regulations and interface agreements.
• P6 planning excellence: skilled in rail project planning, ensuring alignment of utilities, civils, and rail operations.
Case Studies
Ready to transform your rail project?
Connect with our rail infrastructure specialists to learn how we can support your next project – from electrification to station upgrades and beyond.
