NIR Networks
NIR Networks is the infrastructure management division of the New Ingrean Railways (NIR), responsible for maintaining, upgrading, and managing the railway network infrastructure of New Ingrea. Established as part of a restructuring of the NIR in 1994, NIR Networks oversees critical assets, including track, signalling systems, bridges, tunnels, buildings, and level crossings; ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the national rail network.
Organisation
NIR Networks is organised into the following branches, each tasked with specific functions essential to maintaining and developing the railway network:
Signals and Communication Branch
Known as the Signals and Telegraphs Branch until 1999, this branch is responsible for the management, maintenance, and upgrading of signalling systems and communication infrastructure. Its functions include ensuring the safe operation of trains through signal inspections, the installation of modern train control systems, and the maintenance of telecommunication networks used across the railway.
Way and Works Branch
This branch oversees the maintenance, renewal, and inspection of railway tracks and associated infrastructure. It is responsible for routine track inspections, ballast management, and the replacement of aging components. Additionally, it handles the upkeep of earthworks, drainage systems, and other essential works that support the railway's structural integrity.
Estates Branch
The Estates Branch manages railway-owned properties, including land, buildings, and other facilities. This includes maintaining and upgrading station infrastructure, depots, and administrative buildings. It also oversees property leasing and land-use planning to ensure alignment with the railway's operational needs.
Stores Branch
The Stores Branch handles the procurement, storage, and distribution of materials and equipment required for railway maintenance and development. From spare parts for rolling stock to construction materials for infrastructure projects, this branch ensures that resources are readily available to support uninterrupted operations.
Access Management Branch
This branch manages the allocation of network access to passenger and freight operators. It is responsible for coordinating schedules, ensuring fair access to railway infrastructure, and collecting access fees. The branch also oversees the implementation of policies related to network usage and operator compliance.
Operations and Assets
NIR Networks' operations cover the entirety of New Ingrea’s railway network, which spans both urban and rural areas. The division manages a diverse range of infrastructure assets, including:
- Over 1553 miles 32 chains (1,553.40 miles, 2,499.95 km) of active railway track, supporting both passenger and freight services.
- Signalling systems that include both legacy and modern technologies.
- Over 100 bridges and tunnels of varying sizes and complexities.
- 255 level crossings, including both automatic and manually operated systems.
To support its operations, NIR Networks utilises specialised maintenance equipment, including track inspection vehicles, rail-mounted cranes, and ballast regulators. The division also partners with external contractors for large-scale projects requiring additional resources.
Projects and Developments
NIR Networks is engaged in several ongoing projects to modernise and expand the railway network, including:
- Permanent Rail Electrification Programme (PREP): The largest ongoing project, the PREP aims to further expand the electrified track network to reduce reliance on the aging fleet diesel locomotives that have powered the network for the last fifty years, and in doing so improve environmental sustainability.
- Operational Capacity Expansion Project (OCEP): Across much of the network, a lack of passing loops and crossings hinders the capacity of the network. The OCEP aims to add loops and crossings to key sections of the network to improve service frequency and reduce congestion.
- Signalisation Modernisation Initiative (SMI): This initiative focuses on the transition to digital train control systems to enhance safety and operational efficiency. Key components of the project include the rollout of the European Train Control System (ETCS) to provide continuous communication between trains and infrastructure, improving safety and enabling higher network capacity. Additional GSM-R towers are being installed to enhance communication reliability and reduce signal blackspots. Other technologies, such as Centralised Traffic Control (an established technology from the 1980s, now being upgraded, improved, and expanded) and automatic route setting, are also being deployed to streamline operations and increase system resilience.
- Structural Resilience Project (SRP): Major maintenance and rehabilitation works to extend the lifespan of critical bridges and tunnels.
- Main Line Crossing Elimination Programme (MLCEP): A large-scale initiative to remove level crossings along key mainline routes, replacing them with bridges or underpasses to improve safety and reduce delays.