Rail Possession Planner
Seamless timeslot coordination and safety assurance for possessions
- 6 June 2019
- 5 minutes
Efficient possession planning is a strategic enabler for higher network availability, safer working conditions, reduced disruption and better use of scarce time windows. The Rail Possession Planner shows how digitalisation and smart integration can strengthen safety, cooperation, efficiency and reliability across the rail system.
The challenge
Across Europe, railway networks are becoming busier, more complex and more constrained. Infrastructure managers must deliver more maintenance and renewal work while possession windows are increasingly scarce and safety requirements continue to rise. Possession planning also involves many stakeholders across the entire rail chain, including cross-border operations where European harmonisation requires intensive information exchange.
The solution
Commissioned by ProRail, ICT InTraffic developed the Rail Possession Planner in close collaboration with ProRail: a proven digital solution for planning, coordinating and safeguarding railway possessions.
At its core is one centralised plan: a single source of truth for all stakeholders. During both planning and execution, it provides a shared, authoritative view of which tracks are out of service, where and when work takes place, who is responsible and which safety measures apply. This reduces ambiguity, prevents last-minute surprises and enables better coordination across organisational boundaries.
Robust integration with traffic control enables the controller to monitor the process and, as human-in-the-loop, activate infrastructure safety measures with a single press of a button.
Safety first! Safety is embedded at the core of the Rail Possession Planner. Worksite protection instructions are prepared weeks in advance, so risks can be identified and mitigated early. Conflicting plans cannot be approved and mandatory approval steps are enforced through workflow.
Rail Possession Planner supports compliance with:
- European Railway Safety Directive & SMS requirements
- European TCR directive (Annex VII of Directive 2012/34)
- National rules for possessions and worksite protection
- Safety governance and operational risk control
- RAMS-driven operational processes (supporting role)
- Quality and audit requirements (e.g. ISO 9001 principles)
Designed for collaboration
The Rail Possession Planner supports seamless collaboration between infrastructure managers, maintenance and construction contractors and railway operators. By working in one system, misunderstandings are reduced and coordination becomes faster, clearer and more reliable.
Proven impact
Originally developed for the Dutch rail network, the Rail Possession Planner is also relevant for dense mixed-traffic networks, ageing assets and railways under pressure to combine growth with safety. Compared with earlier fragmented processes, it achieved an approximate 70% reduction in rework. Planning conflicts and late changes were significantly reduced, while safety improved through early, explicit worksite protection measures. Workflow-driven approvals keep responsibilities clear, prevent skipped steps and support full traceability.
The future
The Rail Possession Planner is continuously updated to meet the latest field requirements. Current developments include modernising the information architecture so data can be exchanged more efficiently, including in a European context.
Interested in Safer and Smarter Possession Planning?
Master the complexity of safe possessions with confidence – today and in the future. For more information about how the Rail Possession Planner can support your organisation.
