Eliminating duplication of effort to improve safety management

Introduction

Southern Rail operates train services into London from the South Coast of England, through East and West Sussex, Surrey and parts of Kent and Hampshire. Serving 165 million passenger journeys annually, the company manages 158 stations and operates 2,200 services daily, ensuring high standards of safety and efficiency.

The challenge

• Inefficient, paper-based reporting and investigation system
• Difficulty in tracking and completing safety investigations within specified timescales
• Need for improved audit and corrective action tracking

Finding the right solution

Southern Rail selected Ideagen Quality Management for its:

• Centralized platform to manage all safety-related documents and processes
• Tools for simplifying compliance with multiple regulatory standards
• User-friendly interface suitable for a high-volume operational environment

Implementation and impact

Before, Southern Rail faced significant challenges with managing safety processes through a paper-based system, leading to inefficiencies and compliance risks. The transition to Ideagen provided a centralized, electronic solution that improved operational control and compliance.

This transformation enabled Southern Rail to maintain high safety standards and effectively manage their safety management system:

• Centralized reporting and investigation analysis into one system, eliminating duplication of effort
• Improved efficiency of the audit process, reducing the time taken to produce audit reports and track corrective actions
• Enhanced accident and investigation management with improved data accuracy and timeliness
• Enabled frontline staff to report accidents, incidents, and near misses electronically, streamlining the reporting process
• Provided managers with the ability to access and review reports instantly, improving overall safety oversight