Access for All – Efficiencies

Network Rail, through the National Access for All (AFA) Sponsor Office, appointed EFA Engineering to identify, analyse, and deliver practical efficiencies in the construction and delivery of AFA schemes across the UK rail network. This collaborative effort aimed to meet the growing demand for accessible railway stations by optimising programme delivery timescales and reducing overall costs, ensuring better value for money for passengers and taxpayers alike.

Working to a challenging 12-week timeline, the EFA Engineering team undertook a structured sprint exercise. Beginning by collecting and analysing data from live AFA schemes the team developed an accurate baseline programme.

A total of 35 individual interventions were reviewed in depth to pinpoint areas where improvements could be made. These interventions were initially grouped into 15, then streamlined into six key measures designed to be easily implemented on future schemes.

The resulting analysis indicated a potential average cost saving of £2 million and a time saving of around four years per scheme, equating to an estimated 37% cost saving and a 64% reduction in programme duration. A new Primavera programme was produced to validate these benefits.

Additionally, EFA Engineering created a new web-based platform to help stakeholders analyse, compare, and rank future schemes by complexity. This innovative approach provides Network Rail with a robust, data-driven framework for smarter planning and delivery, ensuring more stations become accessible more quickly and cost-effectively.