Enhanced Movement Limiting Devices for Plant to Improve Works Efficiency in Any Line Open Conditions - Network Rail

Network Rail is undertaking this preliminary market engagement to explore solutions for enhanced movement limiting devices for rail plant to deliver a Dynamic Virtual Wall (DVW) capability for engineering works. Connected Places Catapult (CPC ) is acting solely as a facilitator on behalf of Network Rail for this Preliminary Market Engagement exercise.

The purpose of this notice is to gather industry insights on potential technologies, delivery models, risks, and commercial considerations that could inform a future procurement.

Network Rail is seeking market input to inform the development of its procurement strategy and specification for forthcoming trials of DVW solutions. The ultimate objective is to support accreditation and enable the commercialisation of the solution following successful trial outcomes.

Purpose

Network Rail is seeking market insight to shape the forthcoming procurement and trial design for a Dynamic Virtual Wall (DVW) capability. The engagement explores technical feasibility, supplier capability, delivery models, risks, and commercial considerations. It is **not** a competitive process and confers no advantage to participants.

Network Rail aims to

• Increase value and productivity in maintenance and renewal activities.
• Reduce Schedule 4 delay compensation costs by enabling more Any Line Open (ALO) working.
• Improve national consistency and efficiency in engineering delivery.

Current high-performance Movement Limiting Devices (MLDs) only function when RRVs operate on-rail. No approved engineering control exists for off-rail ALO operations. DVW is intended to close this gap.

The Challenge

Develop a fail safe, safety critical DVW system that prevents RRVs or their loads from encroaching into open line clearances without physical barriers, enabling safe parallel working with live railway lines.

Required DVW Capabilities- Solutions must

• Integrate with existing RRV fleets and hydraulic systems.
• Provide a digitally enforced boundary preventing fouling of live lines.
• Achieve PLe / SIL3 equivalent performance.
• Operate reliably in diverse railway environments (EN 50125).
• Include interlocked override and external status indication.
• Consider human factors: situational awareness, cognitive load, error prevention, operator visibility, and workflow continuity.
• Automatically stop the machine before a boundary breach.
• Be deployable as a retrofit or upgrade.

Out of Scope

• Consultancy, academic research, or early-stage R&D.
• Autonomous or semi-autonomous plant.
• Factory train alternatives to RRVs.
• Operational controls for ALO working.

Network Rail invites input on

• Technical feasibility and technology maturity.
• Supplier capability and capacity.
• Delivery models, risks, and constraints.
• Trial design parameters and resource implications.

Responses are welcome from

• Full DVW system providers.
• Suppliers enhancing existing MLDs.
• Systems integrators with safety-critical control expertise.

Suppliers who express an interest in this notice will receive the Preliminary Market Engagement document containing further information.