Introducing Datastore – Rail BI’s Solution to Legacy Asset Management
Datastore modernises rail asset data management with a flexible, cloud-based platform that empowers users and integrates seamlessly with Rail BI’s work planning system.
railbi.com
Rail BI has launched a new product to help address legacy asset management. While designed to be capable of holding any type of data or assets, at present Datastore is primarily being used as a repository of signalling asset data including interlockings, level crossings, SICA sites and their related assets.
A web-based tool accessible via any modern browser, Datastore enables infrastructure managers to move away from expensive on-premise solutions, and for railway engineers to quickly access the information they require wherever they may be. Easy to configure, users no longer need to rely on system-savvy employees to make changes, and can start to make the most of their data.
Replacing Legacy Systems
Datastore was originally developed to address a pressing challenge faced by UK infrastructure operator Network Rail: replacing the UK’s dated Signalling System Asset Data Store (SSADS).
Adam Medley, Head of Operations at Rail BI said:
"The problem was that much of Network Rail’s signalling asset data was still stored in a legacy database using outdated technologies. In many cases, only one or two people know how to maintain or update these kinds of systems, possessing specialist skills that are increasingly hard to replace and often fall outside the core business of running a railway. These systems were often built around on-premise servers, which made sense in the late ’90s or early 2000s, but now present a barrier to scalability and accessibility. With Datastore, we’re pushing a cloud-based approach. It gives users the ability to manage and edit data directly, with appropriate permissions, approvals and change logs in place".
Simplifying Asset Relationships and Access
Datastore’s user interface provides flexible tools for creating and managing asset schemas. Users can define new asset types, customise what data fields are required and then configure their layout.
It also allows the creation of relationships between assets – for example, linking an interlocking area to specific track pieces within the same geographic region. Permissions are highly granular, enabling control over which users can view or edit particular assets, and permission levels allow users to propose changes to asset data while separate approval rights help maintain data integrity. In addition, a robust change control system tracks who made changes and preserves previous versions for review.
Medley said:
"Network Rail’s legacy tool had run its course, becoming increasingly difficult to modify and maintain, so we’ve created a modern application that makes it much easier to access the information users need. As part of the service we managed the data migration from the old to new system and set up the initial schemas that hold the data. It will now be much easier for users to not only access information but also set up new database tables".
Now it’s much easier to update asset data, manage assessments and plan renewal work schedules, especially as Datastore integrates seamlessly with the Rail BI platform for workbank planning.
From Pilot to Platform
Early feedback on Datastore has been overwhelmingly positive, with users at Network Rail praising how quick and easy it is to access and interact with asset data. The process of proposing changes is clear and intuitive, while updating schemas can now be done in seconds, without the need for a dedicated database administrator.
Integration with Rail BI’s work bank planning tool is also proving invaluable, quickly reflecting updates and giving infrastructure managers a live view of upcoming work requirements and associated costs.
Looking ahead, the team is developing new features to assess data health, including automated outputs that flag missing entities, duplicated assets or records that should be deprecated but are still reported as active. The goal remains to make legacy data more accessible, actionable and future-proofed for the evolving needs of the rail industry.
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