Case
September 23rd 2024
Everything under one digital roof for Train Charter Services
“To deliver a safe passenger service, with a reliable capacity of operation and at a predictable cost level.”The mission of Train Charter Services, one we are more than happy to support with our developed application ‘Raildesk’. An application we built within the Microsoft Power Platform, supplemented with extensive processes from Azure Functions. Time to take a deep dive together into the digital world behind the well-known locomotives.
If a locomotive requires maintenance, the corresponding maintenance instructions and necessary work descriptions are immediately displayed.
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Train Charter Services: the ready-made solution for various trains.
Let's take a few steps back first: Train Charter Services is a railway company that provides train journeys within Europe. Their fleet includes locomotives for rental to freight carriers, as well as locomotives and carriages for charter trips.
Train Charter Services offers ready-made solutions that integrate vehicle management, line operation, a 24/7 adjustment organization, and all related safety structures.
The company is not involved with the actual passengers but acts as a facilitator to ensure focus on the company’s mission.
The company has grown significantly in recent years, which is why we continue to expand the application and other custom solutions to support them in this growth.
Raildesk: automated and efficient fleet management
Starting in 2020, we developed the Raildesk application, with the main advantage of automations throughout the various work processes.
First, we focused on mapping their entire fleet (including both owned and externally rented locomotives and carriages) along with technical components and tools for maintenance, with the goal of simplifying management. Additionally, we also visualized the actual maintenance of that same equipment. If a locomotive requires maintenance, the corresponding maintenance instructions and necessary work descriptions are immediately displayed.
A next step? A task planner that automatically prepares work orders for the previously mentioned maintenance. When a train reaches a predetermined number of kilometers or operating hours, a task is immediately scheduled. Notifications and handling of damages and issues related to safety, reliability, and quality are generated automatically. When the locomotive is ready for release and can be put back into service after repairs, a procedure is automatically initiated, which is displayed through the application and can therefore also be followed.
Automated personnel management on a personal level
The locomotives obviously do not operate themselves. That is why not only the procedures concerning the fleet have been automated, but also those related to the personnel. There is a complete management of the staff and their associated job profiles, which outlines the qualifications required for a position. Additionally, there is proactive verification and monitoring of holding the right qualifications, as well as their status and validity.
The work planning of services and tasks for the personnel (including drivers, conductors, shunters, etc.) can be found through this application, as well as the planning of the routes to be driven and which locomotives and wagons will be used for this transport.
A guarantee of efficiency and quality
To guarantee the quality of their services, the system also manages the necessary documents in which the quality and safety objectives have been established, based on standardized forms and procedures.
To support this, a connection has been made with RailNetEurope for the exchange of timetables and current train information with railway operators within Europe, such as the well-known ProRail in the Netherlands, InfraBel in Belgium, and DB InfraGO in Germany.
Innovative personnel portal
The developments at Train Charter Services are still ongoing. In addition to the Raildesk application, we developed a separate Portal website, which allows the staff to access their own service planning via their mobile phones and report their availability for future services. They have access to their personal file, where they can view the status of their qualifications and add newly obtained qualifications. Additionally, they can view information shared from Raildesk through this website and also report damages or other defects.
A satisfied customer speaks
Luc Peulen, CEO of Train Charter Services: “Global Software Solutions has helped us in an interactive way to design and realize Raildesk. The implemented solutions are the beating heart of our operations, and it is great to see that the collaboration with Global Software Solutions continues to ensure ongoing development to this day.
Luc Peulen
CEO Train Charter Services
