We’re ‘setting the route’ for the National CCS DRACAS

Estimated to save industry millions of pounds, the National CCS DRACAS is something we should all get behind.

What will the National CCS DRACAS mean?

By Jasmin Collier
Editorial Content Manager, RSSB

‘Prevention is better than cure.’ It’s a saying common in healthcare and just as applicable in rail. But like so many things, it’s easier said than done.

Our network is intricate, with multiple systems feeding into or relying on one another. Nowhere is this more the case than with Control Command and Signalling (CCS). Because of this, many in the industry see it as the perfect place to start developing the National Defect Recording, Analysis, and Corrective Action System (DRACAS).

The National CCS DRACAS will increase all organisations’ ability to detect defects, faults, or failures and help them respond effectively. It will also be able to analyse data from multiple companies and data sources to find hidden trends and improvement opportunities.

Failure vs. fault vs. defect

One key distinction that the National DRACAS brings to light is the difference between a defect, a fault, and a failure. In a nutshell:

A ‘failure’ might be something like a signal incorrectly at danger.
The reason for the failure is an underlying ‘fault’. In this example, it might be the electrical supply not suppling the expected voltage.
Ultimately, the cause of the fault and failure is an underlying ‘defect’ that sets this chain in motion. In this example, it could be something like degraded cable insulation.

If, by using data from previous failures, we can detect that there are underlying defects, we can take action to address the defects before they become an issue.

That’s where the National CCS DRACAS comes in.

Being able to identify common issues in railway systems on a national basis will no doubt improve performance and generate multimillion-pound financial benefits for the industry.

At RSSB, we’ve been leading on the development of new industry-agreed approaches and processes that will use whole-industry data to detect underlying issues and risks.

Where are we with the National CCS DRACAS?

We’ve already made significant progress in this area, having issued a Rail Industry Standard (RIS-0707-CCS Iss 2) in September 2023. We’ve also developed a roadmap to plot the route to a rollout of the National CCS DRACAS.

In addition, through a series of workshops with a number of key industry stakeholders, we’ve crafted 70 projects across six interrelated workstreams. These are grouped into four phases, ensuring an incremental approach.

What’s in it for your organisation?

We’re developing the first draft of a ‘value driver tool’ to help you understand the benefits of the National DRACAS approach in the context of your operations.

Our early work has laid the foundations for significant cost savings for the industry. With the National CCS DRACAS in place, over the next 10 years, we could unlock £231m in benefits and mitigate an estimated £351m disbenefit of doing nothing.

Above all, it’s important to recognise that the National CCS DRACAS isn’t simply an IT system. It’s a strategic move—and one that promises significant financial and operational benefits.

We want to demonstrate to industry the benefits of the National CCS DRACAS. And we want to work with you to see it deployed and to realise the many benefits it can bring.

It’s one more way we can strive for a safer, more efficient, and more resilient rail system.

Check out all our national CCS DRACAS materials, including the comprehensive roadmap, on our website.

Let’s go

Please turn the page to see a snapshot of the National CCS DRACAS Roadmap.

A snapshot of the National CCS DRACAS Roadmap