Beyond tracks: Connecting ideas, transforming lives and revolutionising the rail industry

The Victorian Government established LXRP to oversee one of the largest rail infrastructure projects in the State’s history. The challenge is to remove 110 dangerous and congested level crossings by 2025 and deliver a range of other significant rail network upgrades enhancing station and neighbourhood precincts to leave an enduring legacy for communities across Melbourne.

Creating infrastructure is generally quite disruptive and involves some big challenges traditionally faced by the construction industry, such as time and cost overruns and talent shortages. The initial challenge for LXRP was rooted in a profound desire for transformative impact and a lasting legacy. Rather than focusing solely on enhancing individual level crossings, the vision was ambitious – to revolutionise the entire rail industry in Victoria. The aim was to instigate a paradigm shift, not just in infrastructure, but in the standards governing project execution.

LXRP was looking for a vehicle for exploration, connection, and the integration of innovative ideas to facilitate a continuous improvement process in project delivery and community impact. 

Integrating into the fabric of LXRP, our Joint Venture team works collaboratively at all levels of the organisation, and have successfully connected disparate parts of the program, fostering a cohesive and innovative working environment.

Our innovation specialists facilitated program-wide collaboration through initiatives and workshops, to develop a structured approach to innovation. The Joint Venture team worked with LXRP to help establish an innovation program (the HIVE) that would become the innovation operating model across the program. The HIVE has become an epicentre for innovative projects and activities happening in this state government program by hosting events and workshops, conducting trials collaboratively with construction industry stakeholders, and building business cases for change.

From an initial pool of over 100 innovative ideas more than 25 have materialised as small-scale pilots, rigorously tested for their innovation and validity. Building on the success of these pilots, the team scaled and implemented a select few across the LXRP program into formal innovation initiatives, demonstrating a tangible and transformative impact on the industry landscape. 

Connected Site – Supported by a rapidly deployed wireless network of sensors coupled with real-time analytics, a Connected Site provides virtual oversight of people, assets and work, across multiple locations and multiple projects, and is used to generate insights to optimise program delivery.

The Connected Worker – As an Australian first, this solution equips frontline workers with a wearable technology headset, allowing site activities to be conducted remotely and enables knowledge transfer amongst skilled workers on the frontline and experts in office, enabling a future-ready workforce.

Disruptions planning tool – An Australian first in the infrastructure industry. Powered by a suite of sophisticated data tools and analytics, including GHD’s Artificial Intelligence platform, the disruptions planning tool leverages over 35 billion data points to accelerate and streamline planning, service delivery and disruption impacts on commuters. The tool is highly efficient in streamlining real-time data for several purposes, including bus coordinates, train lines and GPS waypoints on maps.

Disruptions chatbot – An AI-based tool that helps commuters find and track the replacement bus in real-time, to enhance their journey planning and travel experience during disruption of normal rail services. Through deploying the disruptions chatbot in multiple trials, passengers received real-time information through a 24/7, easy access and opt-in service.

Rail testing and commissioning – This five-year vision and strategic roadmap outlined how the industry will continuously improve how deliver safe, reliable and best-practice operational railways in an efficient and repeatable manner that ensures a sustainable industry.

Smart Parking – A technology trial to explore how smart parking systems can be deployed at station car parks to enhance the overall commuter experience with rail travel. This trial included sensors and cameras for occupancy detection for parking bays and a smart parking mobile app to help commuters access real-time data on how many car parks are available at each station.

Traffic management automation – This process innovation involves transforming traditional traffic management into a data-driven, integrated digital process through the introduction of a digital tool. Traditional traffic management involves an enormous administrative effort in deploying traffic management resources and manual data entry related to planning and permits. This centralised solution automates all the traffic planning workflows whilst providing document management and reporting.

Materials Knowledge Exchange (MAKE) – MAKE is a central platform to discover, use and store information about new or alternative materials and products. MAKE promotes sustainability at LXRP by simplifying the adoption of sustainable materials. It includes information on materials used on LXRP projects, materials that have been explored on projects but not yet implemented, and materials sourced from suppliers that haven't yet been explored.

The innovations of this project have contributed to positively changing the lives of Melburnians in the way they live, work, interact and commute.

As a first in the public sector, the HIVE stands out as a unique and important function within the expansive big build program, setting a new standard for public sector initiatives. Realising significant cost savings, we estimate a six to ten times return on investment for LXRP and delivery partners.

Our efforts have catalysed a cultural transformation within the organisation. Although hard to quantify, there is a noticeable organisational alignment and coordination around innovation. The HIVE team is increasingly sought for assistance, marking a shift where innovation is no longer perceived as foreign or mystical. Instead, individuals throughout LXRP understand the value of collaboration, partnership, and structured processes. This cultural shift has created an environment where people feel comfortable and compelled to innovate. 

Other realised benefits include:

• The disruption chatbot received 80 percent positive user feedback
• The rail testing and commissioning helped catalyse the establishment of a dedicated taskforce which aims to grow capability and improve the efficiency of the rail systems discipline.
• The Connected Site received multiple industry awards and generated considerable cost savings on multiple LXRP sites
• The Connected Worker has the potential to reduce travel costs and facilitate sophisticated coaching and knowledge transfer. 

Our team of innovation specialists and intrapreneurs work at the intersection of people, business, technology, and creativity, to devise strategies and innovative solutions that deliver exceptional results and create new business value.

Contact us today to imagine, transform and innovate your future.