Delays due to faults on Greater Anglia trains are being greatly reduced thanks to a new software tool, which helps technicians to identify faults and get trains repaired quickly.

When a driver contacts Greater Anglia’s control centre at Romford informing it that their train has a fault, technicians in the centre will use the software to identify the fault. The software is a decision support tool that takes the support technician through a series of steps according to the fault described by the driver.

The software will then identify the step-by-step moves required to get the train moving again.

The software incorporates a countdown timer that automatically counts down from ten minutes to zero. This will then give a clear indication if further action is required, such as isolating systems, to get the train on the move again.

To reduce future delays to services, the software, which was developed by IQM Software, receives information from both Greater Anglia and Stadler team who maintain Greater Anglia’s Intercity, Stansted Express, and regional bi-mode trains, about any new issues or faults that may have been previously identified.

All of Greater Anglia’s old trains are due to be removed from service by next summer and replaced by brand new state-of-the-art trains. Many are already in operation, new Stadler-built Stansted Express, Intercity, and regional trains, and 75 Alstom-built commuter trains.

Martin Beable, Greater Anglia’s engineering director, said: “This software has been key in ensuring that if issues do occur on our trains, the myriad key actions and steps that need to be taken can be completed as quickly as possible to try and get the train on the move.

“We’ve worked with our Stadler colleagues in ensuring all the relevant information is captured after each incident and that is put into the decision support tool, so it’s as effective and useful as possible. Soon we’ll be introducing it for our Alstom-built commuter fleet of new trains too.

“We are proud that our team have been able to use this tool to help reduce our delays per technical incident to levels that most train operators only aspire to achieve.”

“Our new trains are improving our punctuality and reliability. They travel between 120,000 to 200,000 miles a year and like any machine with moving parts they do sometimes develop faults, but this software is helping us to keep delays to customers to a minimum.”

Thibaut Decré, IQM Software’s head of strategy, said: “It has been great to work with Greater Anglia in their effort to double down on improving essential software to their operation, including our system: TEAM.

“Working with a team with such a clear vision and quick decision making allows us to quickly achieve great results, and we’re looking forward to remaining a strategic partner for Greater Anglia’s digital strategy.”