Kiwirail (MIS100 2012)

Focus on the ‘Turn Around Plan’ (TAP) continues for KiwiRail in 2012. TAP, part of a $4.6 billion initiative and boosted by a $250 million budget injection in 2010, was “designed to see the rail freight become sustainable within a decade by getting it to a point where its costs are funded solely from customer revenue.” The plan is intended to increase rail traffic volumes and revenue, increase productivity, modernise and designate commercial elements of the business. ICT is seen as a significant part of the on-going development of the plan.

“KiwiRail’s Turn Around Plan provides a 10-year vision for our business. ICT is perceived as an enabler, and plays an important role in providing available, stable and responsive systems that assist in transforming the business to get on and deliver what our customers really need,” says CIO Graeme Docherty.

Despite reduced ICT budgets and project numbers this year, investment will continue across multiple technology areas — including cloud computing, business intelligence, unified communications, CRM, virtualisation, VoIP, wireless, knowledge management, FMIS and business continuity/disaster recovery — to support both the TAP and wider initiatives.

In mid-2012, KiwiRail will complete the migration of its Wellington IT systems to Revera’s Tawa datacentre, a move partly based on the earthquake risk posed in the central business district.

Additionally, key ICT projects planned for KiwiRail this year include asset management, freight core application development, deployment of a standard operating environment for desktops, and enhancements to application resilience.