Member Article

North East IT company secure multi-million pound rail sector contract creating 15 jobs

One of the North East’s fastest growing IT solutions companies has been awarded a multi-million pound contract that will help Network Rail deliver a hi-tec Railway.

Gateshead based firm On:trac have developed ‘eTrac’ an application which uses geospatial asset information to create live schematic diagrams detailing complex infrastructure in both 2D and 3D.

The solution, which is currently being rolled out nationally in the Railways, will be used to generate 26,000 KM of track diagrams. This is the first of its kind within the UK and is set to help revolutionise access planning and health and safety management in the rail industry.

eTrac enables companies to generate detailed schematic diagrams from multiple layers of geospatial data that can be accessed on both smart phones and tablets using their ‘Connect’ app.

Network Rail will be using this information to help plan and manage work on their infrastructure and improve safety for their front line staff.

The system provides a single view of the world and will be used to collect a wide variety of asset information including the speed and direction of trains, local hazards & risks, signals, bridges, structures, overhead lines, level crossings and stations etc.

The tool can also be used by approved users to update asset information in real-time by using hand held devices to feed-back local information to the depots. This real time communication will dramatically lower the risks and hazards to those operatives who work or plan near or on the line.

eTrac was initially trialled in the Anglia region and due to its success is now being rolled out across the entire rail network over the next 6 months.

Martyn Cuthbert, managing director commented. “This is a fantastic opportunity for On:trac to demonstrate what can be achieved when you bring together lots of data and control, manage and share it using the very latest technology. eTrac is not limited to the transport industry.

“We are already in discussion with some key players in the construction, nuclear and engineering sectors and we have meetings arranged with companies in the Middle East and the US later in the year.

The contract in the Rail sector will create 15 additional support roles at their Gateshead office.

On:trac, who have offices in Gateshead and London, have grown considerably since first established in 2008. As a result of their continued expansion they are moving to larger offices in October. Their most recent addition, Ian Farrar, Head of Sales & Marketing, is looking to take On:trac’s range of services and products into vertical markets on our shores and beyond.

Originally trained in engineering, Farrar joins from a local software firm where he held the position of Commercial Director. Farrar has built a strong reputation in the industry and comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience in breaking into new territories.

Ian Commented “When I met with Martyn and the team it didn’t take me long to jump at the chance to join the organisation.

One of my first questions was surrounding the support and maintenance of the products. For the customer base and user levels I was surprised not to see a whole raft of support staff. This is not needed as the products are rock solid and built with a strong emphasis on the customer experience.

This along with the teams values and passion for innovation made this new challenge an exciting prospect“.

To discover more about On:trac or how the eTrac tool could be implemented into your organisation contact Ian on 0191 477 4951.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Katie Beton .