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The acumen system is provided as a suite of applications. acumen is developed, deployed and licenced by the Network Services function of Network Rail.
The acumen Platform Docker is an '''Operational Decision Support Tool''' (ODST), providing operators with information, data and intelligence and supporting decisions that affect the operational railway during routine, degraded and perturbed working.
Defined as an Operational Decision Support Tool (ODST), acumen provides operators with information, data and intelligence - supporting decisions that affect the operational railway during routine, degraded and perturbed working.
 
Development of acumen is led by the Network Services function in collaboration with the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education under the UKRRIN research and innovation network.
''Since March 2022 the OIM team have been supporting the acumen suite on a best-efforts basis, though efforts are still made to keep this document up-to-date with the current status of the tools.''
 
= What's in a name? =
 
The definition of '''acumen''' is the ability to make good judgements and take quick decisions.
 
In keeping with the definition, the primary goals of acumen are to:
 
::*Provide all users with a '''common operational picture''' - ''aggregating numerous sources'' of Network Rail (NR) and Railway Undertaking (RU) data;
::*Output an '''easy to understand representation''' of ''platform occupation and utilisation'';
::*Focus a users attention on '''issues and conflicts''' that require ''intervention or manipulation''.
 
The application provides users with the tools to make '''quicker and better informed decisions''', based on a ''full operational picture''.
 
acumen complements the requirement on people to process '''large amounts of information''' prior to making decisions. The term acumen reflects the ''relationship between a user and the capabilities of the application''.
 
= User-led development =
 
Development of acumen is led by the Operations Interface Management (OIM) team within System Operator, but the team have championed a user-led design ethos.
 
System users are encouraged to feedback suggestions, ideas and enhancements and the OIM team work with users to optimise the platform docker to fit the need of the users where possible.
 
As an internal system, enhancements can often be turned around quickly; in days and weeks rather than months.
 
= The story so far =
 
acumen was first deployed to York in July 2020, followed by Crewe, Birmingham New Street, London Euston and London Kings Cross.
 
The trial deployments have focused on SSMs, Signallers and station teams (station controllers, announcers).
 
Initial response has been positive, and the acumen team worked to have the system ready for wider uptake in August 2021.
 
Network Rail colleagues can read more information on the [https://networkrail.sharepoint.com/sites/acumen acumen Sharepoint pages].
 
In March 2022 we were instructed to cease planned deployment to additional routes and stations. As of January 2025 the OIM team maintain acumen Platform Docker on a '''best-efforts''' support basis while while discussions on the future of the acumen suite are underway.
 
 
<i>This wiki is written and maintained by Network Rail Operations Interface Managers. Please send any feedback to [mailto:acumenfeedback@networkrail.co.uk acumenfeedback@networkrail.co.uk].</i>

Latest revision as of 14:38, 23 January 2025

The acumen Platform Docker is an Operational Decision Support Tool (ODST), providing operators with information, data and intelligence and supporting decisions that affect the operational railway during routine, degraded and perturbed working.

Since March 2022 the OIM team have been supporting the acumen suite on a best-efforts basis, though efforts are still made to keep this document up-to-date with the current status of the tools.

What's in a name?[edit]

The definition of acumen is the ability to make good judgements and take quick decisions.

In keeping with the definition, the primary goals of acumen are to:

  • Provide all users with a common operational picture - aggregating numerous sources of Network Rail (NR) and Railway Undertaking (RU) data;
  • Output an easy to understand representation of platform occupation and utilisation;
  • Focus a users attention on issues and conflicts that require intervention or manipulation.

The application provides users with the tools to make quicker and better informed decisions, based on a full operational picture.

acumen complements the requirement on people to process large amounts of information prior to making decisions. The term acumen reflects the relationship between a user and the capabilities of the application.

User-led development[edit]

Development of acumen is led by the Operations Interface Management (OIM) team within System Operator, but the team have championed a user-led design ethos.

System users are encouraged to feedback suggestions, ideas and enhancements and the OIM team work with users to optimise the platform docker to fit the need of the users where possible.

As an internal system, enhancements can often be turned around quickly; in days and weeks rather than months.

The story so far[edit]

acumen was first deployed to York in July 2020, followed by Crewe, Birmingham New Street, London Euston and London Kings Cross.

The trial deployments have focused on SSMs, Signallers and station teams (station controllers, announcers).

Initial response has been positive, and the acumen team worked to have the system ready for wider uptake in August 2021.

Network Rail colleagues can read more information on the acumen Sharepoint pages.

In March 2022 we were instructed to cease planned deployment to additional routes and stations. As of January 2025 the OIM team maintain acumen Platform Docker on a best-efforts support basis while while discussions on the future of the acumen suite are underway.


This wiki is written and maintained by Network Rail Operations Interface Managers. Please send any feedback to acumenfeedback@networkrail.co.uk.