Project Background
The MR5 Refranchise program is a critical initiative led by the Department of Transport (DOT) to redefine the future of Victoria’s public transport franchise agreements for both tram and train networks. Given the complexity and scale of these networks, a robust technical and strategic framework was required to ensure sustainable, safe, and cost-effective service delivery. Innova was engaged from 2022 to April 2023 as a Senior Technical Advisor for Operational Control and Management Systems (OCMS), Telecommunications and Independent Peer Reviewer, supporting the independent due diligence and development of franchise requirements. Our role focused on establishing strategic asset management frameworks, risk assessments, and long-term investment strategies to enhance network reliability, asset sustainability, and safety performance.
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How Innova Helped
Innova provided a multidisciplinary technical advisory team responsible for
delivering comprehensive due diligence and strategic recommendations. Our key contributions included:
- Development of Strategic Asset Management Plans (SAMPs): Created comprehensive OCMS, Telecommunications, Data management, and Rail Systems asset strategies to align with DOT’s long-term operational goals.
- Asset Class Strategies & Lifecycle Planning: Assessed critical infrastructure, cyber security, and telecommunications systems, defining risk-based investment priorities to maintain network reliability.
- Technical Risk Register & Due Diligence Audits: Conducted independent peer reviews of existing assets, maintenance regimes, and failure analysis to inform future contractual obligations.
- Cost Estimation & Value Engineering: Provided data-driven cost analysis to optimize maintenance budgets, capital investments, and whole-of-life asset sustainability.
- Risk Management & Assurance: Established a structured risk management framework, identifying technical vulnerabilities, obsolescence risks, and compliance gaps.
- Project Management & Stakeholder Engagement: Led a team of technical experts and engineers, facilitating cross-agency collaboration to ensure seamless integration of new franchise obligations.
Achieved Outcomes
- Successfully delivered strategic asset management frameworks to guide long-term tram and train franchise agreements.
- Enhanced technical risk assessment capabilities, ensuring DOT and franchise operators could proactively mitigate service disruptions and safety risks.
- Developed comprehensive cost estimation models, balancing operational efficiency and financial sustainability.
- Strengthened governance and compliance frameworks, aligning franchise agreements with Victorian transport safety and infrastructure policies.
- Established a clear roadmap for telecommunications, OCMS, and critical infrastructure investment, ensuring resilient and future-proofed transport systems.
Conclusion
Innova’s role in the MR5 Refranchise program was instrumental in shaping the future sustainability, efficiency, and safety of Victoria’s public transport networks. By integrating technical due diligence, risk-based asset management, and strategic investment planning, we provided DOT with a robust foundation of technical and asset documentation for future negotiating franchise agreements that support long-term network reliability, cost optimization, and service excellence.