Derby IT firm lands national rail contract

Derby-based IT specialist Altius VA has landed a national contract to supply assurance services to Network Rail, Transport for London and other rail companies.

The company, based on Wyvern Business Park, will work with the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) to provide enhancements to the Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme (RISQS).

RISQS is used by Network Rail, London Underground and 116 other buyers with over 4,300 supplier members throughout the GB rail industry.

Altius VA will provide front end IT, verification and management services for RISQS.

Gary Plant, managing director of Altius VA, said: “We look forward to providing a new easy to use IT supplier assurance platform – designed to meet the specific needs of the rail industry. This will offer more functionality and the capability to quickly respond to changes in industry requirements. Altius VA has extensive experience of using advanced IT systems to provide risk assurance and management services to the rail sector.”

George Bearfield, RSSB director of system safety and health, said: “We are delighted to have appointed an organisation of the calibre of Altius VA to deliver system enhancements to the RISQS scheme, which is central to the safe and cost-effective procurement of products and services on Britain’s railway.”