Independent review into abandoned €50m Irish Rail project

An independent review is underway into a €50 million Irish Rail project that has been abandoned. The National Transport Authority commissioned the review after Spanish company Indra, which was awarded the contract for a rail traffic management system, failed to deliver a usable product.

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Regrettably six years on and two years after the commissioning date Indra do not have a safe product fit for deployment on our rail network.

The project was initially due for delivery in June 2024. Anne Shaw, chief executive of the NTA, told the Oireachtas Transport Committee that the review, expected to report in September, will examine governance, delivery, and project oversight. "identify lessons" for future endeavors, she stated.

Irish Rail's chief executive, Mary Considine, expressed regret over the situation. "Regrettably six years on and two years after the commissioning date Indra do not have a safe product fit for deployment on our rail network," Considine said. She explained that attempts to test Indra's software on a small section of the network revealed persistent issues.

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identify lessons

Irish Rail is seeking to limit its financial exposure from the failed project with Indra. Meanwhile, the integrated ticketing project, also being handled by Indra, remains on schedule and within budget. Lawmakers questioned whether staff involved in the project faced sanctions, with one TD criticizing the lack of consequences for responsible personnel. Considine confirmed that the executive team bore responsibility for the project's outcome.

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The staff won't be demoted and won't lose any pay.