A unique rail regeneration project in South Wales is on course for completion by 2027 after the adoption of common data environment software.
The Core Valley Lines (CVL) programme represents a £1bn investment aimed at revitalising the 180-year-old rail lines that previously serviced the region’s coal industry, said Nathan Sealy, head of systems engineering at Amey.
“We’ve been managing the Core Valley Lines since 2020, which marked the first time in the UK that a section of the rail network was transferred from Network Rail to another organisation,” Sealy told delegates at Bentley Systems’ Year In Infrastructure conference in Vancouver, Canada, on 8-9 October.
Sealy emphasised the role of advanced software in the CVL project. “We worked with Bentley and [digital systems integrator] Cohesive to set up a comprehensive information management and systems engineering solution,” Sealy said. This includes a Common Data Environment (CDE) for handling the vast amount of data generated by over 40 design organisations.
Amey integrated Bentley’s ProjectWise for document control and BIM, which helped streamline workflows, eliminate the need for manual signatures, and enhance collaboration across teams. The system also supported ongoing verification and validation of designs and construction processes, ensuring all stages were compliant with strict safety and regulatory requirements.
Bentley’s ComplyPro system, particularly in the area of requirements management and assurance, was important for Amey. “The real power of ComplyPro is in linking all the registers and processes, allowing us to manage complex interfaces between different parts of the project efficiently,” Sealy explained. This has allowed Amey to maintain focus on the project’s key objectives while ensuring cost-effectiveness, he added.
Amey, working for client Transport for Wales, is responsible for asset management, railway construction, operations and safety on the CVL. As managing agent, the firm also oversees the project’s extensive transformation efforts, which include infrastructure upgrades and the introduction of electric battery hybrid trains.
The contractor is also directly responsible for 170km of overhead line electrification.
A key part of the CVL transformation involves upgrades at 68 stations, the construction of two new stations, and a new signalling control centre. These efforts are expected to culminate in May and October 2025 with the final stages of signalling and electrification.
Sealy emphasised Amey’s collaboration with key contractor partners, notably Balfour Beatty for track infrastructure, Siemens for signalling and local Welsh firms such as Alan Griffiths for electrification and civil works.
Reflecting on the broader impact of the project, he added: “What we’ve learned on the CVL transformation can be applied to future projects. The systems-led approach, which we’ve embedded into our processes, ensures that we’re delivering value and achieving our objectives efficiently.”
