Tended has reached a major milestone in transforming the way Britain’s railway manages possessions. We’re proud to share that our virtual worksite marker boards (VWSMBs) have been granted a national deviation to the Rail Industry Rule Book by RSSB’s Traffic Operation and Management Standards Committee.
This approval allows Tended's technology to be used during all on-track-plant-only possessions anywhere in the country. This is a pivotal step that marks one of the most significant operational innovations the industry has seen.
Why virtual marker boards matter
Every day across the UK, rail teams install physical marker boards to define safe worksite limits for on-track plant, on-track machines, and engineering trains. It’s a critical task, but it carries inherent risks and challenges:
- Boards can be placed in the wrong location or on the wrong line
- Workers must access the track to install and remove them
- Human error, fatigue and unfamiliar environments can contribute to near misses
- Manual placement consumes valuable time in already-tight possession windows
- Boards can be left behind, creating further operational hazards
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Digital innovation that helps remove risk and saves time
Working closely with Network Rail’s Technical Authority, Tended developed virtual marker boards to replace the traditional manual process with a digital, geofenced alternative. With VWSMBs, worksite limits are mapped in minutes. On-track plant is equipped with in-cab positioning devices that alert drivers as they approach the geofence boundary.
This means:
- No need for workers to go on track to place boards
- No risk of incorrect placement
- No boards left behind
- Dramatically reduced set-up and recovery time
- Clear, consistent, real-time boundary awareness for drivers
Proven success on the East Coast Mainline
Our work with Siemens Mobility and Network Rail East Coast has already demonstrated the significant impact of virtual marker boards on the East Coast Mainline with maintenance teams and through the East Coast Digital Programme. Trials have shown:
- 50 minutes saved by eliminating physical board placement and retrieval
- 12 fewer phone calls, reducing workload for the Engineering Supervisor (ES)
- 17% more productive time inside the possession window
- 50-minute reduction in overrun risk, delivering £130k+ estimated cost savings in one shift
These trials have proven that VWSMBs not only reduce risk but unlock meaningful, measurable efficiency gains during every possession.
A nationwide step forward for rail modernisation
The newly granted national deviation means these benefits can now be realised across all routes in Britain. With the ability to deploy VWSMBs anywhere in the country, the rail industry can significantly reduce operational delays, enhance workforce safety, and optimise possession time.
Broader deployment has the potential to deliver more than £23 million in annual savings, while improving the reliability of essential works and reducing disruption for passengers.
This is a transformative moment for the industry, and one that demonstrates the power of digital innovation to address long-standing challenges.
Phil Sadgrove, Programme Lead for Virtual Marker Boards at Tended, said:
“This national deviation is a landmark moment for the industry. For the first time, we can replace a long-standing manual process with a digital solution that is faster, safer, and far more reliable. The results on the East Coast Mainline and through our work with Siemens Mobility and Network Rail East Coast showed just how transformative virtual marker boards can be. We’re proud to be leading this innovation and excited to see the benefits now being made available across the whole network.”
