This document must be read in conjunction with the Guideline 01: The Main Document, which addresses all definitions and standards used in the set of evidence and guiding documents.

The purpose of this document is to define the general requirements necessary to ensure the safe and effective management of all railway assets within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It will also achieve the long-term goal of the Transport General Authority to unify the approach to asset management systems.

This guide is based on international best practices and the evidence and guidelines published by the International Union of Railways (UIC) and is in accordance with the requirements and principles of the International Organization for Standardization ISO 55000.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the Transport General Authority, is currently coordinating with the Asset Management Sector of the International Union of Railways (UIC), particularly with the Asset Management Working Group within the Union, to enhance the exchange of information among group members worldwide and to consider performance, costs, and international best practices in railway asset management.

• Asset management enables us to identify and anticipate the short-term and long-term issues facing the Saudi railway network, allowing for robust future planning from the medium to long term.

• It will contribute to improving the long-term vision for maintenance operations while reducing the impact on operations and, consequently, on the customer and end user.

• It provides the ability to define the strategy for regulatory bodies and other government agencies such as project funders, offering a coherent and integrated approach to railways.

The evidence applies to all railway systems and other guided transport systems in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that hold or wish to obtain a license to operate railway services and a safety certificate. The principles of asset management must be applied to all existing assets.

• The principles of asset management are applied to the management of railway networks due to the significant importance of the cost and performance of the infrastructure. It concerns the management, operation, and maintenance of railway systems in a way that reduces the total lifecycle cost, and the benefits of a comprehensive asset management system include the following:

  • - It focuses on maintenance, enhancement, and renewal activities to deliver sustainable outputs valued by customers and funding providers at the lowest total lifecycle cost of the assets and equipment.

  • - It provides an integrated mechanism that transcends the boundaries between organizational functions and asset controls whenever appropriate between the infrastructure manager and contracting organizations.

  • - It places greater emphasis on evidence-based decision-making using knowledge of how assets perform, their weaknesses, failures, deterioration, and the need for maintenance.

  • - It improves operational and maintenance systems, ensuring that assets are more likely to achieve their reliability objectives and thus fulfill their intended purpose.

  • - It also ensures a lower asset condition in a safe, meticulous, and more cost-effective manner.

Asset management is primarily a fundamental institutional responsibility. The Transport General Authority looks forward to this being a key part of the company's or institution's strategy and being adopted by all relevant stakeholders as part of their routine business planning.

All parties responsible for the railway should be clear about the responsibilities placed upon them regarding the management of railway assets.

The Authority anticipates that the asset management system will manage all assets under the control of the railways, particularly in matters such as:

• - Business design options

• - Management through preventive maintenance and early obsolescence of assets

• - Management through long-term planning, operation, maintenance, and renewal of assets.

• - Continuous review and, when necessary, examination and refinement of the asset management approach

The client/owner must ensure during the design and procurement phases that effective asset management strategies are identified.

Since contractors will be appointed to design, build, operate, and maintain the railway line, any contract must explicitly clarify to the contractor the importance of the assets, which assets fall within the scope of the contract, and which assets are outside the scope of the contract. They must also ensure that the ownership and intellectual property of the asset management system always remain with the railway owner. In the event of a change of contractor, the outgoing contractor must ensure that the asset management system is updated and transferred to the incoming contractor.

The client/owner must ensure the development of a modern asset management system based on information technology during the construction/purchase phases and deliver it to the licensee. This asset management system should serve as the reference point for the data included or updated for each asset in the railway system. The client/owner must also ensure the maintenance of the updated asset management system and its transfer to the new licensee in the event of a change of licensee.