Network Rail: Mapping the climate challenge

As one of the UK's largest landowners, Network Rail's exposure to the challenges of our changing climate is great. Here we dive into one of several projects they have undertaken with Scriberia: the award-winning visualisation of their Water Management Strategy.

To secure their future in the face of climate change, businesses need to prioritise adaptability and resilience. As one of the UK’s largest landowners and responsible for 1.8 billion journeys per year, Network Rail is at the forefront of this mission. Extreme weather conditions such as flooding and drought cost the organisation millions of pounds each year and put passenger safety at risk. These challenges are only likely to worsen, resulting in penalties, delays and environmental impact.

Challenge

In response, Network Rail created a pioneering Water Management Strategy — the first of its kind in the transport sector — setting out a long-term vision and operational framework through to 2050.

The strategy’s success relied on effective communication and adoption across the organisation’s vast network of 40,000 employees.

Solution

We worked closely with the Network Rail team to create a suite of visual assets to bring their strategy to life: a vision map, a series of infographics and an animation.

Through collaborative workshops, we helped simplify the complexities of water management across all areas of the railway network — from inspection to maintenance to construction — highlighting the essential roles each team must play.

Using bold colours like blue and green, we conveyed a positive vision for the future of the rail network, reinforcing themes of biodiversity, passenger satisfaction and environmental well-being.

Results

The artwork featured on the front cover of Network Rail’s newly launched strategy document, which was shared organisation-wide, as well as in an interactive PDF to educate and inform staff. It also took centre stage in briefing packs and videos shared with senior leadership and board members, ensuring buy-in and support at every level.

“This has given us an incredibly valuable asset that has been used in so many ways — at leadership meetings, technical reviews, ‘lunch and learns’, team briefings and external presentations and webinars.”

Mona Sihota, Network Technical Head, Network Rail

“We have used the image to ask people to ‘find themselves’, to identify their asset groups and to use the image as a positive future vision of water management on the railway network,” adds Mona. “We aim to be industry leaders in putting water at the forefront of how we manage our assets, to benefit passengers and the environment for generations to come.”

The accompanying animation, shared across social media channels, helped Network Rail increase visibility of its strategy and demonstrate its proactive commitment to a reliable, climate-resilient rail network.

The work was recognised as a finalist at the Institute of Internal Communication Awards and went on to win Gold at the DotComm Awards 2023.

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