Smarter Power for a National Rail Programme
A major rail construction programme improved generator efficiency by correcting oversizing, strengthening usage discipline, and introducing deeper insight into temporary power behaviour across the network.
Turning Power Insight Into Real Savings
The Challenge
Rail construction work creates difficult conditions for temporary power. Sites open for short windows, teams change frequently, and demands shift as works progress.
To avoid disruption, local teams often hired generators that were larger than needed. It felt safer, but over time it created unnecessary cost and poor utilisation.
Different delivery partners were sourcing equipment their own way, and no one had a clear view of how generators were being used day to day. Decisions were being made without the information needed to judge whether the power in place made sense for the work being done.
The programme needed a way to understand what was happening across all sites and to bring consistency to decisions that were previously left to chance.
Our Approach
Vanta completed a detailed assessment of temporary power use across the entire rail portfolio. Instead of starting with equipment, we began with the work. We looked at load patterns, shift profiles, safety margins, site access, and operational behaviour.
This insight allowed us to build a picture of what was actually needed rather than what had become habit.
We then introduced a model that brought control without slowing the work, including:
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Load reviews to understand real demand at each stage of construction
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Clear rules to guide generator choices for different types of activity
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A reduction plan for sites where equipment had been oversized
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More consistent usage checks to stop unnecessary extensions
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Structured feedback to improve decision making between delivery partners and suppliers
Nothing in this approach blocked progress on site. Instead, it helped teams choose the right power for the work and avoid spend that was adding no value.
The Impact
The shift was immediate. Oversizing dropped, returns improved, and teams became far more confident in the choices they were making.
Costs reduced not only because equipment was corrected but because behaviour changed. People understood what good temporary power looked like and why it mattered.
The programme achieved:
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Strong annualised savings through better generator selection
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A significant reduction in unnecessary extensions
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Clear improvement in supplier accountability
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Better alignment between delivery partners
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A repeatable model that can be applied to future rail works
The result is a power strategy that supports the demands of rail construction without the waste that had built up over time.
Project Overview
Full Works
Rail
$1m+
Ontario, CA
Vanta gave us a way to see our temporary power for what it really was. Once we understood the load on each site, the decisions became clearer and the savings followed. It made a real difference to how we plan and deliver work.
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