Rolling stock audit : process and results

London Underground has been carrying out regular, independent technical audits of rolling stock and maintenance processes since 1989. These audits, which are sponsored by the Rolling Stock Engineer as LUL's internal regulator, monitor compliance with standards both by in-house maintenance teams and by LUL's contractors, and provide feedback to asset management and standards development. Rolling stock technical audit is now a key feature of LUL's Railway Safety Case. This paper outlines the origins and development of LUL's rolling stock audit processes and examines the changing role of technical audit within LUL. It highlights the benefits of audit from the point of view of both the internal regulator and the maintenance provider and identifies some of the lessons learned.