Downer is driving digital innovation across international markets with the help of Soros

13/09/2023

In August 2023, Downer and UK based Danburykline signed a global agreement to develop, supply and resell the Soros application.

Soros is a rail specific maintenance and operation management system that currently manages over 50 per cent of the United Kingdom’s rolling stock.

With 100 years’ experience across rail within Australia and New Zealand Downer’s brand and service delivery is well recognised and respected in overseas markets.

Partnering with Danburykline, means that Soros will be key to underpinning cloud and product development capability through Downer’s RTS Digital’s suite of services.

The Soros platform provides innovative visualisation, integration, and scalability both across local contracts, such as the recently won Queensland Train Manufacturing Program and for new customers in the global market such as the UAE and Europe.

The agreement is a big win for both organisations, as it also provides exclusive rights for Downer to sell and service Soros with the TrainDNA platform in the Asia Pacific region and establishes Danburykline’s international exposure. 

According to Rob Spence, Managing Director at Danburykline, “Partnering with Downer was a bold step for Danburykline. It represents the first time we have provided SOROS outside our home market in the UK, but such is Downer’s commitment to growing its digital services business and that they are the leading rolling stock provider in Australia, made it an easy decision.”

Mr Spence also went on to say, “We have some exciting new developments to SOROS in the pipeline, from facilitating the use of telematics on trains, to automated inspection capabilities in response to the changing maintenance needs of modern, cleaner and greener rolling stock”. 

The exclusivity also forms a key part of DanburyKline’s strategy to grow internationally.

Image: Brendon Brownie, General Manager RTS Digital and Rob Spence, Managing Director of DanburyKline signing the SOROS Partnership agreement.

According to RTS Digital’s General Manager, Brendon Brownie, “Partnering with one of the UK’s market leaders in rail, means Downer can accelerate new market opportunities”.

“The modernisation of Downer’s TrainDNA platform to a mobility first, cloud and Software as a Service (SaaS) based digital capability, brings an exciting frontier to rail transformation globally”. 

Rail & Transit Systems (RTS) Executive General Manager – Business Performance, David Rees said, “This partnership supports RTS’s strategy to focus on strong customer benefits that present scalable opportunity in international markets”.

About RTS Digital

RTS Digital supports and enables the improved reliability, availability and safety of digital asset management and maintenance for rollingstock organisations in Australia and New Zealand as well as internationally. Driving change through digitisation and data, underpinned by Downer’s TrainDNA platform, we provide a range of applications and services across Maintenance Management, Operational Intelligence, Robotics, Asset Intelligence & Analytics and Sustainability.

Coupled with 100 years’ of Downer rail expertise, strategic partnerships and engineering derived solutions, RTS Digital helps accelerate improved rail operations and maintenance functions, leading to improved passenger experience.