Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP)
Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) is a management and control process developed by Network Rail for delivering projects on the operational railway. Issue 2 of the GRIP Policy Standard (NR/L1/INI/PM/GRIP/100) was published on 3 March 2012.
GRIP was developed to minimise and mitigate the risks associated with projects to enhance or renew the operational railway and projects in a high street environment. It is based on best practice within industries that undertake major infrastructure projects and practice recommended by the bodies including the Association of Project Management (APM) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).
GRIP is product rather than process driven and divides projects into eight distinct stages:
- Output definition.
- Feasibility.
- Option selection.
- Single option development.
- Detailed design.
- Construction test and commission.
- Scheme hand back.
- Project close out.
Formal reviews examine the project at critical stages in its lifecycle to provide assurance that it can successfully progress to the next stage.
NB GRIP is being replaced by PACE (Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment) due to concerns that GRIP its bureaucracy and linear process were too inflexible. PACE introduces a model based on principles rather than rules. Network Rail suggest that PACE; ‘… allows project managers to adapt their approach, make decisions that best meet the needs of their project and overlay stages while maintaining rigour.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
Costs and insolvencies mount for SMEs, despite growth
Construction sector under insolvency and wage bill pressure in part linked to National Insurance, says report.
The place for vitrified clay pipes in modern infrastructure
Why vitrified clay pipes are reclaiming their role in built projects.
Research by construction PR consultancy LMC published.
Roles and responsibilities of domestic clients
ACA Safety in Construction guide for domestic clients.
Fire door compliance in UK commercial buildings
Architect and manufacturer gives their low down.
Plumbing and heating for sustainability in new properties
Technical Engineer runs through changes in regulations, innovations in materials, and product systems.
Awareness of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
What CBAM is and what to do about it.
The new towns and strategic environmental assessments
12 locations of the New Towns Taskforce reduced to 7 within the new towns draft programme and open consultation.
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.






















