Case Study: Govia Thameslink Railway achieves agile, data-driven operations during COVID-19 with Microsoft Azure

How do you keep the trains running through a global pandemic?

Govia Thameslink Railway needed a faster, more reliable way to manage performance reporting and keep essential rail services running as COVID-19 disrupted operations. Working with Microsoft Azure, along with Power BI and Power Apps, GTR was already building a DataHub to create a single source of truth for reporting and decision-making across its busy London commuter network.

Microsoft Azure helped GTR automate data flows, build live dashboards, and deploy Power Apps in days for staff absence tracking, social distancing, sanitisation records, driver phonebook access, and desk booking. The result was real-time self-service insight for leaders and managers, support for rapid pandemic planning, and a scaled remote-working setup that expanded from 300 to 2,000 VPN seats; Microsoft Azure also helped GTR manage a 97% drop in passenger numbers while keeping key services running.

Govia Thameslink Railway

Aidan Shanahan

Head of Information Technology