A Systematic Review toAdvanceCost Management Strategies for Rail Projects

Developing a robust rail network has always been a priority for countries, especially those in the process of development. The growth of the rail industry plays a crucial role in boosting a nation's economy and productivity. As multiple national governmentsare actively developing rail projects to transform public transport from road to rail, it is evident that the knowledge in rail construction cost management needs a revamp after 20 years of research, hence the need of this study. The purpose of this paperisto provide an in-depth review aimed at establishing a standardized framework for identifying and categorizing thefactors affecting cost performance in rail projects. As part of this study, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of journal publications on rail project cost management from 2016 to 2023 has been started to ascertain the noteworthy contributions that various stakeholders and educators contributed to the knowledge of costmanagement in rail projects. Ultimately, 23 publications had been selectedto be critically analyzed. The analysis sheds light on current research trends, highlights gaps in existing knowledge, and suggests potential avenues for future research. The significant research findings include the need to explore effectivestakeholdermanagement in rail projects, developingeffective mechanism/frameworkfor all parties to ensure effective cost managementand enhancing the connection between research and industry practicein the rail industry. Furthermore, as the thorough examination ofliterature identifies the research trends, researchers may delveinto the fundamental concepts of thesubject, draw valuable insights from theassessments, and progresstowards areas where research is most needed as well as providing stakeholders and academics with impactful outcome for enhancing rail project cost management in the future.