What is an Agile Release Train (ART)?
What is an Agile Release Train (ART)?
An Agile Release Train is a team of multiple Agile teams (50–125 people) that work together to deliver value regularly in a synchronized and predictable way.
Operates on a fixed schedule (usually every 8–12 weeks).
Follows Program Increments (PIs) to plan and deliver.
Ensures all teams are aligned to a common goal.
Helps scale Agile across large organizations.
Think of it like a train with all teams onboard, moving in sync toward delivering customer value.
ART Structure & Roles
ART Structure
An ART typically includes 5 to 12 Agile teams (50–125 people total) that collaborate to deliver value together.
Each ART operates in Program Increments (PIs) typically 8–12 weeks with synchronized planning, development, and delivery.
Key Roles in ART
Product Management
Owns the Program Backlog. Defines features and prioritizes work at the ART level.
Business Owners
Key stakeholders who help set priorities and evaluate progress.
Agile Teams
Cross-functional teams of developers, testers, and other roles. Deliver working software every iteration (usually 2 weeks).
Scrum Masters & Product Owners
Scrum Masters coach individual teams. Product Owners manage the Team Backlog and define user stories.
How an ART Works
PI Planning: All teams plan together every 8–12 weeks to align on common goals.
Synchronized Iterations: Teams work in timeboxed 2-week sprints simultaneously.
System Demos: Every 2 weeks, teams showcase integrated progress.
Inspect & Adapt: Teams reflect and improve at the end of each PI.
Release on Demand: Work is deployed whenever the business is ready.
Benefits of Using ARTs
Here are the benefits of using Agile Release Trains (ARTs):
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Improved alignment
Keeps all teams focused on shared objectives.
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Faster delivery
Enables quicker and more predictable releases.
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Greater transparency
Provides clear visibility into progress and blockers.
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Enhanced collaboration
Promotes teamwork across departments and roles.
Better quality
Frequent testing and integration lead to fewer defects.
PI Planning Process (Step-by-Step Guide)
Set the context: Business owners and stakeholders share vision, goals, and priorities.
Present the product roadmap: Product Management outlines features planned for the PI.
Team breakouts: Agile teams plan iterations, identify risks, and draft objectives.
Draft PI objectives: Teams share measurable goals based on their plans.
Management review and problem-solving: Leadership addresses dependencies and constraints.
Final plan review: Teams present final plans and receive feedback.
Confidence vote: Teams vote to express their confidence in achieving the PI goals.
Plan rework (if needed): Adjustments are made if confidence is low or concerns arise.
PI objectives finalized: Teams commit to delivering the agreed objectives.
Follow-up and execution: Work begins with regular check-ins and tracking progress.
Common ART Anti-Patterns
Command-and-control leadership
Leaders dictate rather than empower teams.
Lack of PI planning participation
Key stakeholders or team members skip planning sessions.
Overloaded teams
Teams are assigned more work than they can realistically deliver.
Ignoring dependencies
Teams don’t identify or resolve cross-team dependencies.
Unrealistic objectives
Teams commit to goals without proper capacity planning.
ART vs. Other Scaling Methods
| Framework | Core Focus | Planning | Structure | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ART (SAFe) | Value delivery via teams | PI Planning (8–12 wk) | Fixed cadence, synced teams | Large, structured enterprises |
| Scrum@Scale | Scaled Scrum coordination | Sprint-based | Lightweight, modular | Fast, flexible teams |
| LeSS | Lean Scrum scaling | Sprint planning | Minimal governance | Scrum-mature organizations |
Tools for ART Success
Jira Align
Scales Agile across large enterprises, aligns teams with business goals, and tracks ART progress.
VersionOne
Provides visibility across teams, facilitates PI Planning, and integrates with other tools.
Targetprocess
Visualizes work from team to enterprise level, enhances tracking across ARTs.
Confluence
A documentation and collaboration tool for maintaining consistent PI plans and meeting notes.
FAQs
ARTs focus on delivering incremental value, which enables continuous delivery through synchronized team efforts and continuous integration of work.
Related Glossary Terms
Agile Product Owner
A role in Agile development responsible for managing the Team Backlog, ensuring that the development team is working on the highest-priority tasks, and representing the customer’s needs.
Moscow Prioritization
A prioritization technique used to categorize tasks into four groups: Must Have, Should Have, Could Have, and Won’t Have, to help prioritize features or requirements.
Backlog
A list of tasks, features, or user stories that need to be completed for a product, often maintained in Agile development for prioritization and tracking.
