In 30 seconds
- A long-lived team of agile teams aligned to one mission.
- Plans together every Program Increment.
- Delivers value continuously on a shared cadence.
What it is
In the Scaled Agile Framework, an ART is a virtual organization of typically 5 to 12 agile teams, about 50 to 125 people, that plans, commits and delivers together. It's often called a team of agile teams.
Key roles and events
- Release Train Engineer: facilitates the train
- Product management: owns the train's backlog of features
- System Architect: guides technical direction
- PI Planning every Program Increment
Designing a good train
Organize trains around a value stream so they can deliver end to end with few outside dependencies. Keep them long-lived; stable trains learn to work well together.
Myth vs reality
Myth · The train leaves on schedule, ready or not.
Reality · The cadence is fixed; scope flexes.
Myth · Bigger trains are more efficient.
Reality · Beyond about 125 people, coordination suffers.
Myth · An ART is a project.
Reality · It's long-lived and keeps delivering.
FAQ
Why up to 125 people?
SAFe links it to Dunbar's number, a limit on stable relationships.
What if we need more?
Use several trains, coordinated by a Solution Train.
Do all teams on a train use Scrum?
Teams can use Scrum or Kanban.