Tracking developments in rail systems

South Erewash Commissioning

Stephen Ballard — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:41:00 +0000

At 03.33 hours on 4th January 2010, Invensys Rail successfully commissioned a new signaling system covering the South Erewash 'Trent Triangle "area (Phase 2b), part of the multi-million pound East Midlands Hub and Spoke RESIGNALLING and remodeling program. This follows the successful commissioning of Phase 2A of the program in October 2009, which covered the Toton area, and will help deliver increased line speeds, improved performance, greater line capacity and faster journey times across the area.

The latest commissioning was carried out over a 17 day period which saw five new Solid State Interlocking (SSIS) brought into service, together with modifications to existing four interlocking. The new line side signaling system is now controlled from East Midlands Control Center (EMCC) at Derby, where the team commissioned a new Invensys Rail WESTCAD workstation and modified existing workstations.

A PC-based control and display system, WESTCAD provided a cost-effective solution that delivers a number of significant benefits for rail operators. Easy to set up and configure, the system is capable of being networked using an existing LAN or WAN infrastructure. It can drive multiple screens to show various status views, with the display capable of being configured to meet the preferences of each individual operator.

This reconfiguration allows the flexibility and simple control system to maintain the same operator interface during successive stages of infrastructure changes. Modular and future-proof, SSIS WESTCAD drives, and most other relay interlocking interlocking via a suitable communications link.
As a result of the South Erewash work, the Centralization of control at the new EMCC stationed at Derby is migrating further control from the existing Trent Power Signal Box and has allowed the closure of a gate box at Lock Lane. The remodeling of Trent East Junction also allows parallel moves to take place over the junction, as well as the conversion of the existing goods lines to slow lines (Passenger Standard) through Toton and on the high level lines, through to Ratcliffe North Trent South Junction .

In all, the new interlocking control now 173 new axle counter sections, 34 sets of points (some of which were part of a major remodeling of the permanent way Trent East Junction on the Christmas blockade), 99 new LED signals, nine new relocatable equipment buildings and 85 new cases location. The scheme also included five line-side relay FRINGES which required modifications to be under duties to adjacent interlocking and train describer systems.

In addition, five level crossings were renewed with alterations having to be made to two existing manually controlled barrier / CCTV crossing locations. As part of the program in 1024 Westronic new systems were also commissioned, under trial, to provide emergency alarms functions from all the adjacent signal boxes as well as remote alarms from all the relocatable equipment boxes and principal supply points. Additionally, and in parallel with the changeover and testing work, the commissioning team under Invensys took a significant amount of recoveries during the blockade, in order to minimize post-commissioning works.

Commenting on the program Grant Sparks, Regional Director North, at Invensys Rail said: "This has been a particularly intense program of work, working alongside other Spoke Contractors, both in terms of the design and development work and then the installation and commissioning of the Christmas blockade. Considering the exceptional snow and ice weather conditions over the whole period, it was a fantastic record for the Hub and Spoke multi-discipline team on the project that there were no injuries or accidents during the period. Naturally, we? re delighted to have delivered such a modern and robust signaling solution for Network Rail which will deliver such significant performance and operational benefits.

Invensys Rail is part of successful PATH consortium

Stephen Ballard — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:56:00 +0000

A consortium of Invensys Rail, Siemens Mobility and D/A Builders, LLC, will install Automatic Train Control (ATC) utilising advanced Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) technology plus a back-up conventional signalling system on the entire Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) mainline network including all central office, wayside and train borne equipment locations.

Invensys will perform design services and provide a new vital-processor based interlocking system utilising digital track circuits to replace the existing relay based signal system and track circuits. This system will be integrated with the new ATC system provided by Siemens Mobility and installed by D/A Builders, LLC.

Kevin Riddett, President of Invensys Rail in North America, highlighted the importance of the contract to the company, saying: "This is a significant project in the US and is yet another success for our North American operations. We are delighted to be given the opportunity to work on such a high-profile project in one of the world?s most exciting regions."

"Modernizing the PATH rail system has been one of the Port Authority's top priorities in recent years to help bolster our region's economic future,'' said Anthony Coscia, the Port Authority's chairman. "Replacing PATH's century-old signal system with 21st Century technology will enhance passenger safety, boost capacity and improve reliability."

The $321 million ATC/CBTC signal system project, approved by the Board of the Port Authority of NY & NJ in October 2009, will enable PATH to increase system capacity and improve reliability and efficiency; thus, sustaining a high level of service for PATH's 250,000 daily passengers. In addition, the ATC/CBTC system ensures PATH compliance with new Federal Positive Train Control regulations that take effect December 31, 2015.

Mass transit expert enhances Invensys Rail's management team

Stephen Ballard — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:43:00 +0000

Leading railway control and communications systems provider Invensys Rail today announced that it will be strengthening its management team with the appointment of mass transit system expert Peter Bradley as Global Director of Project Development and Leader of Product Lifecycle Management. The announcement follows a string of high profile successes in the mass transit sector, including major projects in Sao Paulo, Vancouver, Madrid and Singapore, amongst others. Peter Bradley has extensive and wide-ranging experience in advanced communication systems for mass transit and heavy rail and will be based at Invensys Rail's UK headquarters in Chippenham and the company's new Communications Based Train Control centre in London. Over his career, he has participated in a number of high-profile mass transit programmes, most notably on the massive New York Subway modernisation. Invensys Rail Vice President Global Business Development, Andrew King, welcomed Mr Bradley to his new role, saying: "I am absolutely delighted to welcome Peter on board and am convinced he will add considerable value to our business." Mr Bradley added: "Invensys Rail's reputation and experience in the heavy rail and mass transit sectors is unparalleled and I am particularly looking forward to bringing my experience to help the company compete for and win new business in the rapidly expanding metro and Communications Based Train Control sectors”.

Invensys Rail enhances research and development with Cognizant

Stephen Ballard — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:54:00 +0000

Leading railway control and communications systems provider Invensys Rail today announced that it has signed a major five-year, multi-million dollar contract with global consulting, technology and business process outsourcing services company Cognizant to enhance its extensive research and development (R&D) activities all over the world.

Cognizant will help Invensys Rail to increase the efficiency of its R&D processes and speed the time taken to bring new products to market. The business relationship will also help Invensys Rail increase its research and development activities within current budgets, as well as providing greater flexibility to react to market demand.

The move - part of the company's Excellence in Delivery of Global Engineering (EDGE) strategy - will also enhance Invensys Rail's growing presence and reputation in the Indian rail market, which is one of the largest and fastest growing in the world.

Invensys Rail's divisions in the UK and Australia, Spain, and the United States will benefit from the deal, and it is expected that 120 Invensys Rail staff based in Hyderabad, India, will transfer to Cognizant as a result.

Invensys Rail Chief Executive Officer James Drummond said: "This business relationship is highly significant for the ongoing growth of Invensys Rail in both mature and emerging markets.
"By enhancing our industry-leading R&D activities with Cognizant's proven expertise, railways and metro networks all over the world will be able to benefit from our proven and advanced range of train control and communication systems with enhanced end user support and faster product development."

Cognizant President and CEO, Francisco D'Souza added: “We are pleased to partner with Invensys Rail and welcome on board their highly talented and experienced professionals in Hyderabad. “Cognizant is committed to leveraging their specialized expertise and our own world-class consulting, enterprise integration, services-based architecture, business intelligence, supply chain and product lifecycle management capabilities to help Invensys Rail develop industry-leading solutions for emerging requirements, create newer service models, and broaden its services portfolio. We are confident we will significantly augment Invensys Rail’s ability to innovate and ramp-up the delivery of products. This multi-dimensional relationship will help both companies solidify our leadership positions in the rail industry.”

Alistair McPhee to leave Invensys Rail

Stephen Ballard — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:48:00 +0000

Alistair McPhee, Managing Director of Invensys Rail Ltd (previously known as Westinghouse Rail Systems Ltd) has decided to leave the company on 31st December 2009. Alistair, who joined the company in 2002 as Projects Director, became Managing Director in 2006 and has overseen the growth of the company in both the UK and in export markets in Europe and the Far East. James Drummond, CEO and President of Invensys Rail said “I would like to thank Alistair for his leadership and contribution to the success of the business over the past 7 years and wish him well for the future”. Mark Wild, currently General Manager Core Markets, will become Acting Managing Director.

Second transport capacity podcast published

Stephen Ballard — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:53:00 +0000

Tune in to the second in the new mini-series of Rail Technology podcasts in which James Drummond, CEO of Invensys Rail outlines the rail technology solutions for fast efficient transport around the world.

You can tune in using the player above. Alternatively, if you want to make sure you don't miss a single episode you can subscribe to the Rail Technology podcast using iTunes, Google, Zencast just by clicking on the appropriate button on the right hand side of this blog. Once you've subscribed, you will receive each podcast automatically as soon as it is published.

Invensys Rail success prompts new office opening in Central London

Stephen Ballard — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:44:00 +0000

Leading railway control and communications systems provider Invensys Rail today announced that it will be opening a Global Centre of Excellence for Communication-based train control (CBTC) in Central London. Following this year’s substantial growth and global expansion the London hub is the latest in a series of steps to underpin the company’s commitment to its international client base and the UK rail industry.

James Drummond, Invensys Rail CEO and President, stated: “With key international project wins, including this month’s £255 million São Paulo Metro award, we are delighted to offer our clients centralised CBTC expertise from our new office in the heart of London. We feel that this new location will add significant value to our services.”

Based near St James park station, the London bureau will be staffed by thirty highly qualified experts but the company is still actively recruiting in order to build on their recent success.

Invensys Rail wins milestone Brazilian Metro contract

Stephen Ballard — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:34:00 +0100

On October 22, 2009, leading railway control and communications systems provider Invensys Rail, Brazilian engineering company Montagens e Projetos Especiais (MPE) and Spanish telecoms specialists Infoglobal have signed a milestone £255 (€280) million contract to upgrade the Signalling and ATC on lines 8, 10 and 11 of São Paulo's rapidly developing Metro system.

Invensys Rail will install its Sirius Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) system on all three lines and associated rolling stock along with WESTRACE interlockings, point machines and LED signals, totalling a 60% share within the consortium. To minimise disruption during the upgrade, the new system will be installed and designed to operate alongside the existing signalling system until the project is fully completed. This approach has been successfully used by Invensys Rail on metros around the world and has proved highly successful in delivering complex projects on-time and on budget with the minimum disruption to passengers.

Invensys Rail CEO and President James Drummond highlighted the importance of the contract to the company, saying: "This is our first major project award in Brazil and is yet another success for our Communications-Based Train Control systems after winning the signalling contract for Singapore's new Downtown Line. We are delighted to be given the opportunity to work on such a high-profile project in one of the world's most exciting cities."

The contract marks Invensys Rail's biggest success to date in the Brazilian market, and with rapid development of heavy-haul freight routes, commuter and metro networks and a planned high speed line in the country, Invensys Rail believes this award will provide a platform for expansion in this important and growing market.

The three lines are owned and operated by Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos (CPTM). Line 8 is 35km long with 20 stations; Line 10 is 37km with 15 stations and Line 11 is 37km long with 12 stations. In total, 136 trains and maintenance vehicles operate on the three lines to transport over one million passengers per working day.

Big decisions... big questions

Stephen Ballard — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:11:00 +0100

It’s been a summer of long-term strategic consultation for the UK’s railways, with electrification and high-speed rail dominating the industry’s agenda. Remarkably (so far at least) there is cross-party and cross-industry consensus on the need though not the extent of both.

So far, so good, but with politicians and decision-makers faced with a veritable smorgasbord of options for enhancing the railway, they will take a while to make up their minds about what the best mix of electrification and high-speed rail is. And this isn’t good news for passengers travelling on the older second-generation diesel multiple units introduced almost three decades ago.

Classes 142-150 are all approaching or past their design lives and replacements should be sought – but will they be diesel or electric, hybrid or conventional – or perhaps even powered by something exotic like fuel cells? Until a decision on electrification is taken, no leasing company in its right mind is going to invest in self-powered trains, while funding considerations may limit orders for conventional trains of all types if high-speed rail is approved.
Either way, it looks like passengers from Scotland to Land’s End are going to have to watch and wait while their ageing diesel trains move rapidly into obsolescence without a clear strategy to replace them.

James Drummond discusses passenger capacity in new podcast

Stephen Ballard — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:53:00 +0100

Transport congestion is a major issue in many parts of the world. Rail and metro systems can provide the answer provided that passenger capacity can be increased with a reduced carbon footprint. Impossible? Well, not according to James Drummond CEO of Invensys Rail who outlines the solutions for fast efficient transport to the world increasing population.

Tune in to the first in a mini-series of Rail Technology podcasts in which this very topical subject is discussed using the player above. Alternatively, you can subscribe to the Rail Technology podcast using iTunes, Google, Zencast or your preferred software to receive each podcast automatically as soon as it is published.