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M A G A Z I N E The latest news & reviews from the industry
What’s in Store at
RAIL LIVE 2018
Revolutionising Rail: UKRRIN Centres of Excellence
& What does the EU-Japan Economic Partnership
Agreement Mean for the Rail Industry?
Rail Live – Issue Two 2018
Letter from the Editor
Dear Readers, timed perfectly for the start
of summer in the Northern Hemisphere
where it’s held Rail Live 2018 will take place
at the Quinton Rail Technology Centre in ANDREW LUSH
Director
Warwickshire on 20–21 June. al@railway-news.com
As always there will be plenty to see and feature What Does the EU-Japan JOSEPHINE CORDERO SAPIÉN
do. Vivarail, who are based at the Economic Partnership Agreement Editor-in-chief
technology centre and whose aim is to Mean for the Rail Industry? The (revised) jcs@railway-news.com
produce low-cost, low-maintenance WTO Government Procurement
rolling stock, will exhibit their D-train, at Agreement that came into force in 2014 NICOLA BROWN
Rail Live. Founded in just 2012, Vivarail addresses government procurement for Head of Sales
purchased London Underground D78 goods and services based on openness, nb@railway-news.com
stock in 2014 with the purpose of transparency and non-discrimination.
converting it into Class 230s. Last year’s Up until now Japan has managed to AMBER GUy-KEMP
Rail Live was the first time such a keep its rail market closed despite the Head of Client Content
converted Class 230 carried passengers. GPA. However the new agreement with agk@railway-news.com
At this year’s Rail Live Vivarail will exhibit the EU will change this, giving rail
a battery version of its D-train, which will industry suppliers on both sides greater
GUy RAyMENT
once again give passenger rides. market access.
Graphic Design
Rail Live will also feature a bi-mode Our next issue, due to be published in
traction display on which will run a September 2018, will focus on ZOE CUNNINGHAM
Direct Rail Services Class 88 locomotive InnoTrans, held in Berlin at the trade fair Editorial Assistant
(see cover) and a Porterbrook Class 769 grounds Messe Berlin from 18–21 zc@railway-news.com
(formerly Class 319 Flex). The ROSCO September. It is by far the biggest rail
has taken its 319 electric multiple units show in the world and is a must-attend KERI ALLAN
and is converting them into tri- and bi- event. If you are going and would like Features Writer
mode electro-diesel multiple units. to be represented in our magazine,
Testing of the Class 769 is set to take please contact Andrew Lush at A2B Global Media Ltd
place at the GCR heritage railway. The al@railway-news.com. Third Floor
Class 319 was made redundant due to 11–15 Dix’s Field
the arrival of the Siemens class 700 Please enjoy our 2nd issue of 2018! Exeter EX1 1QA
trains on the Thameslink network. United Kingdom
CONNECTIVITY.
One of Rail Live’s supporting partners,
Revolutionary antenna-solutions
-solutions UKRRIN, is working with Rail Live to
Office: +44 (0)1392 580002
Mobile: +44 (0)7432 725001
for a new
n era in enterprise
rise
TRANSFORM
MED.
present cutting-edge research and
mobility networking. innovation in rail engineering and Email: info@railway-news.com
technology. UKRRIN has four Centres of Website: www.railway-news.com
Excellence (Digital Systems, Rolling
Stock, Infrastructure and Testing) in the If you would like to submit editorial
UK and they will all be represented at the content, or you are interested in giving
an interview for the magazine, please
Central Display Area of the Rail Live’s contact Josephine Cordero Sapién.
Innovation Zone. The Innovation Theatre If you would like your company to
will feature a programme of join Railway-News’s online platform,
presentations on UKRRIN’s plans and please contact Andrew Lush.
activities. To learn more about UKRRIN’s
To subscribe to our newsletter, visit
Centres of Excellence, please see Nailah
www.railway-news.com.
Fraser Haynes’s editorial on page XX in
Very Low Profile. Electronically
E Steered. High
gh Gain. Phased Array.
Arr this publication. Josephine Cordero Sapién, COVER: Class 88 locomotive ‘Genesis’ © Hugh
learn more at phasorsolutio ons.com editor-in-chief Llewelyn under licence CC BY-SA 2.0
I also want to draw your attention to the
2 3
Quality. Choice. Service.
Contents
RAIL LIVE 2018
p.6 What’s in Store at RAIL LIVE 2018
AzLM
LM Axle
l Counter Cable
C bl
FEATURES
p.15 What does the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement Mean for the Rail Industry?
p.22 Revolutionising Rail: UKRRIN Centres of Excellence
Network Rail TTelec
elecommunicatiions Cable - Exxtternal trrackside
ackside signalling
ignalling cable Duc
Ductt graade p.35 Big Change Is Coming Down the Line – The General Data Protection Regulation
SUPPLIER NEWS
p.26 Charcroft
Meeting the Power Supply Challenge for Rail Electronics
Network Rail TTelec
elecommunicatiions Cable - Exxtternal tr
trackside
rackside
ackside signalling
ignalling cable armoureed p.18 Zonegreen
Zonegreen Reduces Third Rail Risk
p.10 Goldschmidt Thermit Group
Products and Services for More Safety, Reliability and Availability of Your Railway Tracks from Thermit Welding (GB) Ltd
p.30 Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc.
Loram Around the World
Interconnecting Cable for SSI Systems p.47 Parker
Choosing the Right Hose to Keep Your Train Design on Track
p.38 Windhoff
BT Cables has a range of cables approved forr,, amongst others, Network Rail’s stringent product Windhoff to Supply Key Technology to ICE Plant in Cologne
acceptance standard NR/PS/TEL/00015 in both PE and ZHLS. Full details are now available on the p.42 GKD
PADS database reference PA05/06233.
PA05/06233. With market-leading supply chain capabilities and world-class GKD Technologies Show SensorSafe Rail Range at Rail Live Exhibition, Including Brand New Safety Features
manufacturing experience, we are the cable partner you can rely on for qualityy,, choice and service.
Our stock lists are available now online at www.btcables.com
p.46 UPCOMING EVENTS
June 2018 – August 2018
BT Cables Limited, Delaunays Road,
Blackley, Manchesterr,, M9 8FP
T: 0161 741 2345
www.btcables.com
4 5
What’s in Store at
RAIL LIVE 2018
RAIL LIVE 2018 will once again take place
at the Quinton Rail Technology Centre,
Long Marston, near Stratford-upon-Avon,
on Wednesday/Thursday
June 20/21.
Once again the show will retain all the
ingredients that has made it so successful
over the past five years.
This year however the event will be similar to a major international air
show in nature, just applied to the rail market. Exhibitors can do
everything at RAIL LIVE 2018 that they could do at Birmingham's NEC
or London’s Excel – with the unique added advantage of plenty of
open-air space and adjacent tracks to both demonstrate rail
plant/equipment (the traditional heart of RAIL LIVE) and exhibit
passenger trains and other rail vehicles.
A major feature at RAIL LIVE 2018 is the exhibition hall/convention
centre – a 2,500 square metre high-quality climate-controlled
temporary building in which exhibitors include: Hitachi, Eversholt,
Talgo, Porterbrook, Office of Rail Regulation, National Skills Academy
for Rail, Rail Delivery Group, High Speed 1, High Speed 2 and the Rail
Safety & Standards Board (RSSB). This building will also house a 300-
seat conference hall where the National Rail Convention will be
Vivarail D-train Class 230: licence CC0 staged. The opening keynote speech is due to be given at 10:30am
6 7
into the show. • Working hydrogen locomotive • Bombardier Class
To register, go from the Institution of 345 ‘Aventra’ Elizabeth Line
to www.raillive.org.uk. Please Mechanical Engineers’ (Crossrail) train, courtesy
note that this form registers you RAILWAY CHALLENGE held Transport for London.
for admission into both the RAIL each year on the 10.25in gauge
LIVE 2018 main gate and the Stapleford Miniature Railway, • GBRF Class 66 Freight
NATIONAL RAIL CONVENTION in Melton Mowbray locomotive
the exhibition building.
• DRS Class 88 and Class 769 • BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE:
EMU bi-mode ‘Flex’ (formerly counter-terror, trespasser on
MAJOR FEATURES Class 319) conversion from
Porterbrook/Wabtec.
train roof removal and dog unit
displays, including explosives
OF RAIL LIVE detection by ‘sniffer’ dog Mojo
Interior of Class 345 (Crossrail): © Sunil060902
INCLUDE: • NETWORK RAIL survey
helicopter on display plus
and Constable Phil Healy, from
Manchester. Also, mobile
under licence CC BY-SA 4.0
drone survey unit command unit/level crossing
• NATIONAL RAIL CONVENTION:
demonstrations. video camera vehicles open/on
display.
• 0ver 300 exhibitors booked in
by Secretary of State for Transport more than 1,000 vehicles, (Porterbrook Flex Class 319 • NETWORK RAIL Plain Line
the exhibition building and
Chris Grayling. Other scheduled encircled by a 3km continuous conversion and a DRS Class 88 Pattern Recognition (PLPR) • Rail accident investigation
test track with its own small locomotive) plus Vivarail’s D train outside
speakers include BEIS Minister high-definition video track branch: incident response unit
Richard Harrington, RDG Chief station and even a short section of battery prototype, which will be survey train on display
Executive Paul Plummer, NR CEO OLE. Several rail engineering and giving passenger rides. You can • Major rail industry
Mark Carne, TfL Commissioner maintenance companies are even take a short ride behind companies exhibiting
Mike Brown, Urban Transport based here, including Vivarail, Britain’s only operational including: Network Rail,
Group Chairman Tobyn Hughes whose workshops produce its hydrogen-powered fuel cell Siemens, Porterbrook, Balfour
and many more. Full details can be Class 230 diesel-electric and locomotive and try your hand at Beatty, Talgo, Eversholt,
found at raillive.org prototype battery D trains, using flying a drone. Hitachi, SPl & CPL Powerlines
refurbished former London
Underground sub-surface trains. But the heart and soul of RAIL • Plant demonstrations by
Including outside QRTC is the perfect location LIVE continue to be its world-class Railcare Sweden, Balfour
stands, there will be for RAIL LIVE 2018. plant exhibition/demonstrations, Beatty, AP Webb, GOS
Engineering, Sandhurst Rail,
pioneered successfully at Long
over 300 exhibitors. There’s plenty of business interest Marston over the last five years. Ground Control, Engcon to
and opportunity – but running Network Rail and its senior name but a few
Railway magazines have partnered alongside this will be many managers have always played a
with The Rail Alliance to develop demonstrations/special features, key role in RAIL LIVE and continue • Battery, bi-mode &
and enhance the established and including tactical displays by 35 to do so. RAIL LIVE 2018 and the hydrogen motive power on
successful RAIL LIVE plant show, British Transport Police officers; a associated NATIONAL RAIL display.
which occupies 120 acres of the unique opportunity to examine CONVENTION are open to all UK
ex-Ministry of Defence installation Network Rail’s survey helicopter; a rail industry professionals; there • Prototype Vivarail battery D
at Long Marston. QRTC has five bi-mode traction display for both are no admission fees. It’s best to train on display/being Class 319: © Peter Skuce under
licence CC BY-SA 4.0
miles of sidings capable of storing passenger and freight pre-register to ensure rapid entry demonstrated
8 9
EFFICIENT TOOLS
AND MACHINES
FOR TRACK WORKS
Following along with our focus on
both safety and efficiency Thermit
Welding offers new enhancements
to our range of rail tools. One
example of these tools is the RD
300 P, the latest rail drill from the
Goldschmidt Thermit Group. The
SMARTWELD RECORD RD 300 P enables quick and
precise drilling of the rail web,
allowing drilling times of 20 to 60
seconds dependent on the hole
diameter and rail hardness, and
comes equipped with an
enhanced quick clamp device. The
device also brings ergonomic
benefits due to its light weight and
perfect centre of gravity. Through
safer and higher performance our
tools enrich the day-to-day
working of a rail engineer.
One of the latest devices,
pioneered by Thermit Welding
(GB), is the SMARTWELD ACE
(Accelerated Cooling Equipment)
that has been designed to
decrease the overall cooling time
Products and services for more safety, of a weld. The SMARTWELD ACE is
a purpose-built battery-powered
water misting system, engineered
reliability and availability of your railway to be placed on top of an
aluminothermic weld following
tracks from Thermit Welding (GB) Ltd the shearing of the weld. By
removing a greater proportion of
the weld waste material (via the Rail Drill RD 330 P
Gull wing shear blade) and then
Thermit Welding (GB) Ltd, part of
the Goldschmidt Thermit Group,
GOLDSCHMIDT pressures. This is facilitated by the applying a fine water mist to the
SMARTWELD Application, part of
offers a wide range of new and GOES DIGITAL the GOLDSCHMIDT DIGITAL APP,
innovative solutions to provide A big priority in 2018 for Thermit
significant improvements all with the data being stored to an
Welding is to increase the use of
across the railways. From android device with further
digital solutions. The SMARTWELD
enhanced rail cooling devices to RECORD is one such device that
options to export the data to the
improvements in digital cloud. With devices such as the
highlights our answer to this
monitoring of the weld process, SMARTWELD RECORD digital weld
Thermit Welding and the whole requirement for digitisation. The
Goldschmidt Thermit Group are SMARTWELD RECORD allows for inspection and automated weld
pioneering advancements to the digital recording of the entire weld data gathering are no longer ideas
railways worldwide. process, including preheating of the future.
10
Track geometry
measurement system
with laser-based rail
profile measurement
Road-rail vehicle LRD 18 TCC
cooling weld approximately 15 overhead lines, bridges & tunnels
minutes can be saved per weld. and welding as well as cranes &
Thanks to careful development rescue applications. We can also
and testing Thermit Welding can offer special road-rail vehicles in
guarantee that this time-saving modular construction, with heavy
method will have no effect on the cranes and trolleys and road
high quality that a THERMIT® weld vehicles for different applications.
is known for. Further to this, cost
savings are also possible with this
device as it allows for more
RAIL MEASURING
welds to take place in given SYSTEMS FROM
possession times.
GRAW
GRAW, the latest member of the
ROAD-RAIL Goldschmidt Thermit Group
VEHICLES: specialises in the development
and production of computer-
UNBEATABLE controlled geometry
MOBILITY ON measurement devices and
systems for tracks and switches
THE TRACKS and for the rolling stock wheels.
The road-rail vehicles from the They manufacture portable Please visit us at our booth E21 at Rail Live to
Swedish group company SRS devices and also develop real- get more information on our product range
Sjölanders AB can be used both time systems for track geometry and see our products demonstrated live.
on rail and on the road and are vehicles as well as stationary
custom-made to meet your needs wheel geometry systems.
Thermit Welding (GB) Ltd
and requirements thanks to Furthermore, GRAW has extensive
different attachments and experience in developing software 87 Ferry Lane, Rainham, Essex RM13 9YH
superstructures. Road-rail vehicles for the collection, processing, Phone +44 (0) 1708 522626
are available for the installation, analysis and storage of Fax +44 (0) 1708 553806
inspection and maintenance of measurement data. info@thermitwelding.co.uk
12 13
Visit Parker at
InnoTrans 2018
What Does the EU-Japan
Economic Partnership
Agreement Mean for the
Rail Industry?
Reduce procurement & logistics
After four years of negotiations, the EU-Japan
On track for reliability costs by sourcing multiple Free Trade Agreement is now in the final stages
and performance requirements for both freight
and passenger vehicles from of ratification, with both sides aiming to bring
a single supplier
the trade deal into force by early 2019. By Keri Allan
The overall object of this Agreement (GPA) has allowed for public contracts, and also
agreement is to increase trade certain entities in Japan not to complex customer-supplier
flows between the EU and Japan, abide by GPA procurement rules. relationship requirements, which
and once concluded, it will open The EU-Japan deal is set to favour domestic bidders.
up huge market opportunities for change this.
both sides. In addition, new bidders are often
Parker offers the broadest range of technologies, enabling our partners to Currently, only 3.5% of public put off by the requirement that
One of the big winners will be the procurement in Japan comes suppliers must be able to
source a multitude of requirements from a single supplier.
European rail industry, thanks to from foreign firms, in part down to demonstrate past experience
Could you benefit from working with Parker’s dedicated transportation team?
changes pushed through around difficulties foreign suppliers face in working in the Japanese market.
We’re ready to take your challenges from concept to reality; addressing public procurement – in particular the Japanese procurement
performance, application weight and space. the Operational Safety Clause market. This includes extensive “Japan is one of the major world
rail@parker.com
Visit us at Innotrans 2018 parker.com/rail (OSC). This OSC in the WTO use of the OSC to exclude foreign rail markets and can therefore
Government Procurement suppliers from being able to bid offer major business opportunities
14 15
and non-discriminatory treatment European Commission of those “We have been cutting all
of European rail suppliers.” commitments.” administrative blockages and
using all resources,” Mauro
Concerns have been raised Trade relationships look set to Petriccione, the EU’s chief
regarding the recent privatisation greatly improve between Europe negotiator with Japan, said at a
of some Japan’s most important and Japan with the arrival of this recent press conference.
rail operators – Japan Rail (JR) new free trade agreement and
East, JR Central and JR West, with businesses in the EU and Japan
However, with the UK keen to
further privatisations expected to are keen to take advantage of this
strike its own trade deals it is set to
follow. This is because they bring agreement.
the operators concerned formally leave the EU’s Single Market and
outside of the scope of both the One current EU Member State, Customs Union. The UK has said it
GPA and upcoming free trade however, faces uncertainty. With would like to copy and paste the
agreement because their Brexit still looming, where does deal with Japan after that, but the
JR East train: © Yuichi Kosio under licence CC BY 2.0 purchases no longer fall under the this leave the UK? Financial Times reports that Japan
definition of ‘public procurement’. wants a better deal. The
But, as one EU official explains, The UK won’t automatically get newspaper writes that “while the
these new companies have access to the EU’s existing deals UK is hoping to duplicate the
for the European rail supply Nguyen. “This will apply within together and remove regulatory committed to honour open and after it exits in March 2019, but in wide-ranging access embodied in
industry. Nevertheless, foreign one year of when the agreement trade barriers,” they explain. fair procurement policies. this particular case Japan has said the Japan-EU trade pact,
penetration on the Japanese rail comes into force. In exchange the it wishes the EU deal to apply to
market remains low, especially EU has granted Japanese So what does this all really mean Japanese officials are hardening
“To alleviate this [issue], the JR the UK during the transition
with respect to rolling stock,” says suppliers partial access to the for the European rail industry? against offering an identical deal
companies have – on their own period, which is set to run until
Jonathan Nguyen, Public Affairs European railways procurement Well, essentially it comes down to to a much smaller economy”.
initiative –made public December 2020. It does mean
Manager at the Association of market.” EU companies being able to Railway industry suppliers in the
statements emphasising their that the EU-Japan deal must be in
the European Rail Industry participate in procurement bids in commitment to open and place before the UK formally exits EU27 can look forward to greater
UNIFE. Japan has also agreed to accept Japan on an equal footing with competitive procurement the EU in March 2019. As a result access to the Japanese market in
an exchange of letters on railways domestic businesses. procedures as part of their the lead negotiators from both the near future. Those in the UK
“Although some European – covering the Railway Industrial business philosophy,” they sides have said that it is a high might be able to enjoy the
manufacturers have managed to Dialogue and the Technical “Progress was already achieved in explain. “The Government of priority to get it in force before benefits of the EPA for a while, but
enter the Japanese rail market on Expert Group on Railways – 2014 with the ‘one-year package’ Japan has formally informed the then. for them the future is uncertain.
niches, mostly at the component cementing the current co- of measures on railways, which
level, the wide majority of operation between the two sides were helpful to begin increasing
European suppliers encounter to the free trade agreement. transparency in procurement and
major hurdles hampering their facilitating market penetration by
access to the market. There are “Both initiatives, which were European suppliers. Nevertheless,
several reasons for that, the most already launched while the more needed to be done to level
important being the OSC, which negotiations were still ongoing, the playing field. This is why we
has effectively enabled Japanese will continue in the future,” says welcomed the long-awaited
public entities not to procure in a an EU official. “The success of the announcement of the removal of
transparent, non-discriminatory Railway Industry Dialogue will the OSC,” says Nguyen.
manner.” depend on the willingness of
European companies to engage “[But] to ensure a level-playing
The EU-Japan talks have led to an with the process. field on respective markets, it is
agreement in principle that now key to ensure that
provides EU rail suppliers with “Japanese railways operators have commitments made by Japan are
better access to contracts put out a genuine interest in EU products, actually enforced and result in
for tender in by Japan’s central, but that interest is very much changes in business practices,” he
regional and local governments by focused on innovative cutting- adds. “A strong and dedicated
removing the OSC. edge products. The Technical method to monitor rail
Expert Group will continue procurement should be set up. It
“The effect of this agreement is to working on technical standards, is also crucial that private or non-
exempt European firms from the which will help bring the EU and covered entities abide by codes of French Eurostar: © Matthew Black under licence CC BY-SA 2.0
application of the OSC,” says Japanese industries closer conduct to guarantee transparent
16 17
ZONEGREEN
The quantity of third rails in the Zonegreen, the Sheffield-based the 1930s using the third rail
southeast of the UK is greater than rail safety specialists, are using system and much of this
in any other area of the country their considerable industry infrastructure remains today.
and according to the Network Rail experience and expertise to tackle Indeed, some older depots still do
reduces third
Electrical Power Asset Policy the issue. not have safe external walkways or
adequate lighting, making for
(December 2012) “it contributes Christian Fletcher, Zonegreen’s challenging working conditions in
almost eight times more (than the technical director, said: “The safest yards alongside the third rail.
AC network) to overall risks on theway to protect personnel is to Consequently, accidents are far
rail risk
railway”. keep them away from areas of more likely to occur.
risk. It is estimated by the BBC that
the costs involved in converting
In this day and age, the idea that
the third rail system to overhead
What can and is
bare, live conductors of 750 volts
run through our places of work at lines would be in excess of £17 being done to
billion, so clearly, more viable
All railways are dangerous, but some ground level is hard to
comprehend, yet these are exactly
measures are necessary.”
improve safety?
The Office of Rail and Road’s
railways are more dangerous than others. the dangers facing depot
operatives.
The railway in the southeast was (ORR) policy states: “Where
one of the first to be electrified in existing third rail needs to
18 19continue being operated, automating manual points, has Christian Fletcher added: “To help
maintained and renewed, the rail also been designed to increase reduce the risks inherent in third
industry must ensure continuous safety in rail depots and can be rail areas, it is vital to have properly
improvements in the design, used to reduce the dangers engineered systems that can play
operation and maintenance of associated with the third rail. a major role in protecting depot
such electrical systems.” staff. By applying our ability and
Points Converters are fitted
Traditional safety measures, for retrospectively to existing manual technology to the issue, we can
example the use of protection hand points and can be controlled help to prevent personal injury
boards and written procedures, either by key switches located in a and the associated costly
are still commonplace in depots position of safety, remote damages.”
today. However, both of these handsets or a central computer
manual systems are open to system. This allows the point to be For the foreseeable future, the
human error and do still lead to operated remotely, without third rail is here to stay. Its removal
fatalities among depot workers, putting people in harm’s way. would mean converting 2,500
resulting in untold grief for family miles of track, a new fleet of trains
members and colleagues and The innovative system removes
and the reconstruction of depots,
huge fines for their employers. the need for shunters to traverse
bridges, tunnels and stations.
potentially long distances to reach
Evidently, there is a need for better
manual points, at all times of the
employee safeguards. The ORR Strategy for Regulation
day and night. In areas where
of Health and Safety Risks in May
Zonegreen is leading a two- there is potentially poor lighting,
ballast and uneven surfaces, the 2017 called for “safety
pronged attack on the risks
dangers of contact with the third improvements in yards, depots
associated with third rails to
and sidings, in particular in relation
improve protection for workers at rail are heightened and ever
rail depots via its Interlocking and present. to electrical risks”. Overall, the
Points Converter systems. best way to protect people from
Points Converter is a low-cost, the harm the third rail can cause is
easy to use system that maintains to keep them away from it. Thanks
The basic role of interlocking is to
the integrity of the underlying
protect personnel and equipment to Zonegreen, life-saving solutions
hand point and requires only
from the dangers posed by live that embody these requirements
minimal civil works and changes
traction power supplies. are readily available.
to operating procedures. Routes
Zonegreen’s system works by
can be pre-set through multiple
inhibiting the use of third-party For more information about
points, which can be reconfigured
equipment until the third rail has Zonegreen’s interlocking and
or upgraded at any time and an
been isolated, through a event logging facility is Points Converter systems,
combination of mechanical keys incorporated, to enable the depot telephone (0114) 230 0822, email
and electronic contacts. Areas of manager to keep a record of all info@zonegreen.co.uk or visit
risk are fenced off and access is points operation. www.zonegreen.co.uk
controlled using interlocked gates,
a method that is routinely seen in
depots where staff are protected
from live overhead lines.
This type of system is particularly
beneficial on stabling roads, where
operations such as cleaning and
sanding are completed. Workers
are often required to walk in and
around the six-foot space
alongside the third rail, putting
them at considerable risk.
The Zonegreen Points Converter,
an innovative method of
20 21REVOLUTIONISING
These institutions develop their
own research programmes, but
collaboration between centres
and with industry is also vital for
RAIL: UKRRIN CENTRES
the successful testing and, if
appropropriate, implementation of
their ideas and recommendations.
The UK Rail Research and
Innovation Network (UKRRIN) is
OF EXCELLENCE one of several organisations
around the world which facilitates
these exchanges thanks to four
Centres of Excellence around the
country involving eight
universities. The network officially
Railway research is a major
opened in April 2018 and
welcomes approaches from
interested parties. In this article
area of research in engineering, Nailah Fraser Haynes tells Railway-
News what her organisation does
management and policy and why it will ‘revolutionise’
innovation in the rail industry.
around the world. There are Railway-News (RN):
What is the UKRRIN,
dedicated centres in and why do we
universities in the USA, need it?
Nailah Fraser Haynes (NFH): In
UK and Europe. 2017 the Rail Supply Group (RSG)
launched a strategy setting out its
desire to strengthen and develop
the UK rail supply sector. ‘Fast
Track to the Future’ detailed a plan
to create a network of world-class
Centres of Excellence at different
universities around the UK to
overcome the dreaded valley of
death, and accelerate the uptake
of innovation research and
development, allowing projects to
be brought to market more
quickly and effectively.
These Centres of Excellence were
selected following a request for
proposals to support a bid for
Higher Education Funding Council
for England (HEFCE) Research
Partnership Investment Fund
(RPIF) funding. A process which
was facilitated by the Rail
Research UK Association (RRUKA)
22 23bringing new technologies and The vision is for the centre as a The vision for the CERS is to including 25Kv OLE and 3rd/4th
products developed through resource to provide the rail provide the facilities and expertise DC, crossings, embankments,
collaborative academic research industry with access to some of required to allow the railway tunnels, bridges, jointed and
into market applications globally. the most up-to-date test facilities industry to develop innovative continuously-welded track, a
products and processes to ensure
anywhere in the world, cutting- loop, telecom innovation lab,
CENTRES OF edge methods for field tests and
that the rolling stock of the future
systems performance simulation
meet the needs of passengers and
ExCELLENCE measurements, and a broad base freight customers. testing, instrumentation services,
Centre of Excellence of internationally recognised and mechanical fabrication for
scientists and engineers with prototyping.
in Digital Systems significant experience in the rail
Centre of
(CEDS) industry. Excellence in The vision for the CET is to
This centre is led by Professor Testing (CET) accelerate adoption and
on behalf of RSG. The fund is This is where UKRRIN comes in.
Clive Roberts at the University of
Birmingham. It aims to deliver a
Centre of Led by Network Rail’s Rail transformational change in rail
Innovation Development Centre systems technology, and new
designed to support investment in Launched with a parliamentary step-change in rail transport Excellence in (RIDC) Programme Manager railway products and services.
higher education research reception in February, UKRRIN is a through digital technology and
facilities and aims to: ground-breaking partnership has four key themes: Future Rolling Stock (CERS) Amanda Mackie, the Centre of This centre will link with others in
Excellence in Testing (CET) aims the UK Rail Research and
between the rail industry and eight Railway Operations and Control; Led by Professor Simon Iwnicki at to help accelerate the adoption Innovation Network to provide a
universities to bring the rail Data Integration and the University of Huddersfield, the
• Enhance the research facilities and transformational change in ‘one stop shop’ for testing and
industry four new world-class Cybersecurity; Smart Monitoring Centre of Excellence in Rolling
of higher education institutions Centres of Excellence covering: rail systems technology, and new
and Autonomous Systems; and trialling, and we will support the
(HEIs) undertaking world- Stock (CERS) is a group of three railway products and services.
rolling stock, infrastructure, digital Introducing Innovation. The CEDS ‘Four C’s’ of the Rail Technical
leading research universities bringing together
systems and testing. Seventeen is becoming the ‘go to’ facility for It incorporates access to existing Strategy, and in particular Key
expertise and facilities from the
industrial partners have come the integration and verification of at-scale test facilities, including Capability 12 in the Rail Technical
together and are part of the digital technologies across all of University of Huddersfield,
• Encourage strategic those provided by Network Rail Strategy Capability Delivery Plan.
UKRRIN network including these themes and with the Loughborough University and
partnerships between HEIs and RIDCs (in Melton and Tuxford),
Siemens, Unipart Rail, Railway Introducing Innovation theme, will Newcastle University.
other organisations active in Transport for London (Acton & The development of UKRRIN
Industry Association, British Steel be able to work from Technology Stratford), and Quinton Rail
research provides a clear map of UK rail
and many more. The network Readiness Level 1 right through to The CERS will meet the current Technology Centre (Long
market introduction. expertise and facilities, with a
builds on the achievements of its and future demands of the GB rail Marston).
• Stimulate additional model which focuses on the
predecessors RRUK and RRUKA industry for research and
investment in HE research and brings the UK rail sector the Centre of innovation to support the next Capabilities across the CET testing selected centres of excellence
• Strengthen the contribution of means to provide a step-change and trialling facilities include high and includes partners and
the research base to economic in research, development and
Excellence in generation of railway vehicles. It
and low-speed facilities for vehicle affiliates able to support delivery
will link with other centres in the
growth. innovation with a focus on Infrastructure (CEI) UKRRIN network to provide a ‘one and infrastructure testing in key areas.
CEI is led by Professor William stop shop’ for all rolling stock
Powrie at the University of
development providing the
Southampton. It aims to create
high-performance, low- following high-quality research
maintenance railway infrastructure and world-class testing facilities:
through research and innovation
and will integrate the specialist • The Traction Drivetrain and
centres for railway infrastructure Braking Facility
research in the UK with the
industrial base and network • The Pantograph Interaction
operators. It will provide Dynamics Facility
straightforward access to leading
researchers and facilities, to
• The Virtual Train Design Lab
generate practical improvements
in the performance and whole-life
cost of railway infrastructure and • The Maintenance Reliability
accelerate innovation from and Passenger Interaction
research into practice. Facility
24 25MTM Power’s patented thermoselective vacuum encapsulation process
Meeting the Power
Supply Challenge
for Rail Electronics
Supplying power to electronic systems
in the rail industry means overcoming
extreme environmental and operational
challenges. It is no surprise, therefore,
that power supplies can often be the
cause of system failures, as Charcroft’s
Chris Leek, explains.
Specifying a power supply for use
in the rail industry goes beyond
meeting the standard form, fit and
function of conventional
electronic systems. The chosen
unit must withstand
environmental factors such as
shock and vibration as well as dirt
and other contaminants. It must
also operate reliably in the
presence of high transient
voltages. If the supply is not
rugged enough, any one of these
factors could result in a system
Inside a power supply with thermoselective vacuum encapsulation
failure.
26 27Withstanding to provide the external
connections to the PCB. Three
Transients variants of the supply were being
For one OEM, the cause of an used to cover the required input
intermittent failure of the door voltages of 24V, 72V and 100V.
control system on passenger To address the issues with
rolling stock had been identified reliability, Charcroft
as high transient voltages. The recommended replacing the
power supply unit’s (PSU) reaction enclosed, open-frame unit with an
to the transient voltages was so MTM Power PCMDS150WK-IP65
extreme that some of the units supply, which combines
had ignited on the PCB. Finding a thermoselective vacuum
replacement unit, however, encapsulation with IP65 sealing.
proved to be a challenge. The thermoselective vacuum
encapsulation process provides an
After discussions with the OEM’s alternative to filling PSUs with
engineers, Charcroft suggested resin. In this patented process, the
replacing the original units with a components within the PSU are
PMDS30 110S24U-VT, DC-DC thoroughly cleaned to remove
converter, from MTM Power. The debris such as grease or soldering
new unit’s ultra-wide, 33–154V fluxes. The components are then
DC input range would protect the dried and pre-heated before being
electronics from transients and encapsulated under vacuum
ensure a fully isolated and conditions. The result is a solid
regulated supply to the encapsulation which provides
equipment. To match the extreme resistance to both shock
mounting arrangements of the and vibration. The inseparable
original unit, Charcroft arranged cemented joint between the
for MTM to supply a modified pin- potting material and the
The standard PCMDS150-IP67 unit
mounted converter, fitted to the components also means that the includes IP67 sealing
PCB with input and output unit can withstand humidity,
connectors in the existing condensation and high isolation
arrangement. This modification to voltages. It also eliminates the
the mounting configuration need to allow for air and creepage
allowed the failing PSUs to be distances during the design
swapped out for the new units
process.
during the normal maintenance
programme. Reliability is enhanced because
factors such as ageing, rapid
Solving Reliability temperature changes, heat, cold
and other environmental
Issues influences do not result in
A failing power supply was the delamination, cracking or air
cause of another OEM’s reliability pockets, which can potentially
issues with an on-board train lead to failure. The elimination of
reset, operating independently of
the 12V board net. The built-in
Improved Reliability enclose the original open-frame
unit, and a reduction in the
Finding a power supply to
withstand the dirt, contamination,
protection and warning system electrolyte loss from electrolytic heat-sink also eliminated the need at Reduced Cost number of inventory lines. vibration, shock and high transient
(TPWS). The original units met the capacitors also helps to support a
for external cooling fans, which In addition to solving the reliability Whereas three different units were voltages in the rail environment
system’s electrical and mechanical longer system lifetime.
specifications, but reliability can often be a risk factor in the issues, the PCMDS150WK-IP65 needed to meet the 24V, 72V and
can be challenge. But it is a
problems began to appear soon To enhance reliability even further, failure of power supplies. MTM supply was also able to provide a 100V input voltages, the
challenge which can often be
after the unit went into operation. the standard off-the-shelf unit Power carried out full testing of 20% reduction in the overall cost PCMDS150WK-IP65’s nominal
on the customised supply for of each unit. This cost reduction voltage options of 24V (16.8V– addressed by the combination of a
The specified open-frame power was fitted with a secondary circuit
supply had been enclosed in a with fully independent isolation compliance to EN50155 and was achieved through the 33.6V) and 110V (50.4V–154V) rugged power supply, supported
metal case, for protection against and regulation. This modification EN50121-3-2 before delivery to combination of eliminating the covered all three input voltages by the skills of a specialist
dirt and contamination, with wires provided a 40V rail for use as a the OEM. hand-assembly required to with just two variants. distributor. www.charcroft.com
28 29Loram Around
The people. Th
he products. The
T process.
A maintenance partnership
t that goes
g the distan
nce
nce.
The World
Located in Hamel, Minnesota, USA, Loram
Maintenance of the Way, Inc. (Loram) is
a leading supplier of track maintenance
machinery.
Founded in 1954, we built our
business on helping railway
companies preserve their lines by
manufacturing machines that
bring maintenance to the rail. With
over 60 years in the rail industry,
Loram is recognised as the
industry leader in rail grinding,
offering a wide range of products
to serve all facets of the railroad
market. Beyond our expansive
offerings, Loram’s unmatched
industry expertise can fulfil any
specialisation to satisfy the most
difficult requirements. Our
product depth and ability to
respond to customer needs
continue to drive strong product
demand both domestically and
globally.
With 125 machines in 16 countries, a catalogue machine that does such as Great Britain and
Loram has developed the not fully meet the customer’s Germany. These features afford
With 60 years of industry leadership, railroads worldwide rely on LORAM® people, products,
expertise to grind on heavy haul, needs.
equipment and tracck maintenance services. We are comm mitted to the safety of your operation, freight, transit, commuter, and customers detailed records of the
extending the life of rail assets and increasing operationaal efficiency. short line railroads. Incorporating Loram’s rail grinders feature state- grinding and rail performance in
high-power, flexible grinding of-the-art quality assurance tools order to follow the life-cycle of
THE GLOBAL LEAD
DER IN MAINTENANCE OF WAY SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT LORAM.COM
AY SERVICES M
modules with patented control and software programs that allow
SPEED PERFORMANCE RELIABILITY
TY their rail, and assist in managing
RAIL GRINDING • BALLLAST MAINTENANCE • OEM • FRICTION MANAGEMENT
M • PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
systems, Loram rail grinders offer proof of performance compliance
the industry’s leading technologies with the most stringent rail the overall rail maintenance
© 2015 Loram, Inc.
and the most choices rather than grinding standards in countries planning.
30 31metal, all while removing as little
This process is refined by metal as is required at the fastest
continuing to study the speeds possible. Less metal
avoidance, surface finish or noise deterioration of rail and causes for removed artificially through
impact the selection of the variation, incorporating those grinding leaves more of the rail
optimal grind stone from Loram’s findings into the decision-making head and extends the life of the
option on the market coupled grind stone offerings. This process. Numerous test sites are rail, provided adequate metal is
with a robustness that makes this program is then downloaded into evaluated along with vast amounts removed to accomplish the
product an attractive option for all the rail grinder. The grinding itself of data collected from every Class objective. Precision is required to
compare and has led to strong customers. is computer-controlled and I railway in North America. ensure this is the case. Less metal
demand on many Heavy Haul regularly calibrated to ensure Refinements in the grind plan removal required allows even
Railways in North and South Ensuring accuracy of the grinding accuracy. The horsepower of the development process continue to faster speeds, fewer passes, less
Loram offers a complete line of process starts with a good pre- improve the ability to achieve the time spent in a block and a lower
America and Australia. For grind motors adjusts to any
grinders to tackle both the large inspection. This practice also variations in the machine speed to profiling and metal removal cost per track kilometer. Speeds
Specialty Grinding needs, the RGS
and the small jobs, from heavy Series is the most productive optimises the deployment and maintain a consistent metal objectives at the maximum will continue to be limited by the
haul and short line railroads to machine on the market that allows remediation activities on track. Rail removal rate. The grinders all efficiency. need to provide precise profiling
transit lines and subway systems, customers to optimise profiles are measured in a rail feature an on-board profile of the rail as well as line of sight
from mountains to tunnels. productivity, reduce cost, and
Loram’s product offerings include: increase asset life of switches and
inspection vehicle, comparing
results to a pre-determined
measurement system to check Continuous braking requirements for machine
operation.
compliance to the optimal profile
RG 400 Series – Heavy Haul, C crossing rail. In markets with optimal template. The profiling along with a dual encoder Evolution
21/44 Series – International, RGI – restrictive clearance and axle needs are combined with a depth location system. Features exist for As traffic density continues to As customer focus is one of
International, RGS – Specialty, and weight, the Loram RGI Series and of cut as a result of an assessment a GPS system, in addition to the increase, it is critical to get the Loram’s five core values, Loram
the L Series – C44 Series are designed with the of surface condition to develop a dual encoders, that automatically work done as efficiently as provides the resources necessary
Mobile/Specialty/Transit. One of latest technology to satisfy the grind plan, including speeds, grind selects the proper template based possible. Loram foresees for listening to our customers’
Loram’s most successful products most restrictive precision grinding motor locations and number of on the machine’s track location. continued movement toward needs and then delivers the ideal
has been the 400 Series Grinder, needs. The L Series Grinder is the passes required. Specific customer The grind and profile data is stored precision in achieving the desired solution. Loram has partnered
which offers value beyond most productive “truckable” requirements such as obstacle and available for future reference. profile and removing the fatigued with our customers to develop
32 33Big Change Is Coming
Down the Line –
The General Data
Protection Regulation
new rail grinding product offerings performance equipment, the right exceed your expectations. Loram’s
and strategies. maintenance practices, asset management team, which is
knowledgeable personnel, and made up of recognised technical
Railroads have historically worked progressive training and safety experts in the rail grinding
production and specialty rail practices to produce reliable
industry, produce customised
grinders separately, but Loram services. Loram strives for 98%
collaborated with its customer to reliability (shift uptime) in all our grind plans using Rail Inspection
challenge the status quo, which services, and we closely monitor Vehicles and then measure the
resulted in a joint rail grinding reliability statistics to assess and result to ensure a quality grind.
strategy. This new strategy allows aggressively address any
the production and specialty rail downtime issues.
Loram’s operations team consists
of trained and experienced
The General Data Protection
grinders to work simultaneously in
the same track window, blend
The Future of Rail
technicians, operators,
maintainers and managers to keep
Regulation (GDPR) represents a
grind zones for a continuous rail
profile and retain preventive
gradual grind cycles for mainline
Grinding
Loram allocates a significant
your grinding program on
schedule. seismic shift in the way businesses
rail and specialty track assets. amount of resources to research
Loram’s RG400 Series production and develop new processes and Loram fully understands that while are allowed to process data.
rail grinders and 24-stone RGS technologies to advance the carloads, tonnage and passenger
specialty rail grinders are the key effectiveness and efficiency of our density continue to increase, track
to joint rail grinding success. As equipment. Loram’s continuous time is shrinking, and Loram’s line
these machines provide industry- improvement efforts help us offer
of rail grinders includes multiple
leading productivity and the most innovative and
efficiency, the RG400 is typically options that take into
productive equipment, ensuring
able to grind a single high-speed consideration these
safe, effective, and efficient
pass while the RGS is able to operation for our customers. circumstances by offering the
follow and complete any In addition to our rail grinding most innovative and most
additional mainline grinding and products, Loram maintains productive machines in the world
grind the specialty track assets. concentrated efforts in rail accompanied by Loram’s world-
Multiple railroads have grinding services. All equipment class rail grinding technologies,
incorporated joint rail grinding, and services needed to plan, processes and people. These
and they are seeing decreased perform, maintain, and measure
pass kilometer to track kilometer options allow railway customers
your entire rail grinding business
ratio and double the amount of are handled directly by Loram. to continue to extend rail life,
specialty track assets ground Loram’s extensive engineering improve the wheel and rail
annually. This model can be team of over 90 engineers ensures interaction, reduce defect rates,
directly applied to Loram C44 and that our equipment is designed to and reduce rail failure incidents.
RGI rail grinders for international
customers with reduced clearance
and axle weight requirements.
It takes a blend of high © Dennis van der Heijden under licence CC BY 2.0
34 35group companies for example. 4. Ensured your customer-facing who understands data
This contract review tends to be agreements, employment protection and can deal with
one of the biggest pieces of a contracts, policies etc. have queries as they arrive.
GDPR compliance programme. been updated and are
Any idea that GDPR is simply an IT compliant. 9. Ensured that all new projects
problem or an HR problem alone (including software, builds, use
is missing the bigger picture. 5. Considered deleting data that of third party suppliers, etc.)
IT does have an important part to cannot be cleansed to make it are built with “privacy in
play and it is essential that all compliant. design”. This needs to be
systems are compliant. It is also documented in the same way
essential that the legal agreements
6. Ensured staff have been that you would conduct a
with IT providers have been
trained. health and safety assessment.
reviewed and re-negotiated if
necessary to ensure they are now
7. Ensured that you have a breach The legal changes for GDPR are
GDPR-compliant.
policy (breaches need to be relatively straightforward; the
© Dennis van der Heijden under licence CC BY 2.0
The HR element is also significant. reported to the ICO within 72 ramifications for how businesses
Over 90% of data breaches are hours). It is essential that HR deal with data are not.
please call Ben Travers on
due to human error. You can have engenders a culture where
Any railway business that deals within the scope of that consent people feel comfortable Ben Travers is a partner and head 01392 210700 or email
the best IT systems in the world
with data relating to EU citizens is only. disclosing the breaches. of intellectual property and IT at
but still be breaching GDPR solicitors@stephens-scown.co.uk.
affected. From marketing to how
regulations if employees do not Stephens Scown LLP. If you have
you hold data on your employees, In order to be successful in For more information visit
have secure passwords. For this 8. Implemented a central point of any questions about your
the regulations have far-reaching complying with GDPR, you will
reason, training is very important. contact within the organisation business’s GDPR obligations, www.stephens-scown.co.uk
implications. In this article Ben have had to undertake a data
GDPR requires that staff are
Travers, Head of Intellectual mapping exercise by auditing your
trained on how data is used in a
Property and IT Legal Services data. You need to know where
compliant fashion. The GDPR also
at Stephens Scown explains data originates from, where the
requires that policies are updated
some of the key changes. consent for its processing is,
and that staff are trained on them.
where data is shared with third
Although most businesses will parties, how it is used, etc.
have heard about GDPR, there is a Knowing this will have allowed
Roadmap to GDPR
significant amount of confusion you to identify where work needs compliance
about what businesses need to to be done to clear up any For most organisations GDPR
change to comply. And there is a consents, change IT practices and compliance will have taken some
lot at stake. Fines for breaches will liaise with third party suppliers. time to achieve, there is no quick
be up to 20 million euros or 4 per While many businesses mistakenly fix. As a general roadmap
cent of the business’s annual believe that GDPR only relates to businesses will hopefully have
worldwide revenue. The marketing information, the actual taken the following steps:
legislation came into force on 25 remit is much broader. For
May 2018, so many businesses example, it dictates how you use 1. Conducted a data mapping
have been working hard to get employee data. If your business exercise – identified what you
their house in order in time. uses a third-party payroll own, where it sits, how it is
company, you must first make used, etc.
sure employees are aware and
The right mind-set secondly that the contracts with 2. Obtained consents where
The starting point must always be the payroll company are GDPR- they were needed and lacking.
to ensure you have the right compliant.
mind-set when dealing with data. 3. Reviewed agreements with
Although personal data (i.e. data This compliance of contracts third parties who have access
which identifies a living individual) needs to be replicated across all to data (such as marketing
might sit on your organisation’s third parties who receive data. For companies, email hosting
server that does not mean it is railway businesses this may companies, etc.), re-negotiated
your data. Instead, you use it with include marketing companies, these or find another supplier
the consent of the data subjects, website hosting companies and if appropriate.
36 37ICE Plant
Cologne-Nippes
– WINDHOFF
to Supply Key
Technology
The recently completed
ICE maintenance depot
in Cologne-Nippes was
opened with an official
ceremony.
This plant is the first climate-neutral maintenance plant in Europe.
According to Deutsche Bahn it will reduce carbon emissions by
1,000 tons and is operated without using any fossil fuels.
WINDHOFF Bahn- und Anlagentechnik GmbH was able to
demonstrate its various product solutions for DB’s requirements at
this new plant. Thus, the new ICE depot has been fitted with four
430-metre elevated rail tracks for the maintenance of the ICE fleet
with 68 rail bridges, wheelset drops, a turntable bogie drop pit for the
exchange of the bogies, a turntable and a traction cable installation
38 39You can also read
