Member Article

Network Rail invests in York Engineers’ Triangle to become largest rail operating centre in the UK

Network Rail is investing in the very latest technology to improve train performance at its new training and operating centre in the Engineers’ Triangle at York.

The rail operating centre will be the largest in the country, controlling signalling and operations along the east coast from London King’s Cross to the Scottish borders in a dedicated centre of excellence.

The benefits to the site are threefold according to the firm: improved reliability for normal services, improved capacity with new technology making the most of the existing network, and reduced operating costs for a more affordable railway with more passengers and a sustainable future for the network.

To support these potentials, Powertecnique has installed a new standby generator at the York site to minimise unplanned downtime or disruption to critical power.

Peter Chai-Tsai, sales and marketing director at Powertecnique, explains how the critical power specialist has helped to keep the site up and running: “There has been a huge nationwide upgrade on operating centres and the site in York will bring in signals from across the region through large central technologies.

“It is imperative that the site’s power is supported continuously to keep operations running as smoothly as possible.”

Powertecnique installed a 1,250kVA prime rated generator set, synchronising two different mains supplies with DeepSea 8000 series controllers with additional PLC control systems, and a G59 relay.

Chai-Tsai continues, “We worked alongside BAM Construction and consultants Ramboll to deliver the solution for the operating centre, before presenting the proposed solution to Network Rail.

“We invited the clients to witness-test the products at our factory, and once it was ready and had gained a Network Rail product acceptance trial certificate (which will be reviewed following six months of operation prior to issuing a full certificate), we transported the unit over to York for installation.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .