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SIGNALLING AND TELECOMS
East Midlands Control Centre (EMCC). relay units with Howells’ equivalent, Westronic Time Division Multiplex (TDM) with a Vaughan Harmon product and, on the N-W axis, replacing the original Style 63 point machines with High Performance Switch Systems (HPSS) under the Cross Country Route Modernisation programme. Also, filament bulb signal heads have been progressively replaced with the latest LED heads by the maintenance unit. The Signalling Condition Assessment tool (SICA) has confirmed that much of the external signalling is not life expired. Accordingly, the West lines from Derby, beyond the Sunny Hill loops, were re-controlled to a new Burton workstation within East Midlands Control Centre in 2015. The remote interlockings at Duffield and Ambergate, to the north of Derby, will be re-controlled to the Derby workstation at EMCC during days 44-79 of the partial closure. The existing TDM systems in Duffield and Ambergate will be replaced with Westronic 1024 TDM’s linking to the new Westcad workstation. In the resignalled area, the following equipment will be deployed: »» Frauscher: Digital axle counters utilising type
RSR123 wheel sensors; »» Cisco: IE2000 Ethernet switches and modems for the ring transmission circuits; »» Dorman: LED signals; »» Unipart: AWS, TPWS; »» SPX: In-bearer Clamplock point actuation systems with the new standard tubular adjustable stretcher bars; »» Progress Rail, Beeston: Switches and crossings; »» All-new 650V AC Power Supply Point (PSP) going north/west/south - double end-fed auto reconfigurable; »» Spondon MCB-CCTV: Completely replaced with an MCB-OD, together with a new road layout which will improve safety on the highway at this wide crossing. Mid-platform signals will not be provided, but all platforms will be bi-directional with permissive routes available. The existing four-aspect sequence from the South and West through Derby will be perpetuated and meshed into the existing three-aspect sequence north of Breadsall.
East Midlands Control Centre (EMCC) Now one of Network Rail’s Rail Operating Centres (ROC), EMCC has an increasing number of Siemens Controlguide Westcad workstations,
Rail Engineer | Issue 155 | September 2017
with Burton, Chesterfield, Erewash, Kettering, Leicester, Netherfield, Nottingham, Mansfield and Trent already in service, and Derby to be added next year. Automatic Route Setting (ARS) is expected to be added to the Derby workstation six to nine months later. The existing Westpac interlockings at Breadsall, Derby, Spondon and Melbourne Junction will be replaced with three new Siemens Trackguard Westlock interlockings. Whilst these traditionally communicate with object controllers via trackside interfaces (TIF), this project will use the new Trackguard Westrace Trackside System (WTS), which uses a Front End Processor (FEP) in place of each TIF. The FEPs will appear as virtual Trackside Function Modules (TFMs) to the interlocking and therefore
the FEPs will be limited in size to replicate a traditional TIF boundary. The FEPs will communicate with zone controllers using a secure Internet Protocol (IP) network utilising the Fixed Telecommunications Network (FTNx) and local optical fibre and copper Ethernet In addition a multi-service telecoms platform will be supplied by Keymile for general calls, and, of course, a GSM-R unit will be provided for communication with drivers. With planning well underway, the project team will be well prepared for their 79 days at Derby in 2018. Having personal involvement with the maintenance of Derby PSB in the 1970s, I’d like to thank former colleagues, and S&T staff past and present for keeping the systems in a safe and reliable condition for nearly fifty years. Specific thanks for their help with this article to Chris Hannah, project director; Peter Luniw, senior project manager; Kerry Arrowsmith, project manager; Ian Burgess, engineering manager and Toby Higgins, media relations manager - all Network Rail. Thanks also to Chris Potts, Siemens project director, for his input and assistance.
EMCC Mansfield Westcad workstation. Derby Central West CIP Zone Controller configuration.