Axle Counter Overlay System | UK
Train DetectionUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Axle Counter Overlay System

Operator
Network Rail
Country
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Partner
Siemens
Segment
Main & Regional Line
Application
Track Vacancy Detection
Products
FAdC®, RSR123
Year
2019
Scope of project
45 counting heads, 4 FAdC® location cases
Download

Between London St Pancras International Station and Farringdon Station, there is a history of frequent flooding through the tunnels that adversely affected the reliability of the existing train detection system. Due to this, the installation was non-operational during large periods. However, being a mainline section and a core route through London, high reciliation to any sort of failures is vital.

In 2019, Network Rail started to look at how to improve the overall reliability of the railway without removing the existing detection system. The main requirement was guaranteeing maximum availability considering the local conditions without interfering with the existing installation.

Due to its great reliability under such circumstances the Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdC® has been chosen as the most appropriate solution. The FAdC’s® modular design allowed for the establishment of a decentralised architecture, where four external location cases were installed between the two stations to host the axle counter’s indoor equipment. The system is supported by the Frauscher Wheel Sensor RSR123, which precisely tracks every train axle. The sensor is extremely resilient to water penetration and other environmental and external influences. Thanks to the IP68 rated housing, it even works reliably in case of floods.

Excellent match of requirements

The FAdC® units installed in location cases between the stations can communicate with one another via a vital Ethernet interface and also with the higher-ranking system using relay outputs. With overlay systems, the new track sections had to match the existing track section limits. Therefore, the system had a specific requirement to install the RSR123 within 0.5 m of the existing train detection system and within proximity of the neutral section to avoid any impact on the signalling controls.

Great resilience

The RSR123 is highly resilient against any interference or environmental influences.

Similar Projects
This might also interest you
1/5
Train Detection, ServicesIndia

Reliable train detection in waterlogging-prone Howrah Yard

Howrah Yard, located in West Bengal, is one of the busiest and most operationally critical railway yards in India. Frauscher delivered a reliable train detection solution for Howrah Yard, which ensured uninterrupted operations despite waterlogging, while reducing maintenance effort and improving availability.
Learn More
Train DetectionUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Bringing reliability to Britain’s island railway

Britian’s unique island railway line received a major upgrade with Frauscher's weather-resistant axle counting technology. Built to withstand harsh coastal conditions and DC third-rail environments, the Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdC® and Frauscher Wheel Sensor RSR123 system now serves 1.5 million passengers annually with enhanced reliability and minimal maintenance needs.
Learn More
ServicesUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Delivering Level 3 Training for Network Rail

As part of the C3R Cambridge Re-signalling Programme, Frauscher Academy delivered a Competency Level 3 training to equip Network Rail maintainers with advanced skills for the FAdC® system — ensuring compliance, operational resilience, and reliable railway performance.
Learn More
Train Detection, ServicesUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Cutting delays through data-driven maintenance

Frauscher has supported the Paddington project with the adoption of Frauscher Insights Diagnostics, a cloud-based monitoring solution that increases data usefulness and availability. By providing faster fault analysis and health messages, Frauscher Insights has helped Network Rail improve reliability, reduce downtime and delay minutes by up to 80%, and shift towards a proactive maintenance approach.
Learn More
Train DetectionIndia

Ensuring reliable rail operations across India´s longest rail-road bridge

The Bogibeel Bridge is India’s longest rail-road bridge that connects Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, carrying both rail and road traffic across the Brahmaputra River. Harsh environmental conditions and structural constraints made conventional signalling unworkable. The Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdC® axle counting system was selected for its proven reliability and low maintenance under these challenging conditions.
Learn More