Churnet Valley Heritage Railway | UK
train-detectionUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Churnet Valley Heritage Railway

Operator
Churnet Valley Railway PLC
Country
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Partner
Frauscher UK & Ireland
Segment
Urban
Application
Track Vacancy Detection
Products
FAdC®, RSR123
Year
2016
Scope of project
Re-signalling to depot area

The Churnet Valley Heritage Railway preserves England's rich heritage of steam-powered rail transport. As the heritage railway pursued further expansion, the operator sought to implement modern and efficient signalling solutions for track vacancy detection. By integrating cutting-edge axle counting technology in the form of the Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdC®, the operator was able to increase the safety, availability and reliability of the railway operations. This modernisation effort was part of a broader strategy to preserve the railway's historic charm while embracing contemporary advancements to meet current and future demands.

Churnet Valley Heritage Railway offers a nostalgic steam train ride through time, embracing the rich railway history of the Moorlands. Led by a team of volunteers, Churnet Valley aims to preserve steam-powered rail transport. The railway is operated and maintained by a dedicated team of volunteers who share a common passion for preserving the legacy of this historical line and their efforts ensure that the significance and charm of these vintage trains are not only maintained but also celebrated.

As Churnet Valley embarked on a journey of expansion, a need arose to explore modern, efficient solutions for their upcoming project at Leekbrook junction and Cheddleton. The Churnet Valley Heritage volunteers approached the Frauscher UK & Ireland team for solutions to meet their operational need for train detection and seamless data integration to their Programmable Logic Controller (PLC).

Seamless Integration

Multiple secure outputs from FAdC® were seamlessly integrated with the current PLC system.

Comprehensive Support

On-site assistance during set-up and follow-up communication post-commissioning.

Accommodation of Last Minute Requests

Team Frauscher accommodated last minute requests for multiple track section outputs, utilising the full modularity and flexibility of FAdC®.

Consequently, the Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdC®  alongside Frauscher Wheel Sensor RSR123 were used for the purposes of track vacancy detection, ensuring smooth, safe and efficient rail operations at all times.

The Frauscher UK & Ireland team had to mitigate unique challenges during installation. Utilising the modularity, scalability and flexibility of the FAdC®, the system was able to fulfil all the operational needs and requirements of the operator. Easy and efficient installation of the wheel sensors was ensured thanks to the patented Frauscher Railclaw which eradicated any drilling into the rail and reduced the dwell time of staff on the track.

Furthermore, our on-site assistance during set-up and follow-up communication post-commissioning ensured seamless integration of the FAdC® into larger systems, providing utmost customer satisfaction.

Similar Projects
This might also interest you
1/5
train-detectionUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Wherry Lines

The Wherry Lines are railway branch lines in East Anglia in the East of England, linking Norwich – Great Yarmouth – Lowestoft. The project aimed to integrate Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdC into two external systems to mitigate against a train passing a red signal without authority on approach to level crossings.
train-detectionIndia

Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (Rewari – Makarpura)

The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) represents one of the most strategically significant freight transportation projects in India. By facilitating the seamless transport of goods between major economic hubs, the intention is that the WDFC will significantly boost economic growth and development in the local region and beyond, further underlying the importance of this project.
train-detectionUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The Borders Railway Project

From Shawfair to Tweedbank, the Borders Railway rail route underwent significant renovations after 45 years of disconnect due to Beeching cuts. Our Frauscher UK & Ireland team were involved in providing innovative solutions for train detection for a section of the Borders Railway route.
train-detectionCanada

Toronto Transit Commission

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Line 1 Yonge-University is Toronto’s longest subway line, with track circuits utilized for signalling. Due to an increasing number of daily passengers and an aged system the need for upgrading without interfering with the daily operations became readily apparent. It was further required that the new signalling system functions independently of the existing system. It would provide CBTC fallback functionalities, and work as an overlay to the current track circuit-based system.
servicesAustria

Salzburger Lokalbahn

Frauscher supported the Salzburger Lokalbahn, a regional railway in Austria, with a service assignment that included both the maintenance of Frauscher wheel sensors and axle counters as well as hands-on training for the installation personnel. The customer benefited from efficient troubleshooting and tailored training delivered directly on their own equipment.