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
Download

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-detectionDenmark

Renewal signalling FAdC® and RSR123

Banedanmark, the Danish railway infrastructure owner, started replacing the existing signalling system in the Eastern region of Denmark in 2009 to implement the newest proven signalling technology, based on standard industrial hardware components and redundant system configurations. Uniform system interfaces should reduce signalling failures to provide a better reliability and punctuality of the entire network. For this project, Frauscher delivered the Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdC® and the Frauscher Wheel Sensor RSR123.
Learn More
train-detectionChina

Beijing Metro Line 12

The Beijing Metro Line 12 is the first metro line that combines Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdC® and Railway Signal Safety Protocol Type I (RSSP-I). The line is currently under construction and expected to be put into operation at the end of 2024.
Learn More
train-detectionFrance

Extension Line D Tram Bordeaux

The Bordeaux tramway was the first French tram system equipped with a Frauscher axle counting system, benefitting from the innovative management methods like Counting Head Control.
Learn More
train-detectionChina

Tram Huangpu Line 1

Tram Huangpu Line 1 (HP1) line is located in urban areas with high traffic density and passenger volume as well as many level crossings. The adverse weather conditions can cause flooding of the track bed and add to the challenges for reliable system availability and operations.
Learn More
train-detectionUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Maintaining the past, creating the future

The Dean Forest Railway (DFR) operates a historical 7 km passenger service line running north from Lydney Junction to Parkend, in the Forest of Dean. Due to extensions of the line and an additional turnout being added at Parkend, an update and modernisation of the existing train detection and signalling system was necessary. Being a heritage railway, it requires high standards in terms of signalling and safety, whilst maintaining the historical touch of the line.
Learn More