Frauscher Sensor Technology has completed the divestiture to Wabtec Corporation.

Find Out More
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
RSR123, FAdC
Year
2019
Scope of project
45 counting heads, 4 FAdC location cases

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 DetectionGermany

Dillinger Hütte

A new ladder track was required to provide more parking tracks in the steel plant. At the same time, the layout of the dead end tracks were optimised and the efficiency of the whole depot improved by installing the Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdCi in combination with the wheel sensor RSR180. With the implementation of the Frauscher Diagnostic System FDS, the overall maintenance costs can be significantly reduced.
Train DetectionUnited States of America

Class 1 Grade Crossing Enhancement FAdC and RSR180

Frauscher was approached by a US Class 1 railroad regarding a grade crossing owned and operated by them, on a track crossing a public road. The operator’s main goal was to find a signaling solution that would seamlessly integrate with the current crossing controller and keep the crossing operational under challenging operational conditions. The Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdC and Wheel Sensor RSR180 were chosen as the ideal solution for this particular project.
Train DetectionUnited States of America

Frauscher Track Vacancy System FTVS Testing

During the initial development phase of the Frauscher Track Vacancy System FTVS, a number of pre-production units were released for real-world testing to examine their performance in typical yard environments. Consequently, several trials were conducted in the United States.
Train DetectionCanada

Edmonton Metro Line

The Edmonton Metro Line was experiencing significant issues with its newly installed Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system, which did not perform to the operator‘s expectations. The city was forced to run an incomplete schedule with reduced train speed and frequency which negatively affected commuters and the city of Edmonton in general. Finally in 2019, the operator decided to install a new system in cooperation with Frauscher.
Train DetectionFrance

Axle counting adds fail-safe control to laser diagnostics

When MERMEC set out to install a laser-based Wheel Profile Measurement System in close proximity to the Eurotunnel, they faced a critical challenge: how to avoid unintended laser exposure without compromising the system’s ability to inspect up to 200 trains per day. To meet these requirements, MERMEC partnered with Frauscher.