Wherry Lines | UK
Train DetectionUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Wherry Lines

Operator
Network Rail
Country
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Partner
Atkins
Segment
Main & Regional Line
Application
Track Vacancy Detection
Products
RSR123, FAdC
Protocols
Proprietary protocols
Year
2020

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. Both systems were required to be a SIL 1 level and have the ability to communicate with an ElectrologIXS Interlocking.

For the Wherry Line project, two systems were implemented to mitigate against a train passing a red signal without authority on approach to level crossings. The first system being a method of predicting the likelihood of a train passing a signal based on its speed, the second being a Fast Acting SPAD Trigger (FAST) in the event that a train does traverse past a signal showing a red aspect.

The customer preferred to use the Frauscher equipment that was already installed on site for another project, consisting of the Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdC and Wheel Sensor RSR123. This decision was made in favour of reducing lineside equipment while also reducing maintenance costs for the future.

As no data of previous speed measurement accuracy was available, Frauscher facilitated and undertook tests to determine the accuracy of the speed measurement at the speeds requested by the customer. Additionally, a formal SIL assessment was successfully undertaken by Atkins to achieve the required SIL 1 level for the system.

Lower maintenance costs

By using existing trackside equipment, no further installations were needed which reduces the required effort and costs for future maintenance.

Easy integration

The FAdC proved its flexibility and versatility as an optimal solution for this project: It offers the ability to communicate with the customer’s protocol and can be easily integrated into existing systems.

Similar Projects
This might also interest you
1/5
Train DetectionIndia

Ensuring reliable rail operations across India´s longest railroad bridge

The Bogibeel Bridge is India’s longest railroad 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 signaling impractical. The Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdC axle counting system was selected for its proven reliability and low maintenance requirements, even in challenging conditions.
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.
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

Tracking Trains in Houston

Houston MetroRail (METRO for short) is comprised of three light-rail lines covering 22 miles. Two-car, low-floor trainsets are powered by overhead catenary and operated on a mix of rail types, including embedded, grooved, concrete, and ballasted track. Harsh weather conditions such as extreme heat, humidity, and storms with heavy rains causing floods are typical for Houston. Combined with the variable track structure this caused significant malfunctions of the wheel sensors of METRO’s signalling system.
Train Detection, ServicesIndia

Sini - Chandil Railway Line

The Sini-Chandil railway line is a crucial rail connection located in the state of Jharkhand, which lies in the eastern coastal region of India. This railway line holds significant strategic importance for the entire region, and now incorporates Frauscher solutions, including the Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdC, Wheel Sensor RSR180 and the Frauscher Insights applications Diagnostics and Motion.