S&T Cover
CANUTE ROAD TRACK CIRCUIT REINFORCEMENT
Project Description
The Southampton Eastern Docks Branch is a single bi-directional line which is used to access the Eastern Docks freight terminal from the Bournemouth Main Line. Due to it’s proximity to the sea it can suffer from rail-head contamination where rust forms on the rail head. Because of this, several track circuits suffer wrong side failures, showing clear when occupied by a train.
Our Role
Corlow Rail were appointed by S&T Cover at the request of the NR Wessex Project team, to investigate the ongoing train detection contamination issues affecting the Southampton Branch Docks Line, and to develop a robust engineering solution.
After assessing all options, it was determined that a treadle overlay solution provided the most effective means of mitigating the issue by reinforcing the existing track circuits. The proposed solution required the development of a novel wiring design to integrate the treadle functionality with the existing track circuits. The resulting train detection arrangement operates sequentially, such that occupation of the next track section is positively proved before the current track section is permitted to clear, thereby preventing false track clearance under contaminated conditions.
Two new location cases were designed to
accommodate the new equipment
Outcome
Successful commissioning
Zero test logs raised
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