Client

Network Rail (UK railway operator)

System integrator

TEW Plus Ltd.www.tewplus.co.uk

Product used

Customised REDSCAN RLS-3060SH

The site

More than 60 railway level crossings in the UK but the solution is to be rolled out to more than 400 level crossings from Scotland to the South Coast until 2020.

The level crossings are owned and managed by Network Rail. Network Rail (previously Railtrack) is the owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in England, Scotland and Wales. In 2014, it became a central government body.

The challenge

Network Rail wanted to enhance the safety of its level crossings by adding a complementary obstacle detector working alongside RADAR and CCTV surveillance equipment. While the RADAR system is used to detect vehicles or large objects that can cause damage to the train and endanger the safety of its passengers, the LIDAR system is designed to protect pedestrians or cyclists who could be trapped between the barriers.

The main challenge was to design a system sensitive enough to detect a nine year-old child standing, laying upon or crossing the track. The second one was to pass the stringent Network Rail approval.

The solution

The solution was to design a fully automated detection system based on the OPTEX Redscan laser technology and integrate it with the railway signalling system. The latter tells the LIDAR system when the Level Crossing is active, and the detection system scans the crossing area within the barriers accordingly. If the crossing is clear, the signal turns green and the train can go through safely. If an object is detected, then the barriers are raised to enable that object (a vehicle or pedestrian) to leave the area before allowing the train to pass. If the object is static and the system has gone through three cycles, a message can be sent to the train driver to proceed with caution at no more than 5 mph to determine what it is obstructing the track.

Specific algorithms have also been developed to analyse particular environmental obstacles such as snow building up on the track or weeds growing up in front of the scanner.

OPTEX (EUROPE) LIMITED – EMEA HEADQUARTERS | www.optex-europe.com

Marandaz House, 1 Cordwallis Park, Clivemont Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 7BU, United Kingdom

European /UK office Tel: +44 (0)1628 631 000 | Email: marketing@optex-europe.com

OBSTACLE DETECTION TO INCREASE SAFETY AT RAILWAY CROSSINGS

Designed to protect pedestrians or cyclists who could be

trapped between the barriers

P35710_Optex_CS_Red_TewPlus_Jun15_297x210_v8.indd 1 29/06/2015 16:14