Keeping commuters on the move
Small and perfectly-formed power package
Non-stop power for busy trainline
Client:Network Rail
Location:Didcot, UK
The Challenge
Thames Valley Signalling Centre is on a busy mainline rail network that thousands of commuters and travellers rely on every day. It all hinges on having continuous power, so when Network Rail needed to take the centre off-grid to upgrade a breaker in their switchgear, they needed interim power - and they needed it fast.
Network Rail had a back-up generator but as it was linked to the switchgear that was being upgraded, it couldn’t be used. There wasn’t much room onsite either, so anything installed needed to be as space-efficient as possible.
The solution
Our power package provided both prime power and critical back-up to ensure the signalling centre was online at all times. We used two 800 kVA generators to share the site’s 500 kVA load – that meant there was always spare capacity to take up the whole load if one should happen to fail.
We also supplied all the fuel, and three tanks to contain it, so there was no risk we’d run out and interrupt service. And as space was limited on-site, we delivered the generators on a trailer and lifted them in place by crane. All done in four hours – so the site could come off the grid and we could take the load.
The impact
Thames Valley Signalling Centre controls a busy train line and it got the continuous power it needed to keep the wheels in motion. Lack of room on-site was no obstacle for us, as we had the equipment available to ensure we took up as little space as possible.