Staff at one of the highest capacity rail depots in the South East are being protected by the very latest advances in technology, thanks to Zonegreen rail safety solutions.
The Sheffield-based rail specialist has undertaken an extensive programme of updates to its Zonegreen Depot Personnel Protection System (DPPS) at Ashford Maintenance Depot in Kent.
Zonegreen has installed new RFID-controlled Road End Panels (REPs) on Ashford’s five single-ended maintenance roads protected by DPPS. This allows staff to apply individual protection and move vehicles in and out of the shed more efficiently. The REPs are linked to Network Rail-approved derailers that physically prevent trains from entering areas in which personnel are working, unless it is safe to do so.
The upgraded DPPS has also been linked to Zonegreen Depot Manager, intuitive SCADA software that provides a graphical overview of the system and displays the status of plant and equipment, providing full traceability. Additionally, it can be configured to authorise remote vehicle movements and fault diagnosis.
Zonegreen created a tight programme of works with Ashford’s operator, Southeastern, that saw installation and commissioning of the new equipment in just two weeks. One road was completed at a time, minimising disruption at the 24-hour facility.
Steve Bates, Zonegreen project engineer for the work, said: “We have enjoyed an excellent relationship with Southeastern since DPPS was first installed at Ashford in 2007 and we’re really pleased the team wanted to move forward with the latest iteration of our technology. The upgrades we have made will significantly expand the lifetime of the system and make it more user friendly. It will also enable additional staff to log on, increasing capacity without compromising the safety of personnel.”