SECURITY AND SAFETY
‘Anti-terrorist’ carriages under development
Kate Ashley reports on a project to protect rolling stock from terrorism. ‘B
last-resistant’ carriages have been developed by researchers at Newcastle
University, with the aim of reducing the threat and devastation of potential terrorist attacks.
The Secure Metro project team used EU funding to design new train and metro vehicles at the University’s NewRail research centre, led by Conor O’Neill.
scale test explosion. The test was filmed and footage was then slowed down to examine the progression of the blast wave and how interior furnishings reacted to the blast force.
Key modifications include tethering down heavy equipment using retention wire, plastic coatings on windows and replacing heavier structures with lighter and energy-absorbing materials.
The new technology has been developed with the aim of incorporating it into European and national standards and regulations.
The team focused on containing the impact of a blast and reducing debris. They analysed carriages involved in the London Underground bombings and completed a controlled full-
O’Neill, based in the School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering at Newcastle University, explained: “Completely replacing existing vehicles just isn’t an option.
“Instead, we have developed and incorporated new technology and materials into existing
carriages to improve performance. “Preventing flying objects is the key.
“The window coating we developed was also incredibly effective. Without it the windows are blown outwards – putting anyone outside, such as those standing on a platform, at risk from flying glass.
“A bomb on a train is always going to be devastating but what we are trying to do is find a way in which the vehicle itself can help to mitigate the impact of an attack.
“These are all low-cost, simple solutions that can be put on existing trains which could not only save lives but also reduce the attractiveness of our railways for potential terrorist attacks.”
www.ncl.ac.uk/newrail FOR MORE INFORMATION
Shunter safety: the industry’s hidden concern
According to a recent study carried out by the RSSB, shunter safety still remains a serious concern across the board in the UK rail industry, argues Christian Fletcher, technical director at Zonegreen.
T
here is no doubt that the rail industry is a potentially dangerous place to work.
After all, there are not many industries that expect employees to deal with high voltage electricity, speeding vehicles, powerful machinery and thousands of members of the public on a daily basis.
Because of the obvious dangers, the industry as a whole is very aware of the need for the implementation of highly-tuned systems in order to guarantee the safety of both the public and those employed to keep the UK’s rail infrastructure on track. However, despite this, there are still areas of the industry that remain a dangerous place to work.
Risk and effect
Shunters are very much ‘on the ground’ and working in the thick of the action, and the RSSB’s report showed that the rates of shunter fatalities and RIDDOR-reportable injuries suggest a significantly higher level of risk than other workforce groups. According to the study,
42 | rail technology magazine Feb/Mar 13
the average FOC shunter loses 0.7 working days a year as a result of injuries sustained whilst at work, whilst on average a TOC shunter reported to lose around 0.2 days.
Fatalities are also a huge concern. Between 1998 and 2008 there were four reported shunter fatalities, all involving FOC shunters who lost their lives whilst working on the ground.
Solving the problem
One of the simplest ways to improve safety is to remove individuals from situations that have proved to be the most dangerous. Recent advances in technology now offer the opportunity to reduce the dangers faced by shunters, with the implementation of systems such as Zonegreen’s Points Convertor.
The system has been designed to increase railway depot and sidings safety and efficiency, and allows the automation and remote operation of manual/hand point/switches and rail road crossings. It can be controlled by an operator from a remote location using
a portable or cab-mounted device, removing the need for an individual to have to negotiate difficult terrain, rails or other potential hazards, thus minimising the risk of slips, trips and falls. Such a system allows the shunter to operate the points from a safe distance, thus reducing risk and lowering the accident rate.
Understanding the human factor behind accidents can help the industry as a whole go some way to understanding incidents and implementing new products and guidelines to ensure that the same situation needn’t happen again.
Technology such as the Points Convertor from Zonegreen has been developed with the needs of a fast-paced, developing industry in mind and it is clear that in order to maintain the safety standards that the UK rail industry is proud to uphold, action needs to be taken.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
T: +44 (0)114 230 0822 E:
info@zonegreen.co.uk W:
www.zonegreen.co.uk
© Newcastle University/PA Wire
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