COLLABORATIVE WORKING
Putting rail safety on the radar E
Ian Hind, AGD commercial director, discusses radar detection systems’ impact on railway safety.
fforts to improve safety on the rail network and in particular at level crossings have
intensified in recent years. Since 2010, Network Rail has spent over £130m on measures to improve overall rail safety. Despite this, the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) reports that there were nine deaths on Great Britain’s mainline railway in 2012/13 (four pedestrian fatalities and five road vehicle occupant fatalities) as well as 10 collisions between trains and road vehicles on level crossings.
Amidst increased media attention about safety on level crossings, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has increased funding for level crossings by £32m to a total of £109m.
Introducing intelligent radar
Measures to improve level crossing safety are being introduced across the country. These include power-operated gates and electronic warning systems; but there is also a concerted move towards optimising new, innovative technology which includes trialling intelligent radar detection technology to help host rail systems develop failsafe ways to improve safety on the national network. The UK is currently behind several European countries already using radar technology to detect the presence of objects on tracks using radio waves.
Intelligent radar detection technology essentially introduces an effective, fully automated obstacle detection system, scanning the level crossing and confirming the crossing is clear of obstacles, such as road vehicles and pedestrians, when a train is approaching. A warning is sent to the train via a wireless communications link in the event of an obstacle in the way being detected, in order to alert the driver to apply the brakes.
AGD Systems, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of intelligent radar detection systems with over 20 years’ experience in the strategic detection of traffic and pedestrians, is currently working with rail industry partners to incorporate bespoke intelligent radar detection systems into host rail systems and is about to commence trials of the new equipment on specific sections of the rail network.
AGD’s ‘335’ intelligent radar detection system 34 | rail technology magazine Apr/May 14
is a compact, low power, frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) digital radar operating in the 24GHz K-Band. It can detect trains at anything up from 10kph to 160kph (100mph) and has the capability to detect even higher speed trains, potentially up to 140mph.
With a detection range of up to 140m, the radar offers rail operators the flexibility to adjust the position at which trains are detected in relation to the radar. This low power solution is available for the more remote locations on the rail network where there is limited or no access to power, with current trials using a power rating of just 120mW. There is also potential in the future for intelligent radars to be developed with even lower power requirements, ideal for solar powered rail installations.
The radar technology is quick and easy to deploy with optimal operation guaranteed using the existing pole-mounted, trackside infrastructure on the rail network.
AGD is committed to designing and developing custom-built test and simulation equipment for all its intelligent radar detection systems giving customers confidence of right first time performance from the radar. Once deployed on the network, the radar has a useful ‘heartbeat message’, which is sent to the host system at regular intervals to provide reassurance that the radar is still fully operational in the absence of train targets.
AGD’s intelligent radar is currently being deployed to detect approaching trains but the latest ‘318’ FMCW radar can be deployed if rail operators want to introduce a bi-directional capability in the future.
Rail applications
There are many different applications for intelligent radar
detection technology on
the rail network. In fact, wherever there is a requirement to detect a train on the network, intelligent radar can be effectively deployed to capture critical data about its location, speed and range.
Some examples include the detection of obstacles at level crossings as well as the detection of trains on the approach to level
It’s clear that safety is a priority for rail network operators and it is very encouraging that there is now an increased interest in investigating new, groundbreaking technology, such as intelligent radar, to improve safety levels and to ensure the UK does not continue to lag behind Europe and the rest of the world when it comes to using the latest technological solutions.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.agd-systems.com
crossings to warn road users in good time before the train arrives. Another application is to facilitate safe crossing for pedestrians in rural, remote sections of the network.
It is also useful for operators to know exactly where trains are on the network - beneficial when there are incidents on the line and to assist passengers with real-time, accurate travel information.
In addition, intelligent radar detection can help alert station staff and warn passengers when trains are approaching stations or to implement dynamic platform lighting control as trains reach the platforms. These are just a few examples of applications for radar on the rail network – there is no ‘one size fits all’.
The advantage of using radar technology is the flexibility in deployment – bespoke solutions are available for a wide range of specific rail requirements.
The deployment of intelligent radar detection technology in host rail systems on the network represents a major step change in the UK, introducing fail-safe, reliable automated systems using the most advanced radar technology available. Radar trials are taking place at pilot sites on the network and we eagerly await the outcome of these live trials.
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