24.07.07
Tube Lines’ double scoop at railway industry innovation awards
Tube Lines has recently won two awards for innovation. The company was the only double award-winner at The Railway Forum/ Modern Railways Railway Industry Innovation Awards 2007. Tube Lines’ current analyser, a handheld device which helps to identify faults in track current flow, won small scale innovation of the year and its inventor, Nick Healey, won innovator of the Year. Nick is a technical officer at Tube Lines.
Since assuming responsibility for maintaining and upgrading the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines at the start of 2003, innovation has been central to the way Tube Lines operates. Nick Healey’s handheld device illustrates this in practise. The invention measures various forms of current flowing through tracks. This will help identify faults which can cause signal failures and reduce passenger disruption on the three lines.
Currently, the signalling systems in use on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines rely on a circuit in the track closing when a train is on it, turning the relevant signal behind to red. Each section of track is separated by plastic insulators called block joints; however problems can occur when they fail or when metal filings caused by wear and tear of the rail and wheels bridge the plastic. If this happens, a current passes between the two track sections causing a signal failure. Such problems are often difficult to detect and recovery can be slow, causing severe delays to the travelling public.
The new analyser is able to detect what type of fault is occurring and also acts as a preventative measure to identify a signal delay before it occurs. Because the analyser shows how much current is flowing, it can help reveal if insulating block joints are beginning to break down so routine checks using the new device can help Tube Lines prevent problems. This improves maintenance and helps avoid disruption to passengers’ journeys.
This groundbreaking yet simple device can be used in any rail system that uses low current block joints and London Underground have recognised it as an appropriate method of testing. It is small, light and convenient for signals engineers to carry with them and enhances the safety of workers, because it does not need to be connected to any circuit protecting them from the risk of minor electrical shocks.
Lee Jones, Northern Line infrastructure manager said: ““When you’re working with the challenge of a system that’s over 100 years old, like ours, it becomes increasingly important to find new and innovative ways of doing things. That’s just what Nick did – from identifying and analysing an issue to developing a solution and getting the current analyser in use. I’m very proud that he is part of the Northern line team and that his achievements have been recognised by the wider industry.”
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