20.04.15
South West first operator to introduce new ‘Connected’ Driver Advisory System
South West Trains is to become the first train operator in the UK to introduce a groundbreaking ‘Connected’ Driver Advisory System.
While many operators have had DAS for some time, these systems work on stored data and a timetable pre-loaded at the start of each journey. The new GreenSpeed C-DAS will connect in real time to the railway around it and provide information based on what is actually happening.
South West Trains says the system collects real-time data from a huge range of sources to calculate the ideal speed of the train to help ensure it arrives exactly on time. It also has the potential to reduce the impact on the environment by lowering energy consumption as well as allowing more frequent trains to be run on the network.
The operator plans to introduce 249 of the new systems in total, across its fleet of 158/9, 458, 444 and 450 trains. The full breakdown is:
- Class 158 - 11
- Class 159/0 - 22
- Class 159/1 - 8
- Class 444 - 45
- Class 450/0 - 99
- Class 450/5 - 28
- Class 458 - 36
Installation is due to start next month and the first pilot starts on the West of England lines in the autumn. Fleet deployment will take place gradually, as drivers are trained and train installations are completed.
The contract to introduce the technology was awarded to a consortium comprised of ESG and engineering company Cubris. The work is due to be completed and all systems fully operational by 2016.
Christian Roth, engineering director for South West Trains, said: “We are constantly working to find ways to improve the service we offer to our passengers. We are investing millions of pounds right across the network to provide extra space, refurbish and improve our trains as well as upgrading our infrastructure to ensure more of our trains run on time.
“The introduction of this ground breaking technology is part of that ongoing commitment and is a major step forward towards improving one of Europe’s busiest networks.”
The system is already being used in Denmark but this is the first time it will be introduced in the UK.
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