Redcar Station Signal Sighting Project For Proposed Scaffold Arrangement
The team at True North Rail using their Truesight™ platform worked with North South Rail in order to provide a Signal Sighting Assessment report to assess the impact of a proposed scaffolding arrangment at Redcar Station.
TrueSight™ PROJECT
Overview
Conservation works totalling £6m to transform Redcar Central from an empty building into a more welcoming gateway to the town began in May 24. The project was funded by the government’s Levelling Up Partnership Fund, Welcome to Redcar and Cleveland fund administered via Tees Valley Combined Authority, and the Railway Heritage Trust.
Signal Sighting Assessment
During Station renovation works the team at TNR were called upon to assist North South Rail with a comprehensive Signal Sighting Assessment report in order to assess the impact of a proposed scaffold arrangement which was to be erected around the Redcar Station building adjacent to the Down Main Line (Platform 2).
The signals subject to our Signal Sighting Assessment report whilst using our Truesight™ (VR) technology was Down Main Line Down R228, and Down Main Line Up R224. The proposed scaffold was required in order to allow for work to take place on the roof of the station building.
Our Role
As well as using our Truesight™ (VR) platform the following documents were also used to carry out this Signal Sighting Assessment report:
Network Rail Eastern Line Diagrams, Middlesbrough: Version 2.5 Aug 23
Network Rail Signalling Plan – Redcar SB 4010H-A3, Version AU1
Proposed scaffold layout cantilevered access platform Redcar Station Drawings ISS-12363-1-DRG-1 A 4.4010H-BO-R228 Signal Sighting Form
Network Rail Sectional Appendix LN632-004-LN8
AIVR & VR Modelling
Our team conducted a desktop review using both Automated Intelligent Video Review (AIVR) train cab video footage and Virtual Reality (VR) modelling. Using the tools of our Truesight™ platform we were able to identify the following:
R224 – No lineside signage was identified as being affected by the temporary scaffold.
The approach to R228 was found to be compliant to the distance documented on R228 SSF. In addition, the AvRD of R228 was found to be 270m unobscured with Platform 1 occupied, and 370m unobscured if Platform 1 is not occupied.
Leveraging TrueSight™
We were also able to identify:
That the proposed temporary scaffold would not obscure the readability of R228 & R224. However, works taking place on the building may act as a distraction to train drivers. It was therefore recommended that Network Rail & Train Operating companies issue notification of the works to train drivers to mitigate any risk.
Project Success
It was also recommended that Network Rail should assess the possibility of sunlight reflection from the scaffold and any possible impact of this on train drivers in both the Up and Down directions.