Gioconda has been awarded the contract to supply HD video and partial 3D VR software tools for phase 2 of the North West Electrification project.
Gioconda will start work on the project with immediate effect, with the section due for commissioning in 2014.
The work, formerly phases 2a and 2b of the four phase programme to electrify three rail lines in the Manchester, Liverpool and Blackpool triangle, will cover the sections from Edge Hill to Earlestown and Huyton Junction to Wigan Springs Branch Junction as well as parts of the original phase 1 and phase 4 work from Ordsall Lane to Manchester Victoria.
The £200m North West Electrification project will be funded from the £1.3 billion allocated by government for Network Rail’s network electrification programme.
Gioconda, which has been heavily involved with risk based signal sighting on the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme, EGIP, Thameslink and Cardiff, uses the dual 3D and HD technology to ensure signals are located in precisely the right position for maximum safety.
Gioconda director Simon Crittenden explained:
“With trains running at higher speeds and a minimum eight second viewing window accurate signal sighting is crucial to avoid potential disaster.
“Over many years of development we have transformed the process from an obtrusive manual operation to a desk-based solution, which is capable of being more accurate and visually correct. Not only are precisely positioned signals vital to ensure passenger safety but also the new high tech way of working removes the dangers inherent in sending teams to walk along the track.
“It is also more cost effective, accurate and time efficient and less disruptive to passenger travel timetables.”
The North West project, which will see lines electrified with 25 kV, 50 Hz AC line, includes the 24 km Huyton-Wigan line, the 40km Manchester-Euston Junction route and the 27 km Blackpool North-Preston route.
Simon Gardiner, Managing Director at Gioconda, will be speaking at the rail engineer’s Technical Seminar Sessions at Infrarail in May.
