Systems integration specialist SELLA CONTROLS Limited is pleased to announce the contract award by Lowery Limited to supply its Tracklink® RTU products for the Kent RTU Renewal Program.
Lowery have been successfully delivering rail engineering projects since 1998 to Network Rail and the industry supply chain and have developed and innovative and cost effective approach to renewals.
Substation Remote Terminal Units (RTU) are critical to the operation of the electrified railway. Loss of availability of these assets can have major impact on the network and therefore replacing an RTU needs to be simple, effective and with a minimum amount of downtown. This requirement was critical to the solution offered.
The contract covers the complete design, engineering, build and factory testing of 50+ Tracklink® RTU including their connection to the traction power SCADA system at Paddock Wood and Lewisham ECR. Using the Network Rail accepted Tracklink® RTU solution, SELLA CONTROLS will be supplying a combination of full RTU renewals and an innovative retrofit solution. Installation and commissioning is to be completed by Lowery with support from SELLA CONTROLS.
The new RTU will be supplied in a range of generic builds to reduce the level of design duplication when implementing the project. In addition to this the innovative retrofit solution will allow the new RTU to be installed into the existing RTU housing. This design will retain the majority of the existing plant wiring reducing the installation effort and material. The overall impact is a reduction in substation downtown and renewal cost.
Central to the Tracklink® RTU solution is a COTS based PLC supplied by Mitsubishi Electric. The iQR Series PLC provides the RTU with its intelligence and control and consists of core processing (CPU), Communications and I/O Modules.
Chris Elliott, SELLA CONTROLS Business Development Director for Rail commented. “The Kent RTU Renewal Program is a critical infrastructure project for Network Rail. The award of this contract by Lowery Limited is a major milestone for Sella Controls and the development of the Tracklink® RTU.”
Elliott added further. “Lowery approached SELLA CONTROLS’ with an innovative solution for the project. They challenged the business to deliver a Tracklink® RTU design that would deliver on this approach and achieve Network Rail’s requirements. Having worked successfully together on projects for HS2 and Network Rail previously, this opportunity will further strengthen our working partnership with Lowery Limited.”
Lowery have a reputation for quality and service that goes back over 70 years. As a Principal Contractor, they undertake Signalling, Telecoms, HV, DC, LV electrical installations and civil engineering works of all types whilst continually responding to market changes and developments.
Daniel Burge, Lowery Ltd Company Director of Power & Track commented. “This is another great opportunity for Lowery and SELLA CONTROLS to show case our collaborative capabilities as a safe, effective and agile delivery supplier for our client Network Rail”.
