Background
The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is a multi-billion-pound programme transforming the main line between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York. Once complete, it will deliver faster journeys and a fully electrified route to save over 87,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
Delivering this programme safely, on time and to a high standard is critical to improving the overall service passengers depend on. To help achieve this, TRU Central has been trialling Tended’s geofencing technology.
Solution
Beginning in Manchester, Tended’s technology was implemented across a range of use cases to enhance efficiency and reduce risk.
Working separated
Virtual boundaries were created around worksites and wearable geofencing devices provided alerts to workers when a boundary was crossed. This helps workers maintain a safe distance from hazards such as open lines.
Geotagging
When attached to plant and equipment, devices also provide a live location to the ES, providing real-time visibility of onsite movements. Alerts for unsafe activity, such as exiting the boundaries of the worksite, also allow the ES to intervene quickly, reducing the risk of incidents on site.
Results
Devices attached to plant, machines and trolleys gave the ES real-time visibility of all activity onsite
Dashboard alerts for unsafe activity such as plant and equipment leaving the safe boundaries of the worksite allowed for quicker ES intervention, reducing the risk of incidents
Devices attached to protection equipment helped mitigate irregularities due to alerts indicating where boards need to places
The ES could also check the live location of protection equipment on the Dashboard to verify correct placement
Wearable devices provided workers with alerts if they strayed too close to open lines when working separated, notifying them to move back to safety
Devices also alerted teams if they tried to enter the access point too early, for example before a possession had been taken
Enhanced situational awareness for teams helped reduce the risk of near misses and incidents involving workers and moving trains
The success of this pilot lays the foundations for further applications of Tended’s system across TRU
“Tended allows us to see easily where machines and work parties are on track. The line of route we cover is quite significant and this provides a visual aid to the Engineering Supervisor to understand where people are during the course of the possession. As part of TRU’s 11 billion pound programme to deliver upgrades, this helps ensure we protect our staff.”
Rachel Thomas, Project Director, TRU Central