Baldwin & Francis (B&F) has recently supported a major subway modernisation programme in Scotland, providing Distribution Power Supply Unit (PSU) sub-systems and other equipment for the Operations Control Centre (OCC) and 15 Station Equipment Rooms (SER). The project involved a brand-new concept for B&F.
The subway, which carries millions of passengers each year, is one of the oldest subway systems in the world. This brownfield project has seen a complete transformation including the provision of a brand-new integrated system with new rolling stock, depot equipment, construction works and fixed equipment.
The subway’s signalling equipment, control systems and control centre were all replaced and improved. Working closely with the main contractors, Baldwin and Francis supported the project with exceptional lead times for electrical equipment manufacture, installation and commissioning to fit with the project’s timescale.
Upgrade for subway’s 15 signalling equipment rooms
The programme included the modernisation of 15 subway stations including two city centre flagship stations, all of which had an upgrade to the Signalling Equipment Rooms (SER). In each SER, B&F supplied and installed a 1kV RMU (Ring Main Unit), 400V switchboard panel, 48V DC PSU cabinet and a 400V Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS).
The B&F solution provides optimum efficiency and ensures maximum reliability of the subway system.
Upgrade for subway’s Operations Control Room
The Operations Control Centre (OCC) for the subway system was also upgraded with B&F supplying a 6.6kV/11kV transformer feeder panel including a 400V Non-Maintained switchboard panel, 400V ATS Changeover panel, 400V maintained switchboard panel and 400V essential panel board panel. The project also featured a 24V DC PSU cabinet, 48V/50V DC PSU cabinet and a 1kV RMU and ensures the subway systems “hub” operates reliably and efficiently.
Brand-new concept for B&F
Despite B&F’s extensive experience in the rail sector, this project involved significant design work and the manufacture of a brand-new concept, never previously produced by B&F. Working collectively as a team and utilising years of expertise and knowledge in the rail sector, a concept was created, engineered, and successfully manufactured at B&F Headquarters in Sheffield, UK.
B&F provided the essential facilities to complete the work including a test facility for product validation. The installation and commissioning work was carried out on the 16 sites by B&F’s fully trained and certified inhouse installation team throughout 2020. B&F’s rail trackside service team has full PTS / OLEC / DCCR / CII qualifications to allow full support of any rail trackside service activities through the life of the equipment.
About Baldwin and Francis
Baldwin & Francis is part of the iDESo Group, headquartered in Sheffield, the iDESo group are the leading specialist in the manufacture of electrical switchgear and provide intelligent distributed energy solutions across the globe.
