Sheffield rail safety expert’s flagship system integrated into £70M Newcastle depot
Sheffield-based rail safety experts, Zonegreen, have been chosen to enhance worker safety at the cutting-edge Gosforth Metro maintenance facility in Newcastle.
Zonegreen’s flagship Depot Personnel Protection System (DPPS) has been successfully integrated into the new £70 million depot, which opened its doors earlier this year in Gosforth.
In collaboration with the primary contractor, Volker Fitzpatrick, Zonegreen has implemented the DPPS across four tracks within the main shed and the wheel lathe road in the expansive 12-acre facility. This technology ensures the physical safety of trackside personnel through powered derailers, controlled by road end panels, establishing secure working zones.
Moreover, the DPPS seamlessly interfaces with Gosforth’s signalling system, permitting vehicle movements only when it is entirely safe, streamlining train routing in and out of the depot, and eliminating time-consuming stop-starts.
This system is intricately interconnected with various third-party equipment, including high-level gantries, cranes, wheel lathes and jacks, safeguarding against damage and protecting staff from potential injuries.
Christian Fletcher, Zonegreen’s head of engineering, commented: “We have a longstanding relationship with Volker Fitzpatrick, having worked together for many years on notable projects such as the Intercity Express depots and it has been a pleasure to carry out this latest installation. Gosforth is now a world-class facility that will not only transform how trains are maintained but thanks to our tried and tested technology, will also be a sector leader in the creation of a safe, modern working environment.”
The £70 million redevelopment project in Gosforth is in full swing, gearing up for the arrival of 46 new Stadler trains, scheduled to commence service on the Nexus Tyne and Wear Metro later this autumn. Zonegreen’s participation in this venture builds on its successful installation of the Depot Personnel Protection System (DPPS) at the Nexus South Shields depot, where it has been safeguarding staff since 2020.
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