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Fourway offers comprehensive expertise across all recognised railway telecommunication systems.
In-house know-how covers all levels of technical understanding ensuring effective control of system engineering. Additionally, the company has the necessary experience and competence to apply the technology of each system in the context of the operational railway.
Client requirements are continuously monitored through controlled receipt and distribution of LUL standards and Railway Group standards.
Supply relationships are continuously developed with other organisations that offer technical specialisation or other relevant system expertise to complement those of Fourway. Knowledge and support is given freely to engender harmonious, well-managed relationships with suppliers and sub-contractors.
A range of systems is provided to suit above-ground or sub-surface railway sites, embracing compliance with BS5839 where required. System design typically encompasses:
- Health status and failure mode monitoring.
- System diversity, including stand-by amplification and power supply resilience.
- Integration with fire alarm systems.
- Emergency digital voice announcers in conjunction with train-mass detection systems or signalling circuitry.
- Remote broadcast facilities or long line. Provision of associated fibre or copper transmission infrastructure.
- Ambient noise sensing.
- Induction loop technology.
Staff digital voice announcers are provided with the latest software front-ends to meet the requirements of operating busy transport networks. These systems offer text to speech, and integration with customer information systems.
Speaker systems are provided to combine operational and aesthetic requirements. Performance criteria are assured by use of specialist acoustic consultants who undertake software modelling to provide predicted RASTI and sound pressure levels, and to recommend additional acoustic treatments.
CCTV systems are provided for surveillance of the travelling public. These can be as standalone projects or part of multi-system schemes.
The company has diverse knowledge of products in the rapidly moving CCTV industry, making selections that best meet the operational needs of clients - in particular, up-to-date technologies for digital video recording, remote camera monitoring, graphical user interface design and integrated station management systems.
System design is enhanced by a comprehensive understanding of crime on railways, crowd control, police evidential requirements and data protection legislation.
Fourway Communication has extensive experience implementing DOO CCTV schemes on the national railway network. Knowledge areas include:
- Profiling of train stock types, stop marks and platforms utilising CAD models.
- Optical design requirements, including image size and presentation to the train driver.
- Processes to assure signal sighting and platform clearances.
- Structural calculations.
- Design and construction of concrete bases and structural steel work.
- Metal work treatment and finishes to combat corrosion.
- Monitor screen technologies. Methods to combat glare and reflection.
- Train-mass detection systems to prolong monitor life.
- Methods to combat effect of sunlight.
- Earth design and relationship with electrification.
- Night and day time trials with test trains.
In addition, during implementation, the company has tried and tested procedures for:
- Ensuring the safety of the travelling public adjacent to heavy construction activity.
- Red and green zone working, and protection of site work force.
- Bringing new or modified systems into operational service whilst minimising the effect on passenger carrying trains.
The company has experience of providing similar systems for London Underground such as OPO or track-train CCTV.
Systems are provided for London Underground, including dedicated PABX and the specialised help point 'pill'. These systems are provided with the following features:
- GUI operation with touch screen technology.
- Integration with CCTV systems.
- System fault monitoring.
- Integration with fire alarm call points.
- Group control facilities.
- Call stacking and divert.
- Help point call recording.
Similar systems are provided for the national railway stations, which utilise the PSTN network. These are integrated with call management systems, which manage and log incoming calls, and provide the ability to make long line broadcasts via the station public address systems.
Fourway Communication has comprehensive experience implementing signal post telephone schemes both for London Underground and the national railway network. Expertise is offered in a broad range of areas, including complete system replacement, concentrator renewals and replacement of line side infrastructure. Areas of experience include:
- Remote or networked concentrators and PABXs.
- GUI design.
- Design, installation and testing of copper infrastructure.
- Work in signal boxes/panels and signalling control centres.
- Operational system changeover, and bringing new systems into service.
- DAT recorders.
- Line side SPT testing protocols.
- PETS.
Where new infrastructure is provided, the company undertakes cable route upgrade works, including new troughing routes, vegetation clearance, provision of under track crossings, new MDFs, Locs and REBs.
The company has a thorough understanding of SMTH and SWTH procedures, including the updating of signalling source records affected by SPT schemes. These areas of expertise are subcontracted to competent IRSE licensed signalling design houses.
Fourway offers experience in carrying out complex diversions of operational telecoms cables. Areas of expertise include:
- Circuit testing and tracing techniques.
- Jointing and terminating technology for copper cables.
- Fibre splicing, OTDR testing.
- Relocation of operational MDFs.
- Planning and implementing changeovers.
Projects of this nature can include cables of all types affecting a diverse range of systems locally and remotely. Many years of experience in the railway environment ensure Fourway testers have the relevant experience to plan and implement these projects.
Fourway offer the unique capability of design and building new TT systems. Expertise has developed through providing TT works over a considerable number of years:
- Knowledge of LUL and HMRI requirements. Principles of emergency traction current discharge systems.
- Knowledge of line controllers' operational procedures, such as nightly line clear, TT trips during traffic hours and communications with substation control rooms. For the substation control room this includes TT monitoring on SPARCS desks, and the use of override and inhibit functions.
- Design for integration with DC switchgear and substation control rooms. Field design for open wires, TT handsets, MICC invert cabling, substation feeds, etc.
- Knowledge of track clearance and structure gauging. Practices for measuring rail cant and curvature and the effect on car position and throw. Tunnel and permanent way profiling using CAD models. Design and construction of track structure gauges.
- Design and manufacture of TT brackets and fixings for of all types of tunnel wall construction (Victorian brick, NATM, SGI ring, pre-cast concrete ring, etc.)
- Working practices for trackside environment, TT Rooms, substations and line control rooms.
- Knowledge of traditional LT tunnel telephone systems (line normal and loop control) and modern systems provided on Central, Jubilee and ELL lines. These systems are understood to component level, with staff trained for faulting.
- Handling, jointing, terminating and tensioning tunnel telephone wire.
Fourway's experience extends to modifying operational systems. This is supported by knowledge of procedures for over and back testing, and taking systems in and out of service.
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Customer Information Systems |
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Customer information systems are provided to visually display train, platform and other customer information to the travelling public. Knowledge areas include:
- Positioning of monitors and information displayed. Design is enhanced by a full understanding of train timetabling, delays, cancellations and platforming. Station crowding and passenger flow are considered when positioning monitors.
- Sources of train timetable information, and function of train describers.
- Selection of software and hardware to process TRUST, TSDB and train describer data.
- Operator terminals to create messages and manually influence train information.
- Integration with local and long line public address systems, to provide concurrent message broadcasting.
- Modem selection and configuration.
- Procurement of competent signalling sub-contractors to undertake integration with signalling assets and subsequent update of source records.
- Display screen technology encompassing LCD, LED, TFT, plasma, CRT and backlit projected. This includes techniques to combat the effects of reflection, glare and high ambient light levels.
- Structural design and construction of brackets and posts to hang large arrays of monitors. This includes provision of associated civil site works.
- Working practises in operational signal boxes, relay rooms and signalling control centres.
In addition the company provides clock display systems, which can be integrated with the CIS or stand-alone. The systems include:
- Time code synchronisation by Rugby clock, GPS, etc.
- Aerial positioning and testing for receipt of Rugby time code signal.
- Provision of time code signal to update other systems (e.g. recording systems, CCTV, help point systems and station management systems, etc.)
VHF and UHF radio systems are provided for station or train operating staff. Systems are designed to ensure reliable transmission of messages in both above-ground and sub-surface environments. Key areas of expertise include:
- Leaky feeder installation in tunnel or trackside environments. In the confines of stations, installations combine both operational and aesthetic performance.
- Signal propagation design. Knowledge of radiating cable construction, aerials, splitters, connectors, amplifiers and the principles of signal attenuation.
- Theoretical field strength calculations.
- Utilising field strength measuring equipment.
- Selection of hand portable radios, base stations, signal combiners, etc.
Gauges are designed and manufactured for a wide range of clients installing equipment in tunnels to ensure minimum clearances with rolling stock are maintained. For the London Underground network, gauges are built to a high specification embracing LUL regulations for low flammability. A calibration service is offered for gauges built by the company.
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