22 February 2024
Cross-industry collaboration plays a crucial role in driving innovation and implementing state-of-the-art technology systems to improve the safety and reliability of the railway network.
A recent incident during Storm Isha highlighted the effectiveness of one such system developed by collaboration lead Transmission Dynamics. Their PANDAS-V® Overhead Line and Pantograph monitoring system installed on Angel Trains/West Midlands Trains unit 350130 demonstrated its ability to significantly enhance the safety and reliability of the railway network by recording a tree resting on the Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) and sending an automatic alert to Network Rail. Network Rail immediately despatched a response team to assess and remove the tree, ensuring the line remained safe for passengers and freight, minimising disruption.
PANDAS-V® is a state-of-the art multi-award winning system designed to detect and report Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) issues in real time. It utilises the combination of wireless accelerometers and advanced camera technology, supported by machine learning and artificial intelligence, for continuous monitoring of overhead line infrastructure. When an impact event is detected, the system sends an automatic email alert to the relevant staff, allowing them to take immediate action to resolve the issue. This solution, born out of a collaboration with various rail stakeholders, offers a proactive approach to identifying potential hazards and resolving them before they escalate.
This incident is one of many detected by this multi-award winning system and serves as a testament to the power of cross-industry collaboration in ensuring passenger safety and the reliability of railway services.