Redhill Platform 3 Indicators Replacement

The challenge

Providing both station staff and train drivers with essential visual information, the platform indicators on Redhill station’s platform 3 are situated at each end of the platform for both T484 (for movements towards London), and T485 signals (for movements from the Down Loop towards either Earlswood, Tonbridge or Reigate). Another main line signal, T487, stands to the right of, and parallel to T485 for movements along the Down Main towards either Earlswood or Tonbridge.

Installed in the 1980s and having outlived their useful life, the mid-platform 3 indicators for both T485 and T484 were found to be below current expectations (readability of only 65m with category 5 performance) and in need of replacement.

Following concerns having been raised by station staff, Amaro was instructed to replace end-of-life platform indicators on platform 3 of the station, all of which were found to be below current standards in terms of performance and readability.

The solution

Following an extremely competitive tender process, Amaro was appointed as principal contractor for these works, charged with the replacement and commissioning of the mid-platform 3 RA and OFF indicators, plus the necessary amendments to the interlocking to remove the functionality to clear the signals at both ends of the platform. As PC for this project, Amaro was also responsible for the provision of all engineering management staff (CEM and CRE), as well as the procurement and management of third-party design and bird control subcontractors.

Starting on site in September 2023, preliminary surveys were performed to assess all platform 3 assets, the canopy structure, cable tray/routes and controlling locations (including photography with applicable references and correlation records), before a trusted third-party contractor, Reznet, carried out the necessary design works.

With the design works complete, Amaro’s procurement team sourced new indicators and associated equipment, specifically:

• LED MARI – PA05/01362, 100m & CAT3
• 1 x double-sided, stackable unit for the ‘OFF’ (top unit)
• 1 x double-sided, stackable unit for the ‘UP’ or ‘DN’ (bottom unit)
• 1 x double-sided unit for the ‘RA’

… along with all associated cabling and consumables before our site team commenced the installation process.

Commissioned into use on the 19th March 2024, throughout the course of this project our team installed a whole host of new equipment, including a disconnection box, a significant quantity of 10-core cable (from the box to a location case), and a comprehensive tray work system providing dramatically improved cable organisation.

With the layout of the structure making it necessary to run cabling through an area accessible to roosting birds, a specialist third-party contractor (British Bird Control) was recruited to treat the existing bird netting with biocide, making it safe for our operatives to run out the cables between the disconnection box and the new indicators.

Glossary

• Up  – Towards London
• Dn  – Away from London
• CD  – Close Door
• RA  – Right Away / Right of Way
• OFF  – An indicator that displays the word ‘Off’ to indicate that the signal ahead is cleared prior to starting the train. This is usually associated with a platform starting signal.