Selhurst Depot REB Renewal

The challenge

Whilst playing a critical role in ensuring the safe and smooth passage of trains, the existing SD5 REB at Selhurst was found to contain a large quantity of outdated and life-expired category 4 wiring with potentially hazardous cracking in the insulation having been caused by a long period of drying out. Although the REB was currently still fully operational, the damaged insulation posed an ever-present risk to the integrity of the signalling system, creating the potential for short circuits, signalling failures, and thus a severe risk to rail users, passenger service and safety.

The solution

The result of a competitive tender process, Amaro was contracted to carry out the replacement of the REB, including all correlation, design (subcontracted to a third-party design specialist), procurement, installation and commissioning works.

Contracted for early engagement purposes in June 2023, the initial design contract was awarded two months later, with the full design contracts being awarded in April 2024, included test desk design, power design, and the design of both the commissioning stage and recoveries.

Despite works on site only commencing in May 2024, to date extremely good progress has been made at Selhurst, including most notably:

• A new foundation being laid followed by the installation of a prefabricated REB and power cubicle, domestically powered up (including lighting, air conditioning and power sockets etc.) and tested.
• The running of a new power link through the depot to the main supply which will, at the time of commissioning, power the entire REB.
• The in-house design and prefabrication of a complex and bespoke test desk, signaller’s test operation panel console, and signaller’s test indication panel. Thanks to this, our operatives will be able to pre-test the signalling system, fully evaluating the interlocking well in advance, and derisking the entire commissioning phase in the process.
• The running of interlinking cables from the legacy room into the new REB. In due course, our team will be linking the two rooms together so that the existing trackside infrastructure can continue to operate via the old room, albeit without the risk posed by wiring degradation. Thanks to the addition of an interface cable, over the coming years the client will be able to safely carry out staged replacements of all end-of-life lineside cabling without the risk of signalling failures.
• The construction of an interface panel within the legacy REB, helping to derisk and reduce disruption by eliminating the need for a significant shutdown (not possible for operational reasons).

A comprehensive programme of function and principles testing has been implemented, with all testing being carried out alongside our installation works to guarantee that, come commissioning, the room will operate as designed, and as per Network Rail standards.

Works are still ongoing with final commissioning expected in Week 20. This case study will be updated once the project has been completed.

An award-winning project

Whilst still only two months into the installation stage, our work at Selhurst has already been recognised by the client on a national stage, having been awarded Network Rail’s ‘Construction Route to Gold’ award on no less than five separate occasions.