Modern rail depots rely on increasingly integrated safety and control systems. As these systems become more sophisticated, providing operators and depot personnel with clear, intuitive access to information and controls is increasingly important.
Touch-screen interfaces can provide a flexible way of bringing system information, personnel identification, warnings and communications together at key locations throughout a depot.
FirstClass Safety & Control can incorporate multi-functional touch-screen terminals within its Depot Protection and Depot Control Systems, configured around the operational requirements of the individual facility.
Clear Information at the Point of Use
A touch-screen terminal provides more than simply an alternative to conventional push buttons and indicators.
An intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) can provide personnel with clear information about the status of the system and the area in which they are working.
Depending on the application, information displayed can include:
- Road or area status
- Vehicle movement restrictions
- Access permissions
- Personnel log-on and log-off
- PPE requirements
- Safety warnings and instructions
- Card or authorisation status
- Training or competency notifications
- General operational information
Presenting this information directly at the point of use can help personnel understand the current status of the depot and the controls affecting their work.
Personnel Identification and Access
Touch-screen terminals can be integrated with personnel identification technologies, including RFID card readers and, where required, PIN or biometric authentication.
Within a Depot Protection System, personnel can use terminals to log on and off individual roads or protected areas.
This provides the wider control system with information about personnel presence and enables that information to form part of the interlocking logic controlling vehicle movements and other depot activities.
Different access permissions can also be configured according to the requirements of the application.
Integrated Communications
Terminals can incorporate Voice over IP (VoIP) communications, allowing personnel to communicate directly with supervisors or other designated operators.
Built-in microphones and speakers can provide two-way communication without requiring a separate intercom installation at the same location.
Audible prompts can also complement information displayed on screen, providing an additional means of communicating warnings or instructions.
Designed for the Depot Environment
Equipment installed within a rail depot needs to withstand the demands of an operational environment.
Touch-screen terminals can incorporate hardened, anti-glare displays suitable for indoor or outdoor use, with appropriate environmental protection for the intended installation.
Features such as motion detection can activate the display when personnel approach, helping reduce unnecessary power consumption while ensuring information is immediately available when required.
Part of a Wider Safety and Control Solution
The greatest benefit comes when the interface forms part of an integrated depot-wide system.
FirstClass Safety & Control designs systems capable of bringing together personnel protection, vehicle movements, points control, warnings and interlocking with other depot plant and equipment.
Interfaces can be provided with equipment including lifting jacks, bogie drops, train washes, underfloor wheel lathes, doors, fuelling facilities, ventilation, shore supplies and OLE isolation systems.
Touch-screen technology can therefore provide personnel with a clear window into a much wider safety and control architecture.
New, Existing and Legacy Systems
Modernising the user interface does not necessarily mean replacing an entire depot system.
FirstClass Safety & Control can upgrade, modify and extend existing installations, including legacy and third-party systems. Where technically appropriate, newer interface and control technologies can be integrated with existing infrastructure to introduce additional functionality while retaining serviceable equipment.
This approach can be particularly valuable where depot requirements have evolved or individual components are becoming obsolete.
From individual interfaces and system modifications through to complete Depot Protection and Depot Control Systems, FirstClass Safety & Control can develop solutions around the operational requirements of each depot.