Actom completes Pietermaritzburg signalling contract

February 2012 News

Actom Signalling recently completed a R75-million signalling upgrade contract for Transnet Freight Rail on the main line between Johannesburg and Durban, vandalism prevention was a primary focus. The contract formed part of the upgrade of the Natal Corridor, one of the key transport corridors being developed to improve freight traffic around the country.

The project incorporated six stations between Cato Ridge and Pietermaritzburg and comprised:

* Replacing all signalling cables.

* Installing cable terminations in new apparatus.

* Replacing all track circuits with axle counters between stations and in station areas, including installing the axle-counter inside equipment in dust proof ventilated cabinets.

* Replacing the existing S1 remote control systems in each station with CS90 rack mount units.

* Installing failsafe data transmission (FSDT).

* Modifying the block units to maintain compatibility with the FSDT equipment.

The cable was vandal proofed by being placed 8 metres underground and covered with concrete. All the old standard apparatus cases were replaced with precast concrete cases and axle-counters were placed in cubicles instead of on open racks. Transnet project manager, Dave Kisch, commented: “The project ran smoothly and Actom is to be congratulated on an exceptionally good safety record of almost a quarter of a million incident-free hours.”

For more information contact Peter Colborne, Actom Signalling, +27 (0)11 871 6600, [email protected], www.actom.co.za

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