Image of a fast moving train moving quickly along the tracks

Network Rail East Coast Main Line

Preventing major disruptions on the East Coast Main Line with Bender UK advanced fault detection

The challenge

A critical insulation fault risk was identified on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) near York, and the core issue was a low resistance fault detected on Feeder 2 of the York South Feeder, posing a threat of power loss to key signalling systems.

This potential failure could have caused substantial operational and financial disruption, including major train delays and cascading effects across the national rail network. The key driver was to identify and eliminate insulation faults proactively to prevent unplanned outages and support uninterrupted signalling operations, and the total estimated financial risk if the failure occurred was between £400,000 and £1,050,000, including direct costs and reputational and strategic risks.

Image of railway lines with lights and track fading into the distance

Image of Bender rail signal power monitoring system RS4 tier 2

The solution

Bender UK had previously deployed advanced monitoring technology, including the RS4-T2 and Portable Bender EDS3090 insulation fault location system, within the Principal Supply Point (PSP) at York. The Bender UK engineers provided on-site technical support, real-time fault tracing, and diagnostics. The team worked closely with Network Rail to identify and address the fault, ensuring the integrity of the signalling system.

Advanced monitoring technology:
- The RS4-T2 and Portable Bender EDS3090 insulation fault location systems were installed within the Principal Supply Point (PSP) at York. These tools enabled real-time monitoring and fault detection, ensuring that any insulation degradation could be identified and addressed promptly.

On-site technical support:
- Bender UK engineers provided on-site technical support, working closely with Network Rail. This collaboration ensured that the fault was identified and rectified efficiently, minimising the risk of power loss to key signalling systems.

Real-time fault tracing and diagnostics:
- The use of RS4 technology allowed for real-time fault tracing and diagnostics, and this capability was crucial in identifying the low resistance fault on Feeder 2 of the York South Feeder, which posed a significant threat to the signalling system.

The outcome and impact

A number of tangible outcomes were highlighted during this work:

Rapid fault location:
- The use of portable Bender equipment enabled rapid fault location, preventing potential signalling power failure and safeguarding train operations.
Collaborative approach:
- The collaboration between Bender technical experts and Network Rail engineers ensured a comprehensive and effective solution.
Validation of technology:
- The successful intervention validated Bender technology as a proactive diagnostic tool for critical railway infrastructure.
Success monitoring:
- The success of the solutions was monitored through real-time fault tracing and diagnostics, as well as regular progress reports.
Continuous improvement:
- Plans for continuous improvement included embedding fault location tools into routine maintenance protocols to prevent critical infrastructure outages.

Image of tier 2 rs4 rail signalling monitoring system

The failure identified was on a critical signalling feeder (Feeder 2 – York South Feeder) on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). The ECML is one of the UK’s most important rail corridors, carrying high-speed intercity services (LNER), freight services (essential for logistics supply chains), and commuter services (LNER, Lumo, Hull Trains, etc.).

If this feeder failed:

Immediate signalling loss across a wide geographical area would likely occur.
Delays and service suspensions would cascade nationally due to the ECML’s network interdependencies.
Service recovery times in signalling failures are typically measured in hours, not minutes.
Similar signalling failures on the ECML have historically caused delays of 2-6 hours across multiple services.
Knock-on impacts typically last 24-48 hours due to displaced rolling stock and crew.

The total estimated financial risk if the failure occurred was between £400,000 and £1,050,000, taking into account Delay Repay Compensation, TOC (Train Operating Company) penalties, Freight service disruption, engineering / rectification costs (emergency response),reputational damage and stakeholder impact.

“Thanks again for your help last week. This could have resulted in a trip and the loss of signalling power. When we have these failures, the delay is significant, and the financial impact is huge. So, we are very fortunate to have found it and rectified it before it materialised into a failure”.
Network Rail representative Lewis Alexander

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