The Glasgow Subway system chooses Sepura
The Glasgow Subway system chooses Sepura
The Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has selected Sepura TETRA radios for its digital communications requirements in the Glasgow Subway. The radios are an integral part of a new TETRA system replacing an analogue infrastructure which had become outdated and increasingly difficult to support. The new system will facilitate seamless communications between the SPT Subway and Blue Light Services.
The new digital solution is the outcome of a complex and unique project which saw close collaboration between several of Sepura’s Solutions Partners. Sepura’s partner Arqiva was responsible for the train radio and the communication control systems, Schnoor from Germany delivered a special interface to enable switchingbetween calls and Public Address announcements in the train and a third partner, Zetron, provided the technology for the touch screen panels in the control room.
Sepura’s SRH terminals are used by operations (railway line and depot supervisors), station and maintenance staff. Sepura’s SRG mobile terminals have been installed inside the trains; these are mounted in a cradle inside each cab and interface with all the other applications within the cab.
All drivers have also been supplied with a hand-held TETRA radio to be able to communicate with the Control Centre for normal operational requirements or incidents which take them ‘on track’ or ‘out of cab’.
Paul Smith, SPT’s Systems & Electrical Engineer who helped implement the new system said: “Sepura hand-held TETRA radios were selected for their ease of use; they are designed for one button operation, have a very accessible emergency button and can be worn in various positions about the body which make it suitable for both operations and maintenance staff carrying out their duties within the Subway. The SRG mobile radios are extremely versatile thanks to their very powerful software platform which has enabled them to interact easily with existing onboard train systems (namely Public Address).”
Paul Smith added: “All stakeholders pulled in the same direction to successfully complete this demanding project in a remarkable time frame with no disruption to passenger service. Sepura TETRA radios were brought into operational service without incident or traffic disruption. Our communication objectives were fully met and now we have a communications system which is leading-edge technology and fit for purpose”.
Jonathan Hamill, Business Development Manager for Sepura said: “The advent of TETRA in the transport sector has transformed the application, quality and interworking of radio communications. Sepura radios are an integral part of this communication revolution in the transport sector as they are currently the TETRA radios of choice for numerous transport organisations world-wide”.
Mr Hamill concluded: “The co-involvement of several of Sepura’s Solutions Partners in this special project is tangible proof of how Sepura’s Partner Programme is stimulating the growth of new applications and services for the benefit of the global TETRA user community”.
SPT’s Glasgow Subway carries more than 13 million passengers a year and is vital to thetransport infrastructure of Glasgow. Opened in 1896 the Subway has undergone several modernisations, the last major one was completed in 1979.
Issued by Rosanna Norman, Sepura plc
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 877283
Email: rosanna.norman@sepura.com