Gauging Historic Infrastructure for the 21St Century

Gauging historic Infrastructure for the 21st Century

Presented by Bridget Eickhoff RSSB Principal Infrastructure Engineer

PWI 23 April 2020 Topics to cover

▪ What is gauging? ▪ Standards for ▪ Recent ▪ Strategy for ▪ Why is it complex gauging developments conventional network ▪ GB historic ▪ GB processes ▪ VS SIC sponsored network ▪ Comparison with R&D ▪ Platforms & other methods ▪ Analysis methods stepping ▪ Platform position ▪ High speed

2 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level What is gauging? ▪Ensuring there is sufficient space (clearance) around a moving train for safe operation: – Trains don’t hit structures – Trains don’t hit other trains on adjacent lines ▪Building the biggest train that will fit through the ‘hole’ ▪Increasing the speed of the train whilst still fitting (including tilting trains) ▪Modifying the size of the infrastructure to permit larger (or different) trains – Including coping with the size of maritime containers ▪ Lengths fairly standard (20ft / 40ft), widths fairly standard (2500 or 2600mm) ▪ Heights have increased 8ft, 8ft6in, 9ft, 9ft6in … – Longer passenger vehicles 20m, 23m, 26m

3 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level The challenge of gauging

4 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Some history ▪Small trains and large structures give lots of clearance Rainhill Skew Bridge ▪Different railway companies used different structure ‘gauges’ ▪Depended on funding, sponsors …

Reproduced courtesy of the Institution of Civil Engineers

21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level 5 © Michelle McDonald / A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, 29 May 2015 More history (according to William Heath Robinson!) ▪Standardising track gauge to 4ft 8½in came with Britain’s Gauge Act, 1846

Both images reproduced from Railway Ribaldry (GWR 1935) 6 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level More history ▪Standardising the structure gauge in GB never happened ▪Later railways (eg rest of Europe) generally have a larger structure gauge – Including track spacing (six foot) – Learning from our experience! ▪It is a credit to our predecessors that we are using their network to run sizes and types and speeds of trains that they could never have imagined

Reproduced courtesy of the Institution of Civil Engineers © Michelle McDonald / A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, 29 May 2015

7 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Other consequences of legacy infrastructure – GB track layout ▪Curved platforms

– Significant proportion, many in built up areas 22% – 22% less than 1000m radius ▪Conflict between – required clearance at vehicle ends / centre – stepping distance at range of door positions

8 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Other consequences of legacy infrastructure - platforms ▪Current target position: 915mm height; 730mm offset but: – Most existing platforms not at this position & no requirement to modify them – No budget for major platform works & ‘out of scope’ of other station works – 30% in range for height, 22% in range for offset but only 7% in range for both

High Tight Low

22% 30% Wide

9 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Using our legacy infrastructure for mixed traffic ▪Different types of operation at / past the same platform: – Suburban ▪ Mostly stopping trains ▪ Generally 1/3 and 2/3 door positions – Regional ▪ Some stopping trains ▪ Range of door positions – Inter-city ▪ Speed of pass through – Freight ▪ Range of speeds ▪ Container trains ▪Need to trade off gauge clearance against stepping distance

10 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Topics to cover

11 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Gauging processes ▪Larger clearances permit simple processes – Measure the vehicle, measure the structure and allow clearance ▪More complex processes are needed to make best use of restricted space – Analyse vehicle behaviour (usually statistically) ▪Often distinguish between: – Upper sector, more suspension movement (>1100mm ARL for GB system) – Lower sector, less suspension movement (<1100mm ARL for GB system) ▪Standard European process is described in EN15273 but not suitable for UK(GB) application ▪UK(GB) historic network is constrained so have developed more precise processes and data to optimise ▪Modern computer techniques make this more straightforward to apply but still need to be wary of assumptions

12 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Standards for Gauging ▪European TSIs (Technical Specifications for Interoperability) – INF TSI, Loc&Pas TSI, WAG TSI all reference EN15273 for gauging process ▪UK(GB) has Specific Cases (permissions) to use National Rules: – GMRT2173 Requirements for size of vehicles and position of equipment – GIRT7073 Requirements for the position of Infrastructure and for defining and maintaining clearances – GERT8073 Requirements for the application of standard vehicle gauges – GERT8273 Assessment of compatibility of rolling stock and infrastructure – gauging and stepping distances – and Guidance note GEGN8573 Guidance on gauging and platform stepping distances ▪Recognised methods in GB: – Use of standard vehicle gauges, Absolute gauging, Comparative gauging or Hybrid gauging (a combination of any of the others) – Also see VS SIC Guide to British Gauging practice (T926) though some things have changed since 2013 13 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level EN15273 Overview

Note – a reference profile is NOT an infrastructure shape and is NOT a vehicle shape! ‘GB’ is NOT Great Britain!

14 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level UK(GB) use of standard gauges (infrastructure or rolling stock) ▪Includes the ‘rules for the gauge’ – Different for different gauges! ▪May include assumptions about lengths / types of vehicles / suspension movement ▪May allow for suspension movement ▪May allow for some other tolerances ▪For Rolling stock – UK(GB) has several ‘freight’ vehicle gauges (W6a, …) – UK(GB) now has passenger vehicle gauges (see later) ▪For Infrastructure – UK(GB) has Lower Sector Infrastructure Gauge (LSIG) – UK(GB) has no standard gauge for Upper sector – Upper sector ‘gauge’ is defined by what vehicles are approved to run (with what restrictions)

15 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Other methods for clearing rolling stock in GB ▪Comparative gauging – Stay within the ‘shadow’ of existing rolling stock – In all conditions, at all locations, at all speeds – Needs an appropriate comparator – Be aware of existing limitations / special conditions ▪Absolute gauging – Compare the ‘swept envelope’ of the vehicle with the actual structure gauge at each location – Needs accurate infrastructure measurements – Makes allowance for track movements, measurement accuracy etc – Consider range of speeds (fastest not always worst, eg inside of curve) ▪Hybrid gauging – combination of above methods ▪Special requirements for equipment that needs to contact: – Wheels / rails, pantographs / OHLE, shoegear / 3rd rail 16 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Vehicle ‘swept envelope’

▪Suspension designed to isolate passengers from track input to give a more comfortable ride Centre throw ▪Suspension movements from – Track geometry roughness End throw – Track layout (curves, cant) – Speed Track – Cant deficiency on curves ▪Also need to account for overthrow on curves Bogie Centres (centre and end throw) ▪‘Size’ of vehicle depends on the location and speed ▪In calculating clearance also need allowance for track movement, wheel and rail wear, variation of parameters during maintenance cycle …

17 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Cant Deficiency & Cant Excess ▪Cant allows gravitational force to balance required acceleration for curve ▪Only ‘balanced’ for one speed ▪Higher speed would require more cant – Cant deficiency ▪Lower speed has too much cant – Cant excess ▪Maximum movement to outside of curve at maximum cant deficiency ▪Maximum movement to inside of curve is more complex

18 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Trade-off between gauge clearance and stepping distance

▪For an infrastructure project (track or platform) the requirement is the platform position (height and offset) – The stepping distance is of interest but is not the requirement – Step position (relative to standard platform) is a requirement for the rolling stock – Managing the resulting stepping distance at each actual platform is a joint responsibility of train operator(s) & station operator – Rolling stock (and the stepping) may change ▪‘Positive’ clearance is a requirement, ‘normal’ clearances are not – Always consider use of less than normal clearances to improve stepping – Always review track fixity: ‘low’ track fixity may not be appropriate in station areas – Consider what vehicles are actually intended to run and do not gauge for those that don’t (and never will) run (eg Eurostar, …) – Be prepared to challenge assumptions!

19 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Current Requirements – Platform position

▪Infrastructure TSI – Target platform heights are 550mm or 760mm ▪ Measured from the running surface of the rails Platform – Target offset according to EN15273-3 (Structure Gauges) Rail ▪GB Specific Cases – 7.7.17.6 for Platform height, 7.7.17.7 for Platform offset – Refers to National rules ▪ GIRT7020 for Platform height (915mm) ▪ Gauging RGS for Platform offset (generally 730mm)

20 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Current Requirements – step position

▪Requirement for position of vehicle RGS (& GB Specific Case) footstep relative to ‘standard’ PRM TSI (Table 25) platform position – Not actual platform positions on route ▪ PRM TSI 230mm Radius 350mm – Includes step down into train – Does not include ‘oversail’ step ▪GB Specific Case 50mm – Refers to National rules as an option

– Includes ‘oversail’ step 160mm – Does not include step down into train

▪Either space is permitted 200mm – Specific Case and National Rules being 275mm updated to avoid confusion 21 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Topics to cover

22 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Development of new standard gauges ▪VS-SIC (Vehicle Structures System Interface Committee) sponsored research – Develop ‘go almost anywhere’ gauges – Identify ‘exception structures’ ▪Completed and published in standards – T977 – Development of new Lower Sector Vehicle Gauge (LSVG) – T978 – Development of new passenger Gauges PG1 and PG2 (20m & 23m) – T1092 – Development of PG3 (26m vehicle) – T995 – Locomotive Gauge ▪Underway – T1132 – New Freight Gauges

23 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Infrastructure gauging – upper sector

▪If a structure is ‘clear’ (with the required clearance) of the ‘dynamic gauge’ for a standard freight gauge and complies with the overthrow (if on a curve) then it can be ‘cleared’ for that ‘gauge’ ▪Clearances can be: – Normal – Reduced – Special reduced ▪Control processes are more stringent where clearances are smaller – Inspections – Maintenance controls ▪If a structure is not cleared for a ‘gauge’ by the above comparison then ‘absolute gauging’ may still demonstrate that the required traffic is ‘clear’

24 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Infrastructure gauging – lower sector

▪GIRT7073 defines the Lower Sector Infrastructure Gauge (LSIG) ▪Developed from earlier LS Structure Gauge to include other items ▪All new infrastructure must comply with LSIG ▪Most existing infrastructure complies with LSIG

25 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Infrastructure gauging – lower sector, some specifics

26 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level See GIRT7073 for details Infrastructure gauging – measurements

▪The National Gauging Database (NGD) contains structure profiles for infrastructure of the ‘whole’ of England, Scotland & Wales – The NGD is a ‘live’ database that requires continual updating – Accuracy of measurement is most important where clearance is tight – If there is lots of space then less accurate measurements may be OK ▪To be useful for gauging any measurements need relevant site details, track cant and curvature, relative positions of adjacent tracks ▪A measurement of the platform relative to the track also needs track data ▪Gauging uses the concept of ‘maintained position of the track’ – Ideally a designed position to which the track is returned during maintenance – May be the actual position if no design available

27 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Infrastructure Gauging – other considerations ▪Tolerances – IM is responsible for maintaining: ▪ Track alignment (lateral, vertical, cross level), rail (sidewear / headwear) ▪ Track quality will also affect the vehicle swept envelope ▪Clearances – Clearances are defined as ‘normal’, ‘reduced’ or ‘special reduced’ with appropriate controls (see GIRT7073 for details) – Positive clearances are required; ‘normal’ clearances are not always mandatory ▪Track fixity – Permanent way is not permanent! – Conventional ballasted track is considered ‘low fixity’ with related allowance for movement added into vehicle ‘envelopes’ – ‘Glued’ ballast, platform face struts etc are considered ‘medium fixity’ – Slab track is considered ‘high fixity’ with less movement allowed for

28 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Requirements on infrastructure ▪Infrastructure is a long life asset so ‘future proof’ where practical ▪GIRT7073 requirements for – New infrastructure – upper sector (see following slide) – New infrastructure – lower sector (see following slide) ▪Modifications to existing – At least maintain existing capability, if possible improve it – If project to permit passage of larger vehicles then ‘normal’ clearance not required if appropriate controls implemented ▪Temporary infrastructure can be more of a risk – Must meet requirements for new infrastructure – Requires careful design ▪Station platforms have specific requirements (see GIRT7020 & RIS-7016-INS) – Trade-off between gauge clearance and stepping distances for passengers ▪Electrical Clearances - see GLRT1210 (AC system) or GLRT1212 (DC system) 29 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level New infrastructure - upper sector ▪New infrastructure on a new line - design to accommodate: – Overhead line equipment – At least ‘normal’ clearances to all standard vehicle gauges in GERT8073 – At least ‘normal’ clearances to all types of rolling stock which the IM may reasonably foresee using the route in future – Access for staff (lineside access routes / cess walkways) ▪New infrastructure on an existing railway – design to accommodate: – Overhead line equipment – At least ‘normal’ clearances to all types of rolling stock that use the route or have a statement of compatibility for the route ▪Additional clearance is required at ‘window box’ level where vehicles operate with opening windows (for passengers or staff) ▪Guidance is given in GEGN8573 on clearances ▪Overhead lines and electrical clearances are in GLRT1210

30 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level New infrastructure – lower sector

▪Not intrude inside LSIG ▪Position new track so that adjacent infrastructure does not intrude LSIG ▪Make allowance for construction tolerance so that requirements are met after build ▪Platform position in accordance with GIRT7020 ▪GIRT7073 contains specific requirements for – Conductor rails and associated guard boarding – APC magnets, trainstops, tripcock testers, AWS magnets, treadle actuating arms ▪Track intervals to take into account requirement for normal clearances (including window box) and space for track side equipment (signals, speed signs etc)

31 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Topics to cover

32 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Strategy – Scottish Ministers’ HLOS for CP6 ▪6.4 Therefore, the Scottish Ministers require that, by the end of Control Period 6, all Scottish routes are maintained to be capable of accommodating the gauge of all locomotives and passenger rolling stock, including cross border services and charter operators vehicles, which have run in Scotland in CP4 and CP5 or are known to be planned to run in Scotland in CP6. ▪6.5 Freight gauge capability should be maintained to at least the capability in the most recently published issue of the Freight Gauge Database Map (published and maintained categories), or the Sectional Appendix, or the full suite of RT3793 forms for Scottish routes, whichever is most capable at the time of publication of this HLOS. Together, the passenger and freight specification are the Scottish Gauge Requirement. ▪See published Scottish Ministers’ HLOS for full details

33 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level VS SIC Gauging Strategy – A Vision for Great Britain ▪Developed by VS SIC on behalf of industry ▪Covers freight and passenger

▪Sets out a vision for the industry ▪Funding not yet supported 34 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level VS SIC Gauging Strategy ▪Developed by the Vehicle / Structures System Interface Committee ▪Long term strategy, setting out a vision for the industry covering: – Size of infrastructure – Size of vehicles – Interface considerations – Research required ▪In order to: – Maximise capacity – Increase use of standard infrastructure and rolling stock gauges – Reduce costs of assessment, inspection and maintenance – Improve customer experience (eg PTI) ▪Funding is not currently in place to deliver the strategy – T1158 investigating business case – Broad industry discussions needed 35 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Platforms and stepping ▪Current platform target position – 915mm height – 730mm offset (most locations) ▪Train floors traditionally higher – Vertical step at PTI ▪May also have a horizontal gap ▪How can we reduce these? ▪Platform height: – Reviewed by PTI Strategy – Mixed traffic railway with W6a freight & conventional track maintenance machines – Reduced clearances (not normal clearances) ▪Vehicle footsteps generally constrained by ‘go anywhere’ and high / tight platforms

36 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Why can’t we have higher platforms?

Possible platform Current Footstep positions positions Height 1115, offset 900

Height 1050, offset 880

Height 1000, offset 880

Height 945, offset 850

Height 915, offset 730 Target platform position

▪Higher platform gives smaller vertical step but larger horizontal gap ▪Conclude that 915mm remains the appropriate target platform height – For the GB mainline mixed traffic network – Some specific locations have higher platforms or higher sections

37 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level What about lower floors? ▪Two new fleets being introduced with lower floors: – Greater Anglia – Merseyrail ▪Also include automatically deployed stepping plate – With platform sensor ▪Some locations will be step down into train – New for GB mainline passengers – Familiar on other networks ▪Merseyrail have also undertaken platform / track work to bring locations to standard position Merseytravel - New trains 38 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level for Merseyrail High and Tight platforms

Conforming height and offset 7% of platforms

Lead to high footsteps and hence large gaps at other platforms

21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level T1166 – Minimising the Impact of ‘High & Tight’ platforms on the overall PTI step / gap dimensions

▪Updated NGD platform data Locations of ▪How to determine ‘high’ & significantly high platforms ‘tight’ ▪Review of locations ▪Analysis of delay data from Cross Country ▪Identification of influence of step / gap dimensions on platform dwell times / delay ▪Consideration of Business Case for progressive modification to platform / track ▪Final reports now available on Spark

40 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level High Speed Trains - Eurostar ▪The original Eurostar trains Class 373 were designed to fit parts of the UK(GB) mainline network as well as running on the High Speed network in France and Belgium ▪The new Eurostars Class 374 are built to a ‘standard’ European Gauge and, in UK(GB) can only run on HS1. ▪Both original and new Eurostars are designed for low platforms as used on the High Speed networks of Europe (not our classic 915mm platforms) ▪The HS1 route is cleared to the EN15273 gauges: – GB1 on passenger sections – GC on the through freight route ▪Note ‘GB’ Gauge is nothing to do with Great Britain!

41 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Eurostar – two generations

Class 374 Class 373

42 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level High Speed Trains – HS2 ▪HS2 is expected to be built to EN15273 GC gauge (except for the platforms) ▪HS2 proposes to use high platforms to match the floor heights of high speed trains – To assist boarding and alighting of all passengers ▪HS2 proposes two separate vehicle designs: – Dedicated high speed trains only used on the HS2 network and built to standard European gauges – Classic compatible trains that can run at high speed on the HS2 network but can also run on the ‘classic’ network. These will be built to a gauge compatible with the UK(GB) historic network so will be smaller ▪HS2 ‘Classic compatible’ trains will need to be able to stop at both the new high platforms and the existing 915mm platforms.

43 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Topics covered

44 21st Century Gauging 23 April 2020 Confidentiality level Questions?

Standards, Guidance notes, links to TSIs, supporting leaflets are all on www.rssb.co.uk Research reports on www.sparkrail.org