The Safety Achievement of the Year award in the National Rail Awards 2024 went to Network Rail partnered with Loccioni for the FELIX Automated Measurement Trolley.
Highly Commended were awarded to Network Rail Southern Region (Southern Safer, Faster Isolations) and TransPennine Express (Safer Hull Paragon Hub).
This year’s Safety Achievement of the Year winner has been described by the NRA judges as a “game changer” for Network Rail’s inspection of critical switches and crossing assets.
NR’s use of a remote controlled, battery-powered, semi-autonomous trolley equipped with laser and video technology eliminates the safety risk of manual inspection, often made in hostile weather conditions and at night.
Additionally, with track geometry and rail profile measurements taken every 2mm, the FELIX provides a superior level of accuracy than traditional manual inspection with a gauge and can complete seven inspections in 15 minutes versus one manual inspection in 37 minutes.
The judges added: “This brings significant and tangible benefits for the life and condition of the assets themselves as well as real safety gains for staff and passengers.
“It permits many more inspections to be carried out and to optimise the benefit, a repair team accompanies the trolley so that defects can be remedied as they are discovered.”
Trainborne fitment is said to be the ultimate goal for FELIX with Network Rail Research working closely with Italian manufacturer Loccioni to further enhance and adapt the ‘predict and prevent’ concept to work on the UK rail network.
NR’s Wessex, Sussex, Anglia and Scotland routes were all praised for sharing their experiences and best practice of using the FELIX to ensure an efficient introduction and product acceptance.
Go to our results story for a list of all the winners at the 2024 National Rail Awards, together with more pictures from the event at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel, Park Lane, London on 12th September.
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