A new trial of virtual worksite marker boards has shown they could save the rail industry millions of pounds a year while significantly improving safety and reducing delays. The trial, conducted by Tended in partnership with Siemens Mobility and Network Rail, took place over the August bank holiday weekend on the East Coast Main Line.
The new system, which uses geofencing to create virtual boundaries, called Virtual Worksite Marker Boards (VWSMB), was tested during engineering works between Biggleswade and Potters Bar. On-track machinery was fitted with in-cab devices that provided real-time alerts to operators as they approached the worksite limits. This technology is designed to replace the manual process of placing physical marker boards, which is time-consuming and can pose safety risks to track workers.
Early results from the trial were promising, with the virtual system demonstrating how it can prevent possession overruns. An incident involving a third-party contractor caused an 18-minute delay, but Network Rail estimated that if physical marker boards had been used, the delay could have been between 43 and 68 minutes. The company predicts that avoiding this single overrun saved a minimum of £130,000.
This trial follows recent approval from the RSSB’s Traffic Operation and Management Standards Committee for a deviation to the Rail Industry Rule Book, allowing virtual worksites to be tested in a live environment. Tended’s digital system is expected to deliver cost savings in excess of £23 million per year by increasing efficiency and preventing network delays.
Mike Sharp, Head of Construction at Siemens Mobility, said: “The first full trial of Virtual Worksite Marker Boards took place this August Bank Holiday. Happy to support such forward-thinking innovation, and great to see the Siemens team supporting Tended with these trials. Looking forward to what’s next!”
Emrys Warriner, Senior Programme Manager at Network Rail’s Technical Authority, commented that “this is an amazing step towards the future” and congratulated the team involved in developing the solution.
The new system is also set to improve worker safety by eliminating the need for track workers to access railway lines to place or recover marker boards, reducing their exposure to hazards.
Phil Sadgrove, Senior Implementation Manager at Tended, added: “Virtual Worksite Marker Boards presents a significant opportunity for the industry, and it was exciting to deliver the very first full trial in the early hours of the August Bank Holiday. Working closely with Network Rail to develop the solution, and with Siemens who continue to be a champion of our technology, means we are now able to demonstrate the value of geofencing through VWSMB to the industry as a whole.”
