A secure and reliable electrical infrastructure is key to the successful running of a rail network. EDF Energy’s credentials as a provider of electrical infrastructure services to the rail industry are well established, and we have a sound record of successfully delivered high profile projects across the whole rail spectrum.
Our expertise spans across all areas, from high voltage engineering and traction supplies through to station services and platform lighting. Professional, fully trained engineering teams carry out a range of services, from design and construction to operation and maintenance.
EDF Energy has and continues to successfully carry out upgrades and asset renewal projects on Network Rail’s electrical infrastructure starting in the early 1990s. These range from the 1993 power upgrades to enable Eurostar services to operate on the existing network, through to a four year asset renewal and upgrade programme in partnership with Railtrack, which concluded in 2003.
Most recently, EDF Energy was the lead partner in SABCO, the joint venture which successfully carried out £100m worth of power upgrades on the Southern Region, as a vital part of the programme to replace old rolling stock.
Our services Include:
Electrical traction supplies including:
- DNO connections
- Third rail (33KV - 750v DC)
- Overhead catenary (25KV-0-25KV)
- ETE works
- SCADA
- HV & LV distribution systems to tunnel essential services, stations, signalling and point heating
We are specialist in design, construction and maintenance of Stations M&E services:
- Station modernisation and refurbishment
- LV station lighting and power
- Fire alarms & control systems
- Communications wiring
EDF Energy has recently completed a £100million joint venture contract with Network Rail to upgrade power supplies on the Southern Region. This was to accommodate the different power characteristics of new trains introduced to replace life-expired slam door rolling stock.
The work had to take place while allowing millions of commuters to continue their daily journeys to and from the capital. The contract was one of four placed by Network Rail, and was the most complex, since it covered the busy London suburban network with the highest level of potential logistical problems.
The programme was completed in three years, and included the installation of three new substations, 24 substation upgrades, 100km of 33kV HV feeder cabling, together with depot works at Clapham, Victoria, Wimbledon and Selhurst.
The contract was completed on time and within budget, and EDF Energy won safety awards for its accident-free operations. Ongoing close relations with Network Rail’s Southern Region have already earned additional upgrade work.
EDF Energy offers a 'one stop shop' for the design, project management, construction and ongoing maintenance of the traction and auxiliary power supply systems for high speed rail travel.
We can draw on the experience and expertise gained working for the last 10 years to successfully deliver the electrical infrastructure for High Speed 1 - the 68 mile Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
The company enters a new phase now that trains are running and will be operating and maintaining the power infrastructure for the next 50 years.
EDF Energy is responsible for the design, financing, project management, construction and ongoing maintenance of the traction and auxiliary power supply systems for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (High Speed 1).
As well as providing the financing arrangements for all of the electrical power assets along the 68-mile link, EDF Energy has, during the 10 year build phase, been responsible for the design and construction of traction and auxiliary power systems for this £5.2bn project. In this time, the company has installed four 400,000V National Grid connections and 59 substations operating at 25,000 or 11,000V and managed the critical interface between the national transmission grid, the public Distribution Network Operator, and the connection serving the overhead catenary system.
Far from ending its involvement, the company enters a new phase now that trains are running and will be operating and maintaining the power infrastructure for the next 50 years. Earlier this year a core team of engineers moved from their temporary offices alongside the track outside Gravesend into a new facility close by which they share with the Network Rail subsidiary CTRL UK and Carillion, another major contractor on the high speed link.
The team will monitor the electrical performance of the entire link from a control room which will also serve as an emergency back-up to the main track control centre at Ashford.
EDF Energy has also delivered:
- HV and LV distribution systems to essential services for tunnels, stations, signalling and point heating.
- Trackside autotransformer stations
- Load balancing equipment
- Static VAr compensation (SVC) equipment
Its responsibilities have included supervising studies into the effect of CTRL’s electrical traction load on system voltage unbalance and harmonic distortion, and for the implementation of the necessary load balance and harmonic filters that are also part of the assets to be maintained by EDF Energy under the O&M contract.
The highly skilled EDF Energy design team was able to build in better reliability and reduce costs of construction by almost £30m.
In addition to the technical and commercial risk assessment work associated with the design, EDF Energy also undertook detailed planning consents, land leasing arrangements, and environmental studies to mitigate the overall impact of each installation, as the majority of the apparatus locations are on greenfield sites.
EDF Energy is able to undertake the complete mechanical, electrical design, procurement, installation and construction works for light rail projects as well as the ongoing operation and maintenance.
EDF Energy designed and installed the electrical and mechancial infrastructure on the Docklands Light Railway Lewisham extension and the electrical infrastructrure for Croydon Tramlink. We continue to operate and maintain both systems.
EDF Energy is a shareholder in the City Greenwich Rail Link Ltd (CGRL) consortium which was awarded the contract to construct, own and maintain the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) extension which crosses under the Thames from the Isle of Dogs to Lewisham.
We undertook the mechanical and electrical design, procurement, installation and construction work. Now completed, EDF Energy takes the ownership risk associated with the equipment.
The 4.5km extension has seven major stations and uses three supply intake substations interconnected to form a private electrical network. This provides traction power and auxiliary supplies to the stations.
As well as being responsible for the operation and maintenance of the equipment, EDF Energy will, during the concession period, replace assets if they reach the end of service life or fail in service.
EDF Energy designed and installed the electrical network which included cable diversions, the design and build of 13 11kV traction power substations, trackside cabling and the electrical services and lighting for 13 tram stops and the depot mechanical and electrical infrastructure.
EDF Energy continues to operate and maintain the electrical infrastructure for the 28Km Croydon tram network linking Croydon via 38 tram stops with New Addington, Beckenham, Elmers End and Wimbledon.
In August 1998, EDF Energy Powerlink Limited, signed a 30-year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract, the 'Power Service Contract' (PSC), to operate, maintain, finance and renew the London Underground power distribution system.
EDF Energy Powerlink is jointly owned, bringing together the expertise of EDF Energy, Balfour Beatty and ABB. The company is responsible for the distribution of high voltage electricity supplies to London Underground's 270 stations and over 400 km of track. It also maintains and operates a power station for the provision of emergency power in the event of a major failure of the National Grid.
EDF Energy Powerlink has an integrated safety, quality and environmental management system certificated against OHSAS 18001, ISO9001 and ISO14001 respectively.
EDF Energy Powerlink, working in close partnership with London Underground, has shown that private enterprise can improve quality and reduce operating costs without compromising safety. The success of the project demonstrates that PFI and PPP transport initiatives can provide London with a transport system of which it can be proud.
EDF Energy Powerlink is responsible for a £125million fast-track contract to upgrade electrical power systems on the Victoria Line in readiness for new rolling stock and more frequent services. This is part of London Underground’s programme of improvements across the capital’s transport infrastructure.
Awarded in March 2007 following an initial five months advance procurement phase, the contract is making impressive progress, despite the challenges presented by working on a “live” transport artery which carries more than 165 million passengers every year with trains running at two minute intervals at peak times.
EDF Energy is responsible for undertaking refurbishment works at 14 substations (including civil works) as well as extensive reinforcement of the 11Kv cable network. The project also includes the design, supply, installation and commissioning of a new 132Kv grid intake at Manor House, and reinforcement of the 22Kv cable network.
Our commitment to maintaining the health and safety of our employees, contractors, clients and the general public and protecting them from any risk they may be exposed to through our work activities is paramount.
Our philosophy of ‘Quality Without Compromise’ is maintained by having a fully qualified competent workforce, using the most up to date techniques and specialist equipment.
Our ISO 14001 environmental accreditation shows our commitment to protecting the environment. This is firmly supported by all of our employees and contractors.
In addition to BS EN ISO 9001 and 14001 accreditation, EDF Energy has Link Up accreditation for all aspects of electrical services across the UK, and holds a full Railway Contractors Assurance Case. EDF Energy is an approved electrification contractor for Network Rail and is an approved framework electrical contractor for working on the London Underground.
All staff and operatives engaged on work on railway infrastructure are registered under the National Competency Accreditation Agency (NCAA) as PTS trained with COSS certification where appropriate. All staff engaged on work with the London Underground infrastructure have LUL Access Permits, with Equipment Room, Machine Room, and Track Awareness certification where appropriate
Our expertise spans across all aspects of the rail industry, from mainline and high speed to light and tram rail engineering. As well as undertaking operations and maintenance for all types of overground rail, we also own operate and maintain London Underground’s electrical infrastructure.