The Non Intrusive Crossover System NICS

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The Non Intrusive Crossover System (NICS)

• GETTING NICS INTO OPERATION
• Fred Saunders / David Spaven

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CONTENTS

• Introduction
• Promotional DVD showing NICS and systems of use
• NICS into Operation
• First Engineering use on TV4T
• The Freight Dimension
• Summary

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THE TV4T PROJECT

• Four tracking of existing xx mile twin track
  railway
• Competitively tendered by Network Rail
• Network Rail identified NICS in the contract
  document as potential tool for use
• NICS was installed at TOTON yard for load trial
• Tender awarded to First Engineering
• NICS provided cost savings compared to other
  alternative methods
• NICS was a material benefit in the winning tender
• NICS was a material benefit in the technical
  quality of submission

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TV4T USE OF NICS

• First Engineerings tendered system of use
• Twin tracks installed onto green-field sites over
  maximum length required / possible using new
  Kirow xx cranes
• NICS installed to connect twin green-field tracks
• Allowing easy access of engineering trains
  between tracks
• Achieving track at very near finished quality
  before connection to operational railway
• Currently exploring extension of use
• To provide access for trains from operational
  railway into the green-field sites
• Requires product approval time and Network Rail
  permitting

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GETTING NICS INTO OPERATION THE FREIGHT
DIMENSION
David Spaven Deltix Transport Consulting
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2005-6 TIMBER STUDY SCOTTISH ENTERPRISE

• Reduced railhead capex
• Operating savings up to 2pt
• Three timber applications
• - biggest savings at mills eg Barony
• - improved area railheads eg Kinbrace
• - in-forest catchments eg Glen Lochy
• Need for site-specific research
• Demonstrator project needed
• Need to tackle cultural issues

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2006 STUDY WIDER FREIGHT MARKET

• Scottish Enterprise / NICSCo
• Timber / coal / construction
• Specific industrial locations
• - Highland Spring water
• - whisky plants
• Attraction of NICS leasing package
• Need timber demonstrator project
• Need non-timber demonstrator project also

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NICS BUSINESS PLAN DEVELOPMENT

• Key freight market sub-segments
• - short-notice / temporary
• - trials to test rails capabilities
• - lead-in to permanent rail connection
• gt200,000tpa of Scottish timber harvest
• - within 30 miles of rail network
• - and transported more than 200 miles
• 6 or more whisky locations
• - 120,00tpa in tanks from Highlands

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THE WIDER POLITICAL CONTEXT

• Stern Report deep cuts in transport CO2
  needed
• Scottish Executive 2006 Scotlands Railways
• New Strategic Timber Transport Fund (plus FFG)
• In relation to freight, we wish to encourage
  modal shift from road to railencouraging not
  just strategic improvements but a systematic
  approach to thinking of rail as a way of finding
  transport solutions for example through exploring
  the use of non-intrusive rail crossover systems.
• So why are we still waiting for NICS?

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OVERCOMING PRODUCT APPROVAL INERTIA

• Set up a single self-contained NICS timber
  demonstrator on a suitable lightly-trafficked
  rail route.
• Manage the operation intensively.
• Monitor performance and results.
• Learn the lessons on safety, operations and NICS
  business development for the wider rail network.

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SUMMARY

• NICS is moving into Operational Use
• First Engineering planned use on TV4T
• Other contractors are interested but approval
  is a problem
• Very strong interest from Europe
• However Product Approval continues to be an issue
• Network Rail want demonstrated benefit (chicken
  egg)
• NICS offers the opportunity for real savings in
  freight and in particular in timber extraction
  (circa 20 cost reduction)
• We should use this benefit as the driver to
  demonstrate NICS capability in Scotland
• RFG is asked to support this proposal and assist
  in overcoming the product approval inertia