Data Cabling for Railway Stations, Signalling Centres & Depots

Rail Operations Run on Real-Time Data

From ticket gates and passenger information displays to CCTV analytics and signalling, every second of a railway journey relies on fast, reliable connectivity. Delay one packet and ticket barriers stack queues; lose a frame and platform‑edge detection fails; drop a VLAN and trains stack outside the throat. Yet many stations still rely on copper and fibre laid when GSM‑R was new—Cat 5e runs spliced by decades of refurbishments, unlabeled patch racks tucked behind advertising boards, and backbone fibres with uncertain loss budgets. ACCL’s rail‑grade structured‑cabling solutions give stations and control rooms the resilient, PSN‑ready backbone they need to keep trains, passengers and revenue on track.

Station-Specific Pain-Points ACCL Eliminates

• Ticket‑gate slowdowns – Legacy copper throttles smart‑card authorisation, creating bottlenecks that breach franchise KPIs.

• CCTV blind‑spots – 4K streams from PTZ cameras overrun old fibre links, degrading image quality just when evidence is needed.

• Delayed PIDS updates – Congested backbones stall “Next Train” boards, sparking crowd frustration and safety calls.

• Unlabeled comms racks – Engineers waste minutes tracing ports, extending disruption during equipment failures.

• EMI‑induced packet loss – High‑voltage traction feeds and PA amplifiers induce noise on unshielded data pairs.

• PoE budget shortages – IP help‑points, Wi‑Fi nodes and retail POS overwhelm Cat 5e pairs, demanding costly power circuits.

Without correction, these weaknesses drive ORR fines, erode public satisfaction and compromise safety.

ACCL’s Six-Step Railway Delivery Programme

1. Stakeholder alignment
   Station managers, TOC/FOC IT teams, Network Rail project engineers and British Transport Police set throughput, resilience and possession constraints aligned with PPM and safety KPIs.
2. RISQS‑audited survey
   Sentinel‑carded, PTS‑certified engineers map containment during engineer‑possession hours, inspecting risers, cable routes and UTX ducts without impacting passenger flow.
3. Resilient design & bill of materials
   Shielded Cat 6A, OS2 fibre and IP67 hardware specified to NR/L2/TEL/30125 and EN 50173‑3 standards, with spare cores for ETCS, DAS and future private 5G deployments.
4. Possession‑window installation
   Works executed during Rules of the Route possessions, night shift or blockade periods. Temporary bypass links maintain gate lines, PIDS and PA during cut‑overs. Safe‑work packs, SSOWPs and PICOP briefings ensure compliance.
5. Cabinet modernisation
   Outdated wall boxes replaced with seismic‑rated 45U racks; intelligent PDUs, blanking panels and brush entries optimise airflow in cramped comms rooms.
6. Certification & live fail‑over drills
   Fluke DSX‑8000 certifies copper; OTDR sweeps verify fibre losses; simulated link failures prove automatic re‑routing keeps PIDS, CCTV and ticket gates live.
   

Safety, Compliance & ESG

• RISQS‑audited, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001 & SafeContractor accredited – Meets rail‑industry procurement and safety standards.
• NR/L2/TEL/30125 & NR/L2/INI/CP006 compliance – Cable fire performance and installation practices satisfy Network Rail policy.
• Fire‑stop reinstatement – Intumescent pillows restore compartmentation, essential for sub‑surface and heritage stations.
• Asbestos & confined‑space protocols – CAR 2012‑compliant surveys and confined‑space RAMS for tunnel cross‑passages and cable routes.
• Circular‑economy disposal – Scrap copper recycled, reels returned, supporting TOC and Network Rail sustainability targets.
  

Frequently Asked Questions

Can works run during live service?
Major pulls occur during night possessions; micro‑pulls above suspended ceilings can run after last train without public access. Bypass links keep critical systems online.

Is shielded cable required throughout?
Shielded Cat 6A is recommended near high‑EMI zones: transformers, PA amplifiers, traction rooms. Admin offices may use F/UTP to balance budgets.

Do we need new switches?
If current switches are 1 Gbps‑capable, they can stay short term. Cabling is sized for future 10 Gbps uplifts; ACCL provides staged switch‑upgrade roadmaps.

How is heritage décor protected?
Surface traywork is powder‑coated to match ironwork; fixings align with existing grout lines to respect listed‑building requirements.

What warranty do we receive?
25‑year system warranties cover components and labour, transferable if franchises transition or Network Rail takes direct control.