Innovative Engineering for the Rail Industry, and Beyond......

About Smart Rail Services

Smart Rail Services is an independent supplier of Engineering Consultancy to the UK Rail sector and associated industries, providing a unique blend of professional support services including:

Rail Vehicle Engineering
Engineering Design and Innovation
Professional Engineering Support
Business Services and Marketing
Project and Programme Management

Smart Rail Services supports an extensive range of clients, including:

Passenger and Freight Operating Companies
Open Access Train Operators
Rolling Stock Owning Companies and Independent Vehicle Owners
Rail Vehicle Manufacturers and Overhaulers
Technical and Engineering Consultancies
Equipment and Component Suppliers

Support provided by Smart Rail Services is tailored to meet the individual requirements of each client and is based upon extensive experience underpinned by a fundamental understanding of the rail industry. For more information on how Smart Rail Services can support your organisation to achieve its goals, please follow the links above or if you have a specific enquiry, please Contact Us.

News Update - November 2011

Smart Rail Services has recently completed the development of detailed designs for two equipment modules for installation and use on the Network Rail 'Winter Development Vehicle'. These modules are currently being manufactured by Garrandale Ltd and will be installed on the new 'Snow and Ice Trains', which it is intended will evaluate the effectiveness of a number of technologies designed to reduce the impact of adverse weather events on critical areas of the national rail network. Assuming that these trials are successful, it is understood that Network Rail will commission the manufacture of additional modules in coming years to enable a number of additional trains to be equipped.

Both modules were designed 'from the ground up' utilising a standard 10' ISO container footprint to enable mounting on a modified YXA wagon and a superstructure which fits within the limits of the 'Reduced W6A' gauge profile. One of the two modules was designed to house four high-pressure steam generators, together with lances and extension reels and a centrally mounted 2,250l water tank. The second of the modules was designed to house a much larger water tank of 4,000l capacity, together with a high performance air compressor and a number of ancilliary items. Both modules were designed with high level floodlights to provide illumination for the work area and required extensive optimisation to minimise the Tare weights and achieve the maximum load capability within the defined limits for Gross weight.

Smart Rail Services produced detailed and fully rendered 3D models for both modules, to assist Network Rail with the visualisation and review of the key features of the modules and equipment being fitted. These modules were also used to carry out detailed 'Design for Manufacture' (DfM) reviews with Garrandale and design optimisation to ensure weight limits were met. From these 3D models, full arrangement and manufacturing drawings were produced from which the principal structures and components have been assembled.

Client: Grand Central Railways Limited

Smart Rail Services has recently completed an extensive workstream delivering a package of Technical, Engineering and Project Management support to Grand Central Railway, undertaking the development, management and implementation of modifications and enhancements on High Speed Train (HST) and Class 180 fleets.  This support required close cooperation with Grand Central fleet engineers, third party engineers, Traction Riding Inspectors (TRIs), train crew and staff from vehicle owners Angel Trains, Alstom Transportation, Northern Rail and other technical organisations to ensure that modifications and enhancements were approved and implemented in a timely and effective manner. A number of the modifications implemented on the Class 180 units were carried out as part of extended service trials and Smart Rail Services undertook regular detailled inspections and monitoring of trial equipment/components to ensure that the necessary performance data wass collated for evaluation purposes.

Smart Rail Services also undertook the assessment of Engineering Changes in accordance with the requirements of the Grand Central procedures for the Management of Engineering Change, ensuring that all internal and external validation of compliance with mandatory standards is achieved, and in turn ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Angel Trains Limited procedures. In addition, Smart Rail Services undertook the development of new modification procedures, engineering instructions, Technical Files and other documentation in relation to modifications/enhancements implemented on the Grand Central fleets. As part of this support, Smart Rail Services co-ordinated and successfully completed more than twenty-five engineering workstreams including a large number of modification/enhancement projects.

In addition to managing the implementation of OEM and other modifications and enhancements, Smart Rail Services also developed a number of 'in-house' enhancements, providing 'end-to-end' solutions to meet Grand Central's requirements. These included re-configuration of Class 180 galley and 1st Class Servery equipment, installation of additional 240V sockets for TRI laptops in the Class 180s and the design and procurement of new magazine racks for installation in Class 180 and HST coaching stock amongst others. In delivering these modifications, Smart Rail undertook the preliminary and secondary inspection of vehicles, assessment and development of modification design, preparation of full engineering drawings/electrical system schematics, technical authoring of modification procedures, preperation of supporting documentation (Design Technical Files, Structural Assessments, Detailed Calculations etc) and submission/management of third party approvals in line with GC and ROSCO requirements.

Client: Angel Trains Limited

Smart Rail Services completed an extensive work package for Angel Trains Limited, undertaking a full Design and Operation review of the Class 180 Auto-Coupler, Coupler Cover mechanism and associated components/systems. This involved detailed inspections of and review of the current vehicle systems, equipment and components, together with a full review of the system functionality, maintenance and known reliability issues. In addition to working with the maintenance staff at each of the current operators (Northern Trains, First Hull Trains and Grand Central Railway), reviews with operations staff (including drivers) and Fleet Engineers were carried out to assess whether the existing design remained compatible with current operational reqirements for the various Class 180 operators.

The detailed findings of this study are currently being reviewed by Fleet Engineering staff at Angel Trains and it is understood that these will be used to inform future development strategy for the Class 180 fleet.

2010 Summary

During the past year, Smart Rail Services had provided a wide range of support to a number of organisations, including:

WG Specialist Coatings Limited in their programme of extensive refurbishment and repainting of NACCO UK Limited JGA hopper wagons

Chiltern Railways Limited in supporting the Class 168 Heavy Maintenance Enhancement programme, design and development of a new Class 168 fuel system arrangement and inspection/assessment of rolling stock to inform acquisition strategy.
In addition Smart Rail Services' procedures for the assessment and management of engineering changes were audited and approved as meeting the requirements of the Chiltern Railways Safety Management System, allowing Smart Rail to act as a 'Competent Person' in accordance with the requirements of the Railways and Other Guided Transport Syatems (Safety) Regulations (ROGs).

Grand Central Railway in developing the new livery for their fleet of High Speed Trains (HSTs)

In addition, Smart Rail Services undertook the technical and engineering development of a Controlled Emission Toilet (CET) system for installation on MkIII coaching stock in collaboration with Porterbrook Leasing and the now defunct Flowonics Limited.

For more informaion on these and other recent work carried out by Smart Rail Services, please follow the link to a summary of Recent Projects.

Rail Alliance

Smart Rail Services is a member of Rail Alliance, the fastest growing rail networking organisation which provides members with unique opportunities to network, innovate and collaborate. More information regarding the work carried out by the Rail Alliance and on becoming a member can be found on their website, which can be found by following the link above.