Westinghouse Jubilant about Approval of Led Signals for Jubilee Line Extension
02 August 2004
Westinghouse Rail Systems Limited (WRSL) announced that it has received approval from HMRI, Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate, for their WESTLED 125mm LED signal.
47 of the LED signals will be used by Tube Lines Ltd, who are responsible for upgrading and maintaining the infrastructure on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly Lines, to replace the filament lamp signals that are currently being used on the Jubilee Line Extension on the London Underground.
The use of Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology dramatically increases the lifespan of the signals, which are able to operate for considerably longer than the traditional filament signals. LED signals, for example, do not require replacement for several years, whereas filament bulbs need replacing at least annually.
The main benefits of the LED signals are a significant reduction in maintenance costs, and a more efficient and effective service for customers and operators due to the increased reliability of the signals. The LED signals are also brighter and clearer than their predecessors.
“We have a longstanding, good working relationship with the London Underground and Tube Lines, and the HMRI approval is great news for us,” said Ken Davies, Equipment Team Leader at WRSL for the Jubilee Line Project. “As with all of our products, the WESTLED signals are designed for maximum efficiency and safety.”
WRSL’s WESTLED signals are designed for use in Mass Transit and Mainline signalling schemes. The signal heads are made with aluminium casings, which are lightweight but very strong. The lens itself is designed to minimise reflection from other light sources, which, when combined with the high intensity LED units, provides considerably improved readability compared to equivalent filament lamp signals.
Other features of the signals include:
- Mechanical coding to prevent incorrect replacement of light units
- Reduced maintenance and improved availability compared to filament lamp signals
- IP54 rating for signal head and IP65 for LED light units
- LED units available in red, yellow, green, white and blue
WRSL are also in the final stages of developing a larger, 200mm version of the WESTLED signal, specifically for use in mainline applications. This version uses a unique double power supply system driving two arrays of LEDs arranged in a patented pattern, and is capable of directly replacing existing filament signals without wiring changes.
The installation of all 47 WESTLED 125mm LED signals on the Jubilee Line was completed on 13 June 2004.
