Using train-borne LIDAR to improve design confidence in railway electrification

The Midland Main Line needs to be remodelled and electrified to accommodate High Speed Two (HS2) train services to Sheffield. This paper addresses how the issue of site surveys, to accurately judge the level of intervention required for the system design, without site access, was solved. Detailed measurements were required on the 26km route, which encompasses over 100 bridges, culverts, viaducts and tunnels. Due to access constraints and limited availability of surveying staff, capturing this information would not have been possible by conventional means before hybrid Bill submission.

The Signalling Innovation Group at Network Rail use train-mounted cameras and laser scanners to record point cloud surveys for signal sighting. Over the course of a weekend, the entire route was surveyed using this technology, running the train in normal service without the need for disruptive line blockages or possessions.

The outputs from the software include 4K video footage and data which also provide benefits for community engagement and ecological assessments. This includes sharing graphical models of the newly electrified line with superimposed 3D overhead line visualisations. This additional planning assures the design as we move into the construction phase and could be applied to further touchpoints of HS2.