The Third Rail Shorting Device (TRSD), developed by Balfour Beatty, allows greater levels of productivity by on track machines (OTM) working in “third rail” areas.
Previous working methods for OTM in “third rail” areas required staff to attend the worksite at all points where the machine was working and strapping the machine to earth via the running rail once the conductor rail has been de-energised.
This method has led to many accidents over the years with many slips, trips, falls, and, more seriously, electrocutions occurring.
The TRSD is a sliding earth shoe permanently attached to the OTM and replaces the operation of completely strapping out with cables.
Working with the TRSD is also extremely time-effective. The use of the TRSD on possessions enables the OTM to become functional in less than two minutes, compared to at least 20 minutes when using the old strapping method. This saving can also be applied when the OTM has completed a possession.
In a typical maintenance tamping possession, it is estimated that use of the TRSD results in a minimum 16% time-saving, which typically translates to the maintenance of an additional mile of track over four working shifts. |