Our railway safety system transmits live platform camera footage to the train driver’s cab, providing complete visibility of the entire platform so drivers can react instantly to any safety issues.
The video transmission system does not compromise resolution or frame rate, with the picture quality guaranteed and measured using quantifiable parameters. Spatial diversity is employed using separate antennas to ensure videos are unaffected by multi-path interference, even underground. Licensed frequency bands are utilised to guarantee interference-free operation.
The compact microwave transmitters are inside durable solid metal housings. The placement and position of the transmitters is subject to fewer limitations than for leaky feeder systems that must run the fragile feeder cable along the edge of the platform making it vulnerable to damage or misalignment.
- Proven High Reliability in service
- Guaranteed free from interference
- Automatic operation
- Operates in all climates
- Ease of Installation
- No routine maintenance required
- High quality video
- Comprehensive built-in self-test (BIST)
The system in action
Global railway operators using Ogier Electronics equipment
Zero latency video displayed inside the drivers cab
The analogue PAL transmission employs wideband frequency modulation, providing the driver with real-time, zero-latency images of the platform.
Advantages Of Fixed Platform Cameras
On curved platforms, up to eight cameras can be arranged strategically to achieve complete coverage. Platform cameras are positioned to avoid glare from platform lighting and railway signals.
Compared to train-mounted cameras, fixed cameras are not subject to vibration and can utilise larger, high-quality lenses and optics for bright, clear video. Train-mounted cameras often have to compromise due to restrictive loading gauges.
A Typical System In Daily Use
In London, Ogier Electronics railway transmission systems are currently in use on four sub-surface railway lines, including 240 platforms at 105 stations.
Every day 270 microwave transmitters send 650 live camera views to the fleet of 192 S-stock trains, all of which are fitted with our microwave receivers.
The system has best in class reliability and picture quality.
Robustness and Reliability
Routine or scheduled maintenance is not required, reducing operational burdens. In the event of a reported fault, simple depot checks diagnose train-born equipment, ensuring smooth operation. Full status information for all platform equipment is output continually, enabling effective monitoring and management.
The microwave transmission system is not susceptible to environmental contamination for example from brake dust. The circuit boards are housed in rigid machined aluminium housings for protection from impacts, shock and vibration. O-ring gaskets are used to seal access panels, preventing water or dust ingress. Special attention has been paid to the power supply circuits to protect from the voltage spikes and power surges that are experienced in railway environments.
The result of our design efforts has yielded an enviably low mean time between failures (MTBF).
Adaptable Design
The core design concepts are similar for every system, but a number of adaptations have been made to suit the particular requirements of each railway.
Variants of the system can be supplied to enable operation in all the licenced bands up to 31 GHz. Thus, unlike Wi-Fi based systems that operate in the public, licence exempt bands, the system can be guaranteed to be interference free, which is particularly important for a safety related application of this sort. Multiple sub-channels are utilised as required to prevent crosstalk from adjacent platforms.
We have systems that use dedicated “ON” and “OFF” beacons to enable and disable the video. Other systems use a “ON” beacon and the receiver’s squelch function. Another railway uses the Train Information System (TIS) and squelch, omitting beacons entirely.
Either digital DVB-T or analogue PAL FM can be deployed. Analogue is recommended because there is zero latency and no loss of resolution, thus to date, all of our customers have chosen to use PAL FM analogue modulation.
Furthermore, we have trialled a two way system that allow bi-directional transmission from the train to the trackside.
If you have a specific requirement or would like to discuss the system with us, please do not hesitate to contact us.
- Underground Railways
- Metro Systems
- Light Rail
- Trams
- Driver Only Operation (DOO)
- One Person Operation (OPO)
- Driver Controlled Operations (DCO)