Invensys Rail Commissions WESTRACE Level Crossing Solution in Finland

Over a two week closure in November 2011, Invensys Rail successfully installed, tested and commissioned a new WESTRACE level crossing controller and a Frauscher axle counter detection system on the Vaasa line at Praskintie in Finland.

WESTRACE now controls a full crossing with barriers at Praskintie, as well as LED road warning signals, audible warning and Tarmo remote monitoring. In addition, comprehensive fault reporting and monitoring is provided by a SIL3 Programmable Logic Controller which interfaces directly to the WESTRACE controller.

The project represents the first installation of a WESTRACE level crossing control solution in Finland, with the system providing electrical immunity from the 25KV electrification that is currently being applied to the Vaasa line.

The upgrade was planned to be non-intrusive, with the WESTRACE controller retaining the previous level crossing system’s core functionality, sequencing and alarming. All interfaces to the remote monitoring system remain the same and the alarms were moved from the existing system to WESTRACE, which now also performs the event logging function.

Following a commissioning inspection by Finnish company VR Track, the level crossing was formally signed into operational service at 11:45 hours on 10 November.

Commenting on the project, Vince Dade, Senior Project Manager at Invensys Rail said: “We’re delighted to have completed this project at Praskintie, which is the latest in a series of successful commissionings in Finland. Over the coming months, we will also be delivering complex resignalling projects at both Siilinjärvi and Iisalmi and look forward to continuing to work closely with the Finnish Transport Authority and rail operators throughout the region.”