DB ESG integrates UK’s first fully connected DAS

The experts in rolling stock consultancy, DB ESG are delighted to be able to announce that they have been awarded a turnkey contract from the Stagecoach Group for the delivery of the GreenSpeed Driver Advisory System onto a total of 498 cabs (249 units) operated by Stagecoach’s South West Trains (SWT) franchise.

DB ESG selected the IT Engineering Company, Cubris as the partner for this project because it has more than ten years of experience in Driver Advisory Systems (DAS). The Cubris GreenSpeed DAS is a proven system, already in fleet-wide operation on Danish Railways.

The system is currently installed onto two SWT units, the first being piloted in service on a class 159 unit, the second onto a class 458 unit (not yet operational). The system will be installed gradually across SWT’s full fleet starting in May 2015, with the system fully operational in 2016.

The South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance operates one of the busiest railways in Europe, with passenger numbers continuing to grow. To help the operator to accommodate an increasing number of passengers, new investment is being made to improve the reliability of services across the network. GreenSpeed DAS will help to deliver an increasingly reliable service to passengers, whilst simultaneously helping to manage the traffic in and out of London Waterloo, the busiest railway station in the UK.

DAS also has the added benefit of potentially reducing the impact on the environment by lowering energy consumption. The DAS will be connected to the merging Network Rail Traffic Management System (TMS).

South West Train’s Contracts Manager, Kevin Griffin said: “Following a selection process that included over 15 potential suppliers, we selected ESG and Cubris to deliver the DAS on the South Western Railway. The Cubris system GreenSpeed was the best fit with SWT’s requirements, as they were able to demonstrate a system that has already proven successful in Denmark. The idea to include driver workshops in the design of the user interface was also the best offered from potential suppliers. The Cubris system is very adaptable and offers lots of additional benefits.”

Martin Horsman, Managing Director of DB ESG sees a new market opportunity in the UK and abroad:  “DB ESG has a long track record of delivering excellent engineering services to both rolling stock operators and leasers. This project demonstrates DB ESG’s capability to offer engineering, installation and approval of driver advisory systems, which complements our product portfolio perfectly.”

The CEO of Cubris, Sune Edinger Gram added:  “It is a breakthrough for Cubris to now enter the UK market with GreenSpeed, our advanced driver advisory system, and we are extremely satisfied with winning the first major C-DAS project in the UK rail sector. The first phase of the project have been concluded and we can already see the positive results of involving the drivers in the early design of the user interface."