GTR is a member of the Go-ahead Group operating trains over the UK’s busiest rail network, between London, Bedford, Brighton, Peterborough, Cambridge and Kings Lynn.

 

This extensive network has many different systems and technologies in place to keep the Trains, Stations, Control Centres, CCTV Centres, Ticket Offices, Carparks and Admin offices all running smoothly and on time.

 

In 2009 Netcab took over the contract to maintain all of the GTR (formerly FCC) related Comms cabling in these areas. This includes responsibility for upgrade projects that are rolling out across the network as part of their continuing improvement scheme.

 

When working for the railways there are many important procedures that need to be followed, which interlink with different companies and departments. Netcab have established good communications with these departments to allow us to fulfil the requirements swiftly.

 

One example of this is Moorgate underground station. GTR required a WAN connection to be installed into one of their offices on their Platform within the underground station.

 

Openreach didn’t have any existing cable infrastructure from their main distribution point to the platform, and did not offer the option to install a cable or provide an alternative solution.

 

Netcab were called into survey the site and propose a solution. A 20 pair internal/external grade LSOH CW1308B cable was required, to be run from Openreach's main distribution point down the stairwells, escalators, and corridors to the office on the correct platform. Following this survey and discovery of a suitable cable route, the job was awarded, and we proceeded to seek access to work at the station. Due to the nature of the work, it had to be carried out at such times when the station was closed.

 

As part of this process we were aware that there maybe issues with asbestos, and after receiving the asbestos register discovered that a small area we were planning to work in had not yet been surveyed.

 

A specialist company was employed by NetCab to survey the area, and following their report NetCab were then allowed by LUL to proceed with the project.

 

This project has now successfully allowed Openreach and the WAN service provider to connect down to the offices.

 

This project is one of many examples where unusual scenarios have prevented other companies from providing services. At Netcab we embrace these issues as they promote our problem solving ability and provide swift delivery where others fail.