telent, the technology services provider, has been awarded a contract to redesign and upgrade Merseyrail’s Long Line Public Address (LLPA) system across the train operator’s 66-station network [Wirral and Northern Lines].
This latest award builds on telent’s existing relationship with Merseyrail: the company already provides round-the-clock fault support across Merseyrail’s station network; maintains CCTV, Customer Information Systems, Public Address, and Passenger Help Points; and has provided new Customer Information System systems at 9 stations.
For the new IP based LLPA project, telent will draw on its knowledge of modern IP LLPA solutions as well as Merseyrail’s SISS estate, to provide a tailor-made, compliant and technically resilient system. telent will renew infrastructure at a majority of stations including speakers, cabling, cable containment, amplifiers and microphones, introducing Induction Loop Points and Ambient Noise Sensors where appropriate, and recover old infrastructure and equipment in parallel. telent will also integrate the new LLPA system with the legacy PA equipment currently in operation on 5 Merseyrail underground stations.
Ensuring a seamless transition when the new system is brought into service, telent will also provide Merseyrail with on-going system maintenance and support.
Steve Pears, Director of telent’s Rail business, commented: “We’re delighted that Merseyrail has selected us to provide a tailored IP based LLPA renewal solution that we believe will exceed their expectations in terms of functionality and value for money. telent is uniquely positioned to combine in-depth knowledge of Merseyrail’s operations and infrastructure, with the right experience and IP technology expertise. We look forward to supporting the Merseyrail Project Management team throughout the entire life-cycle of this exciting project.”
Merseyrail’s LLPA renewal project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2011.
telent’s Rail business combines light and mainline rail service offerings.
From trackside infrastructure to customer information systems in-station, telent provides complete solutions for rail communications networks and telecoms. The company has grown to become the leading supplier for Rail telecoms over the past few years, maintaining SISS at over 1,000 stations across the country and having installed thousands of CIS displays, CCTV cameras, speakers and help points in station upgrade projects UK-wide.
In light rail, telent also recently supplied a new LAN and IP-based PA system for Serco Docklands’ station upgrade programme and is currently sole maintainer of communications systems across the London Underground.
With annual revenues of around £300 million, telent has decades of experience in supplying a broad range of network and communications services. Today, the privately-held company employs approximately 2,500 people and has one of the largest engineering field forces in the UK. Customers include: Airwave, BT, Deutsche Bahn, EADS, Merseyside Fire & Rescue, the Metropolitan Police, National Express, Network Rail, Stagecoach, Tube Lines, and the UK Highways Agency.
telent’s joint venture with Carillion, Carillion telent, was awarded a £1 billion 7-year nationwide support contract by Openreach, BT’s local access business, in 2009 (www.carilliontelent.com).
For more information about telent, visit www.telent.com
