Contingency

planning for
power failure in
the rail sector.

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Contingency planning for power failure in the rail sector

Failing to prepare your rail operations for grid blackouts or
power equipment failures can lead to:

Safety issues

Reputational damage

Accidents

Financial penalties

Service delays

Economic loss

These risks can be mitigated

by developing a robust rail
disaster recovery plan.

Cancellations

Contingency planning for power failure in the rail sector

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Contingency planning for power failure in the rail sector

Effective contingency planning is vital to ensure speedy
business recovery in the event of:
Fire
Flood
Pow

er C

onti

nge

ncy

Plan

Weather disruption
Explosion
National grid failure
Equipment breakdown
Any other emergency

Contingency planning for power failure in the rail sector

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Contingency planning for power failure in the rail sector

Whilst disaster recovery planning is common practice
in the rail industry to ensure business continuity, the
provision of power is sometimes overlooked, despite
being a main requirement to aid recovery.

Producing a Power Contingency Plan where

back-up power options are considered is, therefore,
a business imperative.

What should a robust strategy contain?

This guide looks into eight key tips for rail management to
consider when preparing a contingency plan for back-up
temporary power.

Contingency planning for power failure in the rail sector

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Critically examine your existing emergency planning procedures

TIP

Does your existing disaster recovery plan cover every emergency power scenario?
Ensure your contingency plan considers back-up power for each
critical asset across your site or rail network including:
Train
Stations

Regional Operating
Centres

Signalling
Sites

Contingency planning for power failure in the rail sector

Telecommunications
Infrastructure

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Data
Centres

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TIP

Critically examine your existing emergency planning procedures

Does your power contingency plan have sufficient operational detail?

Have you addressed the following questions:
What emergency power equipment do you need?
Who will supply it?
Where it will be installed?
How will equipment be delivered to each location?
Have you accounted for structural upgrades or plant changes?
Has your plan been updated in the last 12 months?
If the answer is NO, now is the time to fill in the gaps!

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TIP

Identify your equipment requirements

Conduct site surveys across your entire rail network, assessing your
temporary power needs. Formulate a detailed equipment list.
Make sure the surveys take account of any special requirements, such as:

High voltage power

Access restrictions

Specialist signalling voltage requirements

Locations where noise reduction is key

Space restrictions

Locations where low emissions are key

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TIP

Identify your equipment requirements

You may need to use a generator hire company to cover your

equipment needs. If so, make sure you negotiate emergency rates and
understand your suppliers response times to each site.
Remember!
Aggreko can conduct free site surveys to give you a
list of both critical power and temperature control equipment.

Contingency planning for power failure in the rail sector

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TIP

Plan the logistics, including site access

Dont overlook the speedy deployment and delivery of all

contingency equipment to each site.
Consider the following transport challenges:
Is the delivery to
a remote location
or congested city
centre?

Will specialist
transport or allterrain vehicles be
required?
Is there
space to
unload?

Contingency planning for power failure in the rail sector

How do you deliver

during a blackout,
storm or widespread
road closures?

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Do you need a traffic

management system,
police clearance or
escorts to site?

Is the
location free
of rail power
lines?

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TIP

Installation prepare a connection plan

Work out the fastest installation plan so you

can Plug & Play equipment as quickly as possible.

Consider space constraints
The size, shape and footprint of rail generators can
vary widely. Map out specific equipment location sites
across your rail network on a plan.
Consider connections
Produce a cabling plan to ensure easy connection
points to the mains supply for all rail infrastructure.

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TIP

Continuity of supply

Devise a generator maintenance plan to prevent disruption to your rail services.

Fuel management
Plan where you would site fuel
tanks, or even better select
generators with integrated tanks
to save space.
Decide whether fuel
management will be managed
by the equipment supplier or
your own team.

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Generator monitoring
Request 24/7 remote
monitoring technology
to keep watch on assets,
helping prevent failures
and downtime.

Contingency planning for power failure in the rail sector

Automation
If a sites mains supply is
unreliable, generators can
be set up with an Automatic
Mains Failure (AMF) panel. This
monitors the grids incoming
supply and if it dips, the
generator automatically takes
over until it is re-instated.

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TIP

Consider the most suitable equipment for each application

While speed is important in rail emergency power situations, with careful

pre-planning you can also ensure the most suitable solutions are utilised.
Here are some examples of different types of power generation equipment and when to use them:
Equipment

Suitable for.

Specialist high voltage solutions:

Trackside signalling work, especially when switchgear or transformers fail.

Gas generators:

Long rental periods if mains gas is available, offering lower emissions and a cheap fuel (dependent on gas market price).

Secure containerised generators:

Remote locations, unmanned areas, or crime hotspots, where security can be an issue.

Load-on-demand generators:

Applications with variable power requirements and where low emissions and fuel savings are important.

Hybrid power solutions:

When noise needs to be kept to a minimum and when power demands are low.

Particulate filtration units:

Reducing particulate matter emissions when environmental targets are important.

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TIP

Check your emergency power suppliers certification and safety record

Check that any supplier is fully approved to work in the rail industry and meets
stringent quality, safety and environmental standards.
Rate your supplier against this checklist:
Meets NCCA (National Competency Control Agency) standards,
normally via Achilles RISQS certification.
Qualified service engineers are Personal Track Safety (PTS) certified.
Fuel management and servicing processes are fully ADR compliant.
Excellent previous safety record.

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TIP

Ensure proper coordination

A contingency plan will only be effective if it is properly

communicated across your organisation.

Make sure key staff and third

party suppliers e.g. estates
management, mechanical and
electrical contractors, caretakers
etc, are aware of the plan and
their roles and responsibilities
are assigned and understood.

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24/7

Ensure a 24/7 hotline through to

your emergency power supplier.

Contingency planning for power failure in the rail sector

Have your engineers

on stand-by to oversee the
set-up of the equipment.

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How can Aggreko help?

Aggrekos wide range of power generation, heating, cooling and moisture control
solutions address the needs of the rail industry in a cost-effective manner.

Our UK rail division is RISQS accredited and provides

24/7 nationwide service. This ensures your rental
equipment will be delivered and installed in the
shortest possible time-frames, with minimal disruption.

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Our railway experts will work with you to create a list

of required equipment for your power and temperature
control needs. Contact us to get a quick quote or
to book a free on-site consultation.

Contingency planning for power failure in the rail sector

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A snapshot of our services

Super silent canopy
& container generators

Secure containerised
generators

Fuel
management

Gas
generators

Hybrid
power

Humidity control
equipment

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Contingency planning for power failure in the rail sector

High voltage
solutions

Remote monitoring
technology

Heaters

Chillers & temperature

control equipment

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Want to know more?

Call 0333 414 9418

Request a Free Site Survey

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Aggreko in the Rail Sector

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Contingency planning for power failure in the rail sector

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