NORTHERN gave an international delegation a first glimpse of technology made famous by NASA aboard its new concept train.

The delegation of more than 60 rail industry professionals was treated to a sneak preview of new technology Northern has been pioneering as part of its Intelligent Trains programme.

The special return trip from Manchester Victoria to Bradford Interchange took place on Monday on a Class 150 train that has been kitted out with LIDAR horizon scanning cameras - the same used by NASA to map the surface of the moon - a radar dome, 180-degree thermal imaging software, acoustic monitors, a G-Shock Bogie and an AI camera.

The technology is designed to make journeys by rail safer and more efficient, allowing Northern to monitor the performance of its trains in ‘real time’ and to provide information to Network Rail about track and other infrastructure.

Rob Warnes, strategic development director at Northern, said: “We were delighted to bring together a group of rail industry representatives for the inaugural trial of our Intelligent Trains ‘concept train’.

“Among the many benefits of this technology is the ability for ‘early diagnoses’ of engineering issues on both track and train which can be addressed as part of planned maintenance rather than having to react when things go wrong.”

 

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