Ellie Lloyd

Said the following about Fenix Signalling:

“I would like to nominate Fenix Signalling’s team for Signalling Team of the Year 2017 for their outstanding work at Banbury Depot for Buckingham Group and Chiltern Railways.

Approval to bring the former train depot in Banbury back into use after almost 50 years was

given by Cherwell District council in February 2015, and a multi-million-pound investment from Network Rail and Chiltern Railways followed.

Fenix was brought in to handle the design, installation, testing and commissioning of the depot’s new signalling control system, working closely with its clients’ and supplier’s own teams to successfully implement an innovative system that had never been used before in the UK. Fenix delivered the GRIP 4-8 works at Banbury, starting in August 2016 and commissioned in late April 2017.

This project called for an innovative and cost-effective solution to control the safety and automate the track system in guided traffic in Banbury’s light depot. Dedicated to finding the perfect solution, Fenix sent engineers from its Warwickshire base all the way to Sprockhövel, in Germany, to become familiar with and understand Pintsch Tiefenbach’s depot signalling and control systems.

The PITB points system selected for Banbury is a UK industry first – the first time a technical interface to the main line signalling system has been provided, and via volts-free relay contacts. The visit to Germany involved several days’ close working with Pintsch Tiefenbach’s team to ensure that the work was a success, despite venturing into unchartered signalling territory for a UK depot.

Working closely with Buckingham, Chiltern and Pintsch Tiefenbach, Fenix’s team has been able to overcome a number of challenges. One of the biggest challenges in these works came with a significant delay to the blockade, as it initially fell on badger breeding season!

Fenix’s thorough planning and outstanding relationships with both clients on site allowed an interim stage solution to meet blockade dates to be agreed, with associated redesign, rescheduling and revised deliverables arranged with the contractor to establish a new programme. The redesign work enabled the installation of an interim and partial solution within the blockade dates, and the main project was then split into further stage works.

Due to a compressed time schedule, the team worked under pressure throughout and the success of the project is testament both to great team working with the two clients on site, and its in-depth preparatory work with Pintsch Tiefenbach.

Throughout the entire project, the Fenix team collaborated closely with all disciplines involved, including track, telecoms, civils, buildings and M&E. Fenix’s partnership ethos in its working relationship with all parties on the Banbury project included early agreement on joint and individual objectives, behavioural expectations and measurement approaches, such that they could be incorporated into the project from day one.

The Fenix team is an outstanding example of how close working with clients and contractors is the key to successful projects, even when installing a new type of equipment, or when unexpected problems arise.“