Posted to News on 15th Sep 2021, 00:00
Cable seal maker Roxtec undertakes London Underground upgrade
Greater Manchester-headquartered safety seal manufacturer Roxtec UK is undertaking an extensive six-figure deal to help upgrade the London Underground. The £5 billion Four Lines Modernisation project (4LM), which launched in 2016, aims to update the Tube network’s Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines with hi-tech signalling equipment capable of boosting the frequency of trains and cutting down on delays.
The project has seen 51 new signalling rooms created, as well as equipment to house signalling cabinets along the 161km of track, with Roxtec UK's products sealing cables going into and out of these buildings and cabinets.
The seals serve as a fire barrier, with 60 minutes of insulation and integrity guaranteed, as well as water ingress protection in the event of a flood and rodent protection. The Roxtec seals further protect against other complex hazards including the effects of lightning strikes, gas, dust, humidity, electro-magnetic disturbances and the risk of explosion.
“Roxtec cable and pipe sealing systems were chosen due to their exceptional life expectancy and ease of use,” explained David Chalmers, divisional manager for infrastructure and industry at Roxtec UK and Ireland. “Each station’s signal equipment room or removable electrical building is individually designed and 12 variants of Roxtec’s rectangular and round frames were chosen to cover all station requirements.”
The 4LM project will enable the introduction of 192 longer S-stock trains which will run closer together. With 32 trains an hour, it is estimated that this will result in a 33 per cent increase in peak-hour capacity by 2023.
