telent awarded major new contract to deploy pioneering passenger safety technology for Metronet Rail
 
29 Oct 2008 – telent, a leading provider of technology services, has today announced that it has been awarded an eight year multi million pound contract by Metronet Rail, now owned by Transport for London, to provide an innovative new passenger safety surveillance system on the London Underground.

The drive for enhanced passenger safety and security is being driven by the scheduled introduction of modern, faster rolling stock on the Metropolitan, District, Circle, and Hammersmith & City lines.

telent will design, implement and commission a microwave-based system which will take images from up to eight high quality CCTV cameras on each platform and, using sophisticated video processors, transmit a combined view of the train’s exterior to the driver via a microwave radio link. This will allow drivers to see every door on their train, regardless of whether the platform is straight or curved.  It is the first time microwave-based technology has been applied in this way in the UK.

telent has already successfully deployed a similar microwave-based system in Hong Kong and is offering Metronet a reliable and cost-effective solution to meet its need for increasing passenger safety and security.

Commenting on the major award, Mark Plato, telent’s Chief Executive Officer said, “We’re delighted at the confidence Metronet has shown in our ability to deliver what will be a leading-edge passenger safety system, the first one based on microwave technology to be introduced in the UK. With over 30 years experience in metro and rail, telent’s domain knowledge and technical expertise is unrivalled in this sector.”

John Coomber, Executive Vice Chairman of Pension Corporation and Chairman of telent, commented: “Following the Thameslink contract win earlier in the year, this agreement with Metronet Rail is further evidence of telent’s unparalleled expertise in the rail sector. I am delighted that we continue to strengthen our position in our existing markets and at the same time have successfully expanded into new ones.”

telent is currently working, in partnership with Amey, to upgrade and modernise over 100 London Underground stations on the Northern, Piccadilly and Jubilee lines, under a 13-year contract awarded by Tube Lines in 2005.