FIRE PROTECTION FOR GLASGOW SUBWAY
Safely through the narrow Victorian subway system with WAGNER Rail
WAGNER Rail outfits the Metro in Glasgow, Scotland, with fire detection and extinguishing systems. The real challenge of this project: the tight space in the subway, measuring just 2 metres in width and 2.7 metres in height. As for fire risks, this means that smoke can spread incredibly quickly in the event of a fire. This is why WAGNER fire protection solutions ensure fast and precise detection and enable passengers to be evacuated quickly and safely. The historic Scottish subway is thus optimally equipped for its way into a modern future.
December 1896: The first subway wagons rolled along two traction cables and were driven by steam engines from a power station just below Glasgow’s streets. Even then, the extremely narrow platforms, deep ceilings, and tunnels with a diameter of only 3.4 m made the subway system unique. The trains still travel on the narrow-gauge tracks with the unusual track width of 1219 mm. However, lateral conductor rails have quickly replaced the traction cables. Since 1935, Glasgow Subway has only been electric.
The current operator, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), now wants to take the next step and is planning to introduce driverless rail operations. This project is part of an extensive modernisation effort. Not only are many of the 15 stations currently being renovated, SPT has also ordered 17 new trains with four carriages from train manufacturer Stadler. The goal: Maximising comfort where space is at a premium. 116 seats and 206 standing places as well as folding seats and space for wheelchairs are planned for a train that is only about 2 m wide and 2.7 m high because of the narrow structure gauge.
One thing in particular must not be underestimated in the narrow Victorian tunnels: In the event of fire, smoke can spread incredibly quickly. Reliable and, above all, early fire detection is therefore indispensable. WAGNER Rail is therefore equipping the Stadler trains with one TITANUS MICRO·SENS® air sampling smoke detector per carriage. Minimal smoke development can be detected very early via sensitive sensors. In the event of an emergency, the trains can reach the nearest station and passengers can evacuate safely. In addition, a multi-sensor fire detector (multi-sensor smoke monitoring unit) and an aerosol extinguishing system are installed in the train’s technical container. In the event of a fire, the extinguishing system is automatically activated and extinguishes the fire in the power converters.
