Case Study: BSI Coupler Expertise

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Clients:

Porterbrook, Angel Trains, Crowle Wharfe, AKS, Unipart, Various TOCs

Specifications:

Modifications, Investigations, CR/CI0592 updates, Reverse Engineering, Re-design, Depot Benchmarking, Expert Support etc

Background:

ESG has been involved in various BSI Coupler projects over the last 10 years and has gained a reputation for efficient on-time solutions. Projects have involved working across the industry on aspects such as:

  • Incident investigation
  • Maintenance (light & heavy) review & recommendations
  • Review of operational characteristics
  • Modifications
  • Reverse engineering
  • Design evaluation / Re-design
  • Review of coupler fleet condition
  • CR/CI0592 updates (BSI Coupler overhaul)
  • Failure data review

Using a simplified model ESG have estimated that BSI Coupler failures cost the industry £4.5m per year with UBA’s (unsolicited brake applications) being the most occurring failure mode. A 50% reduction of such brake applications would save the railway an estimated £1.5m per annum.

ESG have a number of solutions/concepts available for the BSI Coupler that will aid improving coupler reliability, maximising maintenance effects, reducing TRUST (delay) minutes, minimising passenger disruption, lowering failure admin costs etc.

ESG wishes to promote cross-industry collaboration to provide benefits throughout the network and proportion solution development costs. Such working would allow our customers to achieve coupler improvements otherwise unreachable.