Traditionally, there has never been a specific lighting solution for Rail Maintenance Pits that meets all the safety and lighting requirements. Designers have had to try and achieve light levels using commercially available products that have not been specifically designed for this application. A traditional solution would be a plastic or GRP linear luminaire mounted within the pit, with no directional light thrown into the specific areas required, and little to no regard for standards or the hazardous environment that the lighting for Rail Maintenance Pits is in.
Recognising Safety and Sustainability Needs
At Designplan we recognised that this inadequate lighting not only provided a safety risk, but also meant that any companies operating maintenance pits would have to change their luminaires on a regular basis, thereby making the operation of these luminaires very unsustainable. Another important aspect of working in a maintenance pit is ensuring good task lighting to the underside of a train, whilst also providing safe working lighting for the maintenance pit user. Incorporating emergency lighting is also an important factor to enable safe evacuation of the pit. The maintenance pit operator will also have tools and machinery to undertake the tasks required. Therefore any lighting solution would need to be of a robust nature, should any of these implements be dropped or knocked into the luminaire, something that a regular commercially available plastic fitting could not withstand.
Developing a Tailored Solution
We undertook sector evaluation with maintenance pit operators to understand what their specific requirements would be. We also interrogated Network Rail standards for lighting pits and then ensured that the product would have a 30 year design life, have an integral emergency, and be able to withstand the high temperature and high chemical content in any jet washing or cleaning apparatus. Another consideration is the physical dimensions of the maintenance pits, as well as fixing mechanisms within the pits.
Introducing the Redoubt and Redan
By listening to our customer’s requirements, and identifying where the light needs to be and to what level and uniformity, we designed the Redoubt and the Redan for the very specific requirements of heavy duty and light duty maintenance pit lighting. As well as Glare control for visual comfort (avoidance of disability and discomfort glare), the material chosen is specifically designed to endure exposure to a wide range of liquids and substances commonly encountered in heavy maintenance pits. Constructed from durable 316L stainless steel and equipped with specialised gaskets, Redoubt and Redan offer exceptional resistance to degradation and ensures long-lasting performance.
Etches Park, a train depot, recently had our Redoubt luminaire installed alongside several other lighting solutions. The project involved upgrading the North Shed’s lighting systems, successfully addressing delivery and installation challenges to ensure timely completion. By enhancing designs and optimising emergency lighting, the project exceeded expectations, strengthened partnerships, and opened opportunities for further depot projects, emphasising the value of collaboration and technical expertise.
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