David Allen (Head Of Fleet Services) and Anna Gray (Fleet Support Engineer) from Porterbrook Leasing jointly delivered the Annual Porterbrook Lecture on the Double Variable Rate Sanders (DVRS) project that involves the fitment of a new and upgraded sanding system to CL323 trains in order to improve the effects of sanding during low adhesion.

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Low adhesion is an industry wide issue for rail and with technological advancements in rail operation, with high braking rates, high acceleration rates and a congested rail network, demand for high levels of adhesion and improved safety performance is even greater. The greatest cause of low adhesion is leaf fall during Autumn; however, problems can be seen all year round and good sanding equipment on the train is a key instrument in tackling these issues.

Double Variable Rate Sanding Systems have been researched and tested for many years, with the RSSB project T1107 forming a major milestone. This quantified the benefits of improved sanding during low adhesion conditions for improved braking performance. Following this and the trial fit of two WMT CL323 units in 2018, the DVRS system is now being fitted across the Class 323 fleet, to prove the safety and performance benefits of improved sanding to the industry.

This lecture was jointly sponsored by DRES and the YRP.