UK-based rail safety experts Zonegreen have completed the commissioning process for advanced safety equipment at major traincare depots in Wellington, New Zealand.

With the co-operation of their Australian agent Andrew Engineering, the Sheffield-based company has supplied its SMART depot personnel protection system (DPPS) to three depots in the New Zealand capital, as well as its depot manager software to two of the depots. Zonegreen engineers recently flew out to Wellington to commission the equipment and provide training in its usage.

The contract with KiwiRail forms part of New Zealand’s extensive programme of railways development, as the industry, which has traditionally been predominantly freight, moves increasingly towards passenger rail. Against this background Zonegreen’s expertise in intelligent rail safety technology is in growing demand in both New Zealand and Australia.

Zonegreen’s managing director Tony Hague said: “There is nothing comparable to our safety systems on the market at present in Australasia, quite simply because historically there has not been the demand.

“So we’re very pleased that crucial investment is now being made in this area to ensure the development of a truly modern rail network. KiwiRail is looking towards the future with a close eye on the kinds of innovative safety solutions that Zonegreen works so hard to spearhead, which is great news for the industry.”

At the heart of Zonegreen’s contract with KiwiRail are two of Zonegreen’s flagship products, the SMART DPPS and depot manager.

The SMART DPPS is a highly advanced protection system incorporating the use of intelligent distributed control and communication technology, as well as electronic personnel datakeys to identify staff working in different safety zones. It is now installed in the vast majority of new UK depots and a growing number of depots worldwide.

The depot manager software offers a complete overview of a depot. It provides key information to make operations quicker and easier to implement, ensures the use of safety systems at all times and offers comprehensive traceability.