ASL Safety & Security wins contract to supply IP-enabled public address products to the Norwegian rail network

ASL Safety & Security won a contract to supply their IP-enabled public address products to Jernbaneverket

UK-based ASL Safety & Security have won a £0.6m contract to supply their IP-enabled public address (PA) products to Jernbaneverket, the Norwegian rail network.

The preliminary installations covering 75 stations will allow local and central staff to make platform announcements to their individual stations as well Long Line Public Address announcement transmissions to individual and grouped stations.

Crucial factors in the contract award were the ability of the ASL solution to integrate with the client's passenger information management system and their capability to deliver a 20-year support framework.

Sousan Azimrayat, Director at ASL, said: "Over the last three years we have implemented a major investment programme in IP-based PA solutions with combined routing, amplification, PC/DVA, Text to Speech and Remote Diagnostic functions in one 2U fanless unit, making it ideally suited to solving the challenges posed by major transport infrastructure Long Line PA and Voice over IP projects."

She continued: "Some of the stations are above the Arctic Circle and extremely remote with minimal staffing. We were able to accommodate the client by redesigning our microphones on our ambient noise sensors to cope with temperatures as low as -50°C. The improved quality and intelligibility of PA announcements will be a real benefit to the Norwegian travelling public."

"The improved quality and intelligibility of PA announcements will be a real benefit to the Norwegian travelling public."

The Norwegian National Rail Administration (Jernbaneverket) owns and maintains the country's rail network including track and stations as well as being responsible for all traffic management other than tramways and rapid transit. Track is standard gauge and covers 4,114 kilometres of which 2,552 kilometres is electrified. The installation will be performed by Jernbaneverket's own installation arm with site supervision and commissioning assistance from ASL Safety & Security.

A framework agreement is in place between ASL and Jernbaneverket for the rest of the network with a total of 283 stations. Additional functionality at minimal cost on the iPA400 units to be installed includes the ability for a passenger to replay the last announcement at the touch of a button.