telent to upgrade Merseyrail’s Long Line Public Address System

telent has been awarded a contract to redesign and upgrade Merseyrail’s Long Line Public Address (LLPA) system across the train operator’s 66-station network [Wirral and Northern Lines].

This latest award builds on telent’s existing relationship with Merseyrail: the company already provides round-the-clock fault support across Merseyrail’s station network; maintains CCTV, Customer Information Systems, Public Address, and Passenger Help Points; and has provided new Customer Information System systems at 9 stations.

For the new IP based LLPA project, telent will draw on its knowledge of modern IP LLPA solutions as well as Merseyrail’s SISS estate, to provide a tailor-made, compliant and technically resilient system. telent will renew infrastructure at a majority of stations including speakers, cabling, cable containment, amplifiers and microphones, introducing Induction Loop Points and Ambient Noise Sensors where appropriate, and recover old infrastructure and equipment in parallel. telent will also integrate the new LLPA system with the legacy PA equipment currently in operation on 5 Merseyrail underground stations.

Ensuring a seamless transition when the new system is brought into service, telent will also provide Merseyrail with on-going system maintenance and support.

Steve Pears, Director of telent’s Rail business, commented: “We’re delighted that Merseyrail has selected us to provide a tailored IP based LLPA renewal solution that we believe will exceed their expectations in terms of functionality and value for money. telent is uniquely positioned to combine in-depth knowledge of Merseyrail’s operations and infrastructure, with the right experience and IP technology expertise. We look forward to supporting the Merseyrail Project Management team throughout the entire life-cycle of this exciting project.”

Merseyrail’s LLPA renewal project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2011.