Member Article

Gateshead’s TPS lands £1m contract to improve train service offering

Turbo Power Systems (TPS), a Gateshead-based manufacturer of power electronics, has won a £1m contract from Porterbrook, one of three major rolling stock leasing companies.

The scope of work includes the manufacture of Battery Chargers for Porterbrook’s Class 170 “Turbostar” Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs). Currently, there are more than 500 units successfully operating in various fleets across the UK including; Abellio Greater Anglia, Abellio ScotRail, CrossCountry, First TransPennine Express and London Midland.

The trains’ use different types of batteries to support the low voltage standby and emergency circuits. To obtain the longest life and achieve minimum maintenance of these batteries, the charging voltage needs to be controlled within close limits. The Turbostars’ Battery Chargers provide a stable power supply, throughout the trains’ lifetime, and feed all of the car’s low voltage loads as well as charging the back-up batteries.

The equipment is ruggedly constructed to withstand the severe under floor environment and the design techniques used provide excellent reliability in operation. Multiple units can be operated in parallel to achieve higher current output or provide redundancy of operation.

The Class 170 trains are leased to a variety of train operating companies including; Abellio ScotRail, First Trans Pennine, Chiltern Railways and Hull Trains.

Carlos Neves, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are absolutely delighted that we have won this contract. We hope our innovation will complement the Government’s vision for an improved train service offering; due to the high reliability of the power that the battery chargers provide and therefore minimal downtime.”

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