62
SIGNALLING/TELECOMS
REB
THE LIFE OF AN
STEVE BARRY
F
irst introduced some 30 years ago, the ubiquitous Relocatable Equipment Building (REB) has become one of the most familiar pieces of trackside equipment, and, although they’re seen by millions of passengers each year, it’s likely that they’re rarely given a second thought. Yet these modular structures contain a wealth of modern, innovative and increasingly digital technology and, on commissioning, REBs immediately deliver a huge range of benefits to passengers and operators alike. The word ‘relocatable’ is a bit of a misnomer. Once fitted into the railway, REBs are not often then relocated. Rather, they are built up at the supplier’s factory, where the equipment can be installed in clean conditions and then checked and cross-checked, and then relocated ‘ready to go’ to their intended site. One of those suppliers is Siemens Mobility, which has been supplying REBs from their first introduction. Over the last five years, its highly trained and highly skilled team has designed, manufactured and delivered around 60 units to projects across the UK. Although not widely recognised, all trackside equipment supplied by Siemens Mobility in the UK is actually built in the UK, with the company’s manufacturing capability for rail infrastructure extending across three dedicated sites. REBs are manufactured at the company’s largest plant, in Chippenham, Wiltshire. REBs, or rather the systems within them, are complex and safety critical. The manufacture of each individual unit therefore requires the involvement of a wide range of disciplines, all of which must be carefully choreographed to ensure the system meets each individual projects’ precise requirements.
Rail Engineer | Issue 186 | September/October 2020
