Leafield takes a great deal of pride in playing an important part in modern rail safety technology. With recent high profile incidents, new and innovative safety equipment is coming on stream. Leafield is applying its knowledge of the defence industry to supply highly effective critical components to two separate organisations for completely different safety systems.
Development work has been conducted over several years with AEA Technology of Derby to implement an improved ‘Safeset Decoupling’ system invented by Voith Turbo Safeset of Germany, suitable for use on the Class 91 Locomotive. With the development phase now successfully completed Leafield has pleasure in announcing that Garrandale of Derby have been awarded the production contract and Leafield remains the key supplier.
In parallel Leafield has been working with Alert Safety Technologies of East Kilbride on the Safescape system, seen recently winning the award on the BBC1 science programme Tomorrows World. In the event of an accident, this provides a fast, efficient escape mechanism through toughened glass and cannot be stolen. Leafield provides the actuating device on Safescape, that is expected to be fitted as standard on all trains and buses in the UK and potentially World-wide.
Four months of trials have just been successfully completed on London buses and Safescape has been given the green light by the Department of Transport to be installed on PSVs. Roy McGregor, Chairman of AST said ‘We are delighted to have developed a product which will help people escape and which is now being taken up by bus companies’.
Mr Bob Dyke, Managing Director of LEL said ‘We at Leafield are very enthusiastic about our part in developing and providing such important items in systems that we feel have the potential to save many lives. We are very pleased to play a major part in two such successful technologies; this represent a good start for growth in area that is relatively new to us’.
For further information contact:
Leafield Engineering Limited
Leafield Way,
Corsham,
Wiltshire SN13 9SS,
UK
Leafield Way, Leafield, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 9SS UK.. Telephone +44 (0) 1225 810771. Fax +44 (0) 1225 810614
Leafield Engineering Limited is registered in England & Wales, company registration number 634776 and has its registered office at Chemring House 1500 Parkway. Whiteley, Fareham, Hampshire, PO15 7AF.