Heathrow Terminal 5 Rail Station

Firstco provided an engineering manager and team of design engineers to design and commission C&C systems.

Delivery of SCADA/PLC Network controlling and/or monitoring:

• Tunnel Ventilation
• Station and Tunnel Lighting
• Fire Main Isolation Valves
• Electrical Distribution
• Sump Pumps
• Lifts and Escalators
• Security
• Fire System
• Passenger Information
• CCTV
• Status of other C&C Systems

The PLC network uses in excess of 10km of redundant cabling, both copper and fibre, to connect 23 PLC’s on a ControlNet network. 18 of the PLC’s are configured as hot standby fully redundant pairs and are SIL2 compliant.

The PLCs are networked to 49 purpose built Remote I/O Control Panels giving connection to approximately 2400 digital and analogue I/O points. In addition to the hardwired inputs the system also has 7 different protocol interfaces allowing the Control Room staff seamless control of the various third party systems.

A redundant server/client RSView SCADA System brings all of the systems together to provide a fully integrated user interface. The additional control and monitoring required for the new T5 systems have been engineered into the existing Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) to ensure the entire network, now comprising of 53 PLC’s, appears and operates as one single integrated system to the operators.

Unlike the previous “closed” solution running Unix on Dec Alpha servers and Sun workstations, the replacement solution is “open” – vastly improving Heathrow Express Total Cost of Ownership. Graphics and alarms can easily be modified - a prime requirement in an ever changing environment.