Southern Region Passive Thermal Management Solutions for Legacy Lineside Signalling Equipment Housings (Location Cases)

Descriptions

Legacy lineside equipment housings (dating from the 1960s–2000s) on the GB rail network are experiencing increasing thermal stress due to hotter, longer summers and changing climate patterns. These housings were not designed for elevated ambient temperatures or prolonged thermal loads and are increasingly at risk of overheating, which may degrade the reliability or lifespan of the sensitive signalling and telecoms equipment inside. In Kent Route, there are over 5,000 and in Southern Region there are over 15,000 of these housings (also known as Location Cases), and nationally over 60,000. Network Rail is seeking passive thermal management solutions that can be retrofitted to existing housings without compromising security, structural integrity, or existing cable penetrations. Active cooling systems are not desirable due to power constraints, maintenance burden, and whole-life cost implications. Network Rail is keen to understand the products and innovation that exist in the market, and the capability of the supply chain to meet Network Rail’s requirements and help to deliver better public services and value for money Network Rail is looking initially for 100 housings to be retrofitted within Southern Region ready for summer 2026, then, if successful, increasing the fitments across the region year on year.