New signals for safety

When Canberra's light rail vehicle drivers identified a potential safety hazard at the stop signals on Canberra's new light rail network, it took some innovative thinking from an engineering graduate to solve the problem and suggest a new signal for safety.

Originally, a single horizontal LED white line was used on the system to signal to drivers that they needed to stop.

However, the drivers reported that the white signals were hard to see, and posed a potential safety hazard on the light rail system.

The solution?

UGL Graduate Mechatronic Engineer Sophie Counsell submitted a proposal to replace the old white LED signal with a new red LED signal that drivers would immediately understand as a symbol to stop.

Temporary covers were developed to create red signals, ensuring the safety change was made as soon as possible, and hazard was removed from the network until permanent red LED signals could be manufactured from an overseas supplier.

The reaction? Drivers reported that they were far happier with the signals, and that they provided a great improvement for safety on the network.

Glenn Stockton, Canberra Metro Board Member said: "It's a great example of how our team responded to a potential hazard and came up with a simple solution that could easily and quickly provide an improved safety outcome for our passengers, drivers and the greater community.

Sophie Counsell said: "Once the solution was approved, the team quickly rolled out the changes across the light rail network. I'm very proud to be part of such a collaborative and supportive team.”

The new signals have been in operation since 1 August 2019.

Read more about how safety has been embedded in Canberra's light rail system.