Modifications summary booklet

Client

  • Northern

Timescale

  • Summer 2017

Work undertaken

  • Design and artwork

Background

Northern already have a sizeable modern fleet, however, a refurbishment and modification scheme is well underway to ensure that the DMUs make them compliant with the forthcoming Persons with Reduced Mobility – Technical Specification for Interoperability – known simply as PRM-TSI (Note 1)- regulations that required all rail vehicles to be accessible by no later than 1 January 2020.

The modifications that will be made to meet the deadline see a raft of changes to Northern units 150, 155, 156, 158 and, as the 170 fleet is introduced (Notes 2 & 3), but not restricted to:

  • Changes to the wheelchair ramps – change of location and adding locking pins
  • Installation of Automated Public Address and Information System
  • Installation of dedicated Call for Aid
  • Changes to door press buttons
  • Installation of a Universal Access Toilet.

Enter the summary PRTMSI guide

I was asked to put the supplied information together in an A5 booklet so that train crew and station staff have a handy reference go-to guide of what the modifications are to the fleet. In addition to just setting the book; I was asked to bring a “fresh pair of eyes to produce a user-friendly document”

Within the guide, there was a lot of duplication as some reference material was the same in each unit – so out that came the duplication and the entry made generic unless a unique change was needed.

A number of separate artwork prices have also been created, either a direct replacement of a photograph or to provide a better visual accompaniment to the photograph; such as with the Automated Public Address and Information System and the Universal Access Toilet.

Once a draft copy was completed, as with any work it was returned, comments acted up and a final version produced, which has been printed for use depots across the North and viewable below.

Summary of PRM-TSI modifications to Northern DMU fleets

In addition to the book, a printable ‘call to action’ poster was also produced in the ‘Modernising Northern’ feel, to draw attention at the depots of the booklet availability.

A3 Poster PRM-TSI mods

Going forward, the booklet has created a template should future reiterations are required for other units in Northern’s fleet that are modified, such as the EMU fleet that will be retained.

  1. The PRM-TSI is mandated by the European Union through the European Union’s Railway Agency and even though the United Kingdom by 2020 will no longer be part of the European Union by this date, the act will been enshrined into the laws of the United Kingdom following it’s exit of the EU.
  2. The modifications will not be undertaken on the following units as these will be removed from Northern’s fleet by 2020;  class 142 and 144 ‘pacer units’ and Class 153 Sprinter. Class 144012 is the exception and has been modified as part of a lifespan project by Porterbrook Leasing should the Pacers be have required to stay in service after the 2020 deadline
  3. Displaced Class 170 units from Scotland will be introduced on a number of Northern routes from 2018.