Pokesdown substation renewal
The DC traction power substation at Bournemouth’s Pokesdown Station is being replaced by an entirely new asset. Equipment in the existing substation is due for complete renewal, but severe space constraints and the condition of the structure mean the most cost-effective way to achieve this is to construct a new substation for the new equipment.
Navitas has been selected to deliver the renewal design by client Octavius, which is undertaking the project as the Southern Renewals Enterprise’s Electrification and Plant partner.
Navitas’ scope encompassed multidisciplinary design and assurance services, seamlessly guiding the renewal design from initial feasibility through to the completion of detailed design. The company directly managed critical interfaces with Octavius and third-party telecoms and civils designers. Close collaboration with the latter was especially important at Pokesdown as the substation equipment was being housed in a new-build two-storey structure.
Further close co-ordination was required with another Octavius team delivering, in parallel to the substation project, an Access for All project to enhance accessibility at Pokesdown.
The suite of Navitas’ services successfully delivered at Pokesdown encompassed:
E&P Design: Designed the complete, staged primary, protection, and control integration for the facility. This included the spatial coordination of HV, DC, and LV switchgear, transformer rectifier units, auxiliary transformers, battery chargers, and SCADA equipment, alongside comprehensive designs for all associated cabling and wiring interfaces.
SCADA Design: Engineered a staged changeover from the existing electromechanical system to a modern TPCMS system.
ETE Design: Integrated the substation with the traction network, delivering renewed track feeder arrangements and return system upgrades.
Earthing Design: Designed all required enhancements to the existing earthing system as well as the new bonding arrangement for the new substation building and new equipment.
M&E (Building Services) Design: Executed detailed modelling and design for the new facility's mechanical and passive ventilation, heating, and lighting systems.
Fire System Design: Coordinated and integrated comprehensive fire system designs into the overarching building layout.
EMC Management: Governed all EMC requirements, from the initial management strategy through to site measurements.
Design Assurance: Provided competent, client-approved personnel to ensure all designs were rigorously checked and assured in accordance with Network Rail requirements.
