Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) has been appointed as the engineering team for Phase 1 of the “Tunnel Cooling Project” for London Underground (LU) in the UK to identify and select cooling solutions for the network (T&TI, December 2005, p29).
The project aims to identify means of improving conditions on the system and to develop reference designs for implementation across the network said PB. The company said it will investigate a number of different solutions including “the use of cooling water taken from deep boreholes connecting to the aquifer below London, combined with state-of-the-art techniques, such as platform edge doors and under platform exhaust systems”. It is hoped this will aloow LU to co-ordinate cooling and ventilation issues with its line upgrade programmes.
The initial phase is planned to last until March this year during which PB will work alongside cost consultants Corderoy for civil engineering issues and EMCOR for the mechanical and electrical works, as well as LU’s engineering directorate.
PB said it would draw on UK and US resources. Disciplines involved will include rolling stock, traction power and hydrogeology.
