London Underground relies on RFID

Nordic ID PL3000 RFID readers are in use in London Underground in the UK together with Confidex Ironside UHF Gen2 Hard Tags. The solution is used to improve escalator maintenance.

The London Underground application is of great relevance to other escalator operators around the world.  Maintenance and safety of escalators is important for Metro operators such as London Underground and for shopping malls and other public places.

London Underground, has implemented an inspection / maintenance regime that ensures the structural integrity of every step. They are all checked at least once a year.  With almost 30,000 escalator steps, in almost 200 escalators, needing to be checked this requires significant effort by London Underground’s engineering staff.

Implementation of RFID Technology

To address the need for faster, more accurate and more cost-efficient maintenance, London Underground decided to use RFID technology.  CoreRFID developed the “Step Tracking System” as the maintenance management solution. This uses Nordic ID PL3000 hand held devices with RFID Reader mounted on a cradle beside the escalator and application software to read and write information on the tag.

Operational deployment has now started across the Bakerloo, Central, and Victoria lines and other underground stations where London Underground is responsible for escalator maintenance.

“There are clear advantages for London Underground in using RFID. Having an automated system that provides essential data without interrupting escalator use is something many other users and operators of escalators can take advantage of", says Richard Harrison, Technical Sales Director of CoreRFID.