Docklands Light Railway goes VoIP

Serco Docklands has announced that it is introducing VoIP technology into the announcements system on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR).

The firm has formed a partnership with Telent to implement the new technology, as well as roll out a local network to enhance performance levels.

This will cover 32 DLR stations using an ASL iPAM public announcement system alongside Cisco gigabit Ethernet switches.

Already underway, the work is expected to reach conclusion by the end of the year and then last at least a decade.

Michael Evans, Serco Docklands' communications engineer, said: "Clearly the trend is to shift from a conventional multiplexed communications medium to a converged IP network and the goal of the project is to put in place an infrastructure which will last for the next ten years."

"Telent was chosen given their excellent response to our tender and a competitively priced solution, which can scale and change to meet our needs, all backed up by support staff who are close by," he added.

Plans are also in place for other services to run over the network, including passenger information, a train management system and potentially the CCTV set-up.