The new Double Variable Rate Sanding brake system fitted to Northern’s Class 323 fleet has delivered a significant reduction in safety incidents since its implementation.
This is the first fleet in the UK to be fitted with the system, providing results never before seen in the rail industry.
Feedback from drivers of the 323 fleet:
- DVRS delivers a consistency in braking performance that provides a more repeatable and predictable reaction in very low adhesion conditions
- 88% of respondents believe there has been a positive change to the stopping distances of the Class 323 with the DVRS system fitted
- 85% of driver’s perception of the Class 323 braking performance has been altered for the positive due to the system’s impact
- Zero station overrun during the leaf fall season of 2024 attributed to low adhesion
This project won the Engineering and Safety Category at the Railway Innovation Awards in 2025.
The industry is now evaluating the merits of wider Variable Rate Sanding adoption across other fleet classes. This is technology that could be widely applied across fleets to increase the operational performance and improve the safety of our railways
