The Specification Challenge

Traditional pole-mounted solutions were assessed early and ruled out.

• They reduced clearance in already constrained routes.
• They introduced additional maintenance complexity.
• They created visual clutter in an operational space where clarity matters.

The specification team required a system that would:

• Deliver consistent, measurable illumination across the full run
• Support both safe movement and close inspection of train surfaces
• Maintain uniformity without visual fatigue
• Integrate cleanly within the existing structure

Most importantly, the solution had to behave exactly as documented.

In a depot environment, inconsistency scales quickly.

The Engineering Approach

A continuous linear LED system was designed and installed along the full length of the walkway structure.

The luminaires were mounted at a calculated 45-degree angle, allowing illumination to serve two purposes simultaneously:

• Even distribution across the pedestrian route
• Clear, controlled light onto the adjacent train body

This was not over-specification.

It was performance matched precisely to application.

Photometric modelling and in-house testing validated the lux levels and uniformity ratios prior to installation. On site performance aligned with documented outputs.

No drift between specification and reality.

No late-stage surprises.

Why This Matters

In environments like Bletchley, defensive specification is common. Over-engineered products are often selected simply to eliminate personal risk.

But overspecifying does not always protect the project. It increases cost without necessarily increasing reliability.

This project demonstrates an alternative approach:

• Performance engineered to requirement
• System behaviour documented clearly
• Installation logic considered from the outset
• Consistency maintained across the full linear run

That is intelligent specification.