ITALY: Electrification specialist Gruppo Bonomi has updated its Omnia cantilever design with what it terms a ‘self-supporting’ variant suited to use in tunnels and other restricted access sites. The Omnia range of overhead line structures has been offered by the Italian supplier since 2008 and has been approved for use across the RFI network in Italy and with Network Rail in the UK, where it has most recently been installed on Scottish electrification projects. The updated variant was introduced at InnoTrans in September, initially for use on main lines electrified at 3 kV DC. However, the company is working to develop the design ‘in the coming months’ for use on 25 kV 50 Hz electrified lines. The supplier says that the cantilever offers a number of advantages, including improved friction behaviour, an enhanced ability to handle longer spans, improved structural flexibility and enhancements to the support structure. It also retains many of the features of the previous iteration, including minimal use of sub-components, a lightweight design and production with sustainable materials.
