rethinking the crossover
2004
The first prototype
Donald McCallum and the engineering team in Glasgow develop the first Non-Intrusive Crossover System prototype. The idea is simple but radical: a temporary crossover that sits over the existing track instead of being cut into it, removing the need for rail alterations and signalling works.
2008
Engineering validation
Early prototypes undergo structural and operational testing. The design proves that a train can be lifted clear of the permanent railhead, steered across the six-foot, and returned to the running line without damaging the track beneath.
2011
RSSB and Network Rail Scotland interest
The system attracts formal interest from the Rail Safety and Standards Board and Network Rail Scotland. Independent reviews confirm the safety case for using NICS during engineering possessions and renewals.
2012
Scottish timber trial
NICS is deployed in a live Scottish timber trial, demonstrating how a temporary railhead can open freight flows that were previously uneconomic. The installation shows the system can be assembled in a single shift and locked out of use when trains need to pass.
2014
Worldwide patent protection
The core NICS concept is granted patent protection across multiple territories. The intellectual property covers the four-part assembly. Ramps, switch plates, crossing plates and gut rails - and the method of creating a non-intrusive crossover.
2018
Product refinement
The design is refined for faster handling and lighter sectional weight. Palletised components make road transport and site lifting easier, while the site-survey process is formalised around track geometry, sleeper type and spacing.
2026
Present day
NICS Ltd remains headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, supplying the crossover system to rail infrastructure projects across the UK. The company continues to work with operators, contractors and asset owners on possessions, runarounds, loop sidings and temporary freight connections.
NICS reduces project time and cuts cost
Find out how NICS can save time, reduce costs, and keep trains moving around worksites.