Home Blog Page 107

Work to resume on TfL construction sites

As the Covid-19 lockdown eases, work on a number of Transport for London (TfL) construction projects has resumed, with more restarting in the coming weeks.

Work was halted at around 300 TfL sites in late March to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Since then, design and other preparatory work on many of these projects has continued, with staff and many of TfL’s contractors working from home.

Over the next few weeks, site preparation to accommodate social distancing and construction work will safely begin in a phased way on a number of projects across the capital. These include major capacity improvements and extensions for Tube and rail, such as the Northern Line Extension to Battersea, the Bank Station Capacity Upgrade and the extension of London Overground to the new housing development at Barking Riverside.

TfL is working closely with its contractors and supply chain to ensure all sites operate safely and fully comply with the latest guidance from the government and Public Health England. The changes being made include:

  • Staggered shifts and breaks to spread journeys outside peak periods and prevent large groups;
  • Clear signage for social distancing and one-way walking routes;
  • Additional staff welfare areas;
  • Additional hand-washing facilities and sanitising stations;
  • Reconfigured canteens and access to personal hand sanitisers.

All sites will have a reduced number of people working at any one time, with some sites having an additional site supervisor to ensure social distancing is maintained. Workers will be further supported at some sites by welfare wardens, who will control access to common areas and changing facilities, so they do not become crowded.

TfL Image – social distancing taking place at the Bank Station Capacity Upgrade.

Deliveries to sites are also being adapted. Every effort is being made to keep deliveries to a minimum and any delivery drivers must now enter sites with windows wound up. Instead of signing for goods being delivered, photographs are being taken.

Heidi Alexander, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said: “It’s really positive that work can now safely resume on key transport infrastructure projects, which will help to kickstart London’s economic recovery.

“It’s vital that construction workers make journeys to sites on foot or by bike if at all possible in order to keep services safe for those who really need it. If workers have to travel on public transport, I’m pleased that our plans for staggered shifts will help them avoid the busiest times.”

Stuart Harvey, director of major projects, said: “Our number one priority is always the safety of staff on our sites as well as the surrounding communities. We have carefully developed our plans and adapted our worksites by working closely with our supply chain.

“It is a positive step that work can safely recommence on upgrades and key transport infrastructure projects that are so vital for the capital. We will continue to keep activity at all sites under review and ensure we continuously evaluate and improve our approach with safety at the forefront of all that we do.”

As work resumes, TfL will assess what effect the new ways of working will have on delivery schedules for the individual projects, subject to longer-term funding being received.

Opportunities to restart work on other projects continue to be reviewed across TfL’s capital delivery programme and further updates will follow as soon as they are available.

Stobart Group to dispose of non-core businesses and withdraw from Rail & Civils

In its financial results for the year ended 29 February 2020, Stobart Group has announced that it will withdraw from the Rail & Civils business.

David Shearer, non-executive chairman, said in his report: “The Rail & Civils business was impacted by continuing costs on a legacy contract which necessitated a further provision in the year. This business is unlikely to generate the appropriate returns for shareholders given the risks and we have decided to withdraw from this sector during the course of FY21.”

He also announced that, in view of the “confusion which existed with our stakeholders around the Stobart name”, the Group will, over the next three years, remove the use of the Stobart name from all operations. The Stobart brands have recently been sold to Eddie Stobart Logistics plc for £10 million.

While the two core businesses, Energy and Aviation, both made a profit, the overall performance of the Group was affected by Connect Airways and its subsidiary Flybe going into administration, with a proposed rescue being called off due to the Covid-19 epidemic. The aircraft leasing business, sold into Connect as part of the consortium deal to acquire Flybe, has been bought back from the administrator.

To counter these exceptional losses, the Group has arranged a combination of additional bank facilities of £40 million and new equity in excess of £80 million, which will allow it to stabilise its financial position while maintaining its operational capability through the anticipated crisis period.

Group CEO Warwick Brady said: “We are today announcing a clear plan to stabilise the business and provide a secure platform to move forward. We have a cost-efficient proposition for airlines and will further develop our passenger-focused airport experience that seeks to maintain passenger flow and provide enhanced customer confidence. Therefore, we will focus our investment and our business in this asset by seeking to dispose of our non-core businesses and, in due course, monetise Stobart Energy.

“The launch of the capital raise that we have announced today will provide the Group with the financial resilience necessary in the current environment and ultimately to position the business for success in the post COVID environment.”

Update 23 June 2020

A company spokesperson has announced on Twitter: “We have a number of identified interested parties who are better placed to invest in our Rail & Civils division. It’s an evolving and exciting time and the potential investment will help stabilise and grow the business through these difficult times of COVID, lockdown and beyond.”

So perhaps a change in ownership is on the cards?

Upgraded Kidderminster station open for passengers

Kidderminster station reopened on Sunday 7 June with a new glass-fronted building that is twice the size of the old one.

The station has also seen other improvements including changes to the forecourt area to make it safer for pedestrians to access the station and to improve the drop-off, taxi and disabled parking arrangements.

Councillor Ken Pollock, Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for economy and infrastructure, said: “It’s great news that the new station building which is a huge asset to the area, will be open and ready for when the current restrictions begin to ease.

“The customer experience at the station will be vastly improved and the changes to the forecourt layout will make it much easier for pedestrians to access the building safely. I look forward to being part of a more official opening in the not too distant future.”

The changes and improvements have been mainly funded by Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership and Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership via the Local Growth Fund with contributions from Wyre Forest District Council and Worcestershire County Council.

Brenda Lawrence, head of stations for West Midlands Railway, said: “The new bigger and brighter Kidderminster station is a fantastic addition to the town and will offer our customers a much-improved travelling experience.

“At the moment, with government advice on social distancing still in place and limited capacity on board our services, we are asking our customers to only use the train for essential journeys where they have no other means of transport.”

The County Council has confirmed that there will be an official opening later in the year with more details to follow.

WSP appointed by VolkerFitzpatrick to design new Brent Cross West Thameslink station

WSP, the engineering professional services consultancy, has been appointed by VolkerFitzpatrick to deliver design on Brent Cross West, a new Thameslink station located on the Midland main line that will form part of the broader Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration programme

The £40 million station in North-West London will be a gateway to a vibrant new town centre, and forms part of the wider Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration programme being delivered by a joint venture between Barnet Council and Argent Related, which will deliver up to 7,500 homes and 25,000 new jobs.

WSP’s Rail Stations team will work with architects Chapman Taylor to create an iconic, inclusive new station for the Brent Cross and Cricklewood areas, to achieve opening in spring 2022. It will accommodate up to eight peak stopping services and provide enhanced permeability across Barnet by providing a new, dedicated pedestrian overbridge, using roof technology to create a light and comfortable journey experience for users.

Growth Strategy – Brent Cross.

Dan Bishop, group director of stations at WSP, said: “We are proud to be part of this exciting opportunity to deliver a fantastic new gateway for Barnet. We look forward to working with VolkerFitzpatrick to deliver a new, fully integrated station that puts passengers first and provides improved connectivity with central London.”

Dan recently joined WSP as group director of the stations team which has around 150 staff across the UK. A key part of his role will include ensuring efficient integration of the wide range of engineering and design disciplines involved in every WSP stations project.

This latest project will build upon WSP’s delivery of other Thameslink stations including London Bridge, St Pancras International and Waterbeach, as well as Crossrail stations that will interchange with the Thameslink including Farringdon and Abbey Wood.

Increased train travel and the electrification of rail networks across the UK will support the government’s ambition to decarbonise transport across the UK as part of the 2050 net zero target, a commitment which WSP helping to deliver.

RMT writes to Nicola Sturgeon to get railway enhancement work restarted in Scotland

Work at Elgin - credit Network Rail

The RMT union has called on the Scottish Government to take urgent action to protect vital jobs on the railway in a letter to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Once Scotland went into lockdown, railway enhancement works fell under the same restrictions as the wider construction sector. However, as lockdown measures are eased, RMT is confident these works can be recommenced with the strictest possible health and safety guidelines and hundreds of jobs across Scotland’s railways can be protected.

Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said: “The health and safety of my members is paramount and my reps are now confident Scottish railway enhancement works can be recommenced safely as they have been in England and Wales.

“For some reason, despite our reassurances, the Scottish Government is insisting this sector remains under lockdown which is now putting hundreds of my member’s jobs potentially at risk.”

“To compound matters further rail renewals works continue to go ahead in Scotland while enhancements remain out of bounds to our members despite the exact same risk control and additional safety measures being in place.

“RMT believes that if this current illogical position remains in place rail infrastructure workers will potentially be thrown on the scrap heap simply due to political decisions being made which are totally contrary to the advice being given to Scottish Government Ministers by Network Rail on behalf of the rail Infrastructure contracting supply chain and by RMT on behalf of the workforce.

“We are ready to offer those reassurances to the First Minister and Scottish Government and have today requested an urgent meeting to agree a way to protect jobs whilst ensuring the highest standards of health and safety.”

(Photo above – Work at Elgin – credit Network Rail)

Transport Select Committee MP makes ‘virtual’ visit to rail industry

Several rail organisations have shown their efforts in combating Coronavirus in a virtual site visit with influential Transport Select Committee member Chris Loder MP.

Balfour Beatty, Movement Strategies, Network Rail and Ricardo Rail all took part in the ‘virtual visit’, demonstrating their work to ensure the rail network can keep moving key workers and resources, keep workers safe on site and support the NHS efforts to tackle Coronavirus.

On the call, the discussion included how:

  • Balfour Beatty spoke about their work with Network Rail on the Kilsby Tunnel, on the West Coast main line;
  • Ricardo Rail, which specialises in engineering solutions for rail as well as other sectors, and has turned its attention to producing vital PPE, including protective face shields for key workers in hospitals and care homes;
  • Movement Strategies, which specialises in people movement and location insights, has the vital skillsets required to enable safe travel in the era of social distancing;
  • Network Rail is continuing to deliver work on the Wessex route, whilst maintaining social distancing guidance.

The organisations, ranging from multinational organisations like Balfour Beatty to small and medium enterprises (SME) like Movement Strategies, showed how the rail industry is working as a united front helping the UK through the crisis.

 The virtual visit was part of the Railway Industry Association’s (RIA) Rail Fellowship Programme, an initiative established in 2018 which brings politicians onto rail sites to help them develop an understanding of the on-the-ground workings of the industry. The Fellowship Programme is an important mechanism for ensuring politicians are in touch with key issues and workings of the industry.

While traditional visits are not possible due to Coronavirus, RIA has adapted to suit the times, continuing the programme virtually at a time when constructive dialogue between politics and industry is more essential than ever.

Transport Select Committee MP Chris Loder said: “It was great to take part in the Railway Industry Association’s Rail Fellowship Programme today and to be the first MP to take part in a ‘virtual visit’. I really appreciated the insights from companies across the industry as to how the railway is dealing with Coronavirus and the level of innovation to enable the railway to start the return to normal. I very much look forward to going out on site in the future.”=

Darren Caplan, chief executive of the Railway Industry Association, said: “Rail suppliers are working hard to support the UK in addressing the Coronavirus outbreak, ensuring we can get key workers and resources to where they need to be, supporting the NHS’s efforts by manufacturing PPE, examining how transport can adapt for a post-Coronavirus future, and ensuring we are one of the key sectors spearheading the UK economic recovery in the months ahead.

“We are proud of the work being delivered by our members, in such varied areas, to support the national effort. The RIA Rail Fellowship Programme is as vital as ever in these times, in providing rail suppliers with a platform to show what they do. So, we’re really pleased to host our first virtual visit and to show Chris Loder the incredible work our members are doing.”

Final phase of project to protect Highland railway underway

The last phase of a project of embankment and drainage work is about to get underway at Slochd between Perth and Inverness on the Highland main line.

It will be ongoing until November and will help protect against landslips and rockfall and also address a known flooding risk area which has caused delay and cancellation to passenger journeys twice in the last twelve months. It represents an investment of £4.8 million to protect the infrastructure.

The latest work will see installation of a new piped drainage system and earth-bunds, as well as concrete lined ditches to manage the flow of water away from the railway to culverts and natural water courses.

The project, which is being delivered over two kilometres of railway has been on site at Slochd since September 2019 and has targeted known areas of embankment with a history of instability and prone to rock-fall and flooding.

To date, the project has utilised 11,000 tonnes of stone to regrade more than 400 metres of railway embankment which is 14 metres high in sections. In addition, more than 840 metres of concrete lined drainage channels have been created and rock-netting has been installed where required.

110 metres of ballast retention has also been added to support the crest at the top of the embankments and to provide a new secure cable troughing route on the side of the line.

The project is part of a wider package of geotechnical work designed to identify and proactively deliver work required to address known, or potential, areas where the risk of flooding, embankment slip or rock-fall is high and to avert the associated passenger disruption that these issues could cause.

Network Rail’s project manager for the work at Slochd, Mark Wilson, said, “The unpredictable nature of the Scottish weather means that storms or flooding can happen at any time of the year.

“Milder and wetter weather means that drainage in some areas is no longer fit for purpose and can get overwhelmed. We are proactively replacing and increasing the capacity of drains and culverts to manage the larger volumes of water coming onto the railway from adjacent land on a more frequent basis.

“Work at Slochd will address a flooding issue which has caused the line to be closed twice in the last twelve months; once due to snow melt and the other due to an August storm.  It will also ensure that the surrounding drainage and embankments are future-proofed to protect the railway from the impact of increasingly unpredictable weather.”

Electric services from London reach Cardiff as Severn tunnel electrification is completed

Passenger trains are finally running from London Paddington to Cardiff using electric traction the whole way, following the electrification of the Severn tunnel.

As Rail Engineer reported in February 2020, electric services commenced on 7 January but had to continue running under diesel power through the Severn tunnel.  This was because the overhead electrification systems was suffering from rapid corrosion in the tunnel which meant that an electrical supply couldn’t be sustained.

Whereas the overhead line equipment (OLE) in open country is a copper wire, kept under tension and suspended from a catenary arrangement, this is not the case in the tunnel. Instead, an extruded aluminium beam is rigidly fastened to the tunnel roof and insulated from it. The copper contact wire slots into that beam and, as it is supported for its full length, doesn’t need to be under tension.

Severn Tunnel – First train to Cardiff.

However, under testing, the aluminium beams were corroding much faster than was expected. There was some speculation that an anaerobic bacteria was to blame, as has been experienced on oil rigs, which was ‘consuming’ the aluminium beams’ protective oxide layer and allowing corrosion to proceed.

Noel Dolphin, from OLE designer and supplier Furrer+Frey, explained that two actions were taken to solve the problem.

Firstly, the contact wire was changed to an aluminium one. That made the overhead system ‘all aluminium’ so there was no possibility of galvanic corrosion between copper and aluminium.

Secondly, some parts of the tunnel – perhaps 20 per cent was Noel’s comment – were very wet from water leaking through the lining. The Severn tunnel has always been wet – during construction in 1879, the workings were flooded by water, not from the River Severn, but from the Great Spring which flowed into the tunnel from the Welsh side. Large pumps were installed to control it and these have to run continuously – over 14 million gallons of water are pumped out of the tunnel every day by Sudbrook pumping station.

Readers may be interested to know that some of the water is pumped to a brewery in Magor, near Newport, where it is turned in Stella Artois and Boddingtons!

But the water causing the problems for the electrification wasn’t all fresh water – some of it was saline from the Severn estuary and covering the OLE system with salty water (a good electrolyte) wasn’t a good idea. So Network Rail worked hard to replace drip pans and grout the tunnel lining, all to control the water and make sure that, if leaks couldn’t be prevented, at least they ended up in the drainage system and not on the OLE.

These two measures have resulted in a much drier tunnel and an electrification system that doesn’t corrode.  Job done!

Severn Tunnel.

The OLE was energised over Easter, since when test trains, and the occasional in-service train, have run through the tunnel under electric power.  Those tests were successful, so passenger services can now run through all-electric for the first time.

Sudbrook pumping station is also set to be renewed as part of the upgrade of the Severn Tunnel, further improving the reliability of the railway.

Mark Langman, Network Rail’s managing director for Wales and Western, said: “I am absolutely delighted that the Severn Tunnel is now fully electrified, resulting in a seamless rail link for passengers between Cardiff and London Paddington.

“Electrification has reduced journey times between South Wales and London by as much as 15 minutes and provided an additional 15,000 weekday seats compared with a year ago, with the possibility of further increasing the number of services and seats from south Wales in the future.

“It has been a hugely complex task to electrify the tunnel but I’m thrilled that the final piece of the puzzle is now complete.

“I would like to thank passengers and lineside neighbours for their patience over the past decade as we worked to deliver the transformation of this vital railway and am pleased that they will benefit from these improvements for years to come.”

Irish Rail helping Ireland to reduce carbon footprint

Over 50 of the largest companies in Ireland are signatories to Business in the Community Ireland’s Low Carbon Pledge.

In doing so, they have publicly committed to halve their direct carbon footprint between now and 2030.

Business in the Community Ireland, the national network for sustainability, created the Low Carbon Pledge in 2018 with the aim of being a starting point for their member companies to commit to cutting their carbon footprint,

The Low Carbon Pledge requires signatory companies to reduce the intensity of their Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2030.  This year, the scale of the ambition of the Pledge was increased to incorporate some indirect, or Scope 3, carbon emission sources namely business travel, water consumption and waste generation. Ultimately, the Pledge calls on businesses to work towards setting science-based emission reduction targets – the reductions necessary to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Irish Rail chief executive Jim Meade signs the Pledge.

One of the companies to have signed the Pledge is Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail). Chief executive Jim Meade said: “Public transport plays a central role in reducing Ireland’s carbon footprint, and in helping our customers to do so also, but through the Low Carbon Pledge we commit to doing more.

We are committed to achieving a 50 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 and supporting Ireland’s ambition to becoming a carbon-neutral economy by 2050.”

For the second year running, BITCI has partnered with PwC to produce the Low Carbon Pledge report, Business Working Together for a Low Carbon Ireland, which shows progress of the Pledge signatories towards decarbonisation.

The PwC report states that pledge companies are making significant progress towards achieving the target to decrease in carbon intensity by 2030. The average emissions intensity reductions across the pledge companies have increased from 36 per cent in the inaugural report to 41 per cent (the data analysed in this report relates to 2019).

Tomás Sercovich, CEO, Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), said, “Building a new economic model as a result of the pandemic requires significant investment, innovative technology and a new social contract that leaves no one behind. This is a once in a generation opportunity to set the foundations for an inclusive, fair and just net zero economy.

Ireland has a huge challenge ahead to transition to a low carbon economy but also embrace the opportunities a net zero world will offer. Our aim for the Pledge is to provide leadership, set a collective ambition and drive practical action”.

Crucial coastal viaduct on Cumbrian Coast line to receive major investment

A multi-million-pound project to improve Eskmeals viaduct, which carries the railway over the River Esk estuary near Ravenglass in Cumbria, will start next month to make journeys faster and more reliable for Cumbrian Coast line passengers.

The £2 million investment will see wooden timbers and 600 metres of rail renewed on the 18-span viaduct which that was built in 1868 and still has its original wrought iron girders, which were strengthened in the 1920s, and its red sandstone piers which support the structure in the estuary itself.

When the new track is installed on the important link between Ravenglass and Bootle, speed restrictions imposed on trains can be lifted meaning faster journeys for passengers.

Phil James, route director for Network Rail’s North West route, said: “This significant Great North Rail Project investment at Eskmeals viaduct will ensure that the Cumbrian Coast line remains safe and reliable for passenger and freight trains for many more years to come.

“We know that this is the second time in a month that part of this line has been closed, and I want to thank passengers for their patience while work takes place.

“In line with government advice around coronavirus, we’re continuing to ask passengers to avoid public transport if at all possible and to only travel by train where your journey is essential.”

The work means the viaduct will be closed to trains for eight days between Saturday 20 and Monday 29 June.

Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern, said: “The viaduct at Eskmeals is iconic and an important part of the railway heritage in Cumbria. But it’s more than that, it’s also a vital part of the current rail network.

“The viaduct has stood for more than 150 years and the improvements being carried out by Network Rail will future-proof it for generations to come.”

Engineers will also take the opportunity to upgrade walkways and handrails across the viaduct which are used by railway staff. This will enable future maintenance work on the structure to take place more easily and safely.

1...106107108...291Page 107 of 291