Barhale bridges the gap
10 Dec 2004
Barhale’s Railways Division recently completed its first major contract since the division was set up at the beginning of the year by undertaking bridge reconstruction works for Birse Rail Ltd, the current Structures Framework Contractor for Network Rail in the former London and North Western Region.
Project team
Working alongside Birse and other sub-contracting companies, Barhale was responsible for undertaking the reconstruction of underbridge 87, and the bridge deck waterproofing of adjacent underbridge 86. These bridges are at Saunderton station, between Princess Risborough and High Wycombe, between Marylebone and the West Midlands.
Planning of the work and the training of additional resources started early. Existing staff were trained in Personal Track Safety (PTS) and some as Controllers of Site Safety (COSS).
Key individuals from different regions came together to form the Project Team. Detailed planning took place with the selected team members. A plan was produced and integrated with the other sub-contractors, together with Birse as principle contractor.
When the Barhale team dug trial holes around underbridge 87 they discovered that the steel deck had been filled with concrete years ago. The additional weight of the existing bridge structure, which was to be craned out, meant that a higher capacity crane was needed for the main possession.
Before the main possession a cable bridge was erected to carry re-routed signalling and telecommunications cables, brickwork on parts of the stitching existing abutment were stiched and brickwork which had to be removed during the possession was chain cut.
Track removed
The 54 hour possession began in the early hours of Saturday 16th October, when Birse had possession of the line. Signalling and telecommunications equipment was disconnected and the track removed. Barhale’s first shift then dug down and released the existing bridge deck so that it could be lifted.
It was lifted at 10.30am, watched by the inhabitants of nearby houses. Meanwhile, a second team had removed bottom ballast from underbridge 86, so that the waterproofing sub-contractor could treat the bridge deck. The next Barhale shift prepared the abutments of bridge 87 for the new superstructure.
In the early hours of Sunday, both new bridge decks had been seated on the abutments. As the morning progressed, ballast retaining walls, collision beams and handrails were progressively installed, followed by backfilling and the waterproofing of the new abutments. The track was then replaced ready for the first trains in the early hours of Monday 18th October.
Good working relationships
The possession was given back early, to the delight of Network Rail and Chiltern Railways. The work that was completed during the possession was a true testament to the skills of all those involved. Good working relationships were formed, with everybody committed to the project, and ensuring its safe completion.
Ian Allison, General Manager of the Railways Division of Barhale, said: “This is a great achievement for Barhale, on our first job as the Railways Division. Whilst we need to build on this experience, I am sure that it has demonstrated our commitment to the railway industry and our future long-term aspirations to expand and become a turnkey supplier.”
.jpg)
Article taken from the rail engineer December 04 issue