Christmas and New Year projects efficiently and safely delivered by Jarvis teams country-wide

As most of the country clocked off for a well earned rest over Christmas, Jarvis Rail’s teams in England and Scotland started work on delivering a wide range of multi disciplined projects, which included a total of around 5,000 composite yards of track renewals.

Over the holiday period the teams successfully completed 6 major projects including signalling commissioning, overhead line (OHL) contact wire renewal, plain line renewal and switch and crossing (S&C) installation and complex formation renewal and piling works. Sister company Fastline supplied key pieces of plant equipment and 24-hour support to each project.

Mike Houghton, Group Managing Director for Jarvis Rail and Fastline said: “Meticulous planning and preparation went in to each of the projects to enable our teams to fully utilise the possessions available this Christmas.”

“The teams safely and efficiently delivered the largest volume of project work completed by any contractor over the Christmas period. Integral to our success was our collaboration both internally and with Network Rail on access, equipment and possession times.”

One of the major successes was the Cowlairs junction renewal which took place during an 8-day blockade between Christmas Day and 2 January 2007.

The Switch and Crossing (S&C) project, situated at Cowlairs, Glasgow, comprised two new double junctions and one new crossover with the renewal of eight point ends and all associated nominal plain line works.

Jarvis’ Scotland Track Renewals Company team worked round the clock with approximately 600 people working across a total of 21 labour shifts. The team successfully completed the work on 2 January after 196 hours, with no reportable accidents and handed the track back ahead of time at the published linespeed.

Kenny Chalmers said: “The success of this project was not only down to the hard work of the team over the Christmas period but was ultimately due to the combined efforts of both Network Rail and our Scotland S&C team during the months prior to the blockade.

“The S&C was installed to the highest standard, with the track positioned within millimetres of the design before tamping. The team performed outstandingly throughout and I have received very positive feedback from the client Network Rail. I cannot praise the team enough for their efforts, professionalism and commitment to ensuring this project was delivered efficiently, on time and above all safely.”

Scotland’s OHLE team also successfully delivered 2.7km of contact wire renewal between High Street and Charing Cross Stations in Glasgow City Centre, during a disruptive possession on New Year’s Day.

In England the notable successes were the completion of the main commissioning at Sheffield Brightside and the commencement of stage 2a of multi million pound Rugby Station Remodelling scheme.

The West Coast team completed complex formation renewal and piling works in preparation for the installation of new points as part of the Rugby Station Remodelling scheme.

The formation renewal works involved the installation of a sandblanket, geotextile blanket, the cellular Geoweb geotextile and up to 1100mm of ballast compacted in 150mm layers. The construction, which also included a drainage run, was laid continuously across three formations at a 1 in 30 crossfall. The preparation of the site began on 22 December with the main renewals taking place between Christmas Eve and 27 December. On Christmas Day there were more than 30 trackmen, plant operatives, and technical and engineering supervisors on site.

The piling works utilised the Network Rail Windoff piling train, maintained and operated by Fastline. A team of 15 worked shifts commencing on 23 December through until Boxing Day.

On the East Coast the Electrical Projects Group (EPG) team completed the main commissioning of the £6.5m project to renew the signalling infrastructure in the Sheffield Brightside Control area. The interlocking renewal commissioning took place between 23-27 December with the main possession commencing on Christmas Eve. The signal interlocking was renewed with all associated telecoms, on site signaling and civil facilitation works and the existing goods line was upgraded to passenger status including permanent way and signalling works. Each shift was covered by more than 70 people from all disciplines.

Also in the LNE territory the teams completed the following major projects:

• Jarvis’ innovative slinger train was fully utilised at Chaloners Whin near York. On Christmas Eve the team relaid more than 800 yards of track on top of concrete sleepers and ballast clean which was followed by a re-stress of the site.
• At Claypole four point ends were renewed along with 489 yards of plain line track. A total of 304 shifts were completed with around 70 people working on Christmas day.
• At Ravensthorpe 285 yards of trax, re-rail and drainage works were completed on the middle line of a three track section. A total of 150 labour shifts were worked during a 56-hour possession covering Christmas day and Boxing day.

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