Image Credit: Shaun Hodges
In a rail industry first, the South Rail Systems Alliance (SRSA) successfully renewed a full length of track throughout the iconic Severn Tunnel in one possession.
Working across a 16-day blockade running in early July 2024, our SRSA’s Kings Norton division installed over 7097m of new track on the down line, starting at the England entrance and moving through to Wales.
With a phased renewal programme, the team completed the renewals in approximately 700 metre sections so that a conveyor belt of activities could progress seamlessly through the tunnel using multiple engineering trains and work fronts. In total the team handled:
- 7097m new track system installed
- 66 ×216 metre rails
- 10,800 sleepers
- 22,000 tonnes of new ballast
- 24,000 tonnes of spoil
This work was finished with our On Track Machine fleet, with our Tampers finalising the track position and our Freight Division forming part of the 41 engineering trains in operation to transport materials and spoil.
Image Credit: Alan Peters
Speaking about the success of the scheme, SRSA Head of Operations Wales and West, Shaun Hodges said “Meticulous planning and delivery work by our Kings Norton team, what we completed over 16 days is an incredible achievement. Excelling at track installation is what we do best.
“Thank you to my team and everyone else who played their part in this success.”
Network Rail’s Track Programme Director, Brian Paynter said “With all the track in the tunnel now less than two years old, it is the best consistent condition than it has been for generations and certainly in the safest and tidiest condition as you have left it spotlessly clean.
“This is the longest single mobilisation conventional track renewal that anyone that I can remember, with the added complexity of working in what used to be the longest underwater tunnel in the world.
“We were privileged to be given this access and the industry is even more privileged to be offered your efforts within it. The SRSA have turned what used to be one of our most inefficient track renewals jobs into one of the most efficient from a unit rate perspective.
“Thank you to everyone involved, you know how much I appreciate it and thanks for your hospitality on all my visits and hosting all the other visitors who were mightily impressed.”
The SRSA have enjoyed an annual tradition of renewing the track in the Severn Tunnel, completing a 10-day possession in summer 2022 before following up with another 10-day blockade in the summer of 2023.
The SRSA is comprised of Colas Rail, Network Rail and AECOM, an alliance created to deliver a portfolio of works across the southern region of the UK over a 10-year period.
Image Credit: Network Rail
First published: 25th July 2024