the rail engineer • February 2014
»» The prefabricated nature of the base and the slab means that in-situ site operations are minimised, perfect for sites with limited and/or restricted access; »» Finished platforms are solid with no gaps, meaning no issues with litter collection or access for maintenance; »» The modular nature of the system facilitates re-alignment should the station be subject to further re-design at a later stage; »» The material production process significantly reduces the environmental impact on the use of natural resources such as aggregates.
Network Rail Drive for Improvement Once the trial site at Sanderstead was completed in late 2010, Network Rail was eager to develop the design. Every aspect of the installation was reviewed to identify what could be improved, and how costs and time on-site could be reduced, whilst still ensuring complying with all standards. Network Rail’s head of engineering, route asset managers and the fire officer were all been involved in developing the system into a standard design which would allow the system to be used anywhere in the UK mainland. The system was approved as a standard design confirmed by Network Rail at the end of 2012. The improvement review confirmed that:
»» The excavation depth could be reduced to the bottom of the sleeper, removing any conflict with the track support zone or zone of influence; »» Lighting columns and fencing could be bolted down onto the finished slab to avoid individual post foundations; »» The copes and tactiles could be cast into the prefabricated slab; »» The slab could incorporate a cast-in drain; »» The slab thickness could be reduced as the copes were now cast in; »» All services (existing or new) could be incorporated under, within or behind the structure; »» A fire protection board would replace the initial concept of a polyurea coating to the EPS.
Carillion Works Including Peterborough Following approval, MegaTech Projects is currently undertaking a serious of projects for Carillion and Network Rail including the East Coast IEP stations and the £43 million redevelopment of Peterborough station. This involved a 67 metre long x 4.70 metre wide platform extension under a road bridge and overhead wires with restricted possession and isolation availability. The works were a critical element of the handover of the Peterborough station and had
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to be complete by the end of the Christmas blockade. There were the usual railway related issues but, with willingness and determination on the parts of Network Rail, Carillion and MegaTech Projects, the platform extension was completed and opened to the public on time. Said Network Rail’s Stephen Fletcher, route asset manager, “we are pleased with the outcome at Peterborough. The platform was installed safely and efficiently. This and the versatility of the product was the driver to choosing it.” George Rowe, director of MegaTech Projects, was pleased with the way the development and approval process had gone: “Network Rail and its engineers are often maligned for being obstructive and set in their ways. However, the attitude shown by all the departments and individuals we have been dealing with has been exemplary. “The willingness to encompass not only our innovative system but any ideas that could offer time and cost savings demonstrates that they are committed to achieving their targeted stringent cost savings. “The successful delivery of Peterborough repays the commitment shown by Carillion and Network Rail in our system. We look forward to dealing with the individual challenges brought about by specific sites and delivering many more stations.”
SUPPLIERS AND INSTALLERS OF
MegaTech EPS the Network Rail approved MODULAR POLYSTYRENE PLATFORM SYSTEM
t. 01698 263 277 e. george@megatechprojects.co.uk Completed platform at Peterborough
www.megatechprojects.co.uk