Staying with an electrification theme, Alstom
was highly commended for its work to reduce
the cost of rail electrification projects and
increase efficiency. This initiative looked at
developing the optimum solution for installing
25kV overhead line contact and catenary
systems, using efficient equipment and
processes, within an operational possession
regime, to achieve unrivalled production rates in
UK electrification, showing the rail industry that
electrification can be undertaken cost effectively
and efficiently, and so removing the stigma
around the cost of electrification.
Also highly commended was the way in which
VolkerRail and Unipart Rail have transformed
overhead line electrification by developing new,
innovative solutions around pre-fabrication build,
facilities and tracking of over 250,000 multi-
assets. A step-change in material fabrication,
installation, delivery and traceability capability
was needed to ensure the successful installation
of over 1,100 overhead line structures and over
200km of overhead line cable between Preston
and Blackpool within an 18-month period, and
the complete overhead electrification installation
needed at Blackpool depot. Together, VolkerRail
and Unipart Rail used existing systems anddedicated facility solutions from previous
projects to develop a plan to open a pre-
fabrication facility in Crewe, which would house
all materials and pre-fabrication requirements.Technology
Aidan Hancock, chief information officer for
Network Rail, presented the award for Best
Use of Technology, judged by Route Services
managing director Susan Cooklin and Professor
Phil Blythe, the chief scientific adviser to the
Department for Transport.
The award went to the Cambridge Centre for
Smart Infrastructure and Construction, along
with AECOM, Network Rail and the Alan Turing
Institute, for the development of innovative
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems that
combine high-end sensing technologies with
‘big data’ analytics, providing effective asset
management tools for better maintenance,
protection, and operation of ageing railway
bridges.
Roughly 50 per cent of bridge stock is ageing
masonry arch bridges, most built over a century
ago, before the enforcement of building codes,
and their condition continues to deteriorate
with time. Working on two bridges in Yorkshire,
the team was able to test and compare new
smart-sensing technologies and explore
optimum configurations. Over time, these can
be developed into structural alert systems,
moving towards a digitised railway with smart
infrastructure.
Great Western’s OLErt system, already a
winner in the Driving Efficiencies category, was
highly commended for best use of technology.
Also highly commended was WSP, which
worked with fixed-wing UAV (drone) specialist
SenSat to survey an area of rail, road, crossings,
greenfield and urban spaces. Due to the
complexity of the site, and to compressed
timescales, a conventional survey would have
taken too long. However, this novel use of UAV
technology reduced to two months the delivery
of a survey that would typically have taken five.Best Use of
Technology was
awarded to the
Cambridge Centre for
Smart Infrastructure
and Construction.40 RAIL PARTNERSHIP AWARDS
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