Trimley project offices and to
see some of the work at first
hand.
The scope of the project
includes:
» 1.4km of additional track at
Trimley;
» Closure of six pedestrian
crossings;
» Construction of a bridleway
bridge;
» Re-alignment of the existing
public rights of way network;
» Replacement of three
Automatic Half-Barrier (AHBC)
level crossings with Manually
Controlled Barriers with
Obstacle Detection (MCB-OD);
» Replacement of one AHBC
level crossing with MCB-
CCTV;
» A new signalling workstation;
» A new signal interlocking;
» New lineside signalling on
the branch line as required;
» Bi-directional signalling on
both lines at Derby Road;
» Installation of a new 650V
DC Class II signalling power
supply;
» Installing a diverse Fixed
Telecommunications Network
(FTNx) system and associated
infrastructure.
Such a diverse project
required an equally varied
group of contractors and
suppliers to complete, and
these are listed nearby.
Public rights of way
A network of footpaths and
narrow lanes criss-crosses
the railway along the stretch
that has been doubled,
necessitating detailed level
crossing risk assessments. The
study identified significant
increase in risk to crossing users
on the duelled stretch of line:
» Double track creates a
particular hazard for ‘Stop,
look and listen’ crossings;
» New loop exit signals
could cause waiting trains
to obscure the view of an
approaching train;
» Trains could be held at
signals, thereby blocking
footpath crossings;
» Trains could be held at
signals and cause existing
AHBCs to ‘time-out’;
» Log of many incidents /near
misses.
Accordingly, the report
recommended the closure
of six pedestrian crossings
and conversion of the AHBCs
to MCBs. As there were 10
objections to the Level Crossing
Closure Order, a public enquiry
was convened. The Inspector
found in favour of Network
Rail and the order was duly
endorsed by the Secretary of
State for Transport.
The project worked closely
with Suffolk County Council to
devise alternative provision for
the six footpaths being closed,
the centrepiece of which is
a new bridleway/footbridge
across the line near Gun Lane.
New footpaths are being
created alongside the railway,
connecting existing rights of
way with the new bridge, which
has equestrian ramps at the
Trimley end and footpath stepsat the Ipswich end.
With advice from the British
Horse Society, the Network Rail
standard holly green ramped
footbridge design has been
expanded to fit the scale needed
for horses with 3.5 metre width.Contractors and suppliers
Contractors:
» VolkerFitzpatrick - Principal contractor;
» Volker Rail - sub contractor for signalling, level crossings,
signalling design including the scheme plan;
» Atkins (part of the SNC-Lavalin Group) - design for GRIP
stages 3&4, TWAO support;
» Mott Macdonald- GRIP 5 detailed design track, Civils, E&P,
telecoms and level crossing ground plans;
» Pod-Trak - Permanent way, earthworks;
» Global Rail Construction- E&P - 650V signalling supply
and points heating, ancillary works including under track
crossings, ancillary civils;
» Network Rail Telecoms (NRT) Anglia Route - telecoms
testing and commissioning;
» PLS Civil Engineering - LX civil engineering, pedestal bases,
highway works, white lining;
» Alstom - Smartlock 400 interlocking, MCS workstation and
Vital Harmon Logic Controllers (VHLC) for MCBs;
» Sotera Risk Solutions - GRIP 3 level crossing risk
assessments;
» Carver Engineering Services - bridleway bridge, steel
work pre-fabricated at Doncaster and craned in over four
weekends using a 750 tonne crane.Suppliers:
» Progress Rail - Switches & Crossings
» Unipart Rail - Barrier lights
» Honeywell - Level-crossing radar
» Collis Engineering - Lightweight signals
» SPX Rail Systems - Barrier machines
» L B Foster Telecoms - Red light violation ANPR (automatic
number-plate recognition) cameras
» CISCO - routers
» Keymile - first line multiplexers
» Kestrel Telecom - Hawk telephone concentrator.(Left) Trimley before loop
opened. (Right) Trimley
after loop opened.FE ATURE 49