After a very busy period of testing and commissioning, Global Rail Construction Ltd (GRCL) has fully installed and energised 42 new Functional Supply Points (FSP’s) over a 13-mile stretch of the Felixstowe to Ipswich Branch line, including the supply and installation of a new Principal Supply Point (PSP) at Westerfield.

Works were carried out successfully and handed over to our customer Volker Fitzpatrick on time, at the start of the Christmas blockade, enabling them to bring into use new, improved signalling equipment.

These works form part of GRCL’s significant package of Mechanical, Electrical and Power (MEP) works between Westerfield and Felixstowe on Network Rail’s Anglia Route.  The Project is for Volker Fitzpatrick (VFL) as part of their ARC (Anglia Regional Collaboration) framework for CP5, which involves the double tracking of sections of Permanent Way – over approximately 20 Kilometres between North Ipswich and Felixstowe – to increase capacity for the main freight route from the Port of Felixstowe. There are also further railway systems works, including the upgrade of signalling and also significant ground engineering works to improve the line stability.

Led by Operations Director Sean Donaghey, GRCL is delivering the full rail E&P 650v signalling power scope, which includes the new PSP at Westerfield, upgrade and modifications to other existing PSPs, the installation of 42No Functional Supply Points (FSP) and installation of 45km of new cabling.  The works also covers the installation of direct power and lineside power supplies for a number of level crossings, as well as new level crossing lighting. Further works include the installation of 3No. PHCC (Points Heating Cubicles) to supply and install, points heating supplies, transformers and heating strips for point ends.

As part of the same Felixstowe Branch Capacity Enhancement Project, Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL) is also delivering ancillary rail civil engineering works.

GRCL Operations Director, Sean Donaghey, was delighted with these successful Christmas works, highlighting the great contribution made by the E&P team:

“Delighted with the efforts and contributions of our team during the festive period.  This energisation was a result of a concerted team effort, working in complete harmony with our customer VFL.

“I am pleased to say that our E&P division is going from strength to strength and we are delighted to be able to offer rail customers a proven Civils and E&P D&B solution and a fully managed independent E&P offering for CP6.”

Mechanical, Electrical and Power services provided by Global Rail Construction are constantly upgraded through training and development and are consistently delivered to the highest specification. Design and Project Management of these specialist services are deployed on projects such as sub-station refurbishment and new build, station refurbishment and new build, signalling equipment room fit-outs, station platforms and car park lighting.

The company provides electrical condition reports and undertakes the installation and testing of lineside feeder cabling, fire detection systems, CCTV/access/security systems, building management control systems, HVAC and cable installation and management including lighting control systems.

Global Rail Construction Ltd’s (GRCL) teams have successfully installed 3No UTX’s as part of the Christmas blockade at Potteric Carr in Doncaster. The first UTX was a 4-way 2 track UTX, the second a 4-way 1 track and the last a 12-way 2 track UTX. GRCL’s specific works here formed part of the overall package for the substation build.

The works were carried out over 3 shifts starting on Christmas day night through to Boxing day night.  Significant and in-depth planning and preparation for these works were required and undertaken by GRCL’s team, which helped the teams to complete all the works ahead of programme but more importantly the works were completed safely.

The contract forms part of Network Rail’s strengthening of the 25kV traction power supply to the East Coast Main Line (ECML) to support the delivery of Hitachi’s new Intercity Express Programme (IEP) Depot at Doncaster in South Yorkshire.

This 25kV traction power supply strengthening work involves the design and construction of a new 33kV to 25kV, 50Hz static frequency converter (SFC) traction power supply system.  The traction power supply strengthening work also includes associated E&P Infrastructure located at and near Potteric Carr including:

• 33kV substation and 25kV feeder station compound
• 33kV substation building
• 33kV/400V auxiliary transformers
• 400V auxiliary power supply switchgear
• 25kV feeder station building
• 33kV, 25kV, traction return, 400V, earthing and bonding, protection, control and telecommunications cabling
• OLE connections to the ECML and the IEP Depot
• SCADA system infrastructure
• Telecommunications system infrastructure
• Civil and structural works for all of the above

Managing Director Marco Lombardelli had this to say:

“A big thanks to our Northern teams for the thoroughly professional works you are delivering.  These UTX installations were an important part of these works and we were delighted to see that all the detailed planning and preparatory works that were undertaken in advance with both our client and other project stakeholders enabled this achievement. Thank you for all your efforts during the Christmas period, it really was appreciated.

“We look forward to works continuing to progress and the completion of this programme later this year.”

As part of the Felixstowe Branch Capacity Enhancement Project, Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL) has been selected to deliver further ancillary rail civil engineering works on behalf of Principal Contractor, Volker Fitzpatrick.  These works follow on from GRCL’s award of E&P works for the same project.

The works will be undertaken during a combination of 36 hour continuous possessions and midweek working and will last for a total of 23 weeks.

GRCL’s full rail civil scope includes the following and has already involved a number of value engineering solutions being provided in respect of reduced earth retention:

FSP Bases
11No LOC’s fixed to staging’s,
29No precast concrete LOC’s

Foundations
4No 114mm diameter average depth 4.5m helical piles

Loc Staging’s
11No Staging’s fabricated by specialist supplier, with staging’s consisting of 1,2 & 3 Loc bases

Signal bases
25No signal bases – 7No require major earth retention to an average depth of 10.00m

UTX’s 
8No UTX crossings and associated track monitoring, along with associated chambers
5No URX crossings along with associated chambers, using specialist non evasive excavation techniques (Vac EX)

These works have been secured off the back of previously successful works in Week 6, in respect of the installation of under track crossings and a combined under road crossing with a under track crossing and more recently the delivery of 3No under road crossings, 2No under road crossings at Levington Level Crossing and 1No under road crossing at Morston Hall Crossing.

The planning of the works so far has been particularly intense, however, the GRCL team has managed to provide a robust delivery plan to meet and exceed the clients expectations.

The works completion date is 22nd March 2019.

We are pleased to announce the award of a Railway Civil Engineering Works Contract at Kidsgrove Station, Staffordshire, on behalf of Galliford Try. Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL) will manage, install, test and commission the full scope of their civil engineering works package.

The Access for All (AfA) project was awarded funding under the DFT “Access for All programme” and is managed by Network Rail, with the aim of improving accessibility at railway stations. The full project scope will see the removal of the existing footbridge and a brand-new one installed with lifts, improving accessibility for all customers who use the station for connections to Derby, Stoke and Crewe, including those with reduced mobility, children, heavy luggage or shopping.

Following feasibility, optioneering and scheme design development, the various stakeholder signatures for the ‘Approval in Principle’ (AIP) designs have been achieved for Civils, OLE, Telecoms and M&E. It is now required that these designs be progressed through the detailed design, construction, commissioning and handover of the project (GRIP stages 5 – 8).

GRCL’s are responsible for the following railway civil engineering works:

• Footbridge Staircase foundations
• Lift shaft foundations

GRCL’s works programme has a mobilisation date of October 2018, with a proposed completion date of May 2019. This ties in with the aims of an overall project completion during the summer of 2019.

Jim Cuell, GRCL’s Commercial Director said:

“I’m delighted that we have been awarded this contract with Galliford Try. This is a busy railway interchange and these improvements we hope will make a big difference to passengers, especially those with disabilities. We are very pleased to be playing our part in this railway accessibility project that will not just benefit local residents, but will bring added value to the town, to existing businesses and provide attraction for future commercial investment.”

Global Rail Construction Limited has been raising money for charity this week, by holding a Coffee Morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. The Coffee Morning was held at both our Head Office and our Regional Office in Derby – with both teams having been busy baking a delightful range of sumptuous cakes and pastries – we simply could not stop eating them!

Marco, Sean and Don (pictured) were the Hatfield Barista’s, helping us to raise to date around £200.00!

Whilst the team at Global love any excuse to both bake and eat cakes and pastries, we are always looking to do our bit when we can.

Coffee Morning is a fabulous way to bring our teams together for a fantastic cause and is so much more than just getting together for a cup of coffee.

Last year was a record-breaking year for Coffee Morning with circa 250,000 people taking part, raising around £30 million, helping to aid the supporters, professionals, volunteers, campaigners and people affected by cancer.

Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL), is delighted to announce the award of a design and construct package of Civil Engineering and E&P works on behalf of their client Alstom. The works form part of the Paddington to Reading Signalling works which are linked to HS2 – the planned new high speed rail link connecting London to the Midlands, North East and North West.

As part of these major infrastructure works, HS2 will be constructing an interchange station in the existing Old Oak Common (OOC) depot area. The proposed site for the interchange station is currently occupied by both Great Western Railway (GWR) and Heathrow Express (HEX) Train Care Depots. Both these depots will need to be decommissioned to create the space required to construct and service the HS2 interchange station. The decommissioning works are planned to be delivered in four stages, to facilitate a phased withdrawal of GWR and HEX operations from the OOC site. The relocation of Location suite R2/172 and recovery of R2/157, are required in order to facilitate the clearance for HS2 Stage 2 and in support of the decommissioning works and these works have been contracted to Alstom under a variation to the overall Crossrail Surface Signalling Crossrail West Christmas 2017 Signalling Interlocking Works. The Wycombe Line (Greenford), is also subject to clearance of Signalling and Power, in support of the HS2 decommissioning works and due to the severance of the running line from London, remedial Signalling alterations are required. The West Ealing works consists of remedial Signalling alterations and to provide automation to the signalling and control system for both inbound and outbound train movements, in addition to the provision of a Depot Protection System (DPS) to protect GWR staff from movements within the confines of and at the interface to, the sidings.

Global Rail Construction’s scope for civil engineering includes the full survey including topographical and ground investigation, and then the subsequent design and build of five location suites and one FSP suite, including all necessary trough route modifications. The civils scope also includes new signal bases and also signal head modification works including bracketry.

The scope for E&P is also provides for a full D&C solution from Global’s team and includes surveys and then the design and installation of the amended 650v signalling power supply, including connection to the existing return screen conductor. Additional complexities around interim power arrangements will have to be considered by the team including the replication of the necessary signalling loads. GRCL will define the signalling functional power circuit requirements and provide the proposed functional loads as part of their design work.

The D&C scope also covers FSP recoveries and staged and final Feeder configuration and with all construction and installation work needing to be completed before the final FSP connections in advance of the signalling possession works to mitigate the signalling and operational railway disruption, it is no surprise that these works have now commenced.

GRCL’s works are due to be completed in February 2019.

Jim Cuell, Commercial Director commented on this award stating:

‘This project provides the ideal platform for GRCL to deliver the full breadth of its multi-disciplinary design and build offering across civils, E&P and signalling. We are delighted to have started this project for our long-term partner Alstom and look forward to the successful conclusion of these works early next year in conjunction with them.”