Business profile
As Network Rail looks to bring its drainage system into the 21st century,Polypipe is ready for the challenge
I
n its recently published Asset Management Strategy document, NR identified drainage as a high priority
area for its next Control Period (CP5: 2014-19). This spending period will see NR create a comprehensive drainage plan with links to its existing track, structures and earthworks policy, helping it to prepare for the expected effects of climate change and anticipated additional rainfall. As the UK’s largest manufacturer of prefabricated plastic piping systems, Polypipe offers a wealth of solutions for the transport infrastructure sector. Since its inception, Polypipe has pioneered the development of plastic drainage solutions as the first true alternative to concrete and clay piping products. This continues today, with the company designing, developing and manufacturing more than 20,000 product lines, meaning it is uniquely placed to meet the challenges posed by rail infrastructure drainage, cable protection and water management. It’s not just product range and
experience that makes Polypipe the popular choice for rail projects. The plastic products it manufactures are created from high strength polymer and are able to seamlessly integrate with link drains, culverts, catchpits and manholes to form a single solution. Where possible, Polypipe products carry Network Rail Parts and Drawings Systems (PADS) approval for their intended application, as well as being Link-up approved.
Trackside drainage solutions One area where Polypipe products are proven to perform is in trackside drainage solutions. These speed up the installation process and reduce the length of time that tracks are closed for maintenance which benefits contractors, rail operators and their customers. Because its products are manufactured
from high strength polymers, they are up to 94 per cent lighter in weight than equivalent concrete systems – meaning they can be manhandled to track level into areas that heavy lifting gear can’t reach. Once in place, further innovations, such as integral socket joints and Polypipe’s patented electro-fusion welding process, allow long lengths of drainage pipe to be joined and sealed quickly and efficiently
Page 124 October 2013
– lowering the cost of works by reducing downtime and the time engineering teams spend on track.
Polypipe’s trackside solutions include:
Ridgidrain surface water drainage British Board of Agrément and PADS - approved for use in rail infrastructure, Ridgidrain is a robust, structured wall drainage pipe with exceptional strength and load rating for leak tightness at trackside. Ridgidrain is engineered from high strength HDPE to produce a pipe that has all the strength of a solid profile, while providing all the benefits of additional flexibility and a lighter weight. As a result, it will shed the loads applied by passing trains to the surrounding backfill and minimise the risk of leaks. The product features in a large number of
rail drainage systems, providing trackside and station area surface water drainage, as well as the option to be used with a perforated pipe wall in infiltration system applications.
Manholes and catchpits
Catchpits intercept silt, grit and other impurities that are washed by the rain into the drainage network from the track. With a catchpit chamber in place these impurities sink to the bottom of the system, improving the quality of water at source in order to prevent blockages and damage to the drainage network. Ensuring sufficient access can be vital on certain rail infrastructure projects. With this in mind, Polypipe’s manhole units allow critical inspection points to be built into trackside drainage systems where the need for access is most important.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140