ELECTRIFICATION
Integrating advanced OLE works with the Reading Station Area Redevelopment
Richard Fluin explains how Tata Steel Project’s holistic approach to station redevelopment reduced the disruption of future OLE projects on commuters.
eading station is a key hub for passengers and freight, serving 14 million passengers per year – a number expected to double by 2030. Network Rail is near completion of a £850m redevelopment of the station including new platforms, track remodelling, a ‘transfer deck’ and new access structures.
R
Whilst the Reading Station Area Redevelopment (RSAR) was progressing, a significant opportunity arose to synergise future electrification of the route with the major enhancements being undertaken under RSAR. This recognised that the disruption to the customer during RSAR was significant – and that completing the station works, only to further disrupt passenger services as electrification followed, was unacceptable.
The impact of installing foundations, structural connections and steelwork installation could potentially have a significant impact on the civil engineering, buildings and systems infrastructure being installed. Integrating the two projects would reduce any potential for demolition and reconstruction of key station assets whilst installing critical OLE structures in the station area.
However, this was not only about negating customer impact; a key benefit to this approach was that access strategies in place to deliver RSAR could be utilised efficiently to deliver OLE installation and reduce future Great Western Electrification Programme (GWEP) requirements.
With these fundamental issues in mind, the RSAR team sought early funding from the electrification programme, supported by Tata Steel Projects (TSP), to assess the practicalities of a strategy to deliver the OLE structures in advance of GWEP and integrate it with their ongoing works. This decision was not without risk to the RSAR programme and delivery of the RSAR baseline remit; nonetheless the holistic view prevailed and the RSAR team set about developing an electrification delivery team under the RSAR project structure.
Design and engineering TSP
was already delivering the civil
engineering, M&E systems and track design for RSAR. As the incumbent designer co-located with the delivery team, this provided an ideal opportunity for TSP’s electrification team to become involved with the route electrification at project level.
Commencing work with RSAR in integrating a future programme of electrification was not without its challenges. Initially the focus was on accelerating the outline OLE design and assuring integration with the RSAR works. It is notable that at the time, much of the major station infrastructure works were either designed (or were actually being installed) prior to the electrification team’s engagement.
The full impact of the OLE foundation and steelwork design had to be understood and the interfacing solutions developed quickly and collaboratively: civil engineering infrastructure was modified or developed to make room for, or support, OLE foundations, masts, booms and other connections. This was managed successfully with minimal infrastructure modifications or rebuild required, and included:
• Station canopies • OLE foundations
• Connections to retaining walls • Integration with new elevated railway • Kennet Bridge supports
The installation programme was aligned to planned possessions; the procurement and installation programme was challenging and dynamic.
TSP mitigated the engineering risk by
engaging with the fabrication and installation contractors in the supply chain to ensure steelwork designs were both buildable and capable of manufacture – working with the installation team to understand the limitations of access and plant to develop the best solution
at each location.
Given the complex and high density of railway system infrastructure on the project footprint, there was a significant amount of bespoke design, which resulted in innovative and site specific design solutions, facilitated by the integrated design team with co-located designers in the project team throughout. This enabled rapid development of solutions as issues arose.
The result has been a significant success; whilst not commanding the caché of the Reading station building with its eye-catching, bold architectural design, the OLE structures have been installed with minimal disruption. OLE portals above the canopies were erected along with most of the main line structures east of the station where progress continues without disruption to the operational railway or the wider enhancement works.
This outcome illustrates what a dedicated electrification engineering team can achieve with strong experience in installation and understanding of the value of a functioning collaborative environment.
The professionalism of the team has contributed significantly to the successful delivery and highlighted TSP’s expertise in overhead line engineering.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
T: 019014 454600 E:
tatasteelprojects@tatasteel.com W:
www.tatasteelprojects.com
rail technology magazine Jun/Jul 14 | 51
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