Project Case Study: River Anker

Client/Organisation: Waterman

Project Duration: June 2021 - June 2025

Project Design Value: £40K (PBH Design Value)

Background
A nine-day blockade was undertaken on the West Coast Main Line at Tamworth to facilitate the waterproofing of the Underbridge LEC2/79 at River Anker. This included installing a concrete haunch on the bridge corbeling, new outfall pipes and deck end drainage to both ends, a 6N sub-base, and a sand blanket. For these works to be completed, all four tracks along with OLE equipment were required to be removed and reinstated post works.

Objectives
To provide a waterproofing solution for the underbridge. The project included the requirement for:-

• Civils design for the waterproofing of the bridge (carried out by Waterman).
• Permanent Way design for removal and reinstatement of all 4 tracks over the bridge.
• OLE Analysis and design to integrate with the proposed track alignment.

Scope of Work
Our scope was to provide the following:-

• Provide a track alignment design in association with the proposed waterproofing solution.
• Provide OLE analysis, design and adjustment schedules to align with the proposed track alignment
• Provide gauging analysis as required to ensure gauge clearance was achieved.

Team Involved

OLE
Mike Shemilt  – Director
Kester Witt  – Senior OLE Designer & CRE
Jack Marshall  – OLE Designer

Permanent Way
Chris Carrick  – Engineering Manager
Joe Sheasby  – Permanent Way Engineer
James Dennis  – Permanent Way Engineer

Challenges
Key Challenges on the project were:-

• The location of the bridge is very close to Tamworth Station which already had sub-standard platform heights.
• Initial Civils design proposed a waterproofing slab for the bridge. Through our analysis and design optioneering we were able to advise the Civils designer to ensure that we found a solution that did not impact the platforms, thus removing the requirement for platform coper adjustments and providing considerable time and cost savings.
• A redesign was required at very short notice due to maintenance tamping being carried out on the affected tracks the week prior to this scheme being implemented. We met that challenge and ensured that the works could be carried out as planned.

Design Solution
With both our Track and OLE departments working closely together we were able to achieve the following solutions:

• Provide the required feedback to the Civils design team so they could provide a waterproofing solution that did not significantly affect the track alignment and allow standard ballast depths to be provided.
• Provide a track alignment that did not require costly platform works.
• Minimise the amount of OLE works required providing further efficiencies for the client.

Key Achievements
All milestones for our Track and OLE design deliverables were met enabling the timely interface with all other disciplines allowing issue of AFC design and construction works to start on programme. This ensured the works were carried out successfully within the allotted blockade times.

Technologies Used
Bentley Rail Track
Microstation
Clearroute

Results
Providing our expert knowledge ensured delivery to programme and enabled the project to progress as required and meet the desired output.

Our flexibility to meet the challenges of different Civils options and provide solutions to enable the project to be delivered to time and budget. This was fully appreciated by the Client and helped them control cost and programme challenges, and deliver the required waterproofing works on a significant bridge on the West Coast Main Line.