A huge congratulations to two of our rail sites for receiving a gold rating and being recognised as a top scoring site within the Network Rail southern region Construction Route to Gold. Our E&P HV feeders team working along the Redhill to Tonbridge line achieved top scoring site for Period 9 and our Ryde Pier achieved the award for Period 10.
The Octavius E&P feeders team are currently working on replacing life expired feeders across four lines: Bournemouth Mainline, Redhill to Tonbridge, Pirbright Junction to Farnham Junction (including Woking to Havant) and West London lines.
The cables being replaced life expired oil filled cables and currently present an increased risk of failure. The replacement of these cables will increase the operational resilience of the DC traction system in the area and reduce potential delays to the travelling public.
To maximise efficiency, the team has deployed cable trains, allowing a high volume of cables to be installed within possession times. So far, they have successfully installed over 40 linear miles of cable across the four packages. The Redhill to Tonbridge package will be the first site to be commissioned in March 2025.
“The Feeder site team exemplifies a collaborative working environment and a positive, can-do attitude. Upon entering their sites, you’ll notice an impressive display of safety and notification boards. This demonstrates that the team has implemented a preplanned safety protocol to ensure everyone on site is well-informed about the risks associated with working in these environments. The project is using the Network Rail cable train to run long lengths of feeder cable out within possessions. The cable train can significantly enhance the efficiency of running cables and is a cost-effective way to distribute the new cables due to high volume laid. Robust weekly safety inspections and audits help identify any new risks, and mitigation. Additionally, their effective housekeeping regime helps control and eliminate workplace hazards. The team consistently meets their deadlines, delivering work safely, efficiently, and to a high standard. The Level of output achieved this year by the Octavius/SRE Feeder Team has been incredible, and so to still attain Site Standards of the very highest Gold level while achieving those outputs is fantastic to see and testament to the hard work and dedication of the SRE E&P Feeders Team.
Jaco Janse Van Vuuren, Network Rail Construction Manager
Our Ryde Pier project consists of work to repair and preserve the historic Victorian Ryde Pier structure on the Isle of Wight. The team are currently 7 months into a 9-month blockade, renewing life expired permanent way track infrastructure, installing new FFU sleepers and strengthening and painting rail bearers. The team are also installing new GRP walkways and troughing along with associated upgrades to life expired signalling equipment.
Following the successful completion of a four-week line closure in October, which allowed the reopening of the line from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin Station, the team are now working on the on the remainder of Ryde Pier. Over 48 of 64 bays have been refurbished so far across the 681-metre pier and we are on track to complete and reopen the line in May 2025.
The track renewal and rail bearer works will provide significant benefits to train service performance, asset resilience and rail passenger. One the works are completed, there should be no need to undertake any major works or line blockades for the next 60 years.
“There have been some really good initiatives and best practices put in place, such as an established segregated walkway on the platform, 40ft prefabbed scaffold and installation of Monoflex.
The quality of the renewal works completed to date is exceptional and to the very best standard. The project site in my opinion and without a shadow of a doubt, stands out as the best performing and managed site in Wessex, and probably the whole of the Southern region.”
Gene Brennan, Network Rail Construction Assurance Specialist
Well done to all involved!
