New Site Establishment

Client: Network Rail Wales and Western

Great Western Electrification Project

The timeframe to deliver the depot was very tight due to the fixed start date for the signaling project and time lost searching for land, this along with the Covid outbreak put pressure on supply chains. The ground provided was saturated with water and had poor access to HGV for the delivery of cabins and heavy equipment. 

This project was based in central Reading working on Network Rail’s Great Western Electrification Project (GWEP).

A worksite was required to operate this electrification project from. It needed to be large enough to provide office space for 10 people and welfare for 50 at any one time along with storing masses of valuable material. No land was immediately available other than an old sidings that has been stripped bare and heavily waterlogged. Time was also in short supply with the project needing to get started as soon as possible.

The first issue was the quality of the ground, after considering track mats these were ruled out due the duration of the project. It was decided to use cement injection to stabilise the soft soil then cap with aggregate to produce a wearing course. This process took two weeks to complete which was staggering considering the size of land to be improved. This provided a solid foundation for the whole 4 acres allowing HGV up to 55T to access the whole site. Pads were installed for the site cabins with a septic tank sunk and lines run for power and water.

To assist in carbon emission reduction a hybrid power system was commissioned. This consisted of an auto run 100Kva generator charging two standalone 50kWh Battery banks which powered the site. Running the generator on HVO and the efficiency this system provided a saving of around 70% in cost and 90% in CO2 emissions. 

  • Provide 4 acres of usable land from a saturated waste land.
  • Provide welfare for 50 workers and 20 deskspaces.
  • Provide environmental economically viable power and utilities.
  • Cement injection ground reinforcement over 4 acres.
  • Install improved access roads for HGV.
  • Install modular building and site storage solutions.
  • Provide hybrid power solution.
  • Run and maintain all units for the client including cleaning and security.
  • Provide plant and logistical solutions.

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