Pod-Trak delivered emergency slope stabilisation works at Callow Hill on behalf of Balfour Beatty Rail and Network Rail. The site had a history of instability, with previous remediation schemes in 2015 and 2017 failing to halt slope movement towards the live railway.
The 2021 asset inspection identified continued ground movement, requiring rapid mobilisation to prevent further deterioration. Pod-Trak was engaged to deliver 100 m of anchored sheet piling, soil nailing, and new drainage systems to provide long-term stability and resilience.
Adverse weather from Storm Barra and unexpected ground conditions caused significant disruption early in the programme. The original crane-piling method was rendered unsuitable after test pile refusal, requiring a change to a telescopic leader rig installation method.
A new 100 m piling platform was constructed using compacted fill and small excavators to ensure slope stability during installation. Despite weather delays, the team completed the sheet piling safely during an 11-day possession with the adjacent line remaining open.
Post-possession, 20 m soil nails were installed from behind the sheet pile wall under ALO conditions. The slope was then reconstructed, drained, and reinstated to design profile, with zero lost-time incidents and full handback to traffic on schedule.
Pod-Trak demonstrated agility and control by rapidly shifting from a crane piling approach to a leader rig system when refusal was encountered, ensuring progress continued without compromising quality. Real-time programme tracking — supported by 12-hour shift reporting and daily progress reviews — kept the team aligned and responsive to emerging challenges. A collaborative change-management process with Balfour Beatty and key suppliers protected schedule integrity throughout the works. Leveraging Pod-Trak’s full in-house plant, safety systems, and the POD App enabled live reporting, close-call capture, and effective hazard management across the site. When a secondary slip occurred, the team successfully delivered a dual-slope mobilisation strategy, enabling simultaneous operations on both sides of the embankment and maintaining momentum under pressure — exemplifying a resourceful, safety-driven, and highly coordinated approach.
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