At Birkenhead North Station on MerseyRail a section of track running along Platform 1 was identified as requiring a full track renewal to increase the reliability at the station and on the Wirral Line.
The core works to replace the Up Platform Loop were planned for a 52hr weekend possession supported by Engineering Trains. Two weeks prior to commencement one train was no longer available meaning the delivery plan had to be changed to ensure the works could still proceed.
With detailed planning and logistics, the materials that were being delivered by road were lifted into the worksite using a large hiab crane from the station car park.
Prior to the core weekend, access was available on midweek nights for setting out and to establish design control along with taking some plant to site and stable on an unused siding running along the Up Platform Loop.
The core weekend saw the removal of existing track by cutting into smaller panels for ease of transport back to the RRAP, excavation of all ballast into engineering trains, installation of sand geotextile, installation of bottom ballast graded using 3D & GPS enabled dozer, loose laid softwood sleepers, installation of jointed track followed by top ballast.
Follow up works included CRT Management, follow up and quality tamping, installation of check rails and installation of Lateral Resistance Plates (LERPS).
Along with the scope at Birkenhead North, some curved rails were replaced at New Brighton while sleeper replacements and tamping took place at West Kirby also on the Wirral Line.
All track renewal works were supported by our fleet of On Track Plant meaning all works were self-delivered which resulted in excellent feedback from all stakeholders including our client AMCO Giffen, MerseyRail and Network Rail despite the late changes to the plan.
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