Reactive responses to embankment failures and other emergency rail remedial works are inevitably unique. Each demands a different technical solution to stabilise the track, bring it back into safe operation, and leave behind a resilient asset.
These situations provide an extreme test for the creativity and coordination capabilities of our teams. The response has to be exceptionally well-drilled as there’s zero time to waste. Process efficiency is critical.
48 Hours to Handover
A typical time-frame from initial response to successful outcome could be just 48 hours. How would that time be spent?
The first priority is to have survey and inspection teams onsite within hours, despatched from our dedicated rail engineering centre. Our services include an in-house, experienced RISQS-accredited temporary works design team who take full responsibility for all contract planning and arranging track access.
The survey team feeds site data directly to our design engineers who typically liaise with Network Rail engineering teams to quickly finalise an effective response. This may be a complete remedial project, or an initial stabilisation programme to be followed by more extensive works at a future date.
Rapid Resource Allocation
While the site survey is happening, the process of allocating people, equipment and materials begins. Self-delivery capabilities mean that we can draw most of what we need from our own resources, including our sister companies that specialise in excavation and piling, and supplying stone, aggregate, gabion baskets or whatever else the solution is likely to demand.
The carefully-coordinated work plan then swings into action, with continuous progress updates from the site supported by rapid decision-making and escalation processes for any unforeseen issues. Our established process means we can complete a survey and carry out a desired renewal within the same working window. This saves significant track access and mobilisation costs.
Responsive Call-Out Process in Action
Recent responses under the Southern Renewals Enterprise (SRE) Framework include stabilising a landslip at Colhayne Embankment within a 52 hour possession. The solution involved gabion baskets fixed in place with mechanical ground anchors. Suttle Stone Quarries delivered the gabion stone and Type 1 material, and rail ballast was sourced from our Suttle Projects contingency reserves.
At Yeovil Penn Mill South, loose material and rock had fallen from the sides of the cutting, forcing the catch fence towards the railway.
Our teams removed debris from the site, reinstated the catch fencing and cleared vegetation on each side of the failure. Rectification works started 12 hours after notification and the works were completed and handed back at the end of the same shift.
Emergency responses are ideally suited to our projects: simplified approach to delivery. In an emergency there’s no time for avoidable complications and disconnects. To find out more, head over to our information and insights section below.
