Responses to landslips, embankment failures and other emergencies need to be decisive and sure-footed. So what really happens when there’s a call-out? How do we minimise the time between incident and restoration while ensuring a successful outcome?
Having a well-rehearsed process that we can put into action almost instantaneously helps. But additional factors have proved their worth time and time again when it comes to implementing effective and efficient solutions.
The Process
The first step is to understand the exact nature and cause of the problem, along with any site constraints that would affect how we deploy equipment or materials and transport them to the site. This demands urgent and close collaboration with the Network Rail Works Delivery Team and RAM team.
Once the key information is logged it’s a case of drawing on the vast experience and capabilities of the team to identify the most effective and efficient solution. This is always unique according to the circumstances.
Solution Design
The next stage is to develop detailed temporary and permanent design solutions. Meanwhile we simultaneously start planning and allocating the necessary personnel, equipment and logistics. Trusted specialist design houses work alongside our in-house design team that incorporates Construction Engineering Managers and Contractors’ Responsible Engineers.
Ecological constraints in and around the worksite are common. We will normally mobilise an ecologist who is used to working with us and who understands construction requirements to the site at an early stage. This ensures that the design and work plans will comply with any relevant ecological restrictions and requirements.
Once a response is agreed, our Framework Manager takes the lead and manages all the operations.
Implementing track and slope monitoring is usually necessary. While we have the in-house knowledge and capability to do this, we normally turn to our supply chain, which is set up to complete 24/7 monitoring and reporting. Our knowledge and expertise helps us interpret the results of the monitoring to identify potential complications.
Delivery: Keys to Efficiency
Once the solution is agreed it needs rapid delivery to bring the section of track back into full and safe operation. We find a self-delivery approach invaluable. It means we have control over labour, plant and transport to ensure the response reflects the urgency of the situation.
Strong relationships with key suppliers are also vital – including access planning and ecological and vegetation management services.
Material supplies could become a limiting factor when there’s no time to lose, so we maintain stocks of track ballast, gabion stone, baskets, sheet piles and more to eliminate procurement lead times. We can be ready to install temporary or permanent design solutions within hours of the first call.
Finally, having various teams working nationwide and across the Southern region contributes massively for our timely responses. We always have a manager or supervisor within less than 2 hours away from any site.
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