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Contract signed for three year restoration of Bristol Temple Meads

Bristol Temple Meads station is set to be brought back to its former glory as a huge restoration programme gets underway this summer.  

Network Rail has signed Taziker to be the primary contractor in a three-year refurbishment of the famous Victorian roof on the city’s oldest station.

As well as refreshing the roof for a cleaner, brighter experience for passengers, work on the Grade I listed structure will protect it from further deterioration for future generations. It will involve extensive metal and woodwork repairs and the complete re-glazing of the roof and canopies. This is the first major refurbishment of the station roof in over 25 years and is due for completion in 2023.  

The £24 million contract is good news for the economy in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, with around 75 full-time workers expected onsite at the peak of the project. In addition, Taziker has also committed to creating apprenticeships for local people; offering a unique opportunity to work alongside experts with experience on other heritage landmarks including Brunel’s Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol and the Royal Albert Bridge in Plymouth.  

The project is part of a wider programme of railway upgrades in the area to improve reliability, capacity and the overall passenger experience.   

This includes the remodelling of a crucial junction just outside the station, a complete rewire of the station’s electrical system, and, in collaboration with West of England Combined Authority, the creation of a new station entrance which will offer access to a new university of Bristol campus and the east of the city. 

Mike Gallop, Western route director, Network Rail, said: “This is a great moment for Bristol and the whole West of England as we will be providing a brighter station for passengers, worthy of the original creator, Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

“We’re ambitious about our plans for the railway in the city, and this is just the first step in providing a world-class station to enable more people to get to their jobs and encouraging more investment in the area.”

Work commences to improve Victorian drainage at Manchester Victoria station

Work is commencing on a scheme to prevent flooding around Manchester Victoria station. The Department for Transport is investing £1 million in the critical scheme, which will bring drainage systems around the 166-year old station into the 21st century.

Drainage systems in the basement of the station will be connected to the River Irk, which runs underneath the station, providing a more efficient way of draining the station building for the 8.9 million passengers who use it every year.

Manchester Victoria Station – Victoria Facade.

The drainage system underneath the road in front of the station will be completely replaced, and drainpipes on the historic station façade will be cleaned and maintained to ensure they are working at full capacity.

The work will begin on 28 June and is set to complete in October.

Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “Bringing Manchester Victoria’s drainage system from the Victorian era into the 21st century will help give passengers the reliable services they deserve, reducing frustrating disruptions.

“This is part of a wider £10 million rail investment to reduce the risk of flooding in the Manchester area, which will help protect the city and surrounding area from damage and delay.”

Rory Kingdon, senior sponsor at Network Rail, said: “It’s a testament to Victorian engineering that so much of the infrastructure our predecessors built is still surviving and thriving, but the time is right to bring the drainage systems at Manchester Victoria into the 21st century.

“Carrying out this work now should mean less passengers are affected by any disruption around the station, and we’ll be ready to welcome back travellers to a warm and dry station when it’s safe to do so.”

First step towards new HS2 station at Euston completed

Preparations at London Euston for the construction of HS2 have taken the next step with the demolition of the station’s western ramp and canopy.

Removal of the structure, which has been in place since the modernisation of Euston in the 1960s as part of the electrification of the West Coast main line, took 13 weeks and paves the way for the construction of the new HS2 Euston station.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, work on site was paused on 23 March but restarted on 16 April once Government-approved safe working practices were in place. The work was carried out by Network Rail, HS2 and its contractor Skanska.

The western ramp was used to access the parcel deck on the first floor of the station. The area was once used as a Royal Mail parcel sorting depot, taking parcels from the trains on three dedicated platforms for parcel freight.

Skanska – Euston Station, Cutline – West Ramp Demolition 2020 02-05 – V7

The ramp allowed vehicle access to the upper deck, but the parcel depot was taken out of use when post began being transported on road due to increased passenger demand.

Patrick Cawley, HS2 and Network Rail On Network Works director, said: “The completion of this work is of major significance to the HS2 project and marks the first piece of structural work to Euston station in order for the new high speed station to be built. It has been an important and successful piece of collaborative work between the teams at HS2, Network Rail and Skanska.

“HS2 will transform the way we travel in the UK, helping to improve the current train network and providing new low carbon journeys and improving air quality for future generations.”

Patrick Vallely, senior programme manager for HS2 enabling works and the station redevelopment said: “I’m excited to be a part of the joint NR , HS2 and Skanska team that through great collaboration , effort and use of joint skills successfully dismantled the west ramp and canopy to meet the original completion date – despite a necessary pause in works for 3-4 weeks to implement essential Covid-19 safety measures.”

HS2 reveals list of bidders for Curzon Street station

HS2 has revealed the names of the construction firms in the running to build Birmingham Curzon Street station – which will be the high-speed rail project’s city centre terminus.

The companies that will be invited to tender for the £570 million contract:

  • BAM Ferrovial (a joint venture consisting of BAM Nuttall Ltd and Ferrovial Construction (UK) Limited)
  • Laing O’Rourke Construction Limited
  • Mace Dragados (a joint venture consisting of Mace Limited and Dragados S.A. UK Branch)

HS2 suggests that this announcement will help provide confidence for Britain’s construction and engineering sector, with the contracts set to secure hundreds of jobs as the industry moves out of coronavirus lockdown.

Birmingham Curzon Street station, which recently became the first HS2 station to gain planning approval, will be net zero carbon in operation and will adopt the latest eco-friendly design and sustainable technologies, including capturing rainwater and utilising sustainable power generation, with over 2,800m2 of solar panels located on platform canopies.

It is designed to meet a ‘BREEAM excellent’ standard, which is an industry recognised standard for buildings that reduce energy usage and materials waste and minimise their impact on the natural environment.

HS2 – Birmingham Curzon Street station.

David Poole, HS2’s procurement and commercial director, said: “Birmingham Curzon Street is absolutely at the heart of the HS2 project and will help transform the city and the economy of the wider region. We are looking for a partner to take on the highly complex construction phase, working with us to deliver this logistical and engineering challenge.

“It’s great to see how much interest there is in the competition and we look forward to working with the successful bidder to deliver, what will be a new low-carbon architectural landmark for Birmingham and the UK.”

HS2 worked with WSP and Grimshaw Architects LLP on the design for Curzon Street, which is inspired by the great arched roofs built by the Victorian railway pioneers. The design takes that inspiration into the 21st Century, ensuring accessibility and a focus on the open space and landscaping around it.

Alongside up to nine high speed trains an hour, passengers will also be able to access the Midland Metro, which runs alongside and underneath the station, while accessible pedestrian routes lead to local bus services, Sprint rapid transit bus services and local rail services from the neighbouring Moor Street station. Cycle parking has also been incorporated, providing space for more than 550 bicycles.

Significant progress has already been made on site. A massive archaeological programme, involving 70 archaeologists, has unearthed the world’s oldest railway roundhouse. Demolitions and ground investigations are preparing the site for construction, and utility diversions are set to begin in the summer.

The two-stage Design and Build contract will see the winning bidder work closely with HS2 to develop the detailed design and construction of Curzon Street Station. Contracts are expected to be awarded next year.

Essay collection on high-speed rail published

A new essay collection has been published in which voices from the worlds of politics, business and industry have come together, advocating the huge benefits high speed rail has and will bring to London and the South East, along with the UK more widely.

The collection asserts that the region is in a unique position to comment on the transformational impact of high speed rail as it is home to the UK’s original high speed line, HS1.

Published by High Speed Rail Group (HSRG), the collection entitled High Speed Rail: London and South East Voices makes clear that HS1 provides a blueprint for the successful implementation of HS2. As the southern starting point for HS2 construction, London will also play a key role in ensuring the future success of the project, setting the precedent for world-class construction, supply chain development and utilisation, and realising the wide-ranging benefits of the scheme.

As the country looks to post COVID-19 recovery, the essay collection offers analysis and ideas on high speed rail across a number of key areas and suggests that the HS2 project will form an important part of the economic programme ahead and brings into focus the essential relationship between effective major infrastructure and multiplier effects. The scheme will also build resilience within the transport system and play a key role in the green recovery and community investment.

Writers who have contributed to the collection include Jasmine Whitbread (Chief Executive, London First), Dyan Crowther (Chief Executive, HS1), Damian Green (Member of Parliament for Ashford), Deirdre Wells OBE (Chief Executive, Visit Kent), Liz Peace CBE (Chair, Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation), Steve Higham (Managing Director UK & Ireland Engineering, SYSTRA UK), Cllr Heather Johnson (Chair, Camden Council Planning Committee) and Kat Hanna (Masterplan Strategist, Lendlease).

Work on Cumbrian embankments almost complete

Network Rail is making a £3.5 million investment to protect the railway in Cumbria from landslips and provide more reliable journeys for passengers.

It is upgrading the embankments along the railway to improve journeys on the West Coast main line between Oxenholme and Carlisle. The earth embankments are being made less steep and the ground more secure at two stretches of railway: one located north of Oxenholme and the other just south of Carlisle.

Work is taking place after the site north of Oxenholme was damaged during Storm Desmond in December 2015 and is set to complete later in June 2020. The embankments are constructed from a mix of ash and local material excavated from nearby cuttings, which in these two areas are predominantly taken from glacial deposits – known as Devensian Till.

Richard Hockney, project manager at Network Rail, said: “This essential work as park of the Great North Rail Project will make this busy passenger and freight route more reliable in the future.

“Our teams have worked hard to secure a total of 1.5km of embankment over the last few months, working around challenges brought on by Covid-19.

“I’m proud to be delivering more reliable journeys for passengers and freight services using this vital stretch of railway in Cumbria.”

The railway has been kept open throughout the work.

Newcastle Central Station access improvements obtain Listed Building Consent

Proposed access improvements to Newcastle Central station have taken a major step forward after planners have granted Listed Building Consent in this, the station’s, 170th year.

Last year Newcastle City Council and partners announced plans to open-up access to the Victorian station, improve traffic flows in front, accommodate more passengers and change taxi pick-up points and short stay parking. Residents, taxi drivers and Historic England were consulted

Now planners have given the green light to two new entrances into the station. One in the west which will take passengers from Central Parkway into the station to a new concourse, and a second at the front of the station on Neville Street where a car rental business is currently located.

Artist impression of Neville Street entrance.

In January, the city council’s cabinet approved a revised development framework that gives developers guidance on investing in the Forth Yards area south west of the station. That could lead to a new a multi-storey car park, office space and up to 2,500 homes on the 22-hectare site.

Welcoming the Listed Building Consent, Cabinet Member for Employment and Culture, Cllr Ged Bell, said: “This is great news for the city.

“Newcastle Central Station is the gateway to the region. With rising passenger numbers, we need to ensure it offers a pleasant experience while playing its part to help the city recover and grow after the pandemic.

“The new entrances will open the station up to the wider area – Stephenson Quarter, and the Forth Yards area that will be the city’s next big development site providing quality homes with views of the river.

“By improving traffic flows at the front of the station we hope to cut carbon emissions, helping the city become carbon-zero by 2030 and tackling climate change.

“Central Station was opened by Queen Victoria and is a Grade I listed building. Although some demolition will be required, opening it up will expose original features that have been hidden away for years and will take the building back to the way it looked in 1850.”

Claire Ansley, director of customer experience at LNER, which manages the station, added: “We are pleased that the plans to enhance Newcastle Central Station have been approved. The enhancements we’re making will help make the station more accessible from the surrounding areas and provide an even warmer welcome to the thousands of people travelling to and from the city every day.”

Paul McKeown, investment director for Network Rail, said: “This is a fantastic project and receiving listed building consent brings us one step closer to realising these improvements.

“We’re delighted to be a part of this vital scheme and will continue to work closely with both Newcastle City Council and LNER on these improvements, which will open up the station and make it more pleasant for passengers.” With Listed Building Consent now granted it’s expected work on site will begin later in the year. 

Ty’n Y Graig footbridge will be replaced

Transport for Wales will replace Ty’n Y Graig footbridge at Llanbradach on the Rhymney line as soon as possible, CEO James Price has stated.

The footbridge was demolished by contractor Alun Griffiths last month. It crossed both the railway and a minor road and., on 28 May, it was struck by a road vehicle, rendering it unsafe and closing the railway.

Alun Griffiths removed the bridge the following day so that the railway could reopen. Further work took place overnight on Sunday 31 May to complete the work, including removing the footbridge steps and demolishing the remaining abutment.

Although TfW is committed to reinstating the crossing as soon as possible, it cannot yet give a detailed timeline for the work due to the challenges presented by Covid-19. The pandemic has not only changed the way TfW’s teams work but has also impacted on the supply chain and the lead-in times for materials.

The building of a typical bridge on railway lines involves many stages, including consultations, site investigations, preliminary and detailed design, materials procurement, fabrication, enabling works and, finally, installation. TfW will now need to consider how this is all delivered in the context of coronavirus as safely and quickly as possible.

James Price, Transport for Wales CEO, said: “On behalf of everyone at TfW, I’d like to thank our infrastructure team and our colleagues at Griffiths for their hard work in ensuring the safe removal of the Ty’n-y-Graig footbridge. It is another example of our commitment to working collaboratively with our partners to Keep Wales Moving.

“I’d also like to thank our customers and the community of Llanbradach for their patience and understanding while work was being undertaken on the bridge. We appreciate that this is an historic facility used by the members of the community to access local woodlands, and we are committed to reinstating it as soon as we can.”

Selby swing bridge will be static in high temperatures

Due to the hot weather predicted for Wednesday and Thursday 24/25 June 2020, Network Rail issued a statement that the Grade II-listed railway swing bridge in Selby will not be swung on those days.

Instead, the bridge will remain in the railway position. This is necessary as hot weather can impact on the operation of the bridge.

Steel rails in direct sunshine can be as much as 20°C hotter than air temperature and they naturally expand as they get hotter. If this happens on the bridge, it means that the rails cannot line back up properly, meaning the bridge can’t close again if it has already opened to waterway traffic. This would mean disruption to rail services on the route between York, Selby and Hull.

In 2014, Network Rail invested £14 million to improve the bridge and make it more reliable. The work included track upgrades, repairing steel work and improvements to the hydraulics and were the most significant improvements made to the bridge since its construction.

Repair work taking place to Selby bridge in 2014.

Chris Gee, head of operations for Network Rail’s North and East Route, said: “This has been a difficult decision and not one which we take lightly as we know this is a much loved and used waterway.

“It’s really important that we keep those who need to travel by train moving reliably and keeping this bridge in the railway position is one proactive measure we can take to do this.

“We’re sorry for any inconvenience this caused and thank people for their patience for any disruption caused.”

Whilst the bridge is expected to reopen to waterway traffic on Friday, this decision will be reviewed in line with forecast temperatures.

Network Rail promotes inspirational women on International Women in Engineering Day

New research, conducted by Savanta ComRes for Network Rail, has highlighted a lack of female role models within Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) sectors.

As a result, Network Rail is promoting the contributions of women in engineering to mark International Women in Engineering Day (Tuesday 23 June).

The survey, of more than 2,000 16-21 year-olds in Great Britain, showed that two-thirds (64%) of total participants and three quarters (77%) of young women asked felt there were not enough female role models within STEM, and just 26% of females intended to pursue careers in STEM fields (though 27% did intend to study further in a STEM area).

Participants were asked if they recognised famous names and faces of STEM figures. More than 80% were familiar with male figures such as Steven Hawking and Sir Isaac Newton, but just 18% knew of Ada Lovelace, who is credited as the first computer programmer for her visionary work in computer science in the 19th century.

Network Rail has therefore launched a new competition, open to everyone aged between 5 and 14, aimed at promoting the work of female engineers and inspiring the next generation with the fantastic inventions and feats of engineering from women through history.

Loraine Martins, director of diversity and inclusion for Network Rail, said: “We know that more diverse gender-balanced teams are more engaged, more collaborative, more motivated and safer. The ambitions to develop our infrastructure and the skills shortage that our industry faces means that encouraging girls and young women to pursue careers in engineering is vital. Promoting positive female role models is a great way of providing inspiration for future generations to join us.

“From Mary Anderson, inventor of the windscreen wiper, to Marie Van Brittan Brown, who invented the home security system, there’s a host of women who have come up with inventions and engineering solutions which we simply couldn’t live without.

“I’m delighted we’re running this competition to promote their work, and I hope this will inspire young people, change perceptions and make these positive female role models more visible and relatable to the next generation of engineers.”

Children are invited to consider what our world would be like without the work of a female engineer and create a poster, poem or story to explain their findings.

Entries will be displayed on screens at Network Rail’s stations in a celebration of the impact female engineers have had on our world. Two winners of different genders will also be selected by an independent judging panel from each of the three age groups (5 to 8, 9 to 11 and 12 to 14) to win amazing and unique prizes.

All winners will have the chance to be inspired and ask questions to female role models in engineering. Winners from the youngest age category will also be turned into cartoon characters for a starring role in an Emily the Engineer activity book, whilst winners from the older age categories will be presented with a one-of-a-kind VIP Golden Ticket experience day* at Network Rail.

To find out more, visit Network Rail’s website.

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