Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL) are delighted to announce the award of a new rail contract for long-term client Alstom, for GRIP4 ECI survey works on the Cambridge Inner and Outer Re-Signalling & Re-Control Project.

The overall project aim is to improve the reliability and performance of the signalling system in the Cambridge interlocking area. As part of the project, the existing assets are to be surveyed and their continued use validated. Geographically the project covers roughly the track on the approaches to a triangle between Cambridge, Ely and Bury St Edmonds.

In summary, GRCL’s survey works include the following items:

• Surveying, rodding and roping 42No Under Track Crossings & provide condition and capacity report
• Surveying, rodding and roping 33No Under Road Crossings & provide condition and capacity report
• Surveying existing S&T Troughing & providing a condition and capacity report (inc. vegetation management where necessary), where proposed new feeder cables are to be installed – approx. 100km
• Conducting Ground Investigation and providing condition reports at Signal locations, Level Crossings, Station Platforms, PSP and REB sites
• Trial Hole Pits at each new UTX or URX Chamber location
• Conducting Load Monitoring and providing condition reports
• Topographical surveys
• Conducting Ground Penetrating Radar surveys
• Conducting Lighting Lux Level surveys
• Conducting GPR surveys
• Conducting gauging surveys
• Undertaking soakage tests and slit trench surveys

Works will be carefully co-ordinated and delivered during Rules of the Route published possessions/line blockages and isolations with safety critical support, during both midweek and weekend days/nights. Additionally, there are a number of longer, disruptive possessions with isolations to be utilised.

There are many risks associated with working on the rail infrastructure. GRCL’s in-house project management team will be responsible for the delivery of this package of works and will seek to carry out a full assessment of the risks in order to feed into the overall design process.

GRCL’s approach is to think about health and safety in terms of buildability, maintainability and usability at all stages of the design process, so it becomes a natural part of the design. At each stage, GRCL’s delivery team will identify and eliminate hazards. They aim to maintain close communication with key project stakeholders, to support the reduction of the risks that may arise during construction work, which will enable the plan to be kept on track without exception.

Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL) has been awarded a contract to deliver the Ely to Peterborough Design for both E&P and Civils (GRIP 4) on behalf of our client Atkins Global. The Civils design covers the review of GRIP 3 designs, surveys and Form 001. E&P Design includes surveys, load monitoring and cable calculations, Form A’s for several Level Crossings and power supply schematics.

The Ely to Peterborough scheme is aimed at increasing safety at a number of Level Crossings and increasing the remaining life of the Signalling assets in a number of interlocking areas.

The interlocking areas covered by this project are Downham Market, Kings Dyke, Kings Lynn Junction, Littleport, Magdalen Road, Manea, March East Junction, March South Junction, Stonea and Three Horse Shoes. The Level Crossings to be renewed in this project are Littleport MGH, Magdalen Road MCB, Manea MCB, March East MCB, March South MCB, Whittlesea MGH and Hargham AHB.

Having a multi-disciplinary workforce including design, civil and structural engineering and E&P expertise, along with in-house project management and having previously delivered time-pressurised, highly co-ordinated schemes, allowed Global Rail Construction Limited to provide the necessary solution in order to complete the works to meet the client’s requirements.

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Global Rail Construction Limited has secured a Points Heating remedial contract with BAM on the Thameslink Project. The E&P design and build package of works, forms part of a requirement to upgrade and rectify the railway systems infrastructure to support the capacity improvements recently made in the London Bridge area.

The 26-week programme, includes an 8-week procurement period in order to secure all necessary RCM equipment and parts for the project and covers the following activities:

• Preparatory investigation and surveying including:
  • A detailed review of as-built records
  • Reviewing and assessing of current designs
  • Correlation of the RCM installation

• Design works which covers:
  • Collation of survey data to determine the scope
  • Civils design
  • E&P design

• Installation works:
  • Civil Engineering works
    • Installation of TX Bases
  • Electrical works
    • Cabling, Jointing and termination works
  • PHCC/RCM Remedial works and commissioning
    • Removal and replacement of CT boards
    • Mechanical fixing and installation of new CT’s
    • Installation of new Aerials
    • Installation of new circuitry (MCB’s, CT’s, Terminals, Labels)
    • Installation of DCU 390 PH – Data Loggers
    • Environmental testing (Hot & Cold Probes)
  • Commissioning, configuration checking and final testing

• The provision of as-built information including O&M data

The 6-week design and survey period commenced this month, with the remainder of the contract works being completed by late September 2020. Installation works will be undertaken during a standard 5-day working week and activities will be worked concurrently in order to meet the required project milestones.

Mechanical & electrical services provided by Global Rail Construction are constantly upgraded through training and development and are consistently delivered to the highest specification.

Design and project management of these specialist services are deployed on projects such as sub-station refurbishment and new build, station refurbishment and new build, signalling equipment room fit-outs, station platforms and car park lighting.

As part of the Thameslink Programme, the railway systems for London Bridge was completely remodelled to suit a new layout at London Bridge station and provide substantial capacity improvements to enable proposed current and future operational timetabling, this is referred to as the N421 Project.

The complexity of managing, staging and delivering the railway systems in order to meet the remodelling programme, has necessitated a requirement for the railway systems infrastructure to be surveyed, in order to confirm its suitability and whether further upgrades and rectifications will be required.

To support these works, Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL) has been awarded a lineside survey contract by long-term customer BAM Nuttall, to undertake the necessary investigation and reporting of 44No Signal Gantries and their associated containment, which includes but is not limited to the following scope:

1. Structural condition surveys in relation to original Form A requirement for painting
2. The condition and positioning of cables on the structures including
   1. The position of cables relative to associated tray work/containment (particularly noting areas where cables have no associated containment)
   2. The type of signal cable (B or C)
   3. An assessment of cable slack (or tension)
   4. Any visible damage to cables
   5. Any serrated edges on tray work/containment that could potentially cause damage to cables
   6. Any structure concerns
   7. Tagging and tracing of cables to ensure end to end point identification
   8. Condition and suitability of the use of cable management to secure cables to containment in contrast to the existing Civils As-Built design

On completion of each survey GRCL will review and discuss the photos and observations with the BAM team at a weekly Technical Interface Meeting and determine one of the following:

1. An agreed scope of residual works (with no further survey requirements) or,
2. The requirement for further detailed ‘tag and trace’ surveys

GRCL will produce final survey reports, documenting the findings, associated agreements and will include any recommended remedial works to be undertaken, whereby GRCL can be instructed to complete the remedial scope.

Project Manager Barry Smith, is leading Global Rail Construction Limited’s in-house team of self-delivery experts, who will be covering all disciplines including Civil & Structural Engineering, Signalling and E&P.

Surveys are already underway and there are a number of Signal Gantries already completed, some remedial works instructed and on-going, with further awaiting instruction shortly.

MD Marco Lombardelli added this:

“Delighted to be awarded this multi-disciplinary package of works from our esteemed client BAM. The full suite of internal expertise will be managed and delivered by our in-house staff, something that we are immensely proud of.”

Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL), has been awarded a railway civil engineering design and build programme of works on behalf of Atkins Global. Clacton Re-signalling’s principal driver is the asset condition of the interlocking and associated track infrastructure at the throat of Clacton-On-Sea station.

Much of the signalling in the area dates back to 1958 and utilises a lever frame dating from 1891. There is currently a mixture of semaphore and colour-light signals, controlled by a mechanical/electro- mechanical lever frame. There is also a mechanical ground frame at Clacton Station. The existing signalling equipment has been the subject of life extension works in 1996 and 2004.

Many components are obsolete and only available on a repair and return basis. Most of the existing location cases have considerable corrosion. The signalling uses some single-cut circuits which are the subject of ORR concern. Searchlight signals are installed on this line, with known Wrong Side Failure (WSF) modes. P-Style relays in the lower portion of the box have been recognised as susceptible to sliver migration. So these works, will look to minimise maintenance and reduce whole life costs.

GRCL’s civil engineering contract covers the provision of a full site-setup, all necessary management and supervision, materials, plant and delivery to the point of construction. The scope consists of the following elements:

• Vegetation clearance
• Design and Build of 1No Location Staging Platform
• Design and Build of 11No Signal Foundations (mixture of concrete and piled solutions)
• The installation of other ancillary railway civils including location hardstanding’s, RRAP’s, cable routes and a Relocatable Equipment Building foundation base and associated works (Design by Atkins)
• Site Clearance and Waste Recovery throughout construction and upon completion

Managing Director, Marco Lombardelli added:

“This is a fantastic award for the UK team.

“Utilising our railway design and construction capabilities in civil and structural engineering, we look forward to the successful completion of these important works, in order to upgrade the signalling systems in the Clacton-on-Sea area.

“This is another collaboration with our partner Atkins Global, and we look forward to many more.”

We are pleased to announce that Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL), has been successful with its tender for the Designer Tier 2 Framework Agreement with BAM.

The design team provided a compelling offer, evidencing the following:

• How safe design and specifying has been previously achieved on its projects;
• The organisation’s in-house design and railway engineering capacity;
• How engineering assurance has been applied to previous projects;
• How digital approaches are integrated into its work;

GRCL also provided some initiatives in relation to provisions for diversity and inclusion across the business and some working examples of how inclusivity has made a difference.

The contract will extend throughout Network Rail’s Control Period 6 (CP6), covering BAM’s Southern Multi-Disciplinary (SMD) Framework and GRCL will be providing Design services on a call off basis for a five-year period.

Delighted GRCL Design Manager, Richard Horsted added:

“This is great news and testament to the efforts of the entire team. We have made impressive strides with our design and consultancy development recently, and this latest success is reward for the fruits of our labour.”

Our design and consultancy division constantly adapt to new technology and innovation.

State-of-the-art 3D CAD systems are used to assist with analysis and design, providing significant advantages for clients by lowering project costs and reducing programmes timescales.

Our in-house activities include:

• Civil engineering and structural design
• Mechanical, electrical and power design
• Telecoms design
• CAD drafting and design including 3D modelling
• Independent design reviews

In these extremely challenging times, both Ivan and I would like to share our heartfelt support and solidarity with you and your families. At Global, the health and safety of our worldwide colleagues, customers, partners and the communities in which we serve is our number one priority. We have a legacy of responsible business and we are committed to doing all that we can to keep everyone safe and healthy, every day.

We are extremely proud of and grateful to all our committed teams who deliver every day to ensure business continuity. We have been taking strict precautions to protect them and their families, while maintaining customer service. Many of our rail, telecoms and construction works and of course our 24/7 emergency crews are essential, as we play an important part in maintaining and enhancing critical infrastructure. As a result, we have made extensive contingency plans to secure our supply chain and ongoing business. We are following the advice of all governments and public health authorities, and have proactively implemented a range of precautionary measures, from stringent sanitation and cleaning protocols, to workplace distancing, and a worldwide travel ban, by putting our people first.

Team GIG, thank you for your continued endeavour and trust and please do stay safe.

Best Regards,

Marco and Ivan

Our Irish and UK businesses have successfully completed re-certification audits of their respective company Health, Safety and Quality Management systems.

Both Global Rail Services Limited (Ireland) and Global Rail Construction Limited (UK) included a challenging migration audit from OHSAS 18001 to the new Occupational Health and Safety Standard ISO 45001:2018.

Global Rail Services also successfully completed an audit of their ISO 9001:2015, which provides continuation of their ISO 9001 certification.

The Irish audits also covers the projects of GRA Networks Ireland – our Irish Telecoms Division.

Both UK and Irish businesses received no non-compliances – a fantastic achievement.

Our Global Family in Australia – Global Rail Australia Pty Limited and GRA Networks Australia – are just commencing the same migration process and we hope to report their progression very soon.

Co-Owner Marco Lombardelli added:

“Thanks to everyone involved for your continued support of our countrywide management systems, and a special mention to those of you who were directly involved in the audits conducted at our sites and respective Hatfield and Dublin offices.

“Your efforts are appreciated – keep up the good work.”

In these uncertain times, it is important that you know Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL) are open for business and have put in place all sensible measures to ensure we stay that way. We are actively monitoring the Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation. Our top priority is to ensure the welfare of our employees and deployed resources, whilst also ensuring that we will continue to maintain the highest level of quality and service that our customers have come to expect from us.

Hygiene – we have ensured sufficient hand washing facilities and/or alcohol-based hand sanitisers are available and maintained across all our business operations, and that staff are fully aware through our direct online training of the importance of keeping a high standard of hygiene.

Our team and Site management – we have made provision, where possible for our employees to work from home while staying connected with the business. As appropriate, our site management teams will be working to a roster, so that we maintain continuity of service while meeting with the social distancing requirements. Communication to the wider audience such as project meetings will be via conference calls [Telcon/Skype/Microsoft Teams].

Supply chain – GRCL has taken all the necessary action to ensure continuity of supply of both products and services. Our supply chain is secure as it can be, and we have known materials ringfenced for call off.

We recognise that the events are completely unknown however, as a dynamic business, which embraces change, we look forward to continuing to support our customers throughout this period in just the same way as we always have.

We will review and monitor our contingency arrangements on a daily basis to ensure we can react to any changing circumstances.

Thank you again for your continued business and on-going support.

Global Rail Construction has successfully completed its civils contract at Three Bridges.

The work scope included:

• Core drilling and installation of a platform duct route
• Installation of GRP Fencing and a staging unit
• Supply and installation of Critical Rail Temperature (CRT) track monitoring and wing wall monitoring of bridge
• Supply and installation of 4no x 10m 406mm piles
• Supply and installation of a Cantilever signal structure
• Supply and installation of a new Right Away (RA) signal base, ducting and structure
• Installation of a Subsidiary Signal on a post
• Removal of an existing Cantilever signalling structure

The contract is part of the new 8 and 12 car Class 700 programme for Train Operator GTR, being enhanced by Network Rail and is to support the requirement for providing the necessary signal sighting at Three Bridges, East Croydon, Brighton and Redhill railway stations.

During the works the team received praise from Steve Holmes, SPM for Network Rail, Southern Capital Delivery:

“Please accept and pass on my personal thanks for the work carried out over the weekend. I don’t need to dwell on the appalling weather conditions which we all experienced, which only served to make the efforts of everyone even more impressive. We don’t often get to see the guys actually doing the works as they disappear as soon as they’re done, (and who wouldn’t want to get out of that ….) , but please be sure and pass on my thanks and gratitude for their resilience and resolve to get the job not only done, but done safely.  We exceeded what we expected to get done considering the storm, which puts us in a great position to complete the commissioning in Week 48.”

On completion Steve also added:

“I just wanted to say a huge personal thanks for the hard work, trust and collaboration you have shown in bring the project to a very successful conclusion following last night’s commissioning of Three Bridges T280 signal. I’m sure you all remember the big decision taken to move away from developing T281 and instead focussing our efforts on another option with T280, and all the stress and work that that imported, but we did it – together! There have been many stakeholders to pacify along the way, and we have always delivered one message, regardless of who any of us spoke to. That is a very powerful thing to have developed and has meant that there is a confidence in the team we have built that we work as one to deliver…”