Our UK business, Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL), has completed the North Downs Lines Level Crossing Upgrade. The design and build civil engineering scope covers 3No Automatic Half Barrier (AHB) Level Crossings and 1No Manually Controlled Obstacle Detected Barrier (MCB-CCTV) located within Network Rail’s Wessex Route on behalf of Principal Contractor and Designer Atkins Reàlis.
The objective of this project was the mitigation of safety risks at these level crossings whilst taking into consideration the additional barrier down times (BDTs). It is the intention of the Wessex Route to reduce their overall risk at level crossings by upgrading AHB (Automated Half Barrier) Level Crossings to MCB-OD Mk11 (Manually Controlled Barrier – Obstacle Detection) Level Crossings at Burrows Lane and Brook. Chilworth & Tangley will be MCB-CCTV. The project was also required to relock the RSJ lines from Shalford station to Gomshall station with targeted renewal of trackside equipment. This will unlock application of 35mph differential speed across the scheme area and provide signal spacing to permit future 75mph line speed enhancement for the RSJ lines.
The AHB crossing at Chilworth and AHBC Crossing type at Burrows Lane, Brook and Tangley involved working in conjunction with multiple stakeholders and third parties including Network Rail, Train Operators, private residents/landowners as well as Highways Authorities
This significant interface was crucial to the success of these works with 3rd parties and members of the public at the Stations and Level Crossings communicated with to avoid conflict with access to Stations or use of the level crossings by the public, emergency services, Network Rail staff or the Train Operator’s staff. Advance notice and liaison with all affected parties was required with staff signing in/out of the Stations/Depots as required by local rules/arrangements.
GRCL also ensured the safe management and maintenance of access to each worksite and full reinstatement and improvement as required of all boundary and entry points on completion, successfully maintaining safe means of access onto the site during works in such a manner so as to avoid trespass by either animals or people onto Network Rail Controlled Infrastructure.
Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL) has successfully completed its Lineside Civils and Rail Systems sub-contract scope with Principal Contractor AtkinsRèalis and client Network Rail on the Ely to Peterborough (E2P) / Anglia Signal Structures Modernisation (A2SM) project.
The project aimed to renew life-expired signalling infrastructure but was postponed after achieving AFC design status. Whittlesea was identified as a critical area due to deteriorating infrastructure. Limited funds led to the creation of the A2SM project, which covered the following scope:
• Renew signal structures
• Modify mechanical interlocking
• Upgrade power systems
• Install new track circuits and IRJs
• Recover redundant equipment
The project objectives were achieved covering the extension of the life of existing infrastructure without service enhancements, improvement of reliability and maintainability of signalling assets, ensuring compliance with Network Rail standards and safety requirements.
GRCL’s project deliverables covered the civils and rail systems scope for the renewal of signals (Whittlesea: W3, W4, W5, W23, W26; Manea: M1, M2, M3, M21, M23; March: MS933, ME8, MS32, MSA, MS1/2, MS9; Kings Lynn: KL8 including signal box and panel modifications), updating signalling scheme plans and block shelf diagrams, and delivering compact PSP installations and LV power upgrades. The team supplied all health & safety files and as-built documentation and were responsible for the recovery and disposal of redundant equipment.
Due to financial constraints, the project was split into Year 1 and Year 2 scopes of work.
Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL) were awarded a long-term programme of GRIP 6-8 railway civil engineering works, on behalf of valued client and Cambridge Resignalling Principal Contractor and Designer, Alstom. This sub-contract was secured by our UK team, following previous successful delivery of both GRIP 4 Surveys and GRIP 5 Advanced Civils Works.
Cambridge Resignalling is a condition led renewal, where a significant number of level crossings will be either renewed or modified as part of the project. The scope covers the area controlled by Cambridge signal box.
The delivery programme covers 4-key commissioning stages – Stage 1 Commissioning in December 2024, Stage 2 Commissioning May 2025, Croxton Stage October 2025 and Stage 3 Commissioning Easter 2026, and requires GRCL to interface with Alstom’s Lead Engineers and provide inputs into other discipline requirements/deliverables.
GRCL provides competent management and staff to ensure that the works meet the required Network Rail standards and the expected level of quality, in order to assist Alstom with production and verification of the scheme, to enable satisfactory and timely sign off of the Engineering Completion Certificates for all stages of the works.
Following several months of efficient planning and effective delivery, Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL) has successfully completed Feltham Resignalling Phase 5, Works Package 1a, covering Signalling Installations, on behalf of partner AtkinsRéalis for Network Rail Wessex Capital Delivery.
Feltham Phase 5 consisted of 3No interlocking areas, with 3No fringes to adjacent signalling control centres, and the renewal of 2No level crossings. The overall programme of Feltham & Wokingham re-signalling project covers 1 8-year, five phase renewal of all signalling assets controlled from Feltham Area Signalling Centre (ASC) and Wokingham Signal Box (SB). The project will renew 9No Route Relay Interlockings (RRIs) with new centralised ElectroLogIXS Computer Based Interlocking (CBI) controlled from Basingstoke Rail Operations Centre (ROC), transferring control from the existing Feltham Area Signalling Centre (ASC), and renewing all existing lineside signalling infrastructure and remote interlockings with centralised interlockings from the new ROC.
GRCL’s significant rail systems sub-contract encompassed the installation, termination and testing of new lineside equipment including cabling, Location Case suites, AWS, TPWS, and the existing train detection system replaced with Frauscher Advanced Counter (FAdC) Axle Counter system and the subsequent recovery of all the old assets. The 2No electrically controlled Level Crossings were renewed to interface to the new ElectroLogIXS lineside equipment, replacing all Barrier Booms, Barrier Machines, Road Traffic Lights (RTL’s) to an LED type. New electrical Principal Supply Point (PSP’s) were also provided at Winnersh Triangle, and new Auxiliary Supply Points (ASP) were provided at Earley and Crowthorne. The PSP, ASPs and Functional Supply Points (FSPs) were implemented as a Class II based system managed by the Camlin Signet Auto Reconfigurable system.
Our collaborative delivery and high-quality workmanship enabled an incredible result, working on some the busiest lines in the Southern region. Through a safe and solutions-based approach during this project, our signalling and power experts supported timely culmination and the successful commissioning of this newly signalled area.
Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL) has completed a multi-disciplinary GRIP 5-8 rail systems sub-contract encompassing Civil and Structural Engineering including temporary works, E&P and Signalling installation works, covering Phases 3 and 4 of the Feltham Resignalling Project. This project was on behalf of Principal Contractor (PC) Atkins Global for Network Rail’s (NR) Southern region. GRCL is the UK arm of the worldwide Global Infrastructure Group and is a leading provider of design and build services to clients in the rail and transportation sector.
Global Rail Construction Limited’s successful design, installation and handover of this contract supports the culmination and commissioning of these newly signalled areas in August 2023.
The full scope of the main contract has covered the re-control from the existing Feltham Area Signalling Centre (ASC) NX Panel system to the Basingstoke Rail Operations Centre (ROC) on a Resonate IECC Scalable system, and a signalling interlocking re-lock from the existing Staines and Windsor Route Relay Interlockings (RRI) to an appropriate configuration of Computer Based Interlockings (CBI) within the Atkins ElectroLogIXS system.
All existing lineside signalling infrastructure has been replaced with new equipment including all cabling, Location Case suites, AWS and TPWS, and existing AC track circuit train detection replaced by the Frauscher Advanced Counter (FAdC) Axle Counter system. 7No controlled Level Crossings have been renewed to interface with the new ElectroLogIXS lineside equipment with replacement of the booms, barrier machines, road traffic lights (RTLs), and changing from incandescent bulbs to white light LEDs.
Principal Contractor Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL), has completed Feltham Resignalling’s largest civil engineering programme of works, on behalf of Network Rail (NR) Southern Region Capital Delivery.
In October 2020, Global Rail Construction commenced works as the Principal Contractor for the Design and Construction (D&C) of the Advanced Civil Engineering scope of works for Feltham Resignalling Project Phases 3&4. These phases form part of a major Resignalling project to renew life expired signalling, telecoms, and electrical assets for Network Rail, comprising the renewal of 538 Signalling Equivalent Units (SEUs) over 80 miles of railway lines, alongside the introduction of a brand-new signalling system from Atkins – Elix.
Design activities commenced at pace and site works were meticulously planned as part of a compelling tender methodology and approach utilising weekdays and nights, Saturday nights and several 28 and 52-hour railway possessions during a most challenging project timeframe.
The construction works were further extended to September 2022 to include several additional location case hardstanding’s, PSP compounds, new signal installations, new cable duct routes to existing station platforms and the installation of various new troughing routes – all effortlessly absorbed by GRCL’s in-house D&C team.
Having a railway design and build team, including dedicated project and site management across the civil and structural engineering scope, familiarity with the scheme, having delivered several previous phases and having delivered time pressurised resignalling schemes across Network Rail infrastructure, allowed Global Rail Construction Limited to provide the necessary turnkey solution and complete the project to meet Network Rail’s requirements
Global Rail Construction Limited were among a team of specialist rail contractors working in a highly coordinated manner to deliver these important upgrades for Network Rail. The in-house team of multi-disciplinary experts from Global, have worked almost entirely within a live, operational environment, interfacing daily with equipment that is switched on, in a wholly compliant manner.
The specialist discipline support services undertaken by Global Rail Construction Limited cover the entire end-to-end design and build scope of the Signalling, E&P and Ancillary Civil Engineering programme.
Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL) has completed the signalling and telecoms installation and associated civil construction works for the renewal of the following 4No Level Crossings:
- Stroude – a bridal crossing without any barriers that required extensive resurfacing and fencing works and the replacement of 30No track sleepers
- Rusham – a complex crossing that included design and installation of pilling, extensive hardstanding and fencing
- Camberley – a barrier crossing requiring modification, new bases, cable routes, associated fencing and surfacing works
- Chertsey – minor signalling and civils works as there was no new barrier or RTL bases
The works were completed for long-term client Atkins Global, on behalf of Network Rail’s Wessex Route. The completed crossings fall within the Feltham & Wokingham Resignalling project which comprises the renewal of all signalling assets controlled from Feltham Area Signalling Centre (ASC) and Wokingham Signal Box (SB), replacing 9 RRIs with new centralised ElectroLogIXS (CBI) interlockings controlled from Basingstoke ROC.
Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL) successfully secured a significant Signalling installation sub-contract on behalf of its UK client Atkins. The contract is for Package 1 covering Phases 3 & 4 of the Feltham to Woking Resignalling Scheme and also includes Telecoms, Permanent Way, E&P and associated minor civils installation scopes of work
The contract includes the provision of key engineering resources – using in house personnel – in accordance with the Engineering Management for Projects standard NR/L2/RSE/02009. This includes the necessary disciplined Contractors Responsible Engineers, who are accountable for the day-to-day management and co-ordination of the technical and engineering activities, Construction Managers, Temporary Works Co-ordinators, and a Responsible Manager to fulfil the duties as defined in NR/L3/OHS/019.
This success was awarded following Global Rail Construction Limited’s recent completion of the early advanced scope for Phase 2 covering Sunningdale MCB-CCTV – a full level crossing renewal – in which GRCL completed trackside signalling equipment installations and civils works in early November 2021 and the company was of course delighted to be working once again in partnership with its long-term customer Atkins.
The overall Feltham to Wokingham Resignalling Project covers the renewal of all signalling assets, covered by seven scheme plans, with delivery broken down into six separate Phases that align approximately to the Signalling Scheme Plan boundaries, Feltham ASC Signallers panels and Wokingham Signal Box.
Network Rail (NR) Principal Contractor, Global Rail Construction Limited (GRCL), were contracted by NR Wessex Works Delivery Track for a £200k Plain Line Refurbishment of Gibbets Lane on the Frimley Line.
Global Rail Construction engaged with supply chain partner, KGJ Price, in order to support Network Rail to deliver this track package of works on the Wessex Route.
During CP6, Global Rail Construction has also successfully supported Works Delivery in both Wessex and the South East with discrete work banks which have included re-sleepering, S&C refurb works and rerailing.
