Another Successful Milestone Achieved by Global Rail Services at Limerick Junction

Global Rail Services have had another successful weekend working on its contract for Irish Rail, constructing the new Limerick Junction Down Platform and Footbridge Works

The team has successfully completed its latest contract milestone, by completing the assembly and installation of all steelwork for the new footbridge.

The works were undertaken between 12^th and 23^rd August 2019, utilising a combination of normal daytime working hours within a green zone and midweek night-time possession working hours between 11pm and 5am – all in agreement with Irish Rail.

The works included a number of carefully planned stages which included:

1. Site Set Up

• All plant set up in advance of the works within the confines of the site perimeter in a green zone. A large zone for working was built and fenced at the back of the of the new down platform and the new tracks have been ballasted out to allow access up the new platform.

2. Delivery and assembly of the Structural Steel Footbridge

• All pre galvanized, pre painted structural steel, mesh panels, handrails, stainless steel items for the new bridge frame delivered into the green zone and carefully unloaded with the GRS teleported and stacked for assembly
• The main bridge portal placed onto a prefabricated temp support frame and bolted into position. When all portal frames were in place all supports and braces were placed and secured into their final position in line with the AFC Fabrication drawings.
• On completion of the steel support frame the Woven Wire mesh panels were placed and aligned into the required position and secured with SS SHS sections and 60x5mm flat as per the AFC drawings.
• The entire section for the footbridge was completed and checked against the existing sleeves on the footbridge and confirmed that the structure fits when lifted into position in line with the AFC drawings
• Horizontal Ties were installed across each portal frame to support the frame during lifting.

3. Stair Steel Assembly

• Anchor bolts were installed into the side of the stairs to the required centres utilising a small MEWP placed on the platform behind fencing within a green zone.
• Drilling holes within a green zone with the exception of the Cork line side of the up platform, which was completed under possession as this section of platform is live during the day. GRSL made every effort to pre-drill as much as possible within a green zone environment to speed up the possession works.
• The stairs steel frame units which consist of 2 nr uprights and 1 nr cross member were assembled on the ground in line with the AFC drawings.

4. Main Bridge and Up Platform Stairs

• The main bridge steel and the up-platform stairs steel, were then installed under possession with a 90t crane
• The bridge steel on the down platform was installed and placed from the back of the platform with the aid of the GRS teleporter. Each frame was lifted and guided into position by our team from Hyland Engineering, with slings onto pre-drilled bolts to the required line and level. Once in position each frame was bolted and secured into its final position
• Each frame was then connected with the horizontal running beams as per the AFC drawings. All beams were lined up and bolted into position

5. Installation of Handrails and Woven wire mesh to stairs

• All materials were placed onto the platform with the teleporter and carried across the footbridge and stairs to their final position in a green zone
• All Woven Wire mesh panels were then placed and aligned into the required position and secured with SS SHS sections and 60x5mm flat as per the AFC drawings.

6. Installation of Avigilon IP camera system on stairwells and footbridge

• Avigilon IP cameras were installed onto the steel work of the new footbridge and stairwells to capture and record 360° video footage 24hrs a day
• Steel conduit was installed onto the steel work from the newly built service rooms under each stairwell, up to the location of each IP camera.
• A CAT5 network cable was installed via newly installed conduit, from the new IP Network switch in service rooms to the IP cameras
• All IP cameras were tested from the from the station controller’s office and images agreed by Irish rail

7. Installation of lighting system on stairwells and footbridge

• Once the steel work of the bridge arrived on site it was examined, a few proposals were put forward for the best and neatest way of installing the cabling for the proposed luminaires.
• An installation design and method was agreed before the steelwork was erected.
• Once the steel work was installed the electricians worked on all sections of the stairwells and footbridge at the one time
• MEWPs and ladders were used for height access
• Steel conduit was installed from the newly installed service rooms under stairwells up to the steel work of the stairwells and footbridge
• 03No of lighting circuits were installed from the newly installed distribution boards in service rooms under stairwells, up to the proposed luminaires
• These lighting circuits were wired with four core 2.5mmsq Silflex cable
• This Silflex cable was installed via the box section of the steel work and the newly installed steel conduit
• The luminaires were installed into position as per AFC drawings
• All luminaires were terminated and tested as to ETCI regulations

On completion of this milestone, the works were successfully inspected and signed off by Irish Rail.

Global Rail Services are managing and delivering these works as part of a new €2.5m project at Limerick Junction on behalf of Irish Rail. The overall objective via the implementation of this scheme is to deliver improved journey times and provide timetable enhancements on the Dublin-Cork and Dublin-Limerick lines, which are currently restricted by a platform conflict at Limerick Junction.

A big thanks to all involved for their dedication to ensure the safe and successful completion of another important project milestone.

SHARE VIA