Global Rail Services Completes Arklow Emergency Bridge Repair

Following a road traffic collision (RTC) in the early hours of 17/07/2020, where the granite wall of Overbridge 254 was knocked down onto the track below following an impact from a van that struck the wall, Global Rail Services Limited were tasked, by Irish Rail, with removing the debris from the track and repairing the wall.

Global Rail Services’ emergency response unit, swiftly mobilised to site to secure the works area, which was hazardous with a high and open edge over the track, installing traffic management on the road leading to and from the bridge to prevent further incidents.  With close collaboration and following an inspection of the wall with Irish Rail’s Structural Engineer and the Local Authority Engineer, it was decided that the wall would need to be immediately repaired and the road surface would need to be cut and excavated to allow the wall to be reconstructed to its original position.

With the Local Authority Engineer granting an immediate 10-day window for the road to be reduced to one lane, the affected area of track was then closed off and removed from use, to prevent trains from entering where loose masonry had the potential to fall and strike a train.

Global Rail Services engaged their established supply chain partner – stonemason Rock Road Stone Company Ltd –  to strip down and rebuild the lime mortar granite wall.  A Global Rail Services civils team and a responsible Project Manager were also mobilised to both carry out the excavation and assist with the safe execution, co-ordination and management of the works.  The works could only be carried out under TIII absolute possession, the hours of possession were 8pm to 5am.

Global Rail Services full scope of works for the emergency repair included:

• Setting up and maintenance of traffic and pedestrian management
• Removal of masonry from the track
• Fencing off the track
• Supply a boom lift MEWP for access to the track face wall
• Supply tower lighting to illuminate the road and track
• Stripping down the existing in situ damaged wall
• Excavating the road surface adjacent to the wall
• Rebuilding the lime mortar wall reusing the existing granite cut sections
• Painting the wall with a black reflective paint
• Installing chevron signage along the full length of the bridge wall
• Reinstating the road surface to Local Authority and Purple Book specification

Despite being given a 10 day window, the team rebuilt the wall over the course of 3 nights and then completed the painting, chevron sign installation and road reinstatement over the following 4 days by the 23/07/2020, thereby completing the works 4 days ahead of schedule.

Irish Rail’s Regional Manager for the area commented about his satisfaction with the completed works, saying: “we should have asked you to repair the rest of the wall, because the repaired wall looks better than the rest of it”. This demonstrates the quality of the work carried out by the entire Global Rail Services team.

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