Blog Archives

Simple as ABC for Global Rail Construction Ltd

UK Rail Infrastructure Contractor – Global Rail Construction Ltd (GRCL) – are pleased to confirm the award of their first project for the Alstom Babcock Costain (ABC) Electrification Ltd joint venture.

The project at Barnt Green – part of the Midland Mainline electrification works – comprises civil engineering works to provide and install new ducting through the station platforms, including the subsequent remedial works to the platforms to bring them back into full service.

ABC as one of the largest electrification businesses in Europe, secured two significant UK Frameworks in 2014 covering Network Rail routes in Central (LNW South) and Western and Wales, which include a number of significant UK programmes to provide and upgrade electrification to the Valley Lines, Great Western Rail Modification (GWRM) and Bristol Patchway to Swansea routes over a seven year period.

Electrifying key UK rail routes will mean faster, greener, quieter and more reliable journeys for thousands of passengers. More seats than diesel trains and superior performance will give journey-time savings.

ABC was formed in 2012 to support Network Rail in meeting these challenges.

The works involve detailed planning and co-ordination of works activities, of which GRCL will combine their engineering and delivery expertise, to meet the requirements of this complex, multi-faceted scheme, which demands experience and know-how.

GRCL are delighted to have the opportunity to work with a client of such size and industry standing and look forward to effectively delivering these works.

Marco Lombardelli, Owner and Managing Director of GRCL commented:

“Global Rail Construction Ltd look forward to delighting ABC – delivering on our promise – with the hope of developing a long term working partnership.”

Railway accessibility works on track

Global Rail Services, the Irish infrastructure-contracting arm of the Global Infrastructure Group, are on track with their civil engineering and building works for Irish Rail.

The major improvement works at three stations – on the Dublin to Rosslare lines at Rathdrum and the Dublin to Sligo lines at Mullingar and Lexilip Louisa Bridge – will further enhance the passenger experience for commuters.

The scope of works include the installation of new footpaths, footbridges, widening of road entrances, new kerbs and ramps, upgrading of handrails, new lighting columns, ducting and chambers, new signage and platform reinstatement works including new platform markings.

Global Rail Services are working with long-term client Irish Rail, to further improve and enhance the accessibility in and around the stations.

The team is meeting daily challenges, as the works are being completed in a fully operational station environment. Global Rail Services as an experienced railway contractor are meeting these head-on and delivering a fully co-ordinated programme of activities that keep disruption to the absolute minimum.

Mitigation measures include, separating the access areas from work areas with temporary partitions to protect members of the public from materials and equipment.

The three concurrent sites are currently on schedule for their completion date later this year.

GRA Networks Ireland completes Newstalk project

GRA Networks Ireland is a telecommunications specialist based in Dublin and is pleased to annouce the successful completion of our antenna installation work on behalf of Newstalk Radio.

The station which brings an exclusive talk based format sharing the best in opinions, analysis, entertainment and sport, had previously shared its transmission with Ireland’s national television and radio broadcaster RTE, however, approached GRA Networks Ireland to create an independent operation.

The scope of works involved the installation of Skymast S.4Y Yagi antennas and the running of EC400 10mm Coax cable from each antenna to comms rooms across eleven separate sites throughout Ireland – from Achill Island to Holywell Hill, Donegal – all within a two week deadline.

Due to the tight timeframe and the need to provide seamless integration from the old to the new to maintain a fully operational radio news service, GRA Networks Ireland collaborated closely with Newstalk, who accompanied GRA Networks Ireland each day, to ensure the swap over from the old system to the new system was undertaken with minimal impact to them.

Newstalk were very complimentary with regard to the progress and work practice that GRA Networks Ireland’s crew displayed and sent their thanks to the team for completing the project on time.

The works required maticulous planning and project management both on and off site and General Manager, Tom Staunton said:

“We are very pleased to have completed these works successfully.

“This was a challenging programme, however, our teams worked seemlessly with the clients intergration team to create the required solution.”

Global Rail Construction to construct substations as part of major Reading rail upgrade

The UK arm of the Global Infrastructure Group – Global Rail Construction Ltd – is pleased to announce that it has secured the civils package associated with the construction on 2No Sub-Stations as part of the Reading 10-Car Upgrade works, which form part of Network Rail’s wider £38bn investment through to 2019.

The project supports the delivery of the High Level Output Specification (HLOS) capacity metric for London Waterloo, which indicates that it is necessary to provide capacity to accommodate an additional demand of 9,700 passengers in the three-hour morning peak.

Global Rail Construction will supply traction power supply infrastructure to enable the operation of 10 car services on the Reading to London Waterloo and Aldershot via Ascot to London Waterloo routes. This will relieve overcrowding, particularly between Virginia Water and London Waterloo in the morning peak.

The full project scope of works is split into three categories:

DC Enhancements:

  • Conversion of Track Paralleling Huts to Substations at Sunningdale Buckhurst, Emmbrook and Whitmoor; and
  • Upgrading existing substations at Ash Vale and Winnersh

HV Enhancements:

  • Upgrade of seven HV feeder cables; and
  • Increase fixed service capacity at Byfleet and Camberley Grids

Electrical Track Equipment (ETE) Enhancements:

  • DC track feeder cable doubling on four route sections; and
  • ETE cable doubling

The project will have major interfaces with the Reading and Ascot to London Waterloo Train Lengthening, which is carrying out work in the same area over the same timescales, the Feltham re-signalling project, a project that Global Rail Construction are currently delivering significant works for and, the Wessex capacity programme, which could overlap with possession requirements.

The delivery of the significant capital investment on the Wessex Route in CP5 is complex; therefore an integrated programme between stakeholders will be produced, to manage the interfaces between various projects.

The works commence in September 2016 and will run through to January 2017 and are contracted through HVMS – Network Rail’s current E&P framework contractor for the Southern Region.

Jim Cuell, Global Rail Construction’s Commercial Director, was delighted with this award and said:

“The Wessex area has seen us delivering on many important Network Rail enhancements such as ASDO and Feltham Resignalling and this win is reward for our outstanding delivery record.

“Our estimating team under the direction of Don Osborn, delivered another compelling bid and as a board, we are grateful for the efforts of the whole tendering team”.

Global Rail Construction and TfL continue their collaboration

Global Rail Construction Ltd, the UK rail infrastructure contractor, has secured Lot 4 on behalf of Transport for London (TfL), a contract which forms part of its five-year Station Works Improvement Programme (SWIP).

The company is a principal contractor for UK mainline and metro railways across a number of disciplines, which include signalling, mechanical, electrical and power (MEP), telecoms, civil and structural engineering, maintenance, renewal and provides a fully tested and commissioned service on both Network Rail and TfL controlled infrastructure.

This represents the third success for Global Rail Construction from four lots tendered for, in conjunction with TfL’s proposed £330m stations upgrade programme framework, which will bring improvements to over seventy stations on TfL’s infrastructure.

Lot 4 includes electrical works to the stations and can include multiple packages of works at various locations. Managing Director at Global Rail Construction, Marco Lombardelli said:

“Being able to offer either sector-specific services or a fully managed turnkey solution across a range of activities, including project management, allows Global Rail Construction to specialise in the design, installation, commissioning and testing of railway critical infrastructure.

“Global Rail Construction’s in-house expertise and flexible management approach, based on decades of engineering and delivering solutions, has resulted in this further success.

“We are successfully delivering a range of projects on TfL’s infrastructure and are delighted that TfL has rewarded our innovative approach to this framework.”

The framework agreement, which is for an initial five years, and could be extended by three more years, was let by TfL to give smaller specialist contractors greater freedom to value engineer and innovate.

Global Rail Construction is expecting mobilisation for these works to commence shortly.

Global Rail Construction appointed by Balfour Beatty on LUL Sub Surface Rail Project

Global Rail Construction Ltd. is delighted to announce the continuation of its ongoing partnership with Balfour Beatty Engineering Services, with the award of Package 5A, which forms part of the sub-surface rail line upgrade on behalf of Transport for London.

The full scope of the contract includes the design, installation, test and commissioning of 11kV and 22kV cables together with associated HV cable diverts and fibre optic pilot cables, and the decommissioning of four HV cables.

Global Rail Construction Ltd’s scope of works incorporates full material logistics, management and the installation of all necessary cable route containment from Neasden BSP through to Cobourg Street.

The sub-surface rail line (SSR) power upgrade project primarily comprises the introduction of new rolling stock and signalling systems. As well as providing a greatly improved passenger environment that includes air conditioning, the new trains, coupled with the introduction of new signalling, will permit faster station-to-station running times and higher train service frequencies.

UK rail business gains further Network Rail recognition

Global Rail Construction Ltd. has been awarded a second consecutive Network Rail Star Award for its exceptional approach to the management and control of health, safety, welfare and environmental practices at its sites on the Great Western Electrification Project (GWEP).

One of the largest single infrastructure projects of its kind, GWEP will provide more reliable, greener and quieter journeys for thousands of passengers. Around 1,000 kilometres of railway will be electrified between London and Cardiff for the introduction of new Intercity Express trains by Hitachi.

This major project will see Global Rail Construction Ltd. using its vast rail engineering experience to help deliver infrastructure works to bring GWEP into service, with most of the works being completed during the current control period.

Global Rail Construction Ltd is part of the Global Infrastructure Group and is a leading UK provider of design and build services to clients in the rail and transportation sector.

Owner and Managing Director, Marco Lombardelli, said: “This is testament to the operational cultures that we have developed, and working practices that our staff and supply chain have fully embraced, and this recognition is richly deserved. Having been issued a full Principal Contractors Licence, we intend to continue to work hard to ensure that we meet and exceed both our own and our clients’ expectations.

“The last three months have been incredibly exciting, with a worldwide rebrand of our UK and overseas activities, under the banner of the Global Infrastructure Group. I look forward to reporting further successes in the future.”

Global Rail Services awarded prestigious Dublin Light Rail Scheme

Global Rail Services Ltd. – part of the Global Rail Infrastructure Group – has just been awarded the Luas Light Rail Cross City BXD Signalling, Electrical and Telecoms package on behalf of Efacec Portugal.

Luas Cross City is a new 5.6km light rail line that will run from Dublin city centre to Broombridge in the north west of the city.

Efacec is the Principal Contractor and responsible for the design, supply, installation and commissioning of the Control Systems for this new LUAS line, which has 13 stops and connects the current Green Line from St. Stephen’s Green through the city centre with the Red line at O’Connell St.  

Global Rail Services’ specialist contract includes a full railway systems installation and commissioning scope of signalling, electrical and telecommunications.

Specific items of work include:
 

  • Cable installation
  • CCTV
  • PA
  • PID
  • Telephones
  • Cabinets
  • Scada
  • Platforms
  • Track circuits
  • Power and earthing systems
  • Terminations
  • Signalling
  • Supply chain management
  • Points indicators
  • Surveys
  • AVLS Loops
  • Public Lighting
  • Bonding
  • Track circuits
  • Fibre Jointing and Installation
  • Testing and commissioning
  • AVLS cabinets
  • PABX
  • Ticket vending

 
The contract commencement date for planned works is September 2016 – and Global Rail Services is currently fully mobilising to meet this date. The project is due for completion at the end of 2017.

Tom Staunton, Global Rail Services General Manager, said of this award:
“We are delighted to be partnered with Efacec on this important infrastructure project, which provides further connectivity into the centre of Dublin. Due to its size and scope complexities, this new contract award shows the confidence Efacec has in Global Rail Services’ abilities. It is these credentials which demonstrates the full scope of Global Rail Services’ expertise across railway systems, much of which has already been seen on previous contracts implemented for the RPA.’

GRA Networks Ireland installs new mast for Irish Defence Forces

GRA Networks Ireland has announced its appointment as the preferred supplier of construction services for Kona, on behalf of the Irish Defence Forces.

GRA Networks Ireland was appointed to install a new mast at Renmore Barracks, Galway, after the previous 65m lattice mast failed its structural analysis test. Kona won the tender for the decommission of this tower, appointing GRA Networks Ireland to assemble and install the new 65-metre tower, with works including:

  • assembly of tower sections at ground level;
  • turing of all sections;
  • pre-erection checks to ensure sections are built correctly and line up perfectly;
  • erection of the mast using a 100-tonne crane;
  • torqueing of flange plate bolts to specification;
  • transferring of army dipole antennae from a temporary site onto the new tower;
  • and installation of a half-inch feeder cable, with cable management, on the tower to army communications room.

GRA Networks Ireland is a multi-disciplined provider offering a comprehensive suite of services including design, construction, installation, commissioning and maintenance of both fixed line and mobile communications networks.

As a full service telecommunications contractor, GRA Networks Ireland provides a comprehensive range of services from upgrading existing infrastructure, to building new mobile phone towers and other wireless network infrastructure.

Global Rail Australia selected to work on A$100m Bayside Rail Project

The Bayside Rail Project (BRP) is the A$100m upgrade of the 42.7km Frankston railway line connecting Melbourne city centre with the south-eastern suburban city of Frankston. As part of the BRP, improvements are required at Caulfield Railway Station which include the extension of existing canopy coverage on both the Monash University (Platform 4) and Caulfield Racecourse (Platform 1). This is intended to:

  • improve the overall aesthetic and functionality of the station precinct;
  • allow commuters to shelter from the rain when walking to and from the existing subway;
  • reduce slips, trips and falls amongst commuters when running up and down wet ramps leading to the subway;
  • and provide future space for mounting additional passenger information display (PID) units for better communication of information to commuters.

Global Rail Australia’s involvement

Global Rail Australia, as the preferred contractor, will manage the supply, construction and installation, of the covered walkways at Caulfield Railway Station. The scope of works includes:

  • preliminaries, including safety/quality documentation;
  • site mobilisation and delineation;
  • connection to existing services – electrical and stormwater;
  • fabrication, painting and delivery of structural steel;
  • setting out the foundations of the covered walkway;
  • installing structural steel members;
  • supply and installation of roofing, roof plumbing, ladder points and anchor points;
  • installation of soffit cladding, access panels, lighting and conduits for future services;
  • completion of all required fit-out, flashings, trims, cappings and touch-ups;
  • installation of asphalt, handrails and bollards;
  • and contract completion and close-out.

Global Rail Australia is part of the Global Infrastructure Group and is a leading Australian provider of design, construct and commission services for clients across a wide range of engineering and infrastructure industries. The company was selected as the preferred contractor on this project for its in-house capabilities, scale and supply chain partnerships.