Blog Archives

GRA Networks Ireland Delivers Abseiling Excellence

GRA Networks Ireland has completed abseiling contracts for three clients – namely Iarnrod Eireann, Imagine Networks and Vodafone. The company uses IRATA trained operatives to deliver this work.

Iarnrod Eireann – Drogheda Viaduct

Iarnrod Eireann required abseilers to install LED systems on Drogheda Viaduct. GRA Networks Ireland completed these works at night with a River Rescue boat in place for emergency recovery. Heavy LED lights were installed below the bridge which could only be done using an abseiling technique with the use of ropes. GRA then completed a second visit to replace faulty lights with the same scenario for a rescue boat. Faulty lights removed and hauled up to the top of bridge.  New light lowered and installed. All works done at night.

Iarnrod Eireann – Drogheda Viaduct

GRA Networks supplied abseilers to complete the successful installation of a new lighting system on Athlone Railway Bridge for Irish Rail.  Structural steel on the bridge was assessed for suitability prior to carrying out the works on a live railway during night-time hours under track possession.  GRA Networks Ireland liaised closely with Irish Rail and Waterways Ireland to complete the works. A rescue boat was in place on the River Shannon for the duration of the works.

Vodafone Ireland – Minch Norton

Vodafone contracted the GRA Networks Ireland team to install Antennaes and RRU’s at the Minch Norton grain silo site. GRA were required to rig and abseil off the side of a grain silo building to install Vodafone antennas and RRU. 

To accomplish this, GRA Networks installed stand-off steelwork on the side of building and created a safe work/drop zone below all works areas to ensure the wellbeing of staff and satisfactory completion.

Imagine Networks – Royal Hotel Bray

Imagine Networks engaged the GRA team in Ireland for the decommissioning of an antenna, RRU and cabling from the side of the Royal Bray Hotel building. A secure drop zone was initially erected below the area of the hotel. The area was very busy, so pedestrians were re-routed during the works. All works completed safely and efficiently and with minimal disruption to hotel.

Imagine Networks – RTE Donnybrook

Imagine required GRA Networks Ireland’s abseiling team to decommission and remove all antennas, cable management and cables from the Donnybrook Tower. All Imagine equipment was located 60 meters from ground level. GRA Networks set up the site and delivered an abseil solution that met the requirements without incident or accident and to meet the desired program.

GRA Networks Ireland deliver abseiling projects across a diverse range of industries. We offer a safe, secure, and competitive service, with a commitment to technical excellence and our worldwide reputation in telecoms contracting, we can work with clients to develop bespoke rope solutions that meet every requirement.

Mullingar AO Wall Remedial Works

Global Rail Services were contracted by ESB Telecoms to undertake remedial works on the boundary wall of their mast location in Mullingar. 

The project consisted of removing and relocating the existing power supply to the Vodafone cabin on site, demolishing the existing boundary wall and rebuilding the wall in-situ. 

This site was complex due to access constraints and limited space – Global Rail Services also had to maintain parking for the adjacent businesses during the construction works.

The existing wall had extensive cracks leading to structural failure of the drystone section. The failure was ultimately due to the internal compound level, which had been approximately 1 metre above the carpark level, and exerting pressure over time on to the base of the existing wall.

This project was successfully completed on time by the Global Rail Services engineering team to meet the clients expectations in terms of program, cost and quality.

Global Rail Services civil and structural engineering capabilities take full project responsibility and offer a fully managed and integrated service for Irish clients within the built environment.

The company provide civil and structural engineering solutions from initial project planning and design, to enabling works covering site surveys, hazard and environmental assessments, procurement, onsite construction and equipment installation, through to final commissioning.

The business has a flexible approach and can undertake civil engineering projects on a turnkey, consultancy, main contract, sub-contract or resource supply basis to meet each individual client’s requirement. Skills are applied to new build, refurbishment and maintenance projects.

Imagine 4G Rollout

GRA Networks Ireland has been awarded and successfully completed a 3-year, major 4G rollout project for Imagine Telecom between 2018 and 2021.

This multi-million euro, fully managed project involves the 4G upgrade of equipment on new and existing sites throughout the 26 counties in Ireland. GRA Networks were contracted to deliver a managed service including initial site condition surveys and reporting, providing all necessary materials and logistics management and QA audit and handover at each location. 

The project required telecoms rigging (copper feeders and Fibre/RRU solutions), maintenance and remedial works, Installation, commissioning, and integration. During the project GRA Networks Ireland provided a 24/7 emergency response service. The full scope included:

• 4G equipment installation, commissioning, and integration
• Transmission microwave links installation and commissioning
• Earthing systems & feeder installation and testing
• Copper/fibre/coaxial networks
• SDH backbone – installation and upgrade
• Tower construction, retro fit, maintenance, and inspection
• Cabinet installations
• In conduit installation
• Operations and maintenance services
• Fibre Transmission Services

Climbdown and Maintenance Project – Irish Aviation Authority

GRA Networks Ireland has successfully completed climbdowns and maintenance on several Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) telecoms structures in January 2022.

The works undertaken cover maintenance and repairs on IAA site compounds incorporating site activities including weeding, painting, fence repairs, building repairs and resolving access issues.

As the sites were near airports and aircraft, GRA Networks Ireland’s experienced team completed the necessary site access forms and method statements for IAA’s approval. Access and supervision were then arranged by IAA – the supervision required due to the dangers imposed by the working environment.

These fully managed sites included the following delivery activities by GRA Networks Ireland:

• Project and health and safety management
• Maintenance and repairs
• Earthing and lightning protection system installation and testing
• Certification of equipment on the tower
• Inspection and climbdown including torque tests
• Reporting any installation issues/snags 
• Site maintenance completion documents
• Site compound maintenance and repair

Twin Pole Install at Mount Gabriel

GRA Networks Ireland has completed a telecoms tower build on behalf of the Irish Aviation Authority, Shannon. The fully managed, site build covered all necessary groundworks, foundations and included design and build of the twin timber stayed poles and an VHF antennae installation and commissioning.

The project required GRA Networks to undertake the initial condition surveying and reporting, provide materials management and logistics services and undertake a full QA audit and handover. The full scope included:

  • Excavations
  • Foundations
  • Concrete works
  • Design of the stayed pole
  • VHF antenna installation
  • Earthing systems installation and testing
  • 2No 15m AGL Poles erected on site
  • Feeder installation
  • Cabinet installation
  • Installation of Eltek Main Remote in the telecoms equipment room plus associated electrical works

Successful Installation of Turnouts in Railton

Global Rail Australia Pty Limited’s Track Construction Division has completed their awarded contract with partner Gradco, for 2No 1 in 10 Turnouts and 200 meters of plain line track installation in Railton, North West Tasmania, on behalf of rail operator Tasrail, in Tasmania.

The team at Global Rail Australia pre-built the 2No turnouts in 4 days prior to a 3-day railway occupation. During the occupation Gradco carried out all formation works in readiness for Global Rail’s installation of the turnouts and track.

Impressively, Global Rail Australia successfully installed all the new points, track and new Racor lever boxes ahead of time in the occupation. Global Rail’s welding teams completed 45 welds during this time, which all passed NDT (non-destructive testing) inspection.

Global Rail Australia Pty Limited has in-house specialist teams that deliver individual track projects for a vast range of clients, providing bespoke solutions to meet their requirements.

Services include:

  • Heavy and light rail construction
  • Turnout construction and installation
  • Track reconditioning
  • Track welding
  • Tie renewal
  • Track formation
  • UTX installation
  • Track maintenance
  • Rail defects
  • Track resource supply

Global Rail Australia also provide a 24/7 emergency response service for all track construction works.

Learn more: https://www.theglobalinfrastructuregroup.com/global-rail-australia/what-we-do/track-construction/

Ericsson Optus 5G Project Completion

GRA Networks Australia has completed its 5G upgrade at this first eJV site in just 4-weeks. The site is at the corner of a busy metro area, so stakeholder management was key to its success, with the GRA Networks team liaising with the Town Council, Tram company, Power Authority, Crane Operator and Welding and Traffic Management teams respectively each day. A pre-start meeting was held each morning across all stakeholders, to ensure everyone was working safely and collaboratively.

GRA Networks Australia’s project deliverables included:

  • Replacing the existing steelwork frame
  • Installation of new trunk cables
  • New Antenna installation and RRU’s for VHA and Optus
  • A power system upgrade
  • Site integration and test calling

GRA Networks Australia 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 provides a comprehensive range of services from upgrading existing infrastructure, to building new mobile phone towers and other wireless network infrastructure.

Melbourne PTV RAN Refresh – Build Services

GRA Networks Australia is delighted to have been selected as telecoms build partner for the award of a contract for SMR work, to swap out old “end of life” Siemens BTS hardware and install new Nokia Flexiedge BTS hardware within a new Eltek BTS.

There are 109No sites in the program, which will run over the next eight months and the cutovers are limited to a 2-hour window either within ALBF or under occupation of the line. Works include:

  • Site make ready works (installation of New BTS and equipment)
  • Installation and commissioning
  • Integration and activation
  • Decommissioning of legacy equipment
  • Site acceptance

GRA Networks Australia has a team of highly skilled telecommunications professionals includes project managers, telecommunications engineers, telecommunications riggers, fibre splicers, electricians and technicians.

The range of services GRA Networks Australia offer includes:

  • 3G, 4G and 5G equipment installation and commissioning
  • IBC and DAS systems installation and commissioning
  • ‘Green Field’ builds
  • Wi-Fi network installation and commissioning
  • Transmission links installation and commissioning
  • Earthing systems installation and testing
  • Fibre and copper networks distribution and transmission networks
  • Tower construction, retrofit, maintenance and inspection
  • Condition surveying and reporting
  • Emergency response
  • Operation and maintenance services
  • Consultancy services

Terang Track Drainage Remediation Works Completed

Global Rail Australia’s Track Construction Division has completed a track occupation on the Warranmbool line for V/Line Corporation, as part of their valued customers rail infrastructure upgrade program. Global Rail Australia has successfully delivered a track drainage remediation – through the installation of a new drainage system adjacent to Terang Station.

In overview, the project involved the construction of 3No new precast concrete culverts, installation of new precast concrete drainage pipe and pits and new slotted drains and construction of open shaped earth drains. Global Rail Australia’s methodology supported the delivery of all the culvert works under the tracks without the need for removal of the track. Upon installation and alignment of the culvert sections, sleepers were then installed and compacted using the excavator tamping head to achieve the line speed.

A more detailed scope of works is as follows:

  • A new RCP drain at Shadforth Street (including pipe, wing, and end walls)
  • A new RCP drain at Simpson Streel Level Crossing (including pit, pipe, wing, and end walls)
  • Installation of new box culverts adjacent to Simpson Street (under track)
  • Installation of new box culverts adjacent to station building (under track)
  • Excavation and removal of existing 225mm HDPE pipe and installation of a new 450mm HDPE slotted pipe
  • Reprofiling of an existing open drain adjacent to the track
  • Installation of new box culverts near the end of the station platform
  • Installation of new head walls to the existing HDPE pipe
  • Formation of a new earth V-Drain adjacent the rail line
  • Removal of spoil

Works were completed during challenging weather conditions and within a narrow occupation period, with heavy wintery conditions and continuous rainy days during the track occupation, hampering Global’s team of track experts at every opportunity.

High levels of management were therefore key, with Global Rail Australia able to call upon its multiple experienced supervisors and track engineer to plan and deliver the works and ensure the project was executed within its 12-day occupation. The project was also resourced heavily, with Global Rail Australia needing to assemble three large crews, each crew having a supervisor, with multiple labourer’s, plant operators, excavators, dumpers, small plant, and tools.

All works were satisfactorily completed in a live operational environment with no reports or incidents raised.

Global Rail Australia is delighted to have V/Line as one of its valued rail clients, is pleased to have completed this important project and look forward to more collaborative success in the future.

MTM Broadmeadows Station Refurbishment

Global Rail Australia has completed a railway civils project to refurbish the waiting area at Broadmeadows Train Station – on the Craigieburn line in Victoria – which is managed by rail operator Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM). Global Rail Australia were contracted by valued client – MTM – to remove the existing tiles, remove existing seating, prepare, and paint the walls, install new tiling, install new seating, and install new wire mesh fencing. Most of the work was completed at night with no trains running on an ALBF (after last before first) basis, in order to minimise the disruption and impact to rail passengers and MTM staff. The full scope of works included:

    • Removal and disposal of the existing tiles
    • Removal and disposal of the existing station seating
    • Preparation works to the walls
    • Repainting the walls
    • New tiling to the Waiting Area
    • Installation of new seating
    • Installation of new wire mesh fencing adjacent to the Waiting Area

The team at Global Rail Australia provided a detailed staging program and procurement plan for MTM, which were the keys to the success of the project. This resulted in no reports being raised by the public or client and furthermore, no industrial relations being encountered. By providing the necessary pre-planning and project management expertise to succeed on this project, Global Rail Australia delivered it in a timely manner, with no incidents or safety concerns.