North Downs Line Level Crossing Upgrades (Chilworth, Burrows Lane, Brook & Tangley)

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.

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