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Friday, March 29, 2024

Network Rail sets track renewal records

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Network Rail’s high output track relaying system has been behind a series of record-breaking renewals during Britain’s Olympic summer.

In August, the new track relaying system – known as system 4 – replaced 1,800 yards of rail and sleepers – more than a mile – in 16 hours.

The same system working on the Carlisle to Newcastle line on September 7 relaid 968 yards in just over seven hours.

System 4 consists of two trains: one to dig up the old track and relay it, the other to replace and clean the ballast.

“We have committed to keeping the railway open for business as much as possible, and with the intensive way it is used we have had to innovate to keep the track maintained,” said Steve Featherstone, Network Rail’s programme director of track infrastructure projects.

Network Rail has also employed a new system to quickly replace sets of points, which saw a crossing at Wool in Dorset replaced over midweek nights rather than blocking a line over an entire weekend – a first in modern British railway history.

We have committed to keeping the railway open for business as much as possible, and with the intensive way it is used we have had to innovate to keep the track maintained.

Featherstone added: “Our new method of replacing points is one way we can tackle jobs overnight midweek possessions that would once have caused the railway to be closed for a weekend.

“We have recently set new records for using these new innovative methods as we renewed a set of points at Wool overnight in 8.5 hours and our track renewal system recently relaid 968 yards in one evening.

“By tackling renewals in this way we can keep the railway open longer for passengers and freight, as well as making efficiencies through better use of our people and machinery.”

Following the Olympic period, both high-output systems moved back to the main lines into London. The high output ballast cleaners are working on the West Coast, Great Western and Midland main lines, while the track relaying systems will be seen on the West Coast at weekends and the East Coast and Midland main line midweek.

All five of Network Rail’s high-output trains – consisting of three ballast cleaners and two track renewal systems – are operated and maintained by AmeyCOLAS.

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