Civil engineering, especially geotechnical engineering in Yorkshire, will play a big role in the development of the railway system in the UK. Geotechnical engineers work to minimise natural hazards like landslides and flooding by surveying the area and recommending the construction of new structures as well as maintaining and repairing existing ones.
Most railways are built on the ground, and run for much of their length within or on geotechnical structures such as cuttings and embankments. Therefore geotechnical engineering expertise is a critical part of upgrades and future railway links.
Geotechnical engineers work is essential to the efficient upkeep and continuous improvement of the rail system, with Network Rail spending up to 80 million pounds a year on earthwork repairs. A major concern for Geotechnical engineers, especially in Yorkshire is landslides and rock falls from the cuttings onto the tracks, and embankment movement resulting in poor track geometry.
East West Railway Development
The whole East West Rail scheme involves upgrading the railway between Cambridge and Oxford, Milton Keynes and Aylesbury, reinstating it to provide a strategic route that will link Ipswich, Norwich, Cambridge, Bedford, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury, Bicester and Oxford, allowing passengers the opportunity to get connections to national mainline services.
The project will re-establish a passenger and freight rail link between Oxford, Bedford, Milton Keynes and Aylesbury for the first time in more than 40 years.
Phase one of the scheme is already under way with the doubling of tracks for more than 18km, to help increase line speeds up to 100mph. These construction works include the construction of new under and over bridges, footbridges, the closure of 37 level crossings, construction of a new station at Oxford Parkway and work to upgrade two other stations, Bicester Town and Islip.
Electrification of Manchester to Liverpool
Manchester to Liverpool, and Huyton to Wigan: by December 2014
There has been modification to bridges between Newton-le-Willows and Liverpool, and Huyton and Wigan.Work is now continuing to install the overhead line equipment to allow electric trains to run between Manchester Victoria and Liverpool, and Liverpool and Wigan, by December 2014.
Preston to Blackpool: by May 2016
A fully electrified route is to be constructed between Preston and Blackpool which will connect the area to the west coast main line, which is the key rail artery linking the North West with London and Scotland.
An upgrade will be carried out on all 15 bridges. There will also be safety improvement work to parapets. The overhead line equipment will be installed in 2015/16.
Manchester to Preston: by December 2016
Work to modify the bridges and tunnels commenced in the spring of 2014 and will continue through 2015. This will also include installation of the overhead line equipment. If all work goes to plan, then the line will be fully electrified by December 2016.
Oxenholme to Windemere and Wigan to Lostock
The Department for Transport announced additional funding to be made, so that this line could be electrified. This announcement came in autumn 2013.
Assessments are currently taking place of the structures along the route to fully understand which need to be modified to allow electrification. The outcome of this work will be discussed with local authorities.
Manchester to Leeds and York
Funding to electrify the North Transpennine route was announced in November 2011.
Work has begun to modify the bridges between Manchester Victoria and Guide Bridge to Stalybridge, and will also include installation of the overhead line equipment, it should be fully electrified by December 2016.
The bridges and tunnels between Manchester, Leeds and Colton Junction on the East Coast Main Line are currently being assessed to understand which structures need to be modified for electrification. The outcome of this work will be discussed with local authorities.
A fully electrified route will be provided between Manchester, Leeds and York by December 2018, linking up with the electrified lines at Leeds and York.
Geotechnical engineers have to balancesafety with commercial outcomes, especially in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas. Detailed ground investigation, site supervision and monitoring are all required because of the complex nature of ground and groundwater, and the differences in the areas due to locality.
Alan Wood & Partners deliver unrivalled expertise. Their Geotechnical engineers based in Yorkshire and around the UK, work globally to provide geotechnical and geoenvironmental consulting services. They achieve this working alongside project teams to deliver integrated ground engineering solutions.
Most railways are built on the ground, and run for much of their length within or on geotechnical structures such as cuttings and embankments. Therefore geotechnical engineering expertise is a critical part of upgrades and future railway links.
Geotechnical engineers work is essential to the efficient upkeep and continuous improvement of the rail system, with Network Rail spending up to 80 million pounds a year on earthwork repairs. A major concern for Geotechnical engineers, especially in Yorkshire is landslides and rock falls from the cuttings onto the tracks, and embankment movement resulting in poor track geometry.
East West Railway Development
The whole East West Rail scheme involves upgrading the railway between Cambridge and Oxford, Milton Keynes and Aylesbury, reinstating it to provide a strategic route that will link Ipswich, Norwich, Cambridge, Bedford, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury, Bicester and Oxford, allowing passengers the opportunity to get connections to national mainline services.
The project will re-establish a passenger and freight rail link between Oxford, Bedford, Milton Keynes and Aylesbury for the first time in more than 40 years.
Phase one of the scheme is already under way with the doubling of tracks for more than 18km, to help increase line speeds up to 100mph. These construction works include the construction of new under and over bridges, footbridges, the closure of 37 level crossings, construction of a new station at Oxford Parkway and work to upgrade two other stations, Bicester Town and Islip.
Electrification of Manchester to Liverpool
Manchester to Liverpool, and Huyton to Wigan: by December 2014
There has been modification to bridges between Newton-le-Willows and Liverpool, and Huyton and Wigan.Work is now continuing to install the overhead line equipment to allow electric trains to run between Manchester Victoria and Liverpool, and Liverpool and Wigan, by December 2014.
Preston to Blackpool: by May 2016
A fully electrified route is to be constructed between Preston and Blackpool which will connect the area to the west coast main line, which is the key rail artery linking the North West with London and Scotland.
An upgrade will be carried out on all 15 bridges. There will also be safety improvement work to parapets. The overhead line equipment will be installed in 2015/16.
Manchester to Preston: by December 2016
Work to modify the bridges and tunnels commenced in the spring of 2014 and will continue through 2015. This will also include installation of the overhead line equipment. If all work goes to plan, then the line will be fully electrified by December 2016.
Oxenholme to Windemere and Wigan to Lostock
The Department for Transport announced additional funding to be made, so that this line could be electrified. This announcement came in autumn 2013.
Assessments are currently taking place of the structures along the route to fully understand which need to be modified to allow electrification. The outcome of this work will be discussed with local authorities.
Manchester to Leeds and York
Funding to electrify the North Transpennine route was announced in November 2011.
Work has begun to modify the bridges between Manchester Victoria and Guide Bridge to Stalybridge, and will also include installation of the overhead line equipment, it should be fully electrified by December 2016.
The bridges and tunnels between Manchester, Leeds and Colton Junction on the East Coast Main Line are currently being assessed to understand which structures need to be modified for electrification. The outcome of this work will be discussed with local authorities.
A fully electrified route will be provided between Manchester, Leeds and York by December 2018, linking up with the electrified lines at Leeds and York.
Geotechnical engineers have to balancesafety with commercial outcomes, especially in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas. Detailed ground investigation, site supervision and monitoring are all required because of the complex nature of ground and groundwater, and the differences in the areas due to locality.
Alan Wood & Partners deliver unrivalled expertise. Their Geotechnical engineers based in Yorkshire and around the UK, work globally to provide geotechnical and geoenvironmental consulting services. They achieve this working alongside project teams to deliver integrated ground engineering solutions.