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Thursday 25 Jul 2024

First points renewal for Southern Integrated Delivery completed at Hoo Junction

Region & Route:

Southern

| Southern: Kent

• Replacement of switches and crossings on the North Kent line took place over several weekends in May and June

The first major renewal of switches and crossings to be delivered by VolkerRail, as part of the Southern Integrated Delivery (SID), was successfully completed over a number of weekends in May and June.

The work took place stretched across a 430 metre stretch of line at Hoo Junction, Rochester. Across eight shifts, 56 panels (24 switches and crossings, and 32 plain track panels) were renewed along the two-track line, with the heaviest reaching 37 tonnes, aided by VolkerRail’s 125-tonne capacity Kirow 1200 crane.

The Kirow crane transported each unit into position before being installed on the trackbed, reducing the need for multiple machines and people on site, making for a safer working environment and maximising the use of limited possession times.

As part of Southern Renewals Enterprise (SRE), VolkerRail is the track delivery partner for SID, working in partnership with VolkerFitzpatrick AtkinsRéalis, Octavius and Network Rail, as part of an innovative new model established to deliver the southern region’s £9bn renewals portfolio between 2024 and 2034.

The SRE model is based on the Institution of Civil Engineers’ industry leading Project 13 principles, established to deliver major infrastructure projects in a more collaborative manner; making the best use of resources and maximising efficiencies.

Since launching on 1 April 2024, over £75m of work has been completed under the SRE, across 1,576 worksites, throughout the Southern Region. The renewal of switches and crossings (S&C), more commonly known as railway points, at Hoo Junction, is the first major milestone to be completed by VolkerRail.

Speaking of his team’s achievements, James Lewis, business partner lead – track, for VolkerRail, said: “I’m really proud of the team for delivering what will be the first of many key milestones over the next two control periods. As a newly formed team, we have needed to pull together quickly to hit the ground running and ensure our track delivery programme got off to a positive start.

“The Hoo Junction S&C renewal is testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone on the team.”

Commenting after visiting the works, SID director, Liz Baldwin, said: “Hoo Junction was our first major S&C renewal in CP7, and I am really proud of the team coming together to deliver it successfully. It was great to see the Kirow lifting in the panels and to talk to the team as well as to three of our track apprentices who were out on site when I visited. I am really excited about the opportunities we have to deliver track even more safely and efficiently in CP7.”