Sheet Piling UK Crews Excel in Any Line Open Project at Crewe

Sheet Piling (UK) Limited’s specialist SPUK Rail division has this year handled the installation of four temporary cofferdams at Crewe, at a site adjacent to the Network Rail boundary.  

Working for Readypower Terrawise, on behalf of the Central Rail Systems Alliance (CRSA), Sheet Piling UK crews carried out an install-only project, to create the safe cofferdam working conditions that could facilitate permanent construction works at the site.

The sheet pile cofferdams were constructed to enable the contractor to install a new oil interceptor tank and three drainage catch pits.  For the former, Sheet Piling UK installed 72 GU16N, 11-metre-long steel sheet piles.  

GU13N sheet piles, to lengths varying from 5.5 metres to 9 metres, were utilised for the construction of the remaining three cofferdams.  The 92Te of steel sheet piles used for this purpose created the safe working environment for the drainage catch pit construction works.

Sheet pile installation was carried out using Sheet Piling UK’s own owned plant and machinery, drawn from its own extensive in-house fleet.  Swift access to the required plant allowed the works to commence with reduced lead-times, much to the client’s satisfaction.

The temporary cofferdam sheet piles were installed used a Kobelco SK350 Excavator Piling Rig fitted with a Movax SG75 sidegrip vibratory hammer.  Once the permanent works have been completed, Sheet Piling UK will return to site to carry out sheet pile extraction.

Due to having to work in close proximity to live railway tracks, the installation of the 151 sheet piles was carried out under the supervision of an ALO (Any Line Open) coordinator.  Sheet Piling UK safely carried out the works without any concerns for the safe passage of trains on the line, having conducted robust assessments and put all necessary controls in place.

Sheet Piling UK’s managing director, Andrew Cotton, says, “This type of work has become second-nature for the specialist SPUK Rail team, which has completed many challenging projects close to live and in-use infrastructure.

“Any Line Open working is not new but a methodology utilised over many years under British Rail and Railtrack.  Nevertheless, in recent years, the need to manage passenger demand and keep trains running has increased.  Growth in the programme of works carried out by Network Rail has also seen ALO working assume more importance.

“Sheet Piling UK is fully conversant and compliant with the Any Line Open Working Code of Practice and committed to ensuring total safety for crews and rail infrastructure users alike during construction works carried out close to live routes.”

Although this was an install only project, for other rail infrastructure contracts, Sheet Piling UK is able to supply not only steel sheet piles but also circular hollow section steel piling (CHS) and UC sections (H piles).  Furthermore, it can assist with concrete augured foundation requirements.

To discuss your rail infrastructure piling needs, whatever their nature, call the team on 01772 794141.

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Editors notes

Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd is the UK's leading national sheet piling contractor and sheet pile installation specialist, with over 25 years' experience of handling a wide variety of land and marine-based projects. It supplies both permanent and temporary sheet pile solutions and has a fleet of cutting-edge equipment, including its unique and specially commissioned long-reach telescopic leader rigs, which have a reach 3m further than any other rig.