National Track Renewals Design Contract
Project Introduction
Dates: 2000 to date
Client Name: Network Rail
Client Type: Infrastructure owner
Project Background
Network Rail is required to ensure its infrastructure is
maintained and improved to meet the requirements of the modern
railway. In order to deliver this Network Rail has an ongoing
programme for the renewal of its track work. The National Track
Renewals Design contract is the means by which Network Rail is
procuring the designs for the Switch and Crossings (S&C)
replacement programme. The design element enables new and improved
technologies to be incorporated into the network, thus improving
its reliability.
Scott Wilson is the multi-disciplinary design consultant for the
S&C work across Network Rail’s southern and western
territories. As the multi-disciplinary design consultant Scott
Wilson is providing permanent way, signalling and telecoms, railway
electrification and power engineering, civil and structural and
track bed engineering design services.
This programme of works has included a number of challenges,
namely the requirement to incorporate all the new design elements
within the framework of the existing railway, whilst ensuring the
interfaces are safe. In addition, designs must allow for
installation within prescribed track access arrangements and may
require staged works. These challenges have been overcome by
developing effective working relationships between ourselves as the
designer, the infrastructure owner Network Rail and several
installation contractors.
Project Scope
To provide integrated outline and detailed design for switch and
crossing renewals on the UK rail network, including surveys of all
the infrastructure affected by the proposed designs.
In addition Scott Wilson provided Network Rail with the final
approved ‘for construction’ drawings for all disciplines.
Value Adding Project Achievements
Since 2000, we have delivered in excess of 500 installation
designs all of which have been successfully installed. Scott
Wilson’s designs were delivered on schedule to allow all Switch and
Crossing installations to occur and be commissioned on
programme.
Working with installation contractors and manufacturers, Scott
Wilson evolved methods of staging installations, which enabled more
effective use of track access times. This led to a more
efficient installation programme.
