Rugby Station Remodelling
Project Introduction
Date: April 2003 – March 2009
Client Name: Network Rail
Client Type: Infrastructure Owner
Project background
The £8.3 billion West Coast Route
Modernisation (WCRM) programme is Europe's largest wholesale rail
renewal scheme and one of the most challenging projects of its kind
in the world. Rugby is a major junction on the West Coast
Main Line, sitting at the focus of lines from Euston, Nuneaton,
Coventry and the Trent Valley, as well as incorporating various
sidings and a supply route to the nearby cement works.
Rugby has historically been a major bottleneck
on the West Coast Main Line, with outdated low speed crossovers
causing many conflicting train moves, often causing significant
delays. Much of the railway infrastructure is life
expired.
There are a number of challenges that Scott
Wilson has encountered on the project to date including limited
track access and the need to maintain passenger and freight
operations.
Project Scope
Scott Wilson was originally appointed in 1998
to develop Railtrack’s outline feasibility design for upgrading
Rugby as part of the West Coast Route Modernisation. It
became apparent that the existing layout could not support the
proposed intensive passenger and freight services.
Later, in 2003 Scott Wilson was commissioned
by the Strategic Rail Authority to assist in the development of a
completely new layout for Rugby. The scheme now delivers a
mainly conflict free layout with line speeds of 125mph on the Trent
Valley and down Coventry lines.
In 2005, Scott Wilson was engaged by Network
Rail to produce outline designs for all of the work, and assist in
the planning and staging of the works. The works consist
of:
- Replacement of the entire track layout and 25
Kv electrification in the station area
- New junctions North and South of Rugby
- 125mph junction between the Down Coventry and
Trent Valley lines
- Freight loops
- Additional platforms, new station entrance
building and access upgraded to permit disabled access.
- New signalling system.
- Reconstruction of the South Flyover grade
separated junction.
- Works to seven under track bridges and two
over track bridges including replacement of town centre footbridge
with two 54m spans
Finally In September 2005 Scott Wilson’s remit
was extended by Network Rail to include the detailed design of the
permanent way, railway electrification and civil engineering
works. Construction work commenced in January 2006 and is
planned for completion in December 2008. Scott Wilson is also
providing a significant level of site support and technical
guidance to the construction teams.
Value Adding Project Achievements
Scott Wilson has delivered one hundred and
fifty outline designs and in excess of fifty detailed design
packages covering all railway disciplines.
At the outset, Scott Wilson were embedded into
the client team, providing technical advice to the decision making
process. Scott Wilson has also played a lead role in the
staging process, ensuring the construction strategy was robust and
adequately developed for the contractors.
