www.magazine-industry-usa.com
21
'09
Written on Modified on
British Steel
Connexinfra installs two Tata Steel Rail modular platforms in Toulouse in only two months
A new station, Gallieni – Canceropôle, has been added to the Toulouse Auch TER line, which carries 6000 passengers a day. Connexinfra, in charge of carrying out the project, selected the Tata Steel Rail modular steel platform system.
The new station comprises of two platforms, each 115m long. Connexinfra was responsible for all aspects of installing the platforms, including earthworks, electrical engineering, assembly and erection. “The Tata Steel Rail modular structures are manufactured in the factory and then assembled on site. The short installation and commissioning time was a key factor in the success of this project. The ability to assemble the majority of the structure outside the track danger area also contributed to rapid completion and reduced costs”, declared Mr Albouy, Managing Director of Connexinfra.
Pierre Meyer, SNCF Regional Manager, reported in the magazine Objectif News: “We are on time thanks to the modular steel platforms we are installing, unlike conventional masonry platforms which are fixed with respect to the track. This is a first in France!”
The modular platforms meet various needs, such as platform lengthening to provide access for longer trains, platform raising to provide access for handicapped and elderly persons, and very easy platform replacement and adjustment. While the reflex of the engineers is to first think of concrete, the Tata Steel Rail development teams have totally re-invented the principle of the railway platform to create a totally modular product manufactured with rectangular-section steel box beams.
Low cost of ownership
The use of lightweight standard modular elements reduces the impact of the structure on the foundations and avoids long and costly preparatory earthworks. Other advantages: the Tata Steel Rail modular platforms do not require special assembly equipment, traffic is not suspended during assembly, and the structure lifetime is 75 years.
In service in a few weeks
A complete modular platform can be designed and installed in just a few weeks. Tata Steel Rail has developed dedicated software to facilitate this, enabling rapid custom design for any height, width, length or required curve (inverse, convex, concave). It uses libraries of functions and pre-programmed modules, such that the mechanical strength, shape and weight of the system are calculated automatically. Moreover, erection can be carried out with manual labour only, because of the low weight of the standard modular steel components.
Movable and adjustable platforms
The modular platforms can be dismantled easily and moved if necessary. The height can be altered by adjusting the feet. This means that the platform can be optimized for the needs of the operator, or readjusted in the event of track movement, for example following track renewal work.
Minimum traffic interruption
Thanks to their cantilever design, the majority of the modular platform can be erected in the track safe area (green zone) while the line continues to operate normally, further saving costs for the railway operator.
Pierre Meyer, SNCF Regional Manager, reported in the magazine Objectif News: “We are on time thanks to the modular steel platforms we are installing, unlike conventional masonry platforms which are fixed with respect to the track. This is a first in France!”
The modular platforms meet various needs, such as platform lengthening to provide access for longer trains, platform raising to provide access for handicapped and elderly persons, and very easy platform replacement and adjustment. While the reflex of the engineers is to first think of concrete, the Tata Steel Rail development teams have totally re-invented the principle of the railway platform to create a totally modular product manufactured with rectangular-section steel box beams.
Low cost of ownership
The use of lightweight standard modular elements reduces the impact of the structure on the foundations and avoids long and costly preparatory earthworks. Other advantages: the Tata Steel Rail modular platforms do not require special assembly equipment, traffic is not suspended during assembly, and the structure lifetime is 75 years.
In service in a few weeks
A complete modular platform can be designed and installed in just a few weeks. Tata Steel Rail has developed dedicated software to facilitate this, enabling rapid custom design for any height, width, length or required curve (inverse, convex, concave). It uses libraries of functions and pre-programmed modules, such that the mechanical strength, shape and weight of the system are calculated automatically. Moreover, erection can be carried out with manual labour only, because of the low weight of the standard modular steel components.
Movable and adjustable platforms
The modular platforms can be dismantled easily and moved if necessary. The height can be altered by adjusting the feet. This means that the platform can be optimized for the needs of the operator, or readjusted in the event of track movement, for example following track renewal work.
Minimum traffic interruption
Thanks to their cantilever design, the majority of the modular platform can be erected in the track safe area (green zone) while the line continues to operate normally, further saving costs for the railway operator.
