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British Steel
High Wycombe station platform from survey to completed installation in 3 months
Working for AMCO on part of the Evergreen 3 project, the Tata Steel Projects modular team completed the multi-disciplinary design, fabrication and installation of a new modular platform in just 3 months.
The Tata Steel team completed the survey, form A design, form B design, Network Rail approvals, fabrication and installation so the platform could open to the public on-time meeting Chiltern Railway’s franchise commitment.
John Wood, Business manager for modular explains, “The timescales were challenging but the modular approach means that design and installation are much quicker than conventional construction. For example we were only on site for two weeks. “We’ve designed and built over 75 modular platforms now so all that experience really helps too” he added.
The platform itself replaced an aging scaffold platform but the platform length was also extended to 160m long to accommodate longer trains. The new platform is also wider at 3m, which also led to challenges of working within the existing boundary, and included one of our standard integral rear fence and end of platform steps and gates.
In addition to the platform construction the Modular team were also able to bolt-on track smoothening design, including setting out of the copers, to a theoretical alignment plus full design, build and commissioning of the platform lighting and retail comms.
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.
John Wood, Business manager for modular explains, “The timescales were challenging but the modular approach means that design and installation are much quicker than conventional construction. For example we were only on site for two weeks. “We’ve designed and built over 75 modular platforms now so all that experience really helps too” he added.
The platform itself replaced an aging scaffold platform but the platform length was also extended to 160m long to accommodate longer trains. The new platform is also wider at 3m, which also led to challenges of working within the existing boundary, and included one of our standard integral rear fence and end of platform steps and gates.
In addition to the platform construction the Modular team were also able to bolt-on track smoothening design, including setting out of the copers, to a theoretical alignment plus full design, build and commissioning of the platform lighting and retail comms.
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.
