Network Rail unveils cut-price plan for UK rail tunnels

Speaking at Tunnels & Tunnelling International's 2010 conference, the organisations presented drawings from their new technical user manuals that will be used by contractors and designers on future maintenance projects. The new user manuals outline description of methods, limitations, defects, how materials and methods should be tested, and health and safety best practices. With the new standards, Network Rail hopes to reduce design costs by eliminating repetitive design, improve productivity, minimise contractor and subcontractor costs and minimise future maintenance requirements. Donaldson Associates chief civil engineer Peter Harris said, “standard maintenance drawings were released two years ago but now we have much larger areas that are in need of repair, which require more efficient and complex design plans.” Standard renewal methods, which Network Rail hope to implement include the spraying of concrete linings and shaft lining to prevent weathering of brickwork. “On our Seven Oaks project, 75m of brickwork was weathered by water so we came up with the idea of implementing a glass reinforced liner into the shaft rather than replacing all of the damaged brickwork. This is a safer and less costly solution,” said Harris. More than 60% of the European tunnelling industry’s work load is expected to come from refurbishment projects over the next 10 years.