Rail company hired to help deliver major electrification project
York-based rail company, PBH Rail Group, has partnered with structural engineers HBPW Consulting to join a group of SMEs awarded a contract by SPL Powerlines UK for the major Midland Mainline Electrification project.
By electrifying key sections of the line between London and Sheffield, the project aims to enhance overall rail network efficiency, and will eventually replace diesel trains with faster, more reliable electro-diesel trains.
It will also involve the installation of new overhead line equipment (OLE), modifying bridges and tunnels, and upgrading stations.
The 18-month project will see PBH Rail Group and HBPW Consulting spearhead three specific route sections, including Route Section 4, Sheet Stores Junction to Chaddesden Sidings, Route Section 5 Trent East Junction to Nottingham, and Route Section 6 – Chaddesden Sidings to North of Toadmoor Tunnel.
These areas were not originally designed for electrification, so there are challenges involved, including physical interventions on specific bridge structures which require both parapet works and track lowering schemes to accommodate new OLE equipment.
There are also several key structures listed or located within the boundaries of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.
The track team at PBH Rail Group will manage the lowering and alteration of the existing track along the route.
They will also be responsible for modifying any associated drainage and track bed design work.
Meanwhile, the team at HBPW will oversee adjustments to the bridges and structures affected by the work.
Mark Bonner, managing director at PBH Rail, said: “In the past, SPL Powerlines has partnered with large tier one consultancies for this type of work, but due to the combined skillset at PBH Rail and HBPW, both companies were appointed to deliver high-quality design solutions efficiently and effectively, particularly in areas as challenging as Nottingham Station’s complex infrastructure.
“We are thrilled to be working on this project alongside our friends at HBPW. Our combined skills will demonstrate the value that agile, expert SMEs can bring to large-scale rail projects.”
Paul Monaghan, practice partner at HBPW Consulting, added: “We look forward to embedding our design team to work collaboratively with SPL, PBH and other SME organisations deployed on the project.
“This is a major shift from the traditional design delivery model, and we recognise and appreciate SPL for allowing us to showcase and harness the expertise and knowledge within these SME organisations.”
Established in 2003, PBH Rail Group works exclusively on rail projects for clients across the UK and internationally.
Headquartered in York, the company now employs 96 staff members across its five divisions including Permanent Way, Track Engineering, OLE, Survey, and Civils.
