Module J – Track Inspection Maintenance & Renewals

work Placement

September 2003

Presentation by Andy Hailu.

Placement Template & Locations

• Inspection

• Maintenance

• Renewal Methodology & Proposals

West Horndon depot covering North London & LTS routes (London, Tilbury & Southend) with Network Rail, Amec & Grant Rail.

Objectives

• Consolidate the learnings of all previous modules

• Familiarise with work location

• Supplement the experience of previous two placements.

Work location & Routes

• Location• West Horndon East Anglia Network Rail

and Amec office.• Routes• North London line North Woolwich to

Richmond• London Tilbury & Southend line via

Tilbury and Basildon

Inspection

• North Woolwich to Stratford on the North London Line.

Specific findings- crack on bridge - safe walking routes covered

with vegetation• West Horndon to Shoeburyness on the LTS

line.Findings – poor condition level crossings

Specific Issues

• Lack of coordination between departments

• Lack of action even after reporting of defects

• Shortage of skilled man power

Maintenance

• Precautions & actions taken during hot weather

• Track buckles on NLL line

• Closed joints on NLL line

• S&C tamping

Precautions & actions taken during hot weather

• CRT (W)- watchman placed to monitor the track concerned

• CRT (30/60)- 30/60 mph speed restriction

• CRT (20)- 20 mph speed restrcition

• Record of stressing

• If record not available SFT to be decided according to Appendix F RT/CE/S/011

Summer weather preparedness plan

N ew h ea t s tageto be im p lem en ted

C u rren t h ea t stageto be co ntinu ed

u n til furthe r n otice

A ll h ea t stag escan ce lled

H ea t s tagera ised o r lo w ered

H ea t s tag e d ecis io n m ad e b y P W S M ,P W E or N e tw ork R a il

IF C g rou p page w ea ther fo recast

IF C rece ive w ea th er fo recast

Summer weather preparedness plan

IF C to log and file a ll ac tions/am endem en ts

IF C to info rm a ll re levant pe rsons o f any new in fo rm a tion

IF C to in from a ll relevan t pe rsons of dec is ion

In fo rm IF C o f dec is ion

Defects due to hot weather

• Track buckle on the North London line at 0m69ch near Gospel Oak station

• Cause- weak embankment and reduced lateral resistance

• Track slewed back and MSP carried out tamping suspended due to high rail temperature (32 C max.)

Defects due to hot weather

• Closed joint near Caledonian station platform

• Cause- defective breather not allowing the track to expand and weak lateral resistance

• Joint replaced under T2 and line was due for renewal in the weekend, breather replaced as part of renewal

Specific Issues

• There were no stressing records and no recorded history of weak embankment therefore maintenance was difficult.

• Tamping cancelled due to high temperature• Tamping machines broke down twice• There was work overlap on the same possession

limits• Due to the above conditions speed limit had to be

maintained for more than a week

S&C Tamping

• Points 3111 & 3112 done at Willesden high level junction.

• 08 – 4 x 4 / 4S – RT single header tamping machine used.

• Adjustable tools capable of tamping most part of the S&C and synchronous lifting avoiding strain on the track components.

S&C Tamping

• The lifting trolley changes from roller lifting to hook to avoid damage to the fastenings on the crossing

• This was quite poor track condition

• It needs careful operation to avoid damage to sleepers and cables.

Specific Issues

• Lifting trolley wheel not riding properly on the rail due to significant side wear pt3111

• Planned Possession time was 9hrs for 4hrs tamping

• On pt 3112 due to narrow gauge the trolley could not lift the track, only squeezing of the ballast done which has no effect on the track geometry

Visit to Corus Cogifer S&C manufacturers

• RT60 switch & crossing on concrete bearers CEN60E1A1 rail sections and HPSS and HW2000 drives successfully tested on RT60

• HPSS has some problems• Inclined base plates• Tapered pad systems• Weldable cast manganese steel crossings

Track Renewals

• Caledonian Road (NLL) plain line renewal CWR, concrete sleepers.

• Removing existing bull head jointed track and loading them on Salmons using RRVs.

• Excavating formation and laser dosing to design level using PC130s and Laser dozer

• Unloading ballast using PC130s• Compacting ballast using triple wackers

Track Renewals

• PC130 loaded onto Fastrolls on the other end of the site after completing unloading ballast

• Sleepers positioned on ballast• Spacer used to maintain standard gap between

sleepers• Rail on parallel track used as reference for

alignment• Rail thimled on ballast housing & conductor rail

installed- Third rail track

Track Renewal

• Conductor rails are installed on ceramic insulator pots

• Ballast unloaded from seacows • Ballast profiled by regulator to make sleepers

visible and adequate shoulder created• Ballast tamped• Technical officer to check vertical and horizontal

alignment to ensure correct design

Specific Issues

• Possession taking delayed due to manpower shortage to set up the blockade

• Similarly isolation took longer time due to lack of experienced manpower

• PICOP not familiar with the area• Position of train carrying concrete sleepers

and planning caused delays

Specific Issues

• Concrete sleepers on the ground needed repositioning to suite the conductor rail fitting, time and manpower wasted, the sleepers could have been loaded in the right sequence.

• There was no reference to the use of concrete sleepers on the bridge in the method statement.

Renewal Proposals

• Dudding Hill to Acton Wells plain line renewal due to wet beds, decayed sleepers and poor track formation.(NLL line)

• Longitudinal timbers renewal on bridge nos. 35, 380, 387 & Fenchurch street due to poor conditions of waybeams.(NLL & TLS lines)

• Proposals forwarded after inspection and reference to annual inspection reports.

Areas for Improvement

• Possession management.

• Recruitment & training of manpower.

• Reliability of mechanised maintenance machineries

• Logistics processes and coordination.

Positive Observation

• Passion and commitment of the work force.

• Good safety standard and environment protection.

• The move towards in house maintenance under NMP to remove fragmentation in the network.

The Way Forward

• Improve planning and learn from operational errors.

• Apply NMP into other areas.• Make optimum utilization of possessions.• Train and recruit more human resources.• Improve coordination among departments.• Input towards standardisation of

components & procedures.