Construction Of The HS2 Rail Project
How Road Rail MEWPs Will Help Construction Of The HS2 Rail Project
After being given Royal Assent, work has begun on the government’s HS2 rail project across the UK and powered access platforms will be pivotal in both the construction and maintenance of the new line. Contracts worth £6.6 billion have already been placed for the building of the first phase.
The first phase of the government’s HS2 rail project will be from London to Birmingham and operational trains are expected by 2026. Phases 2a and 2b will follow with services from the West Midlands to Crewe due in 2017 and then from Crewe to Manchester by 2033.
Road Rail access platforms are being used for essential jobs at height on the national railways. Jobs which are especially relevant are:
• Repairing and installing signals and posts
• Structural inspections of bridges, viaducts, stations and embankments
• Clearing verges and embankments of vegetation and debris
• Work on power lines
Jobs that overrun on the railways can be expensive. They have a knock on effect on services and commuters so safe, rapid access to the track is vital. Road rail access platforms are specially adapted to run on the road in addition to the rail infrastructure. This provides a flexible solution so jobs can be reached and completed quickly, and also safely, with minimal impact on the surrounding environment.
Having the ability to operate on road and rail tracks does not reduce the speed or functionality of the equipment. It is easy to switch from one operation mode to the other and it saves money as well as time. This is achieved by reducing the need to hire locomotive plant or attempt access through protected or remote areas of countryside.
The Robust and Efficient EVO/2-400
Newer models are more not only robust but also more efficient than ever before. First supplied to the UK in 2003, the current Basket RR14 EVO/2-400 road rail access platforms supplied by Promax Access are third and fourth rail compliant with more than 30 improved features including
– a 400kg capacity cage;
– easy to use and intuitive control system;
– Unique automatic self-levelling turret -200 cant;
– RIS 1530 issue 5 compliant;
– heavy duty rail gears with automatic disc brakes on all of the rail wheels;
– four wheel drive.
Many locations along the route of the new HS2 high speed rail track are hard to reach. There are limits to the usefulness of trucks and tractors for a number of essential construction and maintenance jobs. A road rail powered access platform is a flexible, cost effective and safe solution that will enable crews to access difficult places and carry out challenging jobs, quickly and safely.