CORE VALLEY LINE WORKS
Transport for Wales
The Core Valley Line works Project is to transform Cardiff and the surrounding Valleys through the improvement of the railway service. Upon completion, the project is set to provide four trains per hour from each of the Valley Heads, passing through Cardiff and continuing to The Bay, Penarth, and Barry.
The project
The electrification of the route is a key aspect of the TfW Core Valley Lines (CVL) transformation, involving the installation of new Overhead Line equipment, HV & LV CMS, and upgrading or installing lineside fencing and safety signage to ensure the safety of individuals near the railway.
The transformation of the Core Valley Lines is being carried out in phases, starting with the Treherbert, Aberdare, and Merthyr Lines before progressing to the Cardiff Bay and Rhymney Lines, including the Coryton Branch. Alongside the new installation works, there is a need to maintain and renew the existing infrastructure by removing old assets/fencing and installing upgraded equipment.
Furthermore, considerations for lineside neighbours and the environment are key factors in the planning process.
The challenge
- Collaborating with other disciplines can sometimes lead to challenges on site and delays, especially when not all disciplines are aligned in their work within the same area.
- Delays in design – the delayed release of the design resulted in subsequent delays. This also presented a challenge in keeping our valuable resources occupied until the design is finalized and work can begin. It’s tough to retain good resources when they’re not busy.
- Working to a schedule for the installation of the troughing.
- Environmental constraints – Great crested newts, Dormice, invasive weeds, all of which have been encountered whilst working on the project.
- High turnover of staff for the project resulted in delay during the project
- Procurement of certain materials – GRP procurement delays due to unforeseen word events
- Working in areas where there is impact on our lineside neighbours.
The solution
- Effective collaboration and clear communication among the contractors during integration meetings helped prevent any possible project delays.
- Enable has effectively maintained valuable resources by utilising multiple contracts on the CVL, leveraging the diverse skill sets of our workforce. In instances where project designs are delayed, we have implemented a Proceed at Risk Form (PARF) to ensure continuity of work until the issuance of the AFC, with full Engineering buy-in being a prerequisite for any activities conducted under a PARF.
- Adhering to a timetable may have varying interpretations, leading to multiple Technical Queries (TQ) being raised for guidance on installation locations. Subsequent review meetings have been conducted to address and often resolve these queries, ensuring smooth progress of the project.
- The Ecologist’s guidance on exclusion zones, working hours, and permits has been strictly adhered to, prioritizing environmental impact reduction.
- With multi-skill, vast experience of our team members and constant communication has helped us to overcome any issues, as a team.
- Due to our wide supplier network, we quickly obtained most materials. For items like the GRP that were delayed, we coordinated installation with deliveries and kept the client informed. Temporary solutions were implemented for staged installations to ensure smooth entry into Service events.
- Enable has appointed a liaison officer to communicate with neighbouring residents and facilitate dialogue. They have worked closely with TfW, distributed letters, engaged with local councils, and applied for a section 61 as needed.
The deliverables
- Install Cable management system (CMS) throughout various ELR’s of the Core Valley Lines (CVL). Includes split ducting as a temporary measure, ground lay TTS troughing of various sizes, installation of elevated troughing – ARCO and Schnieder, buried flexi duct route and Carson duct route through stations and UTX extension works.
- Installation of station tactiles with various stations throughout the CVL have required the existing tactiles to be replaced or where non-existent for new to be installed.
- Third Party Tree Intervention – Liaising with third party landowners and residents to plan, programme and execute the removal of trees that encroach with the OCLZ and or pose a threat to the safe operation of the railway.
- Installation of Boundary Fencing – To ensure the railway and pedestrians remain safe, palisade fencing was required to be installed to maintain the railway boundary fence line or where encroachment into the OCLZ is possible.
- GRP Parapets- Where there is possible encroachment into the OCLZ and bridge parapets are not 1800mm high, GRP (Non-conductive) extension sections are designed to be installed onto the existing parapet structure to ensure a minimum height of 1800mm.
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