HITHER GREEN BLOCKADE
Enable Infrastructure were contracted to carry out the Hither Green Blockade to carry out various works following the completion of a two-year programme that had introduced a new, more reliable signalling system on the Sidcup, Grove Park and Bromley North lines through Hither Green in South-East London, maximising the impact of the signalling programme in terms of passenger-facing benefits.
The project
Hither Green is a Category C station managed by London & Southeastern Railway. The station has 6 platforms linked by 2 footbridges. The project comprised a series of works at nine stations, Bromley North, Chislehurst, Elmstead Wood, Grove Park, Hither Green, Lee, Mottingham, New Eltham and Sundridge Park. Prior to the Blockade, we assessed the appropriate access and determined the necessary repairs. Once the Blockade was in effect, we proceed with the repairs. For the concrete trestle and slab construction, we ensured that all exposed reinforcement was thoroughly cleaned and treated with ‘Steel Reinforcement Protector 841’ from Flexcrete Ltd.
The subsequent scope of work encompassed removing and repairing tactile, coper, and deck slab joints, inspecting and fixing trestles and underside of deck slabs, resurfacing areas with spalling and fractures, installing tactiles, clearing blockages in drainage channels, and pressure washing platform surfaces to eliminate dirt and gum. Additionally, vegetation and trees around canopies were trimmed back. The works took place in two short periods in April and July 2020, with the majority carried out over the Easter weekend in April.
The challenge
- The majority of the work was carried out during the Easter weekend in 2020, adding significant time constraints. Our focus was to carefully organize and allocate resources to successfully finish the tasks at all nine stations within the designated timeframe.
- With the COVID-19 pandemic leading to the UK’s initial lockdown, Easter 2020 became a critical period for our operations. We faced immense time pressure as we strategized and ensured the necessary resources were in place to complete the works at the nine stations during this limited possession period.
The solution
- Utilising Enable Infrastructure’s ten-week lookahead process facilitated the planning of the works, with the report clearly outlining required resources in advance for the Project Manager and team leaders.
- Despite lockdown challenges, Enable Infrastructure successfully adapted processes to ensure safe, socially distanced works were carried out, earning praise from the client and industry peers.
The deliverables
- Bromley North – Gutter clearance, platform copers re-pointed, tactile installation, deep-cleaning, and white/yellow-lining.
- Chislehurst – Gutter clearance, canopy structure painting, platform surface reinstatement, gate installation, copers re-pointing, deep-cleaning, and white/yellow-lining.
- Elmstead Wood – ACO drainage replacement, gate installation, copers re-pointing, tactile installation, deep-cleaning, and white/yellow-lining.
- Grove Park – Gutter clearance, copers re-pointing, deep-cleaning, and white/yellow-lining. Hither Green will involve gutter clearance, canopy structure painting, tree removal, copers re-pointing, deep-cleaning, and white/yellow-lining.
- Lee – Gutter clearance, canopy structure painting, tree removal, copers re-pointing, deep-cleaning, and white/yellow-lining.
- Mottingham and New Eltham – Canopy works, valance/dagger board replacement, gutter clearance, canopy structure painting, surface reinstatement, gate installation, copers re-pointing, tactile installation, deep-cleaning, and white/yellow-lining.
- Sundridge Park – Gutter clearance, surface reinstatement, copers re-pointing, tactile installation, deep-cleaning, and white/yellow-lining.
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