SOHO DEPOT PROJECT
West Midlands Train
West Midlands Trains contracted Enable Infrastructure to undertake the Soho Depot project in Birmingham. The project involved upgrading the Soho Depot to enable maintenance of the new Class 730 trains from Alstom, which were scheduled to arrive in July 2021.
The extensive scope of work included civil, overhead line, mechanical & electrical, and signalling upgrades. Enable also served as the Program Integrator, responsible for stakeholder liaison and management throughout the project, as well as overseeing the civil works with input from consortium partners.
The project
Enable Infrastructure was awarded the contract to provide Optioneering, Detailed Design, and Installation services for the construction works at Soho Depot. The objective was to modify the depot facilities in Birmingham to accommodate and maintain the new 3-Car Class 730 train fleet. Alstom continued to perform all routine and some heavy maintenance on the 3-Car Class 730 fleet at Soho Depot. The overall goal was to efficiently execute the project, minimizing both the delivery and completion timelines as well as the impact on the client and stakeholders.
The challenge
- Working in an Operational Depot
- Managing multidisciplinary Design Teams to develop a detailed design- There were various specialist design inputs required from the consortium partners. These include civils design, M&E design, OLE design, Pway design, Depot Protection design, CET equipment design and Common Safety Method approvals.
- Access/ Egress Constraints – Soho Depot has a single access point by road which has a height limit of 3.2metres. The construction of the project had to be designed to cater for this constraint.
The solution
- During the optioneering and design stages, Enable facilitated stakeholder integration meetings with key parties including the Client (WMT), end user Abellio, the Depot Operations Manager, and Network Rail’s Asset Management Team. These early consultations ensured all stakeholders could provide input on the various options tabled by Enable. We categorized these based on factors like constructability, program constraints, cost, and operability. The process allowed the selected options to move forward to detailed design with approval from the relevant stakeholders. Enable also maintains ongoing discussions with the depot operations team about construction methodology and holds daily briefings to keep all contractor staff informed of daily tasks and work areas.
- The project was divided into six work packages, each with its own design submissions. This approach allowed for more focused design and quicker approvals for critical packages, expediting the construction process. Priority was given to packages with long lead material items. Regular design interface meetings and workshops were conducted, involving designers, end users, and operators. A coordinated 3D CAD model was created for the project, ensuring compatibility between different disciplines while allowing each function to contribute their individual designs.
- In the design process, we identified height constraints for depot access and determined necessary equipment and plant. Construction methodology was carefully considered. Liaising with our supply chain, we coordinated deliveries to the depot while adhering to restrictions. Close communication with the depot on track plant and equipment storage eliminated the need for multiple deliveries.
The deliverables
- Provide Optioneering, Detailed design and Installation
- Full length fixed roof access platforms in Depot Shed
- Full length 2t overhead crane designed and built to lift roof mounted air con modules and pantographs from the roof of class 730 vehicles
- Oilaway system installation
- M&E modifications
- OLE modifications and upgrades
- Servicing plumbed CET, flushing water and tanking water serving all sidings allowing class 730 trains
- Upgrading Lighting in all areas of the Depot with the latest legislative Lux levels
- Hand washing drip trays are required for the full length of one of the sidings
- Improve depot protection to the latest requirement of WMT and Alstom. This included programmable individual staff tags and interlocks into the OHLE isolation system
- Modifications to stores buildings
- Installation of new OLE Isolation switches
- Demolish/dismantle existing concrete/GRP walkways and install new GRP walkways to roads 1 to 8
- Electrical connections and mechanical works to CET
- Install Drainage including UTX’s (Under Track Crossings)
- Install trough routes & ducting for cable/pipework containment
- modifications and new OLE piled foundation & support
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