The rock face of this narrow rail cutting required extensive stabilisation including de-vegetation, scaling and strengthening works to be carried out.

The face contained several bands of weaker heavily eroded sandstone.  This had led to the creation of several areas of longitudinal voiding along its length.  These required the installation of reinforced sprayed concrete, which was then followed by installing passive rockfall netting along the entire face.

To minimise disruption to rail traffic, solutions had to be thought of to both maximise output during possession work and to reduce the overall number of possessions required.  To achieve this CAN used long reach excavators with drill masts mounted on them.  These were positioned at the crest reaching over and down to the face.  They prooved to be vastly more efficient than using Road Rail Vehicles, as they were set up, in position and ready to drill as soon as the possession commenced.

Also where possible works were carried out within the confines of Vortok fencing to create ‘fenced safe system of work’ allowing the line to remain open.

Duration:       18 Weeks  

Client:            J. Murphy & Sons Ltd           

Location:       Hagley, Stourbridge