Newark Flat Crossing
We were appointed by Amey Sersa to install a diamond crossing on the East Coast Mainline, north of Newark Northgate station.
The work was part of the £1.2 billion East Coast Upgrade, to enable an additional two long-distance services an hour into and out of London, and to improve train service reliability.
Works saw two Kirow 1200 cranes – one from our plant fleet, and a second Network Rail crane, which we act as the Entity in Charge of Maintenance (ECM) – working in tandem to install the crossing.
The lift was the first of its kind to be completed on the UK railway infrastructure, meaning our planning team was required to create a detailed plan working closely with the client.
Unique in its operation, the lift involved the two cranes lifting a large composite panel, in a free running tandem operation, with no support beneath the panel. This required our operators to work in sync with the crane controller as there was no room for error.
The diamond panel weighed 52 tonnes, and with the weight of additional lifting equipment, meant that both cranes were carrying 60 tonnes, with 30 tonnes being supported on the hook of each rail mounted crane. The lift was completed in two hours, well ahead of the planned schedule.
The design and materials used for the new crossing extended the service life, making it easier to maintain and a cost-effective solution over traditional hardwood.
Our mainline tampers completed tamping of the diamond crossing on the final day of the possession.