Burdens supply Carillion at Porthmadog

Overview:
Carillion Regional Civil Engineering are principal contractor to extend the Welsh Highland Railway through the Town of Porthmadog in Gwynedd, North Wales. Beginning at the harbour station and travelling east, they are to provide approx 1500 linear metres of new railway track of both ‘Standard’ lay (ballast, sleepers and rails) and where applicable, ‘Tramway’ type track (part embedded rail).The track crosses the main A487 trunk road which connects Bangor in North Wales and Fishguard in south west Wales, before crossing a major public car park and continuing out of the town to link up with subsequent sections of track being constructed by others. The track is of narrow gauge 1ft 11.5" construction (595mm).The purpose of the works is to allow passengers to travel by train from Caernarvon, through the heart of Snowdonia to Blaenau Ffestiniog on narrow gauge railways. This work has been part funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and in part by grant funding from the Lottery Commission.
 
Scope of Works:
Extensive works are required through the town of Porthmadog, including piling works to the Cob carrying the trunk road and existing railway lines, widening works to the bridge deck, large scale diversion to the utilities infrastructure and severe disruption to the main road through the town.
There is an existing 375mm diameter rising main sewer discharge pipe in place but this will be buried under the new trackway and Burdens have supplied 250 linear metres of 400mm ductile iron pipe, to be used as back up should any failure occur to the existing main. Carillion will not be responsible for the construction of any valve chambers on this job, as it is outside the line of deviation and works will be given to Welsh Water approved contractors to complete. The ductile iron pipe supplied by Burdens will be encased in reinforced concrete slabs consisting of poured concrete and ground beams etc. We have also supplied polystyrene compression materials to encase the pipes, as required by ARUP.

Carillion have also been tasked with providing extensive refurbishment work to existing embankments, Burdens have supplied geotextiles and gabion baskets to facilitate these works. Burdens have also supplied Terram PW1 geotextiles to form the trackbed, all communications ducting, drawpits, kerbs and ironwork to site. Burdens offer a unique service in providing  infrastructure products for rail track works backed up by the experience of specialist brands such as WTB Geotechnics, manufacturers of Geosand, Integrated Ducting Systems, suppliers of recycled plastic underground ducting chambers and Enviromesh Gabions, manufacturers and designers of retaining wall solutions and security fencing. Think you know Burdens? Think again!