BILCO
CROSSRAIL SYSTEMWIDE CONTRACTOR ATC REACHES FOR NEW HEIGHTS WITH THE HELP OF BILCO UK
With the new Elizabeth line set to deliver a 10 % increase in rail capacity across central London , the project will provide a high frequency service that reduces journey times and creates new travel opportunities by linking 41 stations across 100 kilometres .
As part of the landmark construction project , over 42 kilometres of new tunnels , 50 kilometres of new track and 10 new stations are being developed in conjunction with major upgrades to the existing infrastructure .
Throughout the construction stages of the central section , which spans from Westbourne Park to Plumstead and Pudding Mill Lane , over 350 of Bilco UK ’ s innovative aluminium Ladder Up ® Safety Posts have been specified by Crossrail ’ s systemwide contractor Alstom TSO Costain Joint Venture ( ATC Systemwide ) to provide safe and secure access .
Weighing just seven kilograms due to the milled aluminium construction , the resilient Ladder Up ® Safety Posts will provide engineers with unobstructed access to the walkways when conducting essential maintenance throughout the tunnels , once the line is operational .
Once fully open , the Elizabeth line will provide an additional 1.5 million people with access to central London within 45 minutes , covering Reading and Heathrow in the West , right through to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the East .
The specification process , managed by Construction & Rail Contractors McNealy Brown , focused on the requirement for durable yet functional access solutions that would consistently provide a safe and direct step through onto the walkway , without impacting on the surrounding electrical services .
The unique and high quality construction of the Ladder Up ® Safety Post fulfilled each requirement of the brief . This includes features such as the innovative telescopic post , which mounts permanently to the top two rungs of any fixed ladder to provide a secure handhold that enables the user to enter or exit the opening in an upright and balanced position .
Clive Burfoot , Contract Manager at McNealy Brown , said : “ When we first began researching potential access solutions for the Crossrail project ’ s central section , it became clear quite quickly that the Bilco UK Ladder Up ® Safety Post was the only product available on the UK market that would fulfil our extensive list of requirements .
“ The telescopic extension was one of the main benefits that secured its specification for this project , as it enables the Ladder Up ® safety post to be both retracted and extended , a key function that wasn ’ t available with any other access solution .”
Each ladder has been installed with two Ladder Up ® Safety Posts , which are located on either side of the ladder to provide the direct step through onto the walkway for increased safety and efficiency .
The installation process , which has been managed by ATC Systemwide , will provide secure access throughout all essential areas of the central section , including at either end of every station and at additional strategic locations .
For further information on Bilco UK ’ s complete range of roof access solutions , visit www . bilcouk . co . uk or call 01284 701696 .
ARCHETECH - PAGE 72