Surface World November 2019 Surface World November 2019 | Page 68

PRODUCTS & PROCESSES
Milestone shows major
rail project is on right track
A leading galvanizing business
has reached a signifi cant
milestone as part of its work
on one of the biggest rail
projects in the UK.
Worksop Galvanizing is playing a key role in a
major programme to upgrade the Midland
Main Line, which runs from London to Sheffield.
Huge sections of infrastructure used to support
new electric cables are first being sent to the
plant for the application of a protective coating.
And the amount of the steel galvanized so far
has now reached 3,000 tonnes.
State-of-the-art facilities at the plant include
the largest acid bath in the UK, which
enables sections as long as 30 metres to be
galvanized at once.
Paul Robinson, Commercial Manager at
Worksop Galvanizing, said: “The upgrade
programme on the Midland Main Line is a
massive scheme that includes the
electrification from London to Corby with
plans to extend further north.
“We’ve been galvanizing sections of
steelwork that will support the new cables for
more than a year and have now reached a
figure of 3,000 tonnes.
and provides significant protection in a
high-impact environment.
“We’ve provided around 95 per cent of
the main steel for the Bedford to Corby
section of the upgrade since it started in
November 2017 and the majority of that
has gone through Worksop Galvanizing.
“We expect to supply around 5,500
tonnes for this section in total and that
could yet be extended, so it’s certainly a
significant amount of work for them.
“But the plant has the largest bath in the
UK so it has the ability to cope with such
large-scale projects.
“It also offers good rates, a quick turn-
around and the level of customer service
we want. They’ll go out of their way to
accommodate our needs and are the kind
of people who’ll do anything for you.”
The entire Midland Main Line
improvement will include the electrification
of 639km single track, the modernisation
of signalling systems and the expansion of
platforms leading to the introduction of
new trains with more carriages.
The Bedford to Corby project scope is
scheduled to be completed in 2023.
Visit: www.wedge-galv.co.uk
“It’s a significant project that’s still ongoing and
I believe we’re only roughly halfway through.
“But we have some of the best facilities in the
UK, including the largest bath in the country,
and that means we’re able to turn around
projects like this very quickly.”
Network Rail’s £500m-plus upgrade and
electrification programme is designed to reduce
journey times and increase passenger capacity
on the entire length of the line which bypasses
Luton, Leicester, Derby and Nottingham.
It includes the erection of 6,000 main steel
components to support the overhead line
equipment and current focus is on the section
running from Bedford to Corby. Supporting
infrastructure is being supplied by Adey Steel.
Jim Hatherley, Head of Rail for Adey, said:
“The vast majority of steelwork for rail
projects is galvanized as it’s a process that
massively extends the life expectancy of
structures, ensures maintenance is minimised
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NOVEMBER 2019
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