Birse Rail was responsible for the design and construction of the extension to Platform 4 at Newport Station.
The works included a 139m extension to the platform, installation of a steel cantilevered canopy and demolition of an existing two storey office building, pway cabins and stores.
The contract also included the provision of new lighting, fencing, waiting shelters, dual language signage and CIS and CCTV together with the relocation of signals and the existing points heating cabinet and control.
One of the major challenges faced by the Birse Rail team was the high volume of redundant and existing live services and structural foundations in the area. The contract required that no services should be moved which meant that every pile had to be excavated to a depth of 1.5m by hand to check whether obstructions or services were present. As a result of the services located, very few of the piles were installed in their designed position.
As a consequence of the positional uncertainty it was decided to use CORUS Permanent Formwork in the construction of the deck. This allowed more flexibility than the original pre-cast concrete beams in locating the cross head beams and supporting piles.
Platform 4 was successfully handed over on time to Network Rail and Arriva Trains Wales. The extended platform formed part of Network Rail's wider investment to improve train performance and make services more reliable between South Wales and London Paddington
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