Corus leads Ipswich Tunnel site team

Corus has managed and supervised the site works of a multi million pound restructuring works project at Ipswich Tunnel, as part of Network Rail’s upgrade of key freight routes. 

In order to allow the new W10 (9’-6’’) gauge ‘continental standard’ containers to pass through the 150 year old tunnel, it was deemed necessary to remove the existing tracks complete with the existing track bed and rebuild from scratch.  Ipswich Tunnel’s single bore contains the main line 2 track between Norwich and London, which forms part of a main commuter route in to London.  Both lines are electrified and both carry passengers and freight.

The planning work for the project was completed over a two year period and proved to be a major exercise in both civil engineering and passenger management due to the fact that the reconstruction necessitated an 8 week shutdown of the 330m tunnel.

During the construction period Corus supplied 24 hour site supervision with a team of eight construction supervisors as well as site managers.  The operation, completed ahead of schedule, was undertaken with the minimum amount of plant and equipment due to the physical constraints of the tunnel and the overhead electrics.  A mock-up of the slab track was constructed allowing the design, layout and construction procedures to be tested prior to the restructuring.

The works commenced on 11^th July 2004.  The existing tracks through the tunnel were removed and the demolition of the existing concrete track bed commenced.  After an eight week closure and thousands of man hours worked by hundreds of operatives, the railway was handed back to operational use on 5^th September.  Throughout the works, the Corus team worked closely with the principle contractor, Alfred McAlpine, and was instrumental in not only the successful outcome of the works but also the 100% non-reportable accident statistics.

Tom Storey, Associate Director Corus, said “At Corus we are committed to working together to achieve outstanding results for the railway, our partnership approach with Alfred McAlpine and Network Rail is testament to this fact.  We were able to draw on our technical and site management experience to ensure we could complete the task safely, to a high standard and in as short a time as possible.”

ENDS