TRU charges ahead with electrification work

Five consecutive weekends of critical work have taken place between Leeds and York, supporting electrification of the railway. SYSTRA is working on the project as part of the TRU East Alliance, alongside Network Rail, Murphy, Siemens and VolkerRail.

Following the installation of overhead line equipment (OLE) earlier this year, 7.5km of wiring has now been completed between Micklefield and Church Fenton. Just to the east of this location, electric passenger services between York and Church Fenton are set to launch in the coming months, following last year’s successful switch-on between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge.

In Cross Gates, Station Road bridge was safely demolished and replaced so that OLE can be installed throughout the area. And around 750m of track has been renewed between Killingbeck and Cross Gates, which will support smoother, more reliable travel. A new track crossover was also installed, allowing trains to switch lines more easily and give the TRU programme more flexibility for future upgrades.

The innovative and sustainable approach taken in the design and installation is evidence of the commitment made across the whole project to delivering a faster, greener, more reliable railway.

Spencer Cook, Senior Track Engineer, SYSTRA Ltd

SYSTRA was the designer responsible for the track staging design for the crossover, which used a modular joint to help reduce the impact on services while the installation was carried out. It is one of the first sites in the UK to use this type of modular, more durable joint, and the carbon impact of the installation was reduced thanks to partially recycled ballast and a “green” rail which uses less energy in its fabrication.

Spencer Cook, Senior Track Engineer at SYSTRA, said: “The installation of this crossover represents months of successful teamwork between all the TRU East Alliance partners, and is a key element of the wider project. The innovative and sustainable approach taken in the design and installation is evidence of the commitment made across the whole project to delivering a faster, greener, more reliable railway.”

Phil Crosby, Project Manager at SYSTRA, added: “Teamwork was crucial for the Station Road replacement as the project presented a number of challenges for our bridges team and partners across the TRU East Alliance. SYSTRA colleagues were available throughout the possession to aid the site team, and it’s fantastic to see the new deck in place, which means the next section of OLE can soon be installed. Well done to all involved.”

Find out more about SYSTRA’s work on TRU.