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Driving socio-economic prosperity in South Wales
The Ebbw Vale line, which reopened in 2008 after being closed for 40 years, provides a valuable connection to Newport and Cardiff for the communities in Blaenau Gwent, Wales. In response to the popularity of the line a new station was developed at Pye Corner opened in 2014 and 1.5 miles of new track was laid to extend the railway from Ebbw Vale Parkway to a brand-new station at Ebbw Vale Town in 2015.
To continue to drive economic prosperity in the region, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and the Welsh Government committed to investing in a new hourly passenger service between Ebbw Vale Town and Newport to open up jobs, training and leisure opportunities to people in the communities along the line, as well as being a catalyst for economic development in the region.
This substantial investment from the Welsh Government will bring significant benefits for people living in Ebbw Vale and the surrounding communities.
James Price, Transport for Wales Chief Executive
A multi-discipline solution
As part of a wider programme of work being delivered by Network Rail, AmcoGiffen are delivering a seven-mile loop reinstating the old twin-track Welsh Ebbw Vale line from Crosskeys in the south to Llanhilleth in the north to allow the new hourly service to run, as well as new platforms at Llanhilleth and Newbridge stations to support the new fleet aspirations of 6×23 long trains.
SYSTRA was appointed by AmcoGiffen to deliver multi-disciplinary engineering services, with a scope incorporating civil and structural engineering design, geotechnical and architectural interventions. Key SYSTRA deliverables included station enhancements at Newbridge and Llanhilleth, Newport Road Bridge underbridge replacement, development of access walkways for a number structures and multiple embankment and cutting retaining structures along the route.
A ‘one-team’ approach
SYSTRA worked closely with AmcoGiffen and other key stakeholders to ensure the work was delivered collaboratively which created an increased level of transparency and engagement, allowing all the different teams to come together in a seamless, cohesive manner.
The project involved several stakeholders, including Blaenau Gwent Council, Welsh Government, Transport for Wales, Network Rail, and local communities. Effective stakeholder management was essential to ensure that their concerns were addressed, and the project aligned with their needs and expectations.
In addition, efficient project management to ensure the 12-month timeline was met, was a critical aspect of the project’s success.
BIM adoption
3D modelling using multiple drafting software types have been federated for multi-disciplinary working and clash detection. Collaborative tools such as Bentley Live Review have been adopted to mark-up drawings and record IDC comments between SYSTRA, AmcoGiffen and Network Rail supporting the “one team” approach. Bentley Forms have also been implemented to aid completion of Inspection Test Plan checklists and other project-related forms. This approach enabled staff on site to store all information related to the project, including photos, in one place that is accessible to everyone working on the project.
Delivery in an operational rail environment
One of the significant challenges that SYSTRA and AmcoGiffen faced was construction of new track, installation of new platforms, and replacement of bridges and underpasses within an rail environment which was fully operational. The project required precise planning and coordination to ensure that the work was completed safely and to the required standard during the possession periods. Considerations also needed to be made regarding the impact on the surrounding environment, such as noise pollution, habitat disturbance, and waste disposal.
3D modelling using multiple drafting software types have been federated for multi-disciplinary working and clash detection. Collaborative tools such as Bentley Live Review have been adopted to mark-up drawings and record IDC comments between SYSTRA, AmcoGiffen and Network Rail supporting the “one team” approach.
Achieving zero incidents
The SYSTRA project team successfully achieved all the Approved for Construction design submissions for a critical blockade in October 2022, when major upgrades were delivered along the route.
The commitment to safety was demonstrated with zero reported incidents over the 9-day possession.
SYSTRA is still delivering the final parts of the scope to allow AmcoGiffen to complete the outstanding site intervention works in line with the construction programme, expected to be completed by Autumn 2023.