The works to lengthen the double track section of railway at Darwen station are ‘on-track’ to be completed by Sunday 23rd August 2015.
To see the weekly updates for the work click the appropriate links below:
The amount of work carried out before and during the blockade to implement the improvements has been impressive and a summary is shown below:
Works done prior to the blockade:
Bridge 42 (Hannah St) fabricated off-site, ready to be transported via road to site and lifted straight into place;
Bridge 47 (Cotton Hall Road) fabricated on-site. The concrete had to set for 30 days;
25km of line side cable was routed throughout;
5km of new rail distributed throughout site, ready to be installed;
Spot re-sleeper replacements;
Signal/Loc base installations began;
De-vegetation of whole site in winter to avoid bird nesting season; and
Set up and commissioned the site compound on Hollins Grove Street and the bridge 47 mini compound on Cotton Hall Street.
Works during blockade:
On average, there has been over 100 people working on site each day since the start of the blockade;
Works take place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;
48 engineering trains will access the site to unload materials, and take away/dispose of old ballast, sleepers, rail and scrap material;
5km of new rail, 7,958 concrete sleepers, 5,782 tonnes of sand and 25,589 tonnes of ballast will be laid;
1km of drainage installed;
8 new lightweight Dorman signals to be installed;
2 x bridge replacements – so the twin track alignment can fit over;
90 m retaining wall strengthened – 55nr 12m long soil nails drilled into wall and spray concrete applied;
25 km of lineside cable routed;
43 Location case/Signals/Telephone civils bases installed; and
27 Location Units to be installed throughout site