Home
About Us
Directors
What people say about us
Quality Assurance
Health & Safety
Environment
Downloads
Latest News
What We Do
Civil Engineering
Water Treatment
Highways
Structures
Specialist Activities
Coastal & River
Infrastructure
Environmental Improvements
Airports
Railways
Building
Contact Us
Southampton HQ
Plymouth
Gatwick
Heathrow
Swansea
Swindon
Careers
Current Vacancies
Why work for us?
Vacancy Alert sign up
Equal Opportunities
Home
>
What We Do
>
Railways
>
Railways Overview
>
Dawlish Sea Wall
What We Do
Civil Engineering
Airports
Railways
Building
Dawlish Sea Wall
Client
Network Rail
Main Contractor
Dyer & Butler
Duration
3 Years
Location
Exeter to Newton Abbott
Office Responsible
Plymouth
Description
Dyer & Butler successfully won a framework contract with Network Rail in 2007 to undertake reactive and planned maintenance to the Devon coastal defences which provide protection to the mainline railway in South Devon.
The coastal defences range from pitch walling to granite breakwaters. The defences take the brunt of South Westerly gales during the winter months and work is all year round to maintain operation of the only rail connection between Devon/Cornwall and London. To ensure that the railway is operational at all required times, Dyer & Butler provide a 365 day on call facility to respond to emergency works. These works can involve the rectification of trip hazards to pedestrians on the sea wall to large scale replacements to blown out sections of the sea wall.
The coastal defences, originally built by I K Brunel as part of his atmospheric railway, have been subject to continuous maintenance over recent years. Dyer & Butler, along with our client Network Rail, have investigated methods to reduce the level of maintenance intervention through improved asset management and new maintenance techniques.
The contract provided unique challenges to Dyer & Butler not only due to the environment, but also due to Network Rail’s desire to work outside the summer holiday period. Challenges to overcome were not only weather and tide restrictions, but also access, only available by rail at some of the locations. Works were undertaken successfully with the use of road rail plant and access from the sea.
With the rebuilding of 5 of the breakwaters, the front line protection to the railway has once again been established.
Website design by
Clickfire
© Dyer & Butler 2012. All rights reserved