RETFORD Station AFA

The project comprised of the design and construction of a ‘Access for All’ compliant covered ramp 160m long up to the footbridge north of Platform 4 together with the construction of a 16 person lift at the southern end of the pedestrian overbridge down to Platform 3, including modifications and extensions to the existing station M&E and communication installations.

We carried out the civil engineering elements of the project in house, using our directly employed multi-disciplined workforce which included the construction of the lift pit foundations, ducting, drainage and fencing together with the foundations and reinforced concrete ground slabs for the covered walkway.

During the planning and construction phases of the project, we worked collaboratively with LNER, the Network Rail ASPRO Team, the Station Manager and key stakeholders to devise alternative construction techniques to mitigate or eliminate the requirement to work on the live station platforms.

Through our negotiations with the adjoining landowner, we were able to secure land access to Platform 3 via a haul road across the field and a pedestrian subway which mitigated accessing the site though the station and allowed the works to be undertaken behind secure fencing. This haul road remained in place throughout the construction works so that the residents of Retford could also use it to access the station.

Our priority was to minimise the passenger interface during the construction of the new lift shaft. Working with our designers Veda Associates, we designed the steel frame of the lift shaft so that it could be installed sectionally with spliced joints. This allowed the steel frame to be erected with a ‘spider crane’ accessing the site via the haul road and pedestrian subway, eliminating the need for possessions and passenger interface. The contractor designed scaffold was erected around the lift shaft to allow the brick facing to be constructed.

Eliminating the requirement for 4 possessions to install the lift shaft allowed the works to be undertaken during normal daytime hours, reducing the programme duration. The 160m covered walkway was also installed during normal day-time hours behind a secure fence.

Procurement issues due to Brexit and COVID with the ‘Kingspan’ cladding delayed the completion of the works. Working collaboratively with LNER, the procurement issues were openly discussed with the project team and a revised completion date was agreed to allow for the increased lead time.

As part of our risk management process and through our Risk and Opportunity Workshops held throughout the schemes’ duration, we designed and installed a temporary roof covering to the lift shaft to allow our key supply chain partner, Stannah to commence the installation of the 16 person lift to help mitigate the 8-week delay.

We redesigned the route for the incoming power to the new passenger lift. The original route was via a new UTX to be installed below the Up & Down Worksop lines. Our revised design routed the power cables through ducting on the underside of the existing footbridge, leading to a cost saving and the elimination of two possessions.

The lift shaft redesign eliminated the passenger interface on Platform 3 during the installation works and negated the requirement for a large mobile crane and disruptive possessions leading to cost and time savings.

CLIENT: London North Eastern Railway (LNER) 
PROJECT VALUE: £1.7m 
START DATE: June 2020 
COMPLETION DATE: December 2021
FORM OF CONTRACT: NEC Option A