Wessex Package 7
Wessex Package 7 increased platform length at 50 station sites along the Wessex rail route. It formed part of the wider train lengthening programme, allowing the operation of longer trains in key parts of the south east. Spencer Rail Engineering collaborated with major supply chain partners to develop an innovative bespoke platform design to meet the demands of restructure track access.
The project required design and build services, involving platform extensions, associated infrastructure, p-way, S&T, power and signals at each of 50 individual stations (57 station locations in total), with the associated infrastructure being repositioned and commissioned to support the platform construction works.
To enable the swift construction of platforms we used innovative construction methodology, where all components for the platforms were carried into position manually. This mitigated the requirements for heavy plant and reducing the wet trades. This was achieved by using minipiles, steel frame and GRP decking, which all but negated the impact of construction on any other element of the scheme.
Spencer Rail Engineering completed the project through value engineering, reducing the overall contract cost for our client by a considerable margin. Additionally, our innovative design and methodology saved 80 disruptive possessions over the life of the project.
The Wessex Package 7 platform extension programme formed part of a wider plan which aimed to allow the operation of longer trains on key routes within the south east of England to deliver a higher passenger capacity into major London terminus stations. Crucially, we achieved the overall objective of allowing greater passenger capacity into London: since completion, there has been a 22% rise in passenger numbers.
