Finchpalm Ltd - Our Capabilities

Finchpalm Ltd has extensive capabilities, of which some of you visiting our pages for the first time might not be aware.

Main Line Signalling, Civils, Structures
London Underground Projects
Protection Services

Main Line Signalling, Civils, Structures

Main Line Signalling
Using our own in-house capabilities, we have operated on major signalling projects including upgrades, new works and maintenance programmes for almost thirty years.

The expertise gained over this time allows us to undertake a range of signaling works including the following:

• Correlation
• SPAD mitigation works
• Supply and Installation of signal structures
• Civils Design, including forms A, B & C
• Pre-wiring of Location cases and REBs
• Ground investigations
• Modifications to existing signalling works
• Installation of signal bases and retaining walls
• Signal works testing (Mods 3A, 3BL, 3C, 3D and 5)
• Piling, re-inforcing, ground works
• Points fitting and conversions
• Full project management capability
• Reverse engineering calculations, structural design and modifications

Multi-disciplined teams are available using a fleet of fully equipped vehicles offering a flexible and speedy response to our many sites across the UK. Our training, licensing and development programmes ensure that the competence of our skilled workforce is maintained and updated regularly. Project specific training is put in place where required

Structures
The use of screw piles has been developed within Finchpalm Ltd and is used on many projects as a fast and efficient means of structure erection. The use of screw piles drastically reduces construction time and is an environmentally friendly method as no excavation is involved.

The installation of the double aspect cantilever (right) was carried out using eight ScrewFast helical screw piles and was completed from commencement on site within four hours. Conventional methods involving ground excavation, spoil removal, formwork fabrication and concrete pouring and curing can take several track possessions to complete.

Advantages include:

• All dry processes therefore no curing times
• No ballast displacement during installation, therefore no undermining of the existing railway track
• Small labour force required
• Limited spoil to dispose of, therefore no landfill costs to pay
• No need to re-route or slew cables/services, the piles can be installed tight against existing services
• Installation can be erected and commissioned with in-house signalling resource within a single possession
• For use with signal structures, equipment rooms, locations or similar installs
• In-house ability on all aspects of the install

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London Underground Projects

Nuttall Finchpalm has been involved in major projects on the underground network for many years. A detailed understanding of the unique circumstances in which works are carried out on the network mean that Nuttall Finchpalm continues to be a major participant in the ongoing upgrading and new works programmes currently being carried out.

Connect Project
This project delivered a fully integrated TETRA standard, digital radio communications system, replacing the current radio systems. Finchpalm Ltd was the main trackside contractor for a complete project package including installation of new fibre optic transmission cable and equipment. Surveys commenced in 2000 followed by the commencement of documentation and design of cable and equipment accommodation and support bracketing.

The project demanded a responsive and innovative approach with many of the installation processes being modelled from first principles.

Most of the cable installed on the project, was run from cable trains. Due to the nature of the network, teamwork played a vital role whilst running two trains within a specified area. A landmark event was the record-breaking installation of 16,000m of cable during one 2.5 hour shift on the Victoria Line.

In order to maximise the available kinematic envelope, bespoke bracketing was designed to house each piece of equipment. Management of equipment logistics was essential to maintain control of over 300,000m of radio cable, 320,000m of fibre optic cable and over 1000 individual items of system control equipment.

Jubilee Line Extension
Finchpalm Ltd carried out signal and train detection equipment and points installation as well as equipment room population and wiring and cable installation. Cable was installed from engineering trains in trackside locations and where necessary hand-pulled, particularly relevant in depot locations. Training in confined space access, working at height, Hiab operation etc was put in place to ensure these operations were carried out safely. All competencies and the range of access certification were managed to minimise the impact of peaks in the resource profile.

Operating from two locations on a rotating day / night shift basis, equipment room wiring teams, together with multi-skilled teams carrying out civil works on signal bases etc, were responsible for management of materials and the effective operation of site stores.

Points Heating Replacement
The works consisted of surveys to determine cable routes, civil works and equipment requirements, followed by planning and procurement activities. Fully trained site teams were used to maximise productivity in the short access windows available, which was further complicated as many of the installation sites were located at depot and sidings areas, which had to be kept operational for most of the available engineering hours.

The strict programme required exact planning, benefiting from our detailed knowledge of the London Underground network, the protection requirements and working manual standards. Civil works were carried out to provide bases and cable routes for control cabinets and cable. Wiring of the control equipment, transformers and the heating elements was carried out on site.

Cable Route Enabling
In order to facilitate the installation of the Connect communications system, new cable routes were required at various sites on the LU network. The existing route was in a poor condition and did not offer the necessary 25 years assurance on life expectancy and reliability.

Finchpalm Ltd carried out site surveys and condition reports on the existing route. These surveys and reports were assimilated into designs for each track section, or station-to-station area, by trained design staff at the Wembley office.

Once designs were approved, the project team mobilised material procurement, site documentation, access and protection alongside suitable resource in line with the project programme. Installation solutions ranged from cable toughing to post replacement, often in combination with modifications to the existing route particularly around bridges or other trackside assets. The installation was carried out mainly during engineering (night) hours. Other works were carried out during traffic (day) hours or under possession where deemed appropriate during planning of the safe system of work.

EDF Major Power Works
Similar works are currently being carried out for EDF Energy at various locations on the London Underground network.

The purpose of the programme is two-fold:

• To ensure that the electricity supply system is capable of meeting current and future demands.
• To enable a complete system hand-back to London Underground at the end of the contract with a future life expectancy of 25 years.

Finchpalm Ltd is surveying and advising on the implementation of the cabling element of this work.

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Protection Services

Work which is carried out within the track environment requires Safety Critical Resource to protect operatives whilst they are working, in line with statutory and railway working standards. Finchpalm Ltd Protection Services Division is an approved supplier of safety critical resource to LUL, Metronet and Tubelines, among others. We offer our cost effective and innovative services to many companies undertaking projects on the London Underground infrastructure. We have developed and continue to develop successful partnerships with our clients based on our 'can do' attitude. With a vast level of experienced resource throughout the Division, along with our dedicated supply chain, we are able to offer a one-stop shop solution to clients, operating a 24 hour business.

Our safety critical resources are equipped with the necessary training, certification and experience to carry out any of the following duties:

The service that Finchpalm Ltd provides extends beyond supply of safety critical resource. We are also able to offer full and comprehensive planning packages from assistance with track access advice to designing Possession Plans for minor and major works. We undertake regular internal audits and checks to ensure the roles undertaken by our Protection Services Division meet the specified criteria.

Wembley Park Capacity Enhancement Project
Protection Services Division undertook 26 possessions on the Wembley Park Capacity Enhancement Project without a single issue or delay. We managed everything associated with the safety critical resource from the possession plan to the resource assignment, including briefings. Our resource scheduling optimised the number of operatives involved and we retained the same team of safety critical resource throughout the 26 possessions. We modified the plan to allow for opportunity works and the use of de-icing trains during the cold spell, maximising the work time available when passing de-icing trains through the possession.

This single success is a prime example of the quality of our working ethos at Finchpalm Ltd and, with continuous awards being won for safe man-hours, our site teams reflect our best practices in all respects.

Key to our specialist skills within the Protection Resource supply is our value added skill within the possessions. We can write the possession plan, get it approved and deliver a cost efficient resource programme to ensure total compliance to the Possession.

The Protection Services Division operates from the Finchpalm Ltd office at Parkwood House, Wembley and can be contacted direct on 020 8902 2574 or finchpalm.protection@bamnuttall.co.uk

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