The winter 2020 storms created many challenges for Network Rail. The heavy rain caused significant landslips to embankments and cuttings. High winds caused the tracks to become blocked with debris, including leaves, fence panels and garden furniture.

We worked with Network Rail to repair a landslip near Hastings in East Sussex. During the storms, a section of cutting collapsed, and part of the slip reached residential garden fences. With the risk to homes imminent, there was significant urgency to repair the slip, and give the residents peace of mind.

Project Highlights:

• By installing a grid of soil nails, we were able to complete all the works with rope access away from the railway line.
• Despite fragile terrain and extreme weather, we finished on time, with no railway disruption.

Working with fragile terrain

Before the collapse, both sides of the cutting were heavily vegetated, with mature trees growing at all levels. The trees added weight to the top of the slope and caused the soil to loosen in the bad weather.

This unstable terrain made access a real challenge. We couldn’t safely work from the bottom because there was an elevated through route, and there was no access from the top.

We worked with our design team to install a grid of soil nails into the face of the slope, by tethering drilling rigs to anchors at the crest. This meant we could do all the work with rope access.

Rope work specialists

A highly regulated, high-risk activity, rope access bares its own challenges, and can slow down a project. Fortunately, we have an in-house team of specially trained rope engineers, foreman, and drillers, ready to deploy across the business. It means we are always equipped for rope work, and were able to finish this project on time, without having to sub-contract.

A collaborative success

Meeting the original programme without delay was a challenge, because of unpredictable terrain and weather conditions. However, we worked closely with the designer Tony Gee and Partners, Network Rail and the wider BAM Nuttall team to stay on track and deliver on time, with no disruption to the railway line.