Overcoming geotechnical challenges to maximise re-use of an existing brownfield site for use as a rail test track
Overcoming geotechnical challenges to maximise re-use of an existing brownfield site for use as a rail test track
The Global Centre for Rail Excellence (GCRE) is a purpose-built rail facility for train testing and rail industry research. The project will comprise a looped track supported on significant cuttings and embankments. The project will be constructed on a site containing backfilled opencasts (pits) from previous coal mining, with the remaining site consisting of spoil tips, forestry and undisturbed common land. The site has a varied topography with the level difference of around 125m below the highest and lowest point. Various geotechnical challenges were encountered during the design development. With an aim to become UK’s first net zero railway, the earthworks design aspired to utilise all site won material - mainly opencast mining waste / backfill. This material would not typically conform with the fill classes of the National Highways Specification for Highway works (SHW 2017). Trial embankments were constructed to test the suitability of site-won materials and compaction required to achieve specified stiffness at rail formation level. Prediction of settlement of the earthworks within the footprint of the historical open cast back fill is a major challenge. Historical underground mine workings are present beneath the site, shallow mine entries and workings are within influencing distance of the scheme. Remediation design has been undertaken to reduce the instability risk to the scheme utilising a risk based approach in partnership with the client.
P. Anning; J. K. Thillainadarajah; A. Kushwaha
18th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ECSMGE2024)
B - Geohazards
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