East London Line Project
The East London Line project (ELLP) involved extending the former East London Line and making it part of the mainline London Overground network. The scope of works consisted of the third-rail system, signalling, lineside signage and communication systems as well as the construction of four new stations built along the route.
Primarily our main responsibilities consisted of managing the testing and commissioning of the rail systems for the whole project on behalf of the Balfour Beatty-Carillion Joint Venture.
In addition we were directly involved with the project’s Operational Safety (Permit to work and WAD) as well as the organisation of Track Safety Awareness training courses and ‘train the trainer’ sessions for Transport for London staff.
Highlights of the Rail Systems scope of works
- Twin tracks
- 113AFB rail
- ~4000m ballasted track
- ~5500m slab track
- ~1000m existing slab track left in-situ
- Third rail, 650v DC
- Substations at Hoxton, Shadwell, Canal Junction
- 5 SSI Interlockings
- Control Centre at New Cross Gate (NCG) Depot
- AWS and TPWS
- Axle Counters on core route
- Interface with NR at NCG
- Telecoms cabling
- SCADA
- Operations Telecoms
- Retail Telecoms/CCTV/PA
We were responsible for resourcing and managing the T&C team with highly competent individuals which skills were most relevant for the job for the whole duration of the project. It was made of people from various backgrounds and competencies from Telecoms, to HV and Rail Operations.
Back in early 2009 we made the conscious decision to meet with our colleagues at the Office of Road & Rail (ORR) at an early stage in order to fully and convincingly demonstrate that our Construction & Commissioning Railway Rulebook that we had established specifically for the works was fit for purpose and would be meeting their requirements during the critical phases of the project e.g. Traction Power energisation and Dynamic Testing with the new C378 Bombardier test trains.
In time for the 1st High Voltage 750V DC 3rd rail energisation works to proceed we then successfully applied and obtained the required ROGS and Licence exemptions on behalf of the Joint Venture.
The energisations and dynamic tests were then carried out safely and efficiently by our T&C team up to and including multiple test trains running. We handed over the safe operation for the traction power and trains running to TfL in time for their own Trial Operations in 2010.
The ELLP remains one of the most reliable rail networks in the country with its Public Performance Measure Moving Annual Average (the industry’s key long-term performance indicator) being 94.7, against a national score of 88.5.
Like the rest of our JV colleagues we are extremely proud of our involvement and to have been part of such a great project.
Frederic joined the Balfour Beatty Carillion Joint Venture in June 2007 and for three years was the Testing & Commissioning Manager for the East London Line project; a £700m, 12km, new railway including major civils structures, a 22 berth depot, track and all the rail systems in one single contract. He was in charge of managing and coordinating a team of engineers to look after the handover process from completion of installation into testing of all track and railway systems, their certification and commissioning into use, including in particular the commissioning of the Traction power supply, the protection of people and equipment from the time it was made live, organizing the test running of trains and the protection of people during train running. Despite the challenges in setting to work the various interfaces between systems and sub-systems in a safe, progressive and reliable manner and the organisation of the running of test trains within a complex still incomplete infrastructure at the time, Frederic managed to get his team to comply with their obligations and proved to be a key manager in the successful delivery of the project in 2010
Mike Casebourne BSc,CEng,FICE,FASCE / East London Line Project Director (2008-2010)