Railway Engineering

The Rail Engineering business service is "systems" led in approach and closely aligned with our other Service Lines so that there is always a focus on the business needs of our clients.

Our team has skills in all of the specific railway engineering disciplines including track, signalling and control systems, communication systems, rolling stock, traction power distribution systems, and associated civil and structural engineering, depots and stations. Our strength is gained through the consolidation of experience across all aspects of railway engineering and operations, allowing us to provide a truly integrated solution for our clients.

We place considerable emphasis on developing our capabilities in line with the needs of our clients, enabling us to develop new ideas and identify innovative and cost effective solutions. Our value is founded on the skills and experience of our team, many of whom have held senior industry posts and bring a high level of corporate understanding to their responsiveness, approach and delivery.

Services offered

  • Railway safety
  • Systems engineering
  • Infrastructure engineering
  • Engineering advisory

Benefits

Railway safety

GHD assists clients in maintaining and improving the safety of their railway operations and activities. Whilst maintaining the absolute priority in the implementation of, and planning for, railway construction, a balance must also be found between conflicting demands such as minimising disruption to the operational railway, minimising cost and minimising the risk of possession overruns. The GHD team has a broad experience of railway construction, allowing them to find this balance.

Systems engineering

GHD’s railway systems engineering is a multi-faceted service aimed at conception, design and implementation of all types of transportation systems. This service is focused on assisting the client through the full project life cycle, from feasibility, systems concept and definition to scheme development and assurance. We believe that early, structured and determined focus on systems integration is a vital component of successful multidisciplinary rail projects. Our expert systems engineering team retains interfacing capability to ensure that a multi-disciplinary system design operates as a functional whole, meeting the clients high level requirements whilst providing the assurance required to deliver a safe, reliable and practical service.

Infrastructure engineering

GHD's infrastructure engineering team enables clients in the passenger and rail freight haulage transport industry, react positively to changing transportation trends by identifying innovative and cost effective solutions to the expansion of both mainline and freight links and the management of existing assets.

Engineering advisory

Our engineering advisory services are delivered from the perspective of understanding in the first instance the business need for the engineering activity. That understanding is developed from an appreciation of the functional and performance requirement of the transport system or infrastructure being developed. The service embraces all of the above and our Railway Operations and Asset Management Service Lines.

Manchester Metrolink - Systems Integration of Extensions and Improvements

Machester Metrolink

Investment in Manchester Metrolink will bring substantial improvement in the existing infrastructure through a System Enhancement Program and through extensions to the network under Phase 3a.

GHD is taking a leadership role in systems engineering and integration that will enable the entire system to operate effectively as it develops.


Read More . . .

Persimmon Homes (South Yorkshire) Ltd - Manor Farm Development, Doncaster, Railway Interface Issues

Persimmon Home

Persimmon Homes was appealing against a previous planning refusal for mixed development of a large area of land adjacent to the Doncaster – Lincoln railway line.  One of the main reasons given for the planning refusal was local concern about the safety of two unmanned User Worked Level Crossings.

GHD examined the sites and researched the previous planning history, the history of railway level crossing accidents in the area and considered a wide range of relevant safety legislation, guidelines, reports and other related documentation. From this GHD formed a view as to a preferred solution that would be likely to secure approval from Network Rail and subsequently the Planning Authority, by securing substantial improvements in railway safety, despite increased usage and rail traffic in the future.


Read More . . .

Commercial Estate Management - Manse Farm

Westfield Group

GHD was engaged to undertake a business case for building a new station near Knaresborough. This analysis informed key decision makers in their consideration of the proposed site of new housing in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area.

GHD was engaged by the property developer to examine rail access and service options for a new station on a site directly east of Knaresborough. The Leeds – Harrogate – York line passes along the northern edge of the development site, with 17 trains each way each day. However, the route is severely constrained with single line sections and level crossings, and the station site is in close proximity to the existing Knaresborough station.


Read More . . .

Westfield Group - White City Development - Systems Integration

Commercial Estate Management

The White City Development is the largest inner city shopping complex in Europe, stretching White City Station along Wood Lane, Shepherd’s Bush and to the motorway spur road from the M40 into the West of London.

The development scope included building a new station, enhancing the multi-modal transport links for the new complex and refurbishment of existing stations. The site required the demolition and relocation of existing London Underground facilities and locations included a viaduct on the Hammersmith and City Line, vital pumping stations and the Central Line sidings and facilities at White City.


Read More . . .

Metronet Rail Assurance Engineer - Waterloo and City Line

Metronet Rail Assurance

Working in partnership with London Underground, Metronet Rail was responsible for upgrading, replacing and maintaining nine of the 12 lines on the entire network and will spend £17 billion during its 30-year contract. A major part of this investment was the complex £40 million upgrade of the Waterloo and City Line involving renewal of all track and signalling and completed within a challenging timescale.

The PPP process created a significant level of infrastructure construction activity that resulted in a very high demand for track designs. It was of strategic importance that Metronet Rail was in a position to be able to meet the increasing demands, prior to the reopening of the Line in September 2006


Read More . . .
Asset Management
Sustainability Thumbnail
Rail
rail
Transportation & Logistics
Transportation

Richard Spence

Richard Spence

Richard is an experienced and knowledgeable railway engineer with more than 25 years' experience in the rail industry. Richard has specialist knowledge of railway systems and rolling stock engineering with experience on a variety of rolling stock and railway projects.

Position: Service Group Manager, Railway Engineering
Tel: +44 (0) 1904 436100
Click here to email this person...

GHD Library

GHD is made up of relevant resources to the United Kingdom.