FP McCann Completes Installation of Rail Signalling Trough & Duct Route at Whiteabbey Station

FP McCann have successfully completed ahead of programme, the installation of a new rail signalling trough and duct route onto and along Whiteabbey Station Platform increasing the current NI Railways cable route infrastructure and further facilitating the ongoing Fortwilliam to Bleach Green Re-Signalling Project.

The works involved the installation of 75m of buried multi duct and anti-tamper surface trough sections and 2no. 1200mm x 1200mm Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) access chambers with lockable concrete infill lids within the cess and UP platform followed by platform bituminous surfacing and thermoplastic line marking reinstatements and finally the insitu concrete extension of the platform to cess Permanent Way (P-Way) access ramp. With excavations being required to be undertaken alongside live and critical rail signal and telecommunication cable infrastructure (later found to be partially un-ducted), as well as alongside the foundations of the adjacent masonry arch rail over bridge, for this project FP McCann employed the use of a vacuum excavator operated in conjunction with a Road/Rail Excavator (RRV) to complete the excavations safely whilst reducing the risk of service strikes, injury to operatives and possible impact to the rail infrastructure and operations.

Works were undertaken during Tiii night possessions of the line, whereby every effort was made to minimise disruption to the local residents (as far as reasonably practicable given the nature of the civil engineering works).  FP McCann would like to extend thanks to all those within the Abbeyville Pl and Ypres Park community, especially those line side residents for their patience and support during which this essential improvement work was successfully carried out.