Providing vital bridging in major rail improvements

Iver, UK

Project Overview

Location	Thorney Lane, Iver
Sector	Rail
Products	Bridging & Site Access

As part of a major rail infrastructure upgrade, a new bridge was constructed to accommodate overhead electrification equipment required for the introduction of more efficient and reliable electric trains.

The existing structure, along with several others on the route, did not provide sufficient clearance for the new overhead line equipment and therefore required replacement.

The challenge

During the removal of the existing bridge and construction of the permanent structure, a temporary bridging solution was required to maintain traffic flow and minimise disruption to network users.

To reduce the impact on rail operations and the wider public, the bridge needed to be installed within a four-hour possession window.

Crossrail Infrastructure Upgrade

As part of the Crossrail project — a 73-mile (117km) new railway across London — Network Rail constructed a replacement bridge at Thorney Lane in Iver to accommodate overhead electric cables for greener, more reliable trains.

Bridge Replacement Works

The original bridge was not high enough to provide clearance for electrification of the Western Mainline between Maidenhead and Paddington, requiring full removal and reconstruction.

Rapid Temporary Bridge Installation

To maintain road access and minimise disruption to rail services, a temporary bridge solution was installed within a strict four-hour possession period.

Our solution

After successfully installing a 50m temporary bridge at the Stoke Poges section, we worked with Balfour Beatty Rail to install a 60m span two-lane bridge at Thorney Lane.

A MH Universal Vehicle Bridge with cantilever footwalks was designed by our engineers and built on rollers alongside the railway in the three weeks prior to launch.

The 350te MH Universal Vehicle Bridge was launched into position by pushing it out across the railway and was installed safely within the short possession time.

Learn more about temporary bridges

The Thorney Lane project was shortlisted for a Rail Exec Most Interesting Award.

MH International CEO comments: “We’re delighted to have been involved in this part of the Crossrail Project. It’s a key project for Network Rail and will significantly enhance public transport in London and the South East. Working alongside Balfour Beatty Rail, MH International’s temporary bridging expertise will allow for significant improvements to be made to the rail services in the Slough area.”

Crossrail is due to be completed in 2021, with the new line being officially named Elizabeth line.

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Important technical notice

This project was completed by MH International’s parent company using shared personnel, under an intra group informal licence