drilling in - welcome to srs rail system ltd · railway with twin “third rail” tracks into...
TRANSCRIPT
SRS design bespoke 7 station drilling rig
2,300 holes, 35mm diameter, up to 1,000mm deep
105 holes per hour
Interlocks prevent drilling while moving
The crew were highly trained and a 6 minute cycle time was developed: drill 7 holes – move – drill 7 holes – move – etc. This was gradually reduced to a best time of 4 minutes, some 105 holes per hour.
A STRAIL rubber road rail access platform was constructed 200 metres from the west portal of the tunnel. Here the vehicle could mount the track in about 5 minutes, drive to the work site in an average of 10 minutes and deploy the drills in 1 minute, a total of 16 minutes. Recovery was similar.
Saltwood Tunnel lies on the main rail route to the Channel Tunnel crossing near Folkestone. The tunnel had to be strengthened as part of the preparation for the Channel Tunnel Rail Route, but it carried a very busy piece of railway with twin “third rail” tracks into Dollands Moor Sidings. The tunnel could only be made available for engineering work once a week for 5 hours, with occasional longer track possessions.
The task consisted of drilling about 2,300 holes through brick lining of variable quality to enable the injection of grout behind. Each hole was 35mm in diameter and between 700 and 1,000mm deep. Two arrays of holes at 2,500mm centres were required. The tunnel was 954 yards long.
As is so often the case, time was extremely short. It was essential to mount the track as soon as the last train had passed, to move quickly to the site and to drill the holes quickly. SRS Rail System Ltd designed a special 7 station drilling rig.
The rig was mounted on an SRS 25 tonne road rail vehicle. Interlocks ensured that the vehicle was stationary before the drills were deployed and that the drills were withdrawn before the vehicle could move.
A C O M M E R C I A L T R U C K O N T H E R O A D A V E R S AT I L E T R A I N O N T H E T R A C K
SRS RAIL SYSTEM LTD | UNIT 3 | RIVERSIDE WAY | GATEWAY BUSINESS PARKBOLSOVER | CHESTERFIELD | S44 6GA
For more information about how we can help you;CALL: 01246 241 312 EMAIL: [email protected]: WWW.SRSRAILUK.COM
DRILLING IN SALTWOOD TUNNEL