Events & Courses

Jon Esser (Atkins) and Richard Lethbridge (Network Rail) will be give an overview of the Great Western Electrification Programme from the perspective of the geotechnical discipline and also drawing on some wider project challenges. 

The Great Western Electrification Programme (GWEp) aims to electrify one of Britain’s oldest and busiest railways, providing greener, more reliable journeys and improving connections across southern England and South Wales. Electrification will improve services and help support economic growth across many of our cities and towns.

Around 1,000 kilometres of railway will be electrified between London and Cardiff in the biggest investment in the railways since Brunel and the completion of the line in 1840. This mammoth task includes 15,000 piles, masts and associated wiring and 13,000 bespoke bridges and other structural designs which are due to be completed by 2017. Many of the Grade I and Grade II listed structures along the route will be sympathetically altered to accommodate the new overhead lines, while protecting their heritage,and also maintaining the highest safety standards for the railway.

Using case studies from the GWEp network, the talk will present the main considerations and challenges that have been faced by the geotechnical team, from initial design development through to detailed design and during installation.

Refreshments from 6pm, talk starts at 6:30pm