Railway earthworks and drainage systems are undoubtedly two of the lesser-understood and historically neglected, railway assets. In the earliest days of railway construction, earthworks were often built as part of a ‘cut and fill’ process, utilising excavated material from further along the railway corridor, which was then end-tipped into place with little compaction, resulting in a railway supported upon a backbone of made ground of multiple soil types, with variable properties and behaviours.
Drainage of the railway, particularly when associated with an earthwork, becomes a critical element in maintaining the quality of the track, ensuring an efficient and reliable transport system. Asset interventions have traditionally been reactive, due to the myriad unknowns and the scale and cost of remedial works. Earthwork inspections and data collection has been managed by visual inspection, heavily reliant upon the engineer in the field. This has often meant that potential failures are identified in this way and require short-duration mobilisation of design and resource to maintain an operational railway, particularly where the failure has been to a cut slope following intense rainfall. It is in this space that Murphy has a pedigree of success and has worked well with client Network Rail to respond to this type of occurrence.
As our climate has evolved and our seasons changed, bringing long, dry summers, with intense, sporadic rainfall events and winters with sustained periods of wet weather, our aging and imperfect earthworks and the drainage systems that carry the harmful build-up of water away from them, are being exposed to conditions like never before.
It is against this backdrop and within the context of global financial constraints, that we, as engineers, must rise to the challenge, producing targeted solutions, that are both affordable and resilient.
Letting practical expertise lead
Murphy looks to address this by placing buildability front-and-centre of our earthwork projects.
As part of our fit to start commitment, Murphy produces a Project Execution Plan for each scheme, defining how we will deliver the work, providing detailed information to permit an accurate estimate and construction phase plan to be produced. Those directly involved in the supervision and delivery of the works help to develop the plan, ensuring it can be executed right first time. This approach promotes a conscious approach to safety throughout the design and build phases and reduces construction and maintenance costs throughout the life of the asset.
Once we understand how we can build the solution, this practical know-how informs a design that meets both the client’s budget and technical requirements, providing a value-for-money solution in a safe and controlled manner. Early understanding of the often-complex history of the earthwork is key to developing a practical and cost-effective design. We have recognized internal geotechnical expertise, which we use to work closely with designers and Network Rail to challenge assumptions and embed value engineering as part of scope development.
Making our values a part of our projects
Our ‘One Murphy’ value facilitates teamwork and knowledge-sharing across the business, ensuring that the benefit of our collective experience is brought to each project, providing confidence and consistency for our client.
The Murphy value to ‘Always Deliver’, by completing quality work, right first time, minimises cost, with our ‘Never Harm’ value ensuring our people, the infrastructure and the environment aren’t negatively impacted by our activities.
Sustainable solutions
We apply ‘Green by Design’ principles when developing earthwork solutions, looking at how we can reduce carbon expenditure, through material selection, working with local suppliers and handing over an asset whose maintenance regime is carefully considered. Biodiversity is a key part of our strategy, targeting no net loss to the natural environment and species, and looking to improve the connectivity between habitats to create a green corridor. We work hard to produce an asset that has been designed to be resilient to both present and future climatic conditions, whether that be drainage with additional capacity, or earthworks resistant to erosion and wash-out.
Our construction methodology and materials are selected with circular economy concepts in mind, using standard sizes, or reclaimed materials, considering future access and maintenance requirements and diverting waste from landfill.
Leaving a legacy
Murphy looks to leave a positive legacy in the communities we work in. Earthwork schemes are often long-running sites, which can be disruptive to those living and working in the area. Therefore, we engage with local schools and community hubs to create relationships and encourage two-way communication.
Our value to ‘Continually Improve’ means that we are invested in developing our people, as well as constantly assessing and refining our methods of delivering world-class infrastructure for our clients.