BAM Rail and Fastline team up for innovative track renewals project in Holland
Fastline Ltd has undertaken its first rail project in continental Europe, working with leading infrastructure company BAM Rail.
The Fastline team has provided extensive ballast excavation and recycling using innovative technology at Zoetermeer, Holland. A specialist team was assigned to work with BAM Rail during June and July to help renew a linear 34km of light railway (metro) through Zoetermeer, near Amsterdam.
BAM Rail won the multi-million pound design and construct project with the remit to transform the1970s constructed rail infrastructure from heavy to light rail. BAM Rail’s innovative approach to renewals and its commitment to embracing new technologies enabled it to meet the exacting requirements of the project.
BAM Rail Director of Projects, Bart Oudmaijer, said: “The Zoetermeer track renewal is integral to the development of Holland’s transport infrastructure as it is part of a complete overhaul of the rail network. The Randstad Rail project, which includes the Zoetermeer work, will eventually merge the light rail network in The Hague with the Rotterdam metro.
“We needed specific technology to help us complete the project in one continuous and highly efficient renewal, including cleaning the ballast. The renewed line is built to the specification of a modern tramline or light rail network.”
All work on the Zoetermeer line had to be completed during the day as the track ran close to residential homes. To complete the project as efficiently as possible, BAM Rail deployed a continuous, end-to-end and highly mechanised approach, choosing to partner with Fastline for its innovative excavation technology.
At the heart of the Zoetermeer renewals project was the deployment of Fastline’s Mole (Rapid Ballast Excavator) technology, which formed part of its patented Accutrack system. The Mole had been used to complete the ballast excavation, cleaning and recycling in tandem with BAM Rail’s Powerscreener machine. The Mole was used to dig to a depth of 640mm below rail height along 26km of track. Single line technology was then utilised to efficiently replace the track.
Progress on the project went well with the Mole completing between 600m and 1200m of ballast excavation per day. Ballast was precisely excavated, immediately screened and cleaned by the Powerscreener and then passed onto the ballast bed for re-use or into a spoil wagon for removal. Between 80 and 90 per cent of the ballast was recycled during the process, reducing the number of spoil trains from five to just one.
Conditions were a little different to the UK with the Mole digging down to the abrasive sand-based ballast bed. To ensure the Mole remained in optimum condition, a maintenance team worked through the evening to ensure the machinery was ready for a 6am start the next day.
After visiting the Zoetermeer work site, Tony Culverwell, Fastline’s Director of On Track Machines, said: “BAM Rail worked to the most exacting timelines to deliver cost effective and high quality track renewals to substantially improve Holland’s rail infrastructure.
“This project was a great opportunity for Fastline to demonstrate its capabilities in mainland Europe and the team has performed exceptionally well, collaborating at every level with BAM Rail. I am looking forward to working with BAM Rail on other projects.
“We have learned a great deal about the use and value of our key technologies in Europe, and the deployment of the Mole and Powerscreener together has proven highly effective. The recycling capabilities of the Mole and Powerscreener together is also a very positive advance from an environmental perspective.”
August 10, 2006