• 93 insulated block joints installed and 23 recovered
• 20 point ends converted (11 in the blockade)
• 62 hollow bearers installed
• Replacement of a new set of bullhead switches
• Installation of a buffer stop
• Over 4,500 man hours were worked by Haigh Rail-supplied staff during the blockade
• 500 tonnes of ballast were renewed

Haigh Rail was contracted through Network Rail and Siemens Rail Automation Holdings to provide a range of track renewal and track maintenance works for the re-signalling project at Gresty Lane in Crewe (GRIP 5-8). The works were successfully commissioned during the nine-day blockade from 28th November to 6th December 2015.

As is increasingly the case, we were involved early in the development, staging and planning of the track works. This ensured greater ownership, leading to a more successful delivery in all areas. It also created a culture of collaboration in which all parties were consulted throughout the progress of the works. Haigh Rail is an advocate of BS 11000 and embraces the principles encompassed by the standard.

• Upgrading the Heritage Railways for both Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway and North Yorkshire Moors Railway
• Employing Haigh Rail’s specialist welding division
• A solid working relationship between Haigh Rail and Heritage Railways

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway (GWR) is a preserved steam and diesel heritage railway in the Cotswolds. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a heritage railway running through the North York Moors National Park, from Pickering to Whitby.

Haigh Rail has a proud association with both, and Haigh Rail’s head of welding, Mick Downing, has forged strong relationships with P-Way engineers Clive Hawkins of GWR and Nigel Trotter of NYMR.

It is a pleasure to work on these fabulous railways, ensuring they are upgraded to the highest specification, whilst our welding team enjoys some of the country’s most spectacular scenery.

In 2015, GWR received the Queen’s award for voluntary service; and the NYMR was not to be outdone, reaching a milestone of some 280,000 visitors. Mick Downing looks forward to continuing the association with these special railways for many years to come.

• To create a light rail transit extension of 1.4km in Birmingham City Centre
• Zero weld rejection rate to date.

The project for Birmingham Metro was to create a light rail transit extension of 1.4km in the city centre for Train Operating Company, Centro. Following the tender process at the beginning of 2014, Haigh Rail was selected as the supplier of choice to deliver welding services on the line.

Whilst working under tight timescales and within very close proximity of the general public, we successfully welded the entire 1.4 kilometre extension in Birmingham city centre by means of a mixture of 55G2 groove rail embedded and 39E1/80A flat bottom rail profiles. During a 12-month period we performed 407 individual welds, with a zero rejection rate.

• Providing vital engineering services in the construction of a new 400-metre curve
• Plain-lining an existing crossover
• Maintaining our immaculate safety record, with zero lost time injuries
• Enabling the first direct service train for 40 years

The Todmorden Curve project – to reinstate a 400-metre stretch of rail track, which had been closed since 1972 – was completed in May 2015. Haigh Rail Ltd’s services were vital in enabling the first direct service to run between East Lancashire and Manchester in more than 40 years.

We were pleased to support the main contractor, Buckingham Group, working on the planning, methodology and P-way installation on a new 400-metre curve, a crossover and a turnout. We also supplied track welding, grinding, stressing, tamping and handback services.

We were proud to deliver our services as part of this project on time, on budget and above all else – safely. Our work on Todmorden Curve allowed us to expand our current client list, building relationships and expanding our portfolio of works.