Revitalising a Historic Tunnel with RHEDA 2000®: A Customised Transition Solution for Confined Space Conditions.
As part of the reactivation of the Border Railway, RAILONE supplied approximately 900 RHEDA 2000® sleepers for the Bowshank Tunnel in Scotland in 2014.
The Bowshank Tunnel is the only double-track tunnel on the approximately 65 km long Border Railway connecting Edinburgh with Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders. Following years of closure and extensive deterioration, the historic tunnel required complete revitalisation.
The proven RHEDA 2000® ballastless track system was installed inside the tunnel, while ballasted track continued to be used outside it. RAILONE supplied approximately 900 B 355.3 sleepers and was also responsible for track system planning, from the initial concept through to implementation. A RAILONE engineer supported the project on site to ensure quality.
The confined transition between ballastless and ballasted track presented a particular challenge. Thanks to the flexibility of the RHEDA 2000® system, a customised transition solution was developed. At the same time, the system’s low construction height made it possible to increase the clearance profile. As a result, only around 10% of the historic brickwork required refurbishment, making a decisive contribution to the project’s cost-effective implementation.
PROJECT DETAILS
Route length: Tunnel approximately 226 m, part of the 65 km Border Railway, double-track
Project period: July 2014 to September 2015
Solution supplied: RHEDA 2000® B 355.3 bi-block sleepers, including pre-assembled rail fastening systems, as well as track system planning from the initial concept through to implementation
Special feature: Customised transition solution between ballastless and ballasted track under highly confined space conditions
